Ministry is Invoked by the Church

Scripture: Acts 13:3

Then, when they had fasted and prayed and laid their hands on them, they sent them away.

Insights: The last truth from this weeks sermon is ministry is invoked by the church.  Notice in today’s verse that after the leaders had finished fasting and praying they had Barnabas and Saul set apart through the laying on of hands.  They were commissioned by the church of Antioch to go on their first missionary journey.  At the end of the day, ministry is not just about the Holy Spirit’s inspiration or the leadership’s initiation.  At some point the church has to join the work.  FBCBG held a Vision Workshop in which the Strategic Planning Team presented out in a four hour session the results of the work they had done the previous two years.  One of the statements presented that night was, “There are two aspects required for revitalization to occur: A pastor [in our context of today’s blog, leader] with the attitude and commitment to take the church through the ReBirthing Stage and a church that has members who are also desiring for ReBirth to occur.  In order for ReBirth and Growth to transpire, both the pastor [leader] and the church membership must be in agreement on ReBirth and Growth.”  I write this quote to help illustrate the totality of the church body.  1 Corinthians 12 gives us a really good picture about the church being the body of Christ.  The Holy Spirit inspires the ministry, the leaders initiate the ministry, but everyone in the church invokes the ministry.  It takes us all doing our job to make ministry come to pass.  We at FBCBG have an opportunity to Carry Christ to our Community (C3) this coming weekend.  We are going to go out on Saturday and place door hanger questionnaires.  On Sunday we are going to return and clean up yards, pick up the questionnaires and leave a new door hanger telling them we love them.  In order for this C3 event to be successful it requires all of the church to be involved.  If just the leaders are present, then it will not be successful.  Let me encourage you to trust the Holy Spirit has truly inspired the leadership to initiate ministry.  With this foundation of trust, then let me encourage you to join the work and bring the Lord glory.

Questions:

1. What ministry is your church rallying around and asking for your engagement?

2. Are you willing to jump in and join the church in this work?

Prayer: Father, it is my prayer the entire church will be motivated by the inspiration of Your Spirit and the initiation of the church leaders to join in the ministry assignment You give.  May our work bring You glory.  Amen.