Three Opportunities to Serve the Kingdom of Christ

Every born-again Christian has been given spiritual gifts (Eph. 4:7), which are meant to be used in service to one another  for the building up of the Church and the expansion of the Kingdom of Christ (Eph. 4:11-16). It is normal and expected for a believer to serve. It is not normal if a Christian is not serving or participating in the life of the Church. Unfortunately, there are brothers and sisters who do not engage in the life and growth of the Church at all. This is sad, but it is a reality. And our desire is to do our best to help such individuals.

A common excuse for non-participation sounds something like this: all the positions are already filled, and I don’t want to compete with anyone. It is true that some ministries may already be filled, but not all, and not always. Let us look at several excellent, effective, and vitally necessary alternatives that we will keep reminding you about and strongly encourage every brother and sister attending GFC to join.

1. Prayer ministry. Yes, this is a ministry! And we are not talking about saying grace before meals or bedtime prayers. We are talking about the responsibility and dedication of believers that leads to consistency: daily or weekly setting aside specific time for extended prayer about the church, its ministries, its people, its leaders, its needs, giving thanks, praying for the future, for different generations, and so on. This requires prayer journals to record prayer needs. It requires occasional phone calls to learn what the needs of the church are and how God is answering each one. It takes a lot of love and dedication because this is a ministry that is invisible to others—you won’t be recognized or praised for it. But it is a ministry our church needs now more than ever! I am glad that we have many people already involved in this ministry. Our prayer is that even more brothers and sisters would serve in this way. “And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding…” (Col. 1:9)

2. Evangelism. Telling others about God and sharing your personal testimony—this is a ministry! It’s frontline ministry. Just like prayer ministry, you don’t need a special invitation or stimulus to begin. Just start living it. This ministry will thrive if you begin each morning in prayer, bringing before God your desire to serve in this way and asking Him to lead you to those who need to hear the Gospel. This ministry will happen if you intentionally make time for it: time for prayer, time for training, reading books on evangelism, and watching evangelism resources; time to god out and build relationship with people (Matt. 28:18-20)

3. Discipleship. We all influence one another. This ministry begins when we become intentional about influencing our brothers and sisters for their spiritual growth. Most often this takes place in home groups; during conversations before and after meetings; on Sundays, before and after the services; when hosting guests in our homes or visiting fellow believers. This requires a lot of prayer, preparation, and time. You will need to study Scripture diligently to understand how to do this better and more effectively. Moreover, you will likely realize that you need discipleship as well. You will start seeking help and counsel from others. This is healthy, growing, and effective Christianity! “And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.” (Heb. 10:24-25)

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Romans 6:1-14

1 What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound?
2 By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it?
3 Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death?
4 We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.
5 For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his.
6 We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin.
7 For one who has died has been set free from sin.
8 Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him.
9 We know that Christ, being raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him.
10 For the death he died he died to sin, once for all, but the life he lives he lives to God.
11 So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.
12 Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, to make you obey its passions.
13 Do not present your members to sin as instruments for unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and your members to God as instruments for righteousness.
14 For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace.