Prayer Journal

Friday, November 21, 2003

The church was growing daily and many were following the teaching of the disciples. All of the converts were in need of training, or discipleship while others were in need of provisional care. It only seemed right then, that those who asked others to follow would provide what was needed. But there was only so much the apostles could do and if something had to be sacrificed, what would it be? Why, discipleship, or training others to serve, was the only logical choice.

Perhaps you've heard of the 80/20 rule. In the ecclesiastical world, it implies that 20 percent of the membership of a church provides for the needs of the other 80 percent. The early church was said to be growing so fast, the percentage of workers was dropping far below the 20 percent number. In fact, at the rate people were joining the church and others were not being equipped to care for them, before long they'd have to close the door to new converts - if that was even possible.

In the first century church, apostles were the leaders of the church. These men walked with the Lord and were anointed to lead by His authority. Anyone trained to serve was called a disciple, which basically included every convert. These converts were divided into small logical family groups and met in someone's home under the care of elders who took care of the spiritual needs of the flock. Elders were men over 40 years of age who administered, pastored and taught the word to those under their care. Finally, as many as were needed were assigned the care of the dependent within the congregation and given the title of deacon or deaconess.

According to the dictionary, ministry is service by another name, meaning to give help and assistance to someone in need. Apostles, disciples, elders and deacons were all ministers and every function they provided was vital to the Body. But the most important ministry was discipleship and was never overlooked, nor should it be so today. To do so means the needs of a congregation might outgrow its capacity to minister thus causing some of the flock to lose faith and go back into the world.

That begs the question: of which group are you are part? Are you one of those to whom others minister, or are you someone who ministers to others? Have you been discipled and if so, are you now discipling someone else?

Understandably, such questions probably seem odd to anyone in the twenty-first century church. It seems we've been convinced the only ministers in a church are the those paid to do it vocationally. In the old days, a word was given to describe this privileged class of ministers, namely "clergy," a word literally meaning to derive a living from others. The word given to those who were not clergy was "layman." The only problem with these terms is they're not Scriptural!

Every person who has been saved by the grace of the Lord Jesus is a minister - good or bad. They should have been taught how to do it by someone capable of doing so. They should now be serving the family of God like an faithful apprentice who is learning a trade from a master, who upon "graduation" will find his own apprentices."

Yes - every person who professes to be a Christian should be a minister. There is no free-ride in the church unless a person is totally dependent of someone to care for them. (In that case, it is the church's responsibility to care for them.) The idea of a privileged "class" of vocational ministers leading the church congregation is not the example left by the first century church nor the one endorsed by the One who challenges us to personally disciple the world in His Name. (Mt 28:19-20)

I challenge you to find your "place" in the church. If you've never been discipled, find a mature Christian who will do it. If you've been discipled, then you're presently ministering to the church while discipling someone else. Right?

Just Thinkin'... WebServant

Scripture comes from the Holy Bible, New International Version; (c)1978 by New York International Bible Society

Copyright © 1998-2003 James R. Green and Prayertower Ministries
All Rights Reserved

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I'll pray today for...
* My spouse
* My children
* Their friends
* My friends
* My employer
* My city
* My country
* Civic leaders
* Schools
* Teachers

* The sick
* The lost
* Those in despair
* The hospitalized
* The grieving
* Widows
* Orphans

* My church
* My pastor
* Church leaders
* Other churches
* Persecuted church
* Missionaries
* Myself