So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service. (Eph. 4:11–12)
Expanded Passage: Ephesians 4:11-13
Football has been defined as 22 people on the field, desperately in need of rest, and 80,000 people in the stands, greatly in need of exercise!
That describes too many churches as well—churches in which the members look to their pastor to carry the ball by himself, spiritually speaking. If Satan succeeds in selling that to the church at large, he will have effectively reduced the Christian “work force” by 95 percent.
But what if a church of 50 saw itself as a ministry team of 50? What if a church of 100 unleashed 100 ministers . . . one coordinating, encouraging, and visionary minister-in-chief plus 99 volunteer ministers . . . into its community? Imagine the impact!
When Paul told the Ephesian church that Christ had tapped some for leadership—apostles, prophets, pastors, teachers—he didn’t say that responsibility for winning the world rested solely on their shoulders. In fact, he said just the opposite. The apostles, prophets, pastors, and teachers were to “equip [Christ’s] people for works of service.” The role of the leaders was an equipping ministry. Works of spiritual ministry? That’s in everybody’s job description. Thank God for the pastoral staff who serve our churches, but thank God as well for the lay “ministers” whom they equip to help reach a spiritually hungry world!
Get off the bench and into the game!
Bob Black is a third-generation Wesleyan minister and professor emeritus of religion at Southern Wesleyan University (SC).
© 2025 Wesleyan Publishing House. Reprinted from Light from the Word. Used by permission. Scriptures taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®.