This past Sunday I preached a message from Ephesians 4:11-13 focused on the pastor’s call to equip the church. There is an interesting progression that Paul lays out here. He calls pastors (specifically, apostles, prophets, evangelists, and pastors and/or teachers) to equip the saints. It is our responsibility as pastors to equip, that is to train, to prepare, to lead the people of God to do what? To do the work of the ministry.
I made the illustration that within a 5-mile radius of our church in beautiful Hickory Tavern, South Carolina, live an estimated 6500 people. Assuming average households of 4, if I visited each home, averaging 1 per day, it would take me by myself 5 years to make contact with each person just in this small radius. Now, if our entire church was equipped and set out on the same goal, averaging one visit per day, we could make a personal visit to each person in our community in less than 1 month. Truth be told, if our entire church got on fire in doing the work of the ministry, it probably wouldn’t take even that long.
Paul then gives us the result of when the people of God are equipped to do the work of the ministry, that the body of Christ (the church) will be built up. It will be strengthened, enhanced, and it will grow. It will grow deep and it will grow wide. Lest we think we have arrived, Paul finally gives us the time-frame. How long are we do be at this work? Until we all reach maturity! Our country’s education policy is called “No Child Left Behind” May that be our cry! Though appearing to be mature adults on the outside, many of us are still immature spiritually. May we never stop growing, never stop seeking, never stop serving, never stop worshipping, never stop drawing closer to the Lord.
I told our church that I wanted to be a player-coach. I wanted to keep my responsibility to coach them, to equip them to do the work of the ministry, and then when it is time to work–to go suit up in my uniform and get out and get dirty for the Lord.
