God's Story Is Our Story: From Acts to New CreationSample

Paul again uses the image of the body like he did in 1 Corinthians 12. But, here Paul focuses the analogy on how the body grows. In our day and age, we tend to think that the church service is the only way we all grow, and that the paid ministers are the ones who are doing "ministry." Paul tells us that there are certain people called to the up front teaching roles and that church services are significant. However, he tells us that a church leader's primary role is to equip every member for the ministry to which they are called which is for many beyond the worship service.

Every person who is a part of the church is called to ministry. Paul says it is only when each part is working properly that the body can grow. There is no way that the pastor of a church can see or know what is going on with everyone in a church. That's one reason why everyone needs to play his or her part.

The role Paul focuses on here is to be willing to speak the truth in love to each other. Sometimes, people are thinking the wrong things about themselves or others or their situation. God uses our speaking the truth in love to encourage people, to challenge people, and to correct people.

A worship service is vital to a church. But, a church cannot grow unless we all are playing our everyday role of speaking the truth in love to each other.