Christ’s Body: The People of the Church

No one person or group can accomplish all of the work of the Church. It is by God’s design that all believers are gifted and equipped, so that they may give of their gifts, time, and resources to sacrificially serve one another. What is this work? It could be almost anything that comes up in the life of the church as ministry presses forward in the task of maturing the saints and reaching the lost. In this way, a spiritually vital church evidences its soundness in the life of its people. It is evidenced as Christians are prepared for service by good teaching and faithful examples, and through the unity they enjoy in the truth, and the encouragement they draw from knowing Christ. It is evidenced as each increasingly bears the marks of maturity, growing into Christ-likeness, and becoming more spiritually stable and sure. It is evidenced as foolishness and carnality give way to holiness and peace, and words of wisdom abound. Finally, it is evidenced as the whole body is built up in love by what every part supplies.