Healthy, Growing Churches (7)

As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. If anyone speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God. If anyone ministers, let him do it as with the ability which God supplies, that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belong the glory and the dominion forever and ever. 1 Peter 4.10, 11

On Christian Doctrine 1.15
Augustine (354-430)
“God has granted to each of us the special graces needed for the upbuilding of his church, so that we will do what he has indicated should be done, not only without complaint but with joy.”

Leaders of healthy, growing churches help the members of those churches understand that God has called all His children to be ministers of His grace. To that end, He has given us His Spirit, and with Him, His Word and gifts of various sorts, which the Spirit distributes throughout the body of Christ as He will. As we have seen, believers must be equipped for works of ministry, that they may discover, develop, and deploy the gifts they have received in self-denying and sacrificial love for the people to whom God sends them each day. God intends that ministry should be a way of life for the members of His body, and in healthy churches, this is what we find. For a church to be built up in unity and maturity, the shepherds must equip the saints, and the saints must lay hold on the gifts they have received, and go in faith and obedience to use those gifts in works of ministry. You will know that your church is growing as the Lord intends, as you see the members of your congregation using their gifts “without complaint but with joy” in loving service to others. And you will know that you are working for a healthy, growing church when equipping all your members for such a way of life is a primary focus of your ministry.

Do you think the people you serve see their lives as focal points of ministry? Why or why not?

T. M. Moore

Mission Partners Outreach
The work of ministry is what saints are being equipped for, and which they do in the “as-you-are-goings” of their lives. But the flock of the Lord must be equipped for this calling, and Jesus has set shepherds over the flock to do that work. How can we equip the sheep to live for Christ and be His witnesses? Our Mission Partners Outreach provides the resources and framework for making witness-bearing disciples in your church. Want to learn how it works? Watch this brief video, then contact me at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.for more information. I will show you how to make this ministry work in your church.

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. Quotations from Church Fathers are from the Ancient Christian Commentary Series, published by InterVarsity Press.