During the year we host a Sunday service called ‘perspectives’ where people from CBBC share their understanding on a topic—this year it has been ‘what’s your perspective on church?’ It’s become a valued part of our year. Here’s Holly’s thoughts,
What is our role as the church, the body of Christ?
Ephesians 4:11–13 says “Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.”
When we come together as God’s body we are used as individuals for his purpose in a bigger picture. God himself has equipped his people (that’s us) his body, his church, with gifts and strengths. These may be prayer, worship, encouragement, hospitality or just the ability to share or personal walk and experience… all these are used by God as a whole to help others come to faith, to strengthen our community, and see growth in his church.
It is our role to follow the example of Jesus, to then take on his mantle to share our personal witness living everyday as a light in the world. Nowhere in the Bible does it say we all need to be super spiritual pastors and preachers; nowhere does it say we need to be perfect. But it does ask that we pray for each other, that we help those in need, that we lead by example and that we change our lifestyle and mindset to first and foremost bring him glory.
As we as a congregation step out into new things, expand our outreaches, and invite new people and opportunities into his body, we are doing exactly what the Lord asks of us.
I feel today God is asking of us to do a few things.
- To get our hearts in check with him (Ephesians 5:1)
- To get our lifestyle into line with his commandments
- To trust Him; Remember God may make us step out of our comfort zone a bit but he will never ask more of us than we can handle (Proverbs 3:5).
If we are seeking and in an active relationship with God we are constantly evolving and growing in our faith and understanding. As we do that we share with those around us these lessons, we are sharing the influence of God in our lives and therefore being an effective church.