Leaders Equip the Whole Body for Service
Daily Scripture
Ephesians 4:11-16
11 He gave some apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers. 12 His purpose was to equip God’s people for the work of serving and building up the body of Christ 13 until we all reach the unity of faith and knowledge of God’s Son. God’s goal is for us to become mature adults—to be fully grown, measured by the standard of the fullness of Christ. 14 As a result, we aren’t supposed to be infants any longer who can be tossed and blown around by every wind that comes from teaching with deceitful scheming and the tricks people play to deliberately mislead others. 15 Instead, by speaking the truth with love, let’s grow in every way into Christ, 16 who is the head. The whole body grows from him, as it is joined and held together by all the supporting ligaments. The body makes itself grow in that it builds itself up with love as each one does its part.
Daily Reflection & Prayer
Steven Gerrard: “Leadership is showing you care for your teammates.”
Too often, study of Ephesians 4:11 turns into a debate about titles and status of church leaders. But Paul viewed “leadership” consistently with Gerrard’s soccer-based definition. The role of leaders wasn’t to do all the important work themselves. The passage spoke of “we all,” “the whole body,” and “as each one does its part.” God’s purpose for those gifted in leadership was that they build up and care for all their “teammates” in the body of Christ.
- It takes “effort to preserve the unity of the Spirit” (Ephesians 4:3). As one scholar noted, “The Spirit is unhappy when believers speak destructive words about others and when people divide against one another” (Ephesians 4:29-31). * Verse 15 said one key to helping each other grow is “speaking the truth in love.” Which is harder for you when dealing with others: speaking the truth at all, or doing so “in love”? Where do you most need to grow in this balance?
- Some Christians think “pastors and teachers” should do all the key church work, while members “just attend.” No—Ephesians said God’s purpose was that “pastors and teachers… equip God’s people for the work of serving.” That’s everyone. Is there a teammate who God is calling you to care for today? You have aptitudes and interests God can use. How can you identify now, and then keep developing, your spiritual gifts to serve God’s team? What gifts have others affirmed in you?
Prayer
Holy Spirit, you have gifted me in unique ways so I might help bring your Kingdom to earth. Help me recognize my gifts—and use them faithfully to build up Christ’s body. Amen.
GPS Insights
Livianna Kirkpatrick
Livianna Kirkpatrick, who is serving as a summer intern in the Modern Worship ministry, wrote today's Insights. Liv completed her junior year at Johnson County Community College majoring in Secondary English Education with a minor in music. She chose James 1:2-3 as the verse to list with her intern biography: “After all, you know that the testing of your faith produces endurance. Let this endurance complete its work so that you may be fully mature, complete, and lacking in nothing."
Regardless of your title or position, everyone can demonstrate leadership within the church. Some people are gifted organizers who bring structure and direction. Others excel at building relationships and creating connection. Some are comfortable teaching, leading worship, or serving in visible roles, while others faithfully work behind the scenes. Each gift is necessary, and each person has an important role to play. Paul reminds us that Christ gave apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers not to do all the work on their own, but to equip God’s people for acts of service. The goal is that we all grow into maturity in Christ. Ministry was never intended to be carried out by a few leaders while everyone else simply attends. Every believer has been gifted by God and called to participate in building up the body of Christ.
The image of the church as a body helps us understand this truth. If everyone wanted to be the hand, who would be the feet? Although it can feel a little funny to call someone the foot of the body of Christ the foot is no less valuable than the head because each part serves a unique purpose. Without feet, we cannot walk. Without hands, we cannot serve. Without eyes, we cannot see. Every single part contributes to the health and effectiveness of the whole church body. Because we are one body, we all work together in unity. Paul teaches that preserving the unity of the Spirit requires intentional effort, but unity does not happen automatically. Unity is cultivated through humility, patience, love, and mutual support. One of the greatest ways we build unity is by “speaking the truth in love.”
As a member of Christ’s body it can be hard not to compare myself to others. I’ve spent a lot of time wishing I was able to preach or being in awe of friends at church who always seem to have the perfect answers in small group discussions. God made us the way we are on purpose. He made us with intention and God doesn’t make mistakes. He molded each of us, handpicked our gifts and sent us into this world to make change. So, I encourage you to embrace the unique ways god has equipped you for leadership instead spending time of comparing yourself to others. Whether you are a teacher, greeter, organizer, encourager, mentor, musician, servant, or friend, your role matters. Your gift is important.
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Scripture quotations are taken from The Common English Bible ©2011. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
References
* Timothy G. Gombis, study note on Ephesians 4:30 in The CEB Study Bible. Nashville: Abingdon Press, 2013, p. 369 NT.
