Counsels on Church Life

Counsel #2 — Everyone Can Minister

Picture: Counsel #2 — Everyone Can Minister CCL 105.1

A church deacon entered a restroom and found the pastor plunging a clogged toilet. "Give me that plunger!” he insisted. “That's not your job!" Sometimes we get the idea that some tasks in ministry have boundaries. We believe giving Bible studies, preaching, and inviting people to church is the pastor's job. While deacons handle the logistics, we can just kick back and enjoy the service. God gives everyone gifts to benefit the church. God expects our involvement, whether directly connected to the weekly service or another ministry. The church becomes better equipped to receive people when we all work together.^[134] CCL 105.2

“As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.” 1 Peter 4:10 CCL 105.3

“Every one of us can do something. Many feel that the whole duty rests on the minister; but there are eternal truths that are to take hold on our souls that are to be practiced by everyone of us, so that the world can see that this people know and believe that the Lord is coming, that what we preach is not an idle fancy, but that it is the Word of God that has taken hold of our lives...” Ellen White in Letters and Manuscripts, vol. 5, Manuscript 4, 1888, par. 7 CCL 105.4

Reflect: In what areas do you think your local church could improve upon? We often see room for improvement in areas we are uniquely gifted to help improve. CCL 105.5