Studying through the book of Ephesians gives you a fresh
view of the church: a diverse group of people who have been radically
transformed from their sinful nature by the power of God through the person and
work of Jesus Christ on the cross of Calvary where he paid for the sins of the
world as a substitute sacrifice. These diverse people who have no reason to
live and work together, let alone care for each other, choose to live in love
and unity in the church to the praise and glory of the Lord’s name. This is
powerful and attractive when it is lived out in a local church. This therefore
means that every member has to be devoted to building others up. Previously, I discussed
the five types of member that do not build up the church. Today I would like to
discuss six types of members that build up the church.
The attending member
Attending is the most basic way members build each other up.
It is also the most obvious way one shows commitment to the body just like
class attendance is the easiest way a student shows that he is serious about
class and studies. There is something encouraging about knowing a brother or
sister is going to be present at a church service, and you are going to worship
God together. The writer of Hebrews tells the believers to “stimulate one
another in love and good deeds” and to “encourage one another,” and the way
they are to do this by “not forsaking the assembling of the believers.” (Heb
10:23-25). You cannot build others up if you are not meeting with them
regularly and faithfully. It is therefore no wonder that those who are
regularly absent from church meetings are often stagnate in their faith and become
complaining and grumbling members. Dear Church Member—church meetings are not
about you or your convenience. Build others up by faithfully attending church
meetings.
The encouraging
member
“Encouragement is shared with the hopes that it will lift
someone’s heart toward the Lord (Col. 4:8). It points out evidences of grace in
another’s life to help them see that God is using them. It points a person to
God’s promises that assures them that all they face is under his control.”[1]
The encouraging member commends, recommends, praises,
thanks, comforts, urges, supports and complements other members. We often think
of encouraging as merely giving praise, like a spectator in the terraces.
However, biblical encouragement is more than that; it is a fellow teammate
urging you on in a play to either put on a defense against an opponent or take
them on in attack. And encouraging is not flattery. It is not just being nice
and telling people what they want to hear; rather, it is honest and sincere. It
will commend those who serve well, and yet it will also urge those who are
struggling in their walk with the Lord. Such kind of member is a great blessing
to the body; strive to be one.
The confronting
member
As we live together as a body, we will soon discover that we
are sinful people. We will sin against each other, and we will struggle
personally with sin. The sin will pose a challenge to the unity of the church
and the glory of God. This therefore requires members to confront one another
in love and with gentleness. The confronting member is the opposite of a
gossiper and slanderer. They obey the charge of Scripture to confront and
restore people who are living in sin (Matt. 18:15-18, Gal. 6:1-2). What motivates
the confronting member is not just that someone’s sin has offended but that the
Lord is offended by sin. They confront out of love for God and other believers.
The praying member
I have always been struck by Samuel’s statement to David
when he said, “far be it from me that I may sin against you by not praying for
you” (1 Sam. 12:23). We have a responsibility to pray for each other. The spiritual
and godly member is devoted to prayer. They have learned to depend on God so
they highly value prayer. The praying member learns to talk less to people and
more to God about people. The praying members are the unsung heroes of
churches. If prayer is what drives the church, then the praying member is
essential to the health and growth of the church.
The serving member
Attending is good and important, but members should do more
than just attend. They should serve. They do the work of ministry. They use
their gifts to serve God and serve other members. They build up the church with
their gifts and talents. There is great encouragement that comes from knowing
you are not the only one on the team. There is great comfort from knowing that
you have teammates fighting with you and encouraging you as you battle. People
who are not serving in the church are very discouraging to the rest of the
body.
The patient member
This may seem a bit odd to some but patience is a virtue
that is very important for the individual believer and the congregation as a
whole. The Christian life is not a sprint but a marathon. Our walk with the
Lord is a process, and we will not grow over night. This therefore means that
we have to learn to endure with each other’s weaknesses and short comings. We
have to learn to forgive without holding grudges and disciple one another with
all patience. A patient member graciously puts up with other people’s failures
and realizes that no church is perfect, and as a result, they are joyfully patient.
A church with patient members is a church where members confront one another,
encourage one another, confess sin to one another and forgive each other.
Conclusion
Dear Church Member—pursue these
things in your own life and encourage them in other members. These are good
things to pray for one another. The type of members that build up the church
are faithful in attendance, committed to encouraging others, while confronting
sin. They serve faithfully and are patient with others. This builds up the
church of Christ.
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