3 Ways That Every Christian Can Be Involved in Ministry

Many Christians see ministry as something limited to pastors and other gifted leaders in the congregation. This small group does the ministry and the rest of the congregation watches and (hopefully) funds the ministry with their offerings.

In some ways I can understand that. Not everyone is gifted in preaching, evangelism or music. There are certain roles that you cannot just pick a random person and expect them to it. If you gave me a guitar and expected my lead worship in my church, it would not be a good experience for anyone.

However, there is no biblical support for ministry being limited to an elite few. It acknowledges that certain people have certain gifts but also expects that everyone should be involved in some way.

Part of what needs to happen is that people need to take the time to discover their gifts. Too often we start with the openings in the church and then try to fill the roles with warm bodies. It is better to begin with the gifts and then free people to operate in those gifts.

In addition to that, there are certain parts of Christian ministry that everyone can be involved in. You might think of these as the “bare minimum” but I see them as the essentials that many of us let slip through the cracks.

1. Prayer. We give lip service to prayer but how much effort do we put into our prayer life? And are our prayers focused only on ourselves and our family? We should pray for personal needs but we should also pray for our congregation. If your church has a directory, consider praying through the directory. Listen for the needs of the members and bring them to God. Pray for your leaders.
2. Encourage One Another. Our words can be used to tear down or to build up. While it is important to avoid words that bring people down, we should not be satisfied with silence. Be active in encouraging people in the congregation. This could be spoken words, an email or a card in the mail. Never underestimate the power of encouragement.
3. Be a Good Witness. I am not gifted at evangelism, although I do try to share when the opportunity comes up. While sharing our faith is important, a major part is just living a life that is a good witness. If your neighbours found out you were a Christian, would they be shocked? Does your life reflect the faith that you claim to hold? None of us are perfect, but how we respond to our failings can be a part of our good witness.

What other ways can all Christians be involved in ministry?

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