The ministry of the laity is the work of mission or ministry that every single person who is a believer is called to do. Each person has a responsibility to proclaim the Good News not just those who are in ministry. There are many different settings that we as believers can preach the Good News without having to be in a church or be a pastor. In the following paragraphs, I will unfold a plan that will train the laity to minister in their Home and Neighborhood Settings. Often there has been a misinterpretation that the gospel can only be preached in the walls of the church. “For just as we have many members in one body and all the members do not have the same function, so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one
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“(Ammons, 1975). Just like the neighborhood needs to understand their role outside of the church, it is also vital that they understand that they are partners with the clergy. The ministry of the laity is as important as any other ministry in the church. Whether you are pastor on staff at a church, a stay home mom or a lawyer; we all play a part in the body of Christ. “Thus, the ideal and the reality were present in the church from the begin- ning. Ideally, the church is a community of Spirit-filled individuals, each called to demonstrate God 's grace in the world.” (Leonard, 1988). We were created to reflect God’s love and grace here on earth. If ministry only remians within the walls of the church, who reaches those who never attend church?. We do not know the return of Jesus, thereforth we should equip everyone to preach the Good …show more content…
After being in church for a year, I did decide to attend bible college and become a pastor. I did not make this decision because I thought it was the only way to preach the gospel. I made this decision because I understood what God had created me to do. Just like he called me to be pastor, he calls people to be other professions. In this paper, we saw the clear impact that a united home and neighborhood have on the body of Christ. A household that expands their knowledge outside of Sunday service, will be able to utilize the Holy Spirit in different areas of their lives. “The church exists not for itself but on behalf of the world. We are called, all of us, to be the salt of the earth, not to be salt of the salt” (Vos, 1984). Imagine a church that only hid behind the four walls of a building, a church that never impacted the rest of the world. I grew up in an aethist home, and ended up getting saved inside a church but how many don’t? How many people miss out on an eternal life with Jesus because we restrict their salvation to a building? My family refused to attend church when they were non believers. It was through my role outside the church that they came to know Christ. It was the grace and love I showed at home, in my job and our community. We must never underestimate the role of the laity in our church. Just like we must never underestimate the role of the pastoral team as well.
“(Ammons, 1975). Just like the neighborhood needs to understand their role outside of the church, it is also vital that they understand that they are partners with the clergy. The ministry of the laity is as important as any other ministry in the church. Whether you are pastor on staff at a church, a stay home mom or a lawyer; we all play a part in the body of Christ. “Thus, the ideal and the reality were present in the church from the begin- ning. Ideally, the church is a community of Spirit-filled individuals, each called to demonstrate God 's grace in the world.” (Leonard, 1988). We were created to reflect God’s love and grace here on earth. If ministry only remians within the walls of the church, who reaches those who never attend church?. We do not know the return of Jesus, thereforth we should equip everyone to preach the Good …show more content…
After being in church for a year, I did decide to attend bible college and become a pastor. I did not make this decision because I thought it was the only way to preach the gospel. I made this decision because I understood what God had created me to do. Just like he called me to be pastor, he calls people to be other professions. In this paper, we saw the clear impact that a united home and neighborhood have on the body of Christ. A household that expands their knowledge outside of Sunday service, will be able to utilize the Holy Spirit in different areas of their lives. “The church exists not for itself but on behalf of the world. We are called, all of us, to be the salt of the earth, not to be salt of the salt” (Vos, 1984). Imagine a church that only hid behind the four walls of a building, a church that never impacted the rest of the world. I grew up in an aethist home, and ended up getting saved inside a church but how many don’t? How many people miss out on an eternal life with Jesus because we restrict their salvation to a building? My family refused to attend church when they were non believers. It was through my role outside the church that they came to know Christ. It was the grace and love I showed at home, in my job and our community. We must never underestimate the role of the laity in our church. Just like we must never underestimate the role of the pastoral team as well.