By Laura Springer with Jeff Barnhart
Key Passages: Ephesians 4:1-6, and Romans 12.4-8; 1 Corinthians 12:4-7; 12.27-30; 1 Peter 4:7-11
Key Idea: Our service to the one God as his one church is resourced by investments of grace given by Christ through the Spirit. These investments of grace line up with who we are and when and where we live; they are designed to meet the needs of those we serve so that the church may develop as the one family of God.
Amid cultural division and a widespread entitlement mentality, the church must stand as God's one church, a community of servants and a family of siblings who love God and people. What can TFB do to be God's one church in this place right now?
Christ invests his grace in his one church through opportunities and supplies to particular persons in specific places. While the church includes all who trust Christ across time and culture, the church manifests as local congregations. Just as the global, timeless church is one, so is each congregation united. Christ invests his grace in local congregations through opportunities and supplies that fit the locations and methods of individuals within each local culture and circumstance. His investments of grace help us serve him and one another in ways that mature this congregation as the one body of Christ, filled with portrayers and embodiers of him.
Christ's investment grace lines up with who we are, when and where we live, and those we serve. While Christ's investment of grace always aligns with his intention and will, he also conforms these investments of grace--these spiritual gifts--to our relationships, life settings, and places of service. He matches his gifts to how his people minister in their communities and cultures so believers can do his will. He equips all Christians so that everyone can minister. In addition, the local body partners with Christ, educating all as ministers and instructing all concerning God's truth revealed in Scripture and Creation. By this, the people of God deepen their unity and better worship their Savior.
Christ's investment of grace enables us to develop as the one family of God. As every member ministers, the local congregation can better live as one family toward Christ, the Lord of Heaven and Earth and Head of the Body. Serving as one church and serving one another deepen our life together as siblings who are the children of one Father and the servants of Jesus. As ministry together moves toward Jesus, the source and measure of the church and the one who directs her life, we come closer to one another. These spiritual gifts, or ministry assignments, are tools by which the church grows in size and matures as the family of God in Christ. Ministering as one church lives out our unity in Christ, centers us on truth, and maintains our affection for God and one another. As we share ourselves as a community, we mature as a church characterized by unity, mutuality, diversity, and generosity.
Being God's one church requires learning his ways so we might love one another well through service and live wisely as the one family of God. (1) The more we know about Jesus and his investments of grace in us, the better we can serve one another as his ministers. We must use our time in gatherings like life groups and worship services to teach one another God's ways. (2) The more we serve God together, the more we grow as a family of loving siblings. We must use our participation in service events and ministry teams to care for one another from hearts of affection. (3) The more we serve others using God's resources, the more we can minister in, for, and as a family. We must actively love one another as we eat, play, and work together, using our gifts to serve others and strengthen family unity. Let us decide now to be God’s church: a community of servants and a family of siblings who love God and people and teach others to do the same.
Who writes Academy? Laura has an MDiv in Christian Education, a ThM in Systematic Theology, and a PhD in Educational Studies. She also serves TFB as a guitarist (primarily) and singer in TFB's worship band. Jeff has a Certificate in Biblical and Theological Studies and is currently working on an MA in Spiritual Formation and Soul Care. He also serves as kitchen lead for TFB's Family Dinner and as TFB’s bookkeeper.
