trusted online casino malaysia
Realizing the presence, promise, and power of the Kingdom of God.
Pastor to Pastor

This Human Ministry

Here is the "chief sinew" of the Body of Christ.

Giants of the Reformation (6)

“Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood.” Acts 20.28

Institutes of the Christian Religion
John Calvin (1509-1564)
“Paul shows…that this human ministry which God uses to govern the church is the chief sinew by which believers are held together in one body…through the ministers to whom he has entrusted this office and has conferred the grace to carry it out, he dispenses and distributes his gifts to the church; and he shows himself present by manifesting the power of his Spirit in this institution, that it be not vain or idle.”

I wonder how many church members would point to their pastors and church leaders as the primary evidence of the Spirit’s lively presence in their church? How confident are those we serve that we are building the Lord’s church as the Spirit would have us build it? That our vision is Christ’s vision? Our church is making a true Kingdom impact in our community? Calvin obviously had a very high view of the role of pastoral ministry, a view he derived from the letters of Paul and Peter, and the example of Jesus. The power of the Spirit – for fruit, gifts, and witness – will be manifested in church leaders first, before it becomes the common possession of the members of the congregation. No disciple is above his teacher, and no teacher is worthy of the name who does not show the evidence of the Spirit’s power at work in his life. This human ministry is God’s way of making disciples, building His Church, and advancing His Kingdom. Where any of this fruit is lacking, we need to take a fresh look at how we are doing the ministry entrusted to us.

What do you think? Would the members of your church point to you and your leaders as the primary evidence of the Spirit’s presence in your church? Why or why not?

T. M. Moore

Organizing with the Spirit
The Lord Jesus is building His Church. His Word is the blueprint, His Spirit is the General Contractor, and we are all builders together of the Body of Christ. But are we doing our work God’s way, or ours? The Spirit has His ways of organizing our work, and we do well to understand as much as we can about His methods. This is the argument of Dr. Kent Miller of Michigan State University, and you can watch our Conversation with Dr. Miller, and download a free copy of his paper on the subject, “Organizing with the Spirit,” by clicking here.

The Fellowship of Ailbe is supported through the generous and faithful gifts of those who benefit from and believe in our work. Does the Lord want to use you in this way? Please look to Him in prayer over this question. You can contribute to The Fellowship of Ailbe by using the Contribute button at our website, or by sending your gift to The Fellowship of Ailbe, 19 Tyler Drive, Essex Junction, VT 05452. Thank you.

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.

T.M. Moore

T. M. Moore is principal of The Fellowship of Ailbe, a spiritual fellowship in the Celtic Christian tradition. He and his wife, Susie, make their home in the Champlain Valley of Vermont.
Books by T. M. Moore

Subscribe to Ailbe Newsletters

Sign up to receive our email newsletters and read columns about revival, renewal, and awakening built upon prayer, sharing, and mutual edification.