Summary:

Do you want a church where everyone remains an infant in the Lord, not mature enough or prepared to be a real asset in God’s Kingdom? Equipping the saints for the work of the ministry should be the focus of every church, to help their people grow out of infancy and into maturity in their spirits. For the many churches that don’t emphasize this principle, their people are held back from becoming what God wants them to be. The final result is a church full of immature people who expect their pastor and a few others to do all the teaching and ministering.

Show Notes:

• The church cannot and will not be the true church until leaders and the rank and file of the whole body of Christ embrace the truth that all Christians should start being equipped for the work of the ministry.

• In the church age Bible Belt, Christians are held back because of the concept that the pastor and a few others are supposed to do all the ministry.

• So many people run from the word “ministry” because they think they have to get up in front of people and do all the talking. Wrong concept!

• God gave some as apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers. These ministries are given as gifts to the church. It takes all five of these foundational ministries working together to properly set a church in order and mature the people. Without all of these ministries working together, the body of Christ will never be able to attain to the unity of the faith, and the knowledge of the Son of God.

Quotes:

• Equipping the saints should be a part of the basic, fundamental DNA of every church. That’s how strong I feel about equipping the saints.

• Paul went to great lengths to talk about the physical body, comparing it to the spirit, the body of Christ. Everyone of us have a different gift set. We have gifts, talents, and anointing, so it’s been a high priority of mine all of these years to help people to open their minds and understand that they have a calling.

References:

Ephesians 4:11-14

Takeaways:

Most of the Christian world has been held back from becoming mature believers because of a lack of understanding and teaching concerning equipping and preparing the saints to step up and minister to those who God wants blessed.