Opportunities For Member Ministry
For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith. . . For we are
God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works,
which God prepared in advance for us to do.
Ephesians 2:8, 10
This Bible study was compiled and approved by
WELS Congregation and Ministry Support Group—Commission on Adult Discipleship.
Opportunities For Member Ministry
Study Leader Notes:
When the group is larger than seven, find ways to split them into smaller groups to discuss several of the pertinent questions (your choice) and have them report back their insights. Do your best to make sure the discussion is open and no individual dominates—including you, the leader.
This Bible study is not intended to cover all the passages or facets of this subject. It is intended to provide a platform for discussion or catalyst for further study. Feel free to change the questions and make them more pointed for your situation. Depending on the time and the people present you may want to delete the text from the participant’s guide and have them look up the references in their own Bibles.
The answers are provided as food for thought to spark more thinking on the topic—not the final word or perfect application for all situations. It is not the pat answer that you seek, but growing insights into the theological foundations and practical applications for the participants’ church/area of ministry.Encourage open conversations for discovery of God’s will for your ministries and for clarifying the importance of this for the Church at this time.
Don’t feel you need to rush through this topic to finish the sheet in one session. Deeper study and more personal interaction are valuable.If lively, more involved discussion is benefiting your group, consider carrying over the study to another session instead of skipping questions to reach the end.
Getting Started
•What percentage of the membership of your church is active in ministry?
Make an estimated guess at this (if possible quickly run through your membership list and count those that are core members, active helpers, regular attendees, infrequent and finally inactive.What does it tell you about your congregation?
•Discuss the mistakes we make (or weaknesses we have) in getting people involved in ministry activity.
This could range from lack of communication of opportunities to lack of direction or training.It could touch on putting the wrong people in position or missing the gifts of others who would love to serve.It may have to do with a lack of focus and unified understanding of mission.What is it in your case?
•What kind of impact could you imagine would result from a high percentage of members actively using their gifts to serve Christ’s mission through your congregation?
Getting Into the Word
2 Timothy 3:16-17:16All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.
Ephesians 2:8, 10:8For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith. . . 10For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
- What do the passages above say about the results we could expect as God’s people grow through regular Bible study?
The glorious gospel message creates faith in the hearts of his people. But faith is not the end of his work in us. He has created us for active tasks to serve and glorify him. God has a purpose for us in mind. Our training in Scripture outfits us for that work by molding our character, broadening our understanding of our purpose in life, and opening our eyes to see the work he has set in front of us.How thoroughly equipped are our members?
- Compile a list of good works that could be among those that God prepared in advance for people to do?Do your members see and seize those opportunities?
Wouldn’t it be great if all members were to discover what there is to do and to what extent they can be involved—“You mean I can do that?” The leadership goal is to help people see these opportunities as part of the big picture of God’s plan for us (Acts 1:8-9) applied to everyday life situations. Are those involving them in visiting the sick or imprisoned?Do they have to do with raising the children in a God-fearing way?Might it be listening to a neighbor or co-worker and sharing with them the hope you have in Christ?And don’t forget telling friends and family about Jesus, giving generously of time and finances to the Lord’s work through the church, helping with property maintenance.The opportunities are countless.
- Discuss ways you can help your members see and seize those opportunities
Share your insights and ideas.
Luther maintained that “the works of the priests and members of the religious orders are not a whit more sacred in the sight of God than those of a farmer in his fields or of a woman in her household duties.”
1 Corinthians 12:1, 7:1Now about spiritual gifts, brothers, I do not want you to be ignorant. . . . 7Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good.
Romans 12:4-8:4Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, 5so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. 6We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man’s gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith. 7If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; 8if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully.
- For what reason has God given spiritual gifts to people?
For the common good . . . we each belong to all the others. This is not an individual pursuit or for mere self-fulfillment but part of a larger picture. It is what we are as parts of the body of Christ—through whom the Lord builds his kingdom.
- Draw out other realities you learn about those gifts in the passages above.
Everyone has been given gifts from the Holy Spirit. The gifts may vary greatly because of the different purposes/functions God intended. All should match their gifts to appropriate activities with the energy, diligence, and cheerfulness to serve. Think through the importance of matching people with opportunities and needs that correspond with the gifts God has given them in the body of Christ.
- Explain what “in proportion to their faith” has to do with gifts and their use?
You want to lead the people to see that spiritual gift development is a life-long process as is the deepening of our faith. The insight and growing passion of faith displays itself in the proportionate use of gifts.Individuals will use their gifts “in proportion to their faith.” How important it is that Bible study goes along with the use of gifts to give it the proper motive and strength.
- Are the spiritual gifts only to be used within the congregation?Explain.
The body of Christ interacts with its other parts so that God’s work is accomplished, but that doesn’t mean spiritual gifts are to be focused only on the congregational activity at “church.” The members of the body of Christ are there to interact with a world that needs to know the sacrificial love of their Savior.Using member gifts will not only be seen within the congregational setting, but in mobilizing them to be a force wherever God places them among people.The mission of the church will show up in his mission in their daily lives. Let God use them where they already have connections and influence (home, work, community) and direct them to focus energy with mission in mind
Ephesians 4:11-12, 16b:11It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, 12to prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up…16as each part does its work.
- Identify what Paul says are reasons God provides his Church with spiritual leaders.
They are to unfold the beauty of the gospel for people (made real and exciting after the impact of the law).They are to “prepare God’s people for works of service.” Being a Christian, a disciple of Jesus, is not a passive life, but one that is to be energized to serve in unique ways in this world “as each part does its work.”
- Discuss ways to move people from a mentality of a “club membership” or “spectatorship” to active involvement in gospel ministry—being part of the active movement of the body of Christ to the world.
It is so important to remember that we ARE the Church, the body of believers, not just names on a membership list. We need to move from the idea of club membership to active discipleship as a functioning part of the body of Christ.This isn’t about being comfortable with the service and privileges of a “club” but seeing the training needed to be the army of God against the enemy to rescue the lost. We don’t want members to be just “pew sitters.” Members need to see themselves as “people of God” on a mission in daily life. They are not the audience but the participants—not static but active in the world. The pastor is not to be performing while others watch, but helping to stir up the gifts of people to serve—fan into flame the gifts God has given them.
Luke 10:1-20:1After this the Lord appointed seventy-twoothers and sent them two by two ahead of him to every town and place where he was about to go. 2He told them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field. 3Go! I am sending you out like lambs among wolves. 4Do not take a purse or bag or sandals; and do not greet anyone on the road.
5”When you enter a house, first say, ‘Peace to this house.’6If a man of peace is there, your peace will rest on him; if not, it will return to you. 7Stay in that house, eating and drinking whatever they give you, for the worker deserves his wages. Do not move around from house to house.
8”When you enter a town and are welcomed, eat what is set before you. 9Heal the sick who are there and tell them, ‘The kingdom of God is near you.’10But when you enter a town and are not welcomed, go into its streets and say, 11’Even the dust of your town that sticks to our feet we wipe off against you. Yet be sure of this: The kingdom of God is near.’12I tell you, it will be more bearable on that day for Sodom than for that town.
13”Woe to you, Korazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago, sitting in sackcloth and ashes. 14But it will be more bearable for Tyre and Sidon at the judgment than for you. 15And you, Capernaum, will you be lifted up to the skies? No, you will go down to the depths.
16”He who listens to you listens to me; he who rejects you rejects me; but he who rejects me rejects him who sent me.”
17The seventy-two returned with joy and said, “Lord, even the demons submit to us in your name.”
18He replied, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. 19I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you. 20However, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.”
- Apply what you learn about equipping the saints to do ministry from Jesus’ activity here.
Jesus showed 72 people the urgent need for what they were going to do (“harvest is plentiful, workers are few”). He warned them of the difficulties they may encounter (“like sheep among wolves”). He gave them specific instruction and then sent them out to personally get involved (OJT—on the job training). Notice the excitement they had as they returned.After they returned he did a debriefing.He taught them to rely on God and not themselves during their serving.He taught them to rejoice not in the results (positive or negative) of their efforts, but that God has graciously written their names in heaven.
As for us...instead of getting people more involved with meetings, are there better ways to train people for being more active in ministry?Can you discover effective strategies for getting people into the Word and into the world with it—to release God’s people for service in a way that they also find excitement and meaning in it? People do not need meaningless activities or endless meetings, but want to make a difference. God’s mission in their hearts, God’s purpose in their plans.
Summarize
Summarize what you learned and discussed about opportunities for member ministry.
Share
Share an example of where effective equipping took place that resulted in many members becoming activated to do ministry.
Challenge
•Evaluate your approach to getting people involved:Do you use people to fill the needed ministry slots or do you discover their gifts and help them find ways to use them?
•How do you help your congregational members discover and apply their “spiritual gifts?”
•Determine where the pastor might best serve the ministry of the gospel and in what areas it may be better for the gifts of others to serve.
•Develop a plan to retool your way of carrying out ministry (including your organizational structure) to release more people into more meaningful gospel ministry.
•Analyze the training and support you provide for those who want to serve.How much freedom is your pastor given to train people for ministry rather than doing much of it himself?
•Where can members become more involved in
Worship
Teaching
Caring
Leading
Evangelism
Prayer
Express repentance for where we have come short, ask for renewed joy in our forgiving and victorious Lord and for direction to better involve people in meaningful gospel service.