Bovina Bulletin Board

An inherent danger in having a located minister is that it can create a culture where the church believes the preacher is “hired” to do all the work. Given our love for and adherence to scripture, I believe we know this isn’t correct. But people will say and do irrational things under the weight of guilt. Guilt is, by the way, what tends to propel people to utter such an absurd statement.

As noted last week, discipleship is about all of us. Your commitment to Christ and the discipleship process, of necessity, thrusts you into the ministry mix. We are all, by reason of our commitment to Christ, called into the service of ministry.

The gathered church of Jerusalem quickly became the scattered church into the world. The apostles, interestingly enough, served in Jerusalem while the obedient to Christ launched into mission (Acts 8:1-4). Notice how the early church didn’t respond to Truth, then say, “Let the Apostles do it!” No, they thrust themselves directly into the mission of God.

The Roman church/churches had their share of issues (Romans 2:1ff; ch. 14-15), but apparently one of them wasn’t placing the ministry platter before just one or two people. After commending Phoebe, a “servant” at Cenchreae (Romans 16:1-2) to the Roman church, Paul sends greeting to a number Christians whose labor for the Lord was a labor of love (Romans 16:3-15). These were Christians who were making impacts however possible.

Churches that struggle are the ones whose members show up, but sit back and do nothing. Churches that struggle are the ones whose members want someone else to do what they themselves were designed to do. Churches that struggle are the ones comprised of members who say, “Let the preacher do it!”