ANOTHER ANSWER TO 'WHAT IS WRONG WITH OUR CHURCHES?'

Get the picture... I have been studying all week how God's Word is living and active... how God's Word equips us for every good work which took me back to Ephesians 4:11-12 (ESV) 11  And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, 12   to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, (underline added). The offices or spiritual positions of leadership in this passage are to equip the saints (the followers of Jesus Christ) for ministry BUT THEN I SEE THIS PICTURE TODAY...

No, that is not for me or any other pastor. That is not for any Christian because to me, the meaning of that shirt says "Don't worry about it. Let the pastor do it." How is the phrase "equip the saints for the work of ministry" shown in the message of this shirt? It isn't.

Why should the saints of God be equipped to do ministry? For the "building up the body of Christ". Why is it that so many churches are filled with people who come to church only if they get what they want out of it? That's not Christianity, that's consumerism. When you go to Wal-mart or some other store, you go in when you want, look at what you want, buy what you want and leave when you want. But when you gather with your church family, it's not about what you want, it's all about what Jesus wants. And what does Jesus want?

1. For you to worship with all of your heart, all of your mind, all of your soul, all of your strength, all of everything you have and are.

2. For you to lay down your selfishness and self-centeredness and become focused on Him.

3. For you to stop saying "My will be done" and start saying "Thy will be done."

Your pastor cannot do it all nor should he try. Your other church leaders cannot do it all nor should they try. Every follower of Jesus Christ has been gifted and been given a passion to go with that gift... the question is 'Are you using your spiritual gifts to serve Jesus Christ so that the body of Christ will be built up?'

No, don't 'keep calm'! Fire up. Look at Christ and "fan into flame the gift of God" [2 Timothy 1:6 (ESV)]. Don't 'let the pastor handle it', work with your pastor and other church leaders. Get plugged in and join the others. Amen?