Every church member is important. However, it’s not always clear how we can help make our churches better. Here are 5 ways every member can help build and strengthen our church.
- Make a commitment to spiritual development.
“And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ,” Ephesians 4:11-12 NKJV
Pastors and ministry leaders equip us. Every sermon, Sunday School lesson, small group, and bible study is an opportunity to be spiritually equipped. We can help our church by availing ourselves of these opportunities and therefore preparing ourselves to participate in the ministries of the church. Ultimately, the more equipped members we have, the greater our effect in edifying the body of Christ.
- Choose to identify with the church.
“till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ;” Ephesians 4:13 NKJV
“We”, the church members, must come to the “unity” of the faith. We are the church, but unfortunately some of us speak of the church as “them” or “they” rather than “we” and “us”. Members who do not identify with, associate themselves with, or have personal vested interest in the church are less likely to support the ministries of the church. Each of us must examine our conversations and choose to identify with, and support our church. When we do, our churches can reach the spiritual measure of the fullness of Christ.
- Submit to the church’s teaching.
“that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting,”
Ephesians 4:14 NKJV
A great way to help your church is to focus on it’s teachings rather than taking in teachings from multiple sources. When we begin to listen to multiple spiritual leaders we inadvertently pick up nuances of their beliefs. Those beliefs may not always line up with the beliefs of our local church and we can get carried away with incorrect doctrines (teachings). We must submit to the teachings of our church first, then seek our pastor’s advice on other trusted sources to supplement our growth.
- Share the truth with the world.
“but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ—”
Ephesians 4:15 NKJV
In our society people share anything and everything, online and offline. We can help our church mission by sharing the truth we hear as well. When our pastors say things that are nourishing to our souls, we can share them in tweets, posts, and stories. We can send them out in text messages to those who need to hear, or share them in conversations with others. When we share our faith this way, others can be encouraged and even converted by the truth that is shared with them in love.
- Become a connector.
“from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.”
Ephesians 4:16 NKJV
There is a limit on how many meaningful connections we can have in our lives. Once we become part of the church, it may be overwhelming to connect with such a large group of people. Instead of trying to connect with everyone, be deliberate about connecting with someone. Then that person may help you connect with someone else. That’s how the church becomes “knit together by what every joint (connection, relationship) supplies. Becoming a connector helps the entire church grow and edify itself in love.