My wife, Debbie, and I make a pretty good home remodeling team. We make a good team regardless of what it is. We work well together. Anyone who knows us knows that we do a lot of remodeling at our house and we do the bulk of the work ourselves. Occasionally we have someone come in and help us but for the most part we do the work ourselves.

Last weekend we put down a hardwood floor in our bedroom. It was the last room of carpet in the house. Hallelujah! I spread the adhesive (I have the blisters to prove it!) and she helped me lay the 3” boards one row at a time. As we reached the end wall, she measured, marked and cut the last piece before laying it in line. She loves working on the chop saw or any power tool for the matter. Scares me a bit! She also does a great job working with ceramic floor tile. We’ve done it all.

When we paint, I roll and she cuts in. I hate to cut in and she hates to roll. So it works out really well. She does a better job at cutting in than I do and I do a better job at rolling than she does. It is just good cooperation to get the job done.

The believer has been given gifts. If you are saved God has equipped you to do a job, something specific for the kingdom. Romans 12:3-7 gives us a visual example of working together in the body of Christ. We are not all the same part of the body nor do we all do the same job or function in the body. But together, each exercising his or her gift, make up one functioning, efficient and effective body, the body of Christ to continue the ministry objectives Jesus left us.

I think sometimes we get the ministry objectives of the church all mixed up. If we are not careful we can easily begin to think it is all about what I want or expect from the church experience, all about how the church runs, smells and feels when we attend. The church is the local organized group of believers to go out and do the great commission. We enjoy gathering as the body each week to worship and celebrate what God has done and is doing in our lives, to be encouraged and to get our marching orders but if the church is to continue Jesus' ministry then I think we need to look at and know what Jesus' ministry was. Have you noticed how many times the Bible speaks about Jesus attending church? Not many. It rarely mentions Him going to the temple but rather Him meeting needs and ministering to people, calling people to repentance and faith, and healing the sick. The church is the body of Christ to continue these ministries.

What part are you? Are you exercising your role or function in the church? I often wonder if everyone in our church knows what their spiritual gift is and if they are exercising that gift. The church is not a place for spectators but a place for people to participate and get involved in kingdom work. How much more effective would our church be in reaching lost people and equipping saints (Eph. 4:11) for ministry if everyone rolled up their sleeves and got busy exercising…exercising their spiritual gift, that is.

If you are sitting and watching church every week let me encourage you to get off the bench, quit watching and get to involved. God will bless you and the church because of it!