The Gifts of the Body must be empowered by the Spirit of God and employed among each other for maximum ministry to take place beyond the walls of the church (1 Corinthians 12; Ephesians 4:8-16; Romans 12:4; Hebrews 13:1; 1 John 2:27-28).
Talent is never enough to strengthen, comfort, and build up the members of the Body of Christ. The Spirit of God must empower the talents, gifts, and abilities that God has given each member through the Holy Spirit. The church must minister to one another first and foremost; to do other wise would be hypocritical and unbecoming of church health and wholeness. Once the members are equipped and strengthened, we then can go out into the community to engage in effective ministry.
Every member is called to engaged in ministry and service (Matthew 28: 16-19; 1 Peter 2:9; 1 Corinthians 12). The priesthood of all believers must be lived out in the local body if the church is to reflect Christ fully to the community.
The work of the ministry is not for a select few, nor should there be an elite minority of ministers expected to do the work. The most effective church has an “every member ministry” approach. The every member in ministry approach fosters unity and balance. While we promote formal theological training, this approach does not exclude those who are not or cannot engage in formal theological training.
The Word of God and Worship must take center place in the church where ministry takes place (Acts 17:11; 1 Corinthians 14; John 4:24; Ephesians 5:19-21). The Word of God preached properly is one of the marks of a true church. Where the Word is preached with soundness and where worship is Christocentric, lives will be transformed. The Word of God reminds us of our responsibility to be servants, but worship keeps our hearts lifted to Him who is worthy. When Worship and the Word is missing, frustration, vain glory, and error sets in and the church losses it’s effectiveness and cutting edge.
The church must be in-tune with the community (Matthew 5:13; Matthew 26:11; Matthew 28: 16-19; Titus 1:12-14; 1 Corinthians 9:19-23). Contextual ministry is effective ministry.
The church should know the habits, customs, needs, desires, challenges, disadvantages, and advantages of the city or community where God has placed them.