Dear Small Church Congregation,
Once a disciple chooses to not be simply a worship spectator but to become an active participant in the worship, that disciple adds to the body’s ability to take on its intended functions, which are to fulfill the Great Commission and to live out the Great Commandment. Active disciples do not merely gather for a worship service. Actively participating members of the body of Christ go out into their world carrying the light and hope of Jesus, and they prove they belong to Jesus as they demonstrate His love to those who are fellow disciples and to those who do not know Him.
They are individuals who have been chosen, called and anointed by the Holy Spirit to fulfill their individual roles within the body of Christ. No two disciples will be exactly alike in their physical characteristics, and they will not be exactly alike in their spiritual gifts, talents and anointings. Each one has been chosen and gifted so that person’s gifts, talents and anointing will combine with all the other disciples’ gifts, talents and anointings so the complete operation of the spiritual body can be accomplished. When the whole body is operating as it should, then everything Jesus wants to happen will happen.
When our physical bodies are properly functioning, we are able to accomplish fantastic things. We don’t simply exist. We move. We perform complex operations. We solve problems. We cook and eat and clean dishes. We think and dream and bring dreams into reality. We work and play and rest.
And we do all these things because each individual part of our physical body is doing its work as it was designed to do. The lungs, heart, kidneys, stomach, ears, eyes, nerve endings in our fingers, muscles and tendons, and all the other parts, work together so the physical body can achieve its intended purposes.
When the body of Christ as a whole, or when one part of that overall body operates properly (when a specific congregation of disciples operates properly), then Christ will be glorified, the Great Commission will be fulfilled and the Great Commandment will be actively demonstrated for all to see. When the apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers do their jobs, the body is built up and encouraged. When the administrators, musicians, prayer warriors, generous givers, deacons, custodians, cooks, singers, money counters, and all those other gifted people function as the Holy Spirit directs them, the spiritual body will thrive and successfully represent Jesus to this world that desperately needs Him.
In order for this to occur, the disciples of Christ have to become active participants in worship. Remember that worship is not just singing some songs during a service. Worship involves everything that we think, say and do that is designed to bring glory to God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit. Worship is not designed just so we can sit back and enjoy a worship service. Worship is designed so we can enjoy being involved actively in everything that is happening as we express our love, commitment, and adoration to God. (We’ll look at worship in the body in a future letter. The next letter will deal with the individual gifts, talents and anointings the various members possess.)
Allow me to encourage you to become an active participant in your local body of disciples. Your contribution as a part of that body cannot be overstated when it comes to whether or not the body is properly functioning.
Sincerely,
A Small Church Pastor
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