Giants of the Reformation (5)

And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ… Ephesians 4.11, 12

Institutes of the Christian Religion
John Calvin (1509-1564)
“On the one hand, he approves our obedience by a very good test when we hear his ministers speaking just as if he himself spoke. On the other, he also provides for our weakness in that he prefers to address us in human fashion through interpreters in order to draw us to himself, rather than thunder at us and drive us away.”

It is a high and holy calling to be entrusted with the ministry of the Word of God. Through the Word, and the ministry of those called to it, Christ gathers His elect and brings His saints to greater knowledge of Himself, and more abundant fruitfulness. The work of pastoral ministry – the work of shepherding – is to equip church members, helping them identify, nurture, and employ spiritual gifts, so that they become flash points for ministry within the Body of Christ and throughout the larger community. By this means, Jesus builds His Church in unity and maturity. As individual believers are transformed into the image of Jesus Christ, they do those works of ministry which are the fruit of Christ at work within them. Thus the congregation as a whole increases in unity and maturity in the Lord. It is a grave sin not to seek the Lord’s ends for this calling. The goal of faith is fruit. The measure of a church is the growth of its members. And the measure of pastoral ministry is equipped saints, serving the Lord in their daily lives.

Have you thanked God lately for all the faithful teachers in your congregation? Have you thanked them?

T. M. Moore

Healthy, Growing Churches
Our assessment tool, Twelve Questions that Could Change Your Church, can help you discover the degree of unity and maturity that characterize your local church. Use it with your church leaders to discern the health of your church, then use it to plan the next phase of your growth as the Body of Christ. You can download Twelve Questions for free by clicking here.

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Except as indicated, Scripture taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.All quotations from John Calvin, Institutes of the Christian Religion, John T. McNeill, ed., Ford Lewis Battles, tr. (Philadelphia: The Westminster Press, 1960), Vol. 2, Book IV, pp. 1012ff.