Multiplying Church Ministry in Your Church

There is nothing quite like the church when the church is being the church it was meant to be by God. The church is meant to be a beautiful harmony of different voices and abilities coming together to make a symphony of worship to God through the various purposes of the church. It is glorious that not every member of the body is gifted the same and each has a part to play in the success of the church. Those gifts and abilities can be stifled when church leaders don’t seek to multiply the ministry of the church. There are multiple passages in the Bible that speak to the roles and gifts of the members of the church body. Each of them point to an intentional design that creates diversity in gifts, but unity in mission. The eye really can’t ever say to the hand that, “I don’t need you.” 

The city and church of Ephesus held a special place in the mission of Paul. In his letter to that church Paul gives a wonderful perspective on how the ministry of the church is multiplied through the different gifts of the members.

And He gave some as apostles, some as prophets, some as evangelists, some as pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the building up of the body of Christ; until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ. As a result, we are no longer to be children, tossed here and there by waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of people, by craftiness in deceitful scheming; but speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, that is, Christ, from whom the whole b ody, being fitted and held together by what every joint supplies, according to the proper working of each individual part, causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself in love.

Ephesians 4:12-17 NASB2020

The earliest issue/conflict the church faced was how to serve the people around them. The Apostles immediately recognized an opportunity to expand the ministry of the people by giving ministry tasks to others. In turn the church developed health and vitality. Paul would see this truth and impart it to the churches he founded and ministered to over the years. There are a few simple values that can be gleaned from these early church decisions.

Recognize You Have Limits

That God declared that He gave different roles and gifts within the people of the church reveals that nobody has been called to do everything. As a human being you are made with limits. You get tired. You have strengths and weaknesses. There are areas that are not your ideal place of service. That is okay. That is how God made you. There are things only you can do, things you have to do, and there are things that others can do better than you. Not recognizing your limits is a pathway to burnout and failure.

Entrust Ministry To Faithful People

At the end of his life Paul admonished Timothy to entrust the things learned from him to faithful people. Ministry begins to be multiplied when it is entrusted to faithful people in the church. Not perfect people. Not all together people. Faithful people. God has given people gifts, personalities, abilities, and experiences to see the church built up and edified. The church is healthier overall when ministry is expanded to the people. And the passage in Ephesians above is a reminder that it is a part of God’s plan to see the tasks of ministry given to the faithful members of the church.

Give Them Space to Lead

The people entrusted with ministry leadership will need equipping and training. That is an important aspect of it. However, once trained, those people don’t need micromanaging. Trust them to lead, make decisions, and to take care of it. Those leaders will make mistakes. Fail. Get things wrong. And the most horrible of things — do it differently than you would. Give them space to lead anyway. Don’t abandon them to figure it all out on their own, but let them use the gifts God has designed in them to lead the ministry. Growth and maturity come with being entrusted with the ministry of the church. 

Follow Up for Learning and Growth

Giving space does not mean you don’t evaluate, check-in, or encourage the leader of the ministry. Intentional times of follow up will help identify needs, give direction for the future, and ensure the health of the leader. These meetings can look at how the ministry aligns with the vision of the church, how the leader is doing spiritually, and if the ministry is still focused on its core task/vision. Take time to talk through the successes and the failures. What can be learned? Any adjustments that need to be made? Are there needed support items? More funding? More volunteers? Has it run its course?

The church needs every part active and functional. The handing off of ministry to the church members causes the multiplication of the church’s impact and reach. It is a fantastic picture of God using His people to accomplish His mission.