One of the greatest dangers churches face is the professionalisation of ministry, when the gap between the pulpit and the pew widens. At this point, church members become consumers instead of co-labourers, and the work of ministry is entrusted into the hands of a few. At this point, immaturity rules the day.
The New Testament has an entirely different view on how the church should operate. The place of leadership is never diminished, but the dignity and purpose of every individual – the priesthood of all believers – is elevated. When this happens, there is potency and life that flows through the body.
One of the core ministries of all believers (that includes you) is the ministry of the word. Aside from the authoritative preaching that is expected from ordained pastors, each person in the church family is entrusted to wield the word for the building up of the body.
This happens in numerous ways, but the main ones mentioned in the New Testament are these. First, there’s encouragement (see 1 Thess 4.18; 5.11; Heb 3.13; 10.25). This is not so much encouragement in the way we think of it – ‘You’re amazing! Back yourself! You’re gonna slaaaay’. Instead, it’s something like this: Putting courage into others by telling them the truth of what we believe; stoking up the fire of faith by helping others cling to the truth.
Second, there’s teaching (as in Col 3.16 or Titus 2.3). Obviously, not everyone is equally knowledgeable in the Scriptures. But the point here is that even if you know just a little bit more than someone else, you can teach them something. It might be a verse you read that morning that happens to be relevant at a particular moment talking to a friend.
Finally, there’s instruction or admonition. There’s a bunch of verses in the New Testament that use a Greek word noutheteo, which is translated differently in different places, but essentially it means this: Giving clear, directive, even forceful advice to someone. Take a look at Romans 15.14, or 1 Thess 5.12, 14, or or Col 3.16.
I think of it like this. If the church is a group of people on a voyage together on the high seas, there are constant waves washing over the deck ready to sweep people overboard. Someone is experiencing doubts; another is caught in temptation; another is walking through suffering. At that point, when someone is about to get washed out to sea, the nearest person needs to throw out a hand and grab them without hesitation. That’s noutheteo – a readiness to speak the truth to each other with real conviction and to help each other do the right thing and stay on board.
All of this to say: You are a minister of the word. A healthy church involves your willingness to build up the body by speaking the truth of the gospel. So ask yourself, who needs to hear from you today? Who can you encourage? Who can you help?
Tips for having good conversations
Loving people is our greatest calling. And the simplest way to love other people is to learn how to have a good conversation. It’s often through a conversation that someone feels your warmth, your attentiveness, your interest, your care.
But by saying it’s simple, that does not make it easy. Many things conspire to stop a good conversation from ever happening. You don’t feel like it. Your head is elsewhere. You feel shy. You’ve got things to be getting on with. You’re experiencing interruptions. You have little in common.
A little while ago I came across an excellent and pithy article by Jonathan Noyes with some strong advise in this area. (He’s focussed on conversations that allow you to share your faith, but I think the principles apply more broadly.) Here are some of his tips:
Be present.
‘Multitasking is a myth… This means you need to remove anything that might be a distraction from the conversation. Put your phone in your pocket until the conversation is over…
Being present, though, means more than simply removing distractions. It means being in that moment… Don’t be half in the conversation and half someplace else…
When you stay focused on the person you’re speaking to and remove distractions, you show you value him…’
Ask questions.
‘Francis Schaeffer said, “If I have only an hour with someone, I will spend the first fifty-five minutes asking questions and finding out what is troubling their heart and mind, and then in the last five minutes I will share something of the truth.”
Schaeffer was on to something. Open-ended questions like “What matters most to you in life?” “What do you find confusing about Jesus and Christianity?” and of course, “What do you mean by that?” help you understand what a person thinks so you don’t misunderstand him — or worse, misrepresent him. Asking questions helps you understand what a person believes but also makes that person feel valued and heard. Questions can be disarming and often help bring down a person’s defensive walls…’
Listen intently.
‘The number one tip I can give you to have a good conversation is to listen and be genuinely interested in the other person…
Just like with asking questions, as you listen, people become less guarded, more willing to open up and share their life with you… Steven Covey says, “Most people do not listen with the intent to understand; they listen with the intent to reply. They’re either speaking or preparing to speak.” Often, we don’t listen to what’s being said because we’re already working on a response in our mind instead of hearing all the other person has to say… Before you can have a good conversation, you have to be a good listener.’
As I said: simple but not necessarily easy. It takes practice – and you’ll have bad days as well as good. But, learning the art of conversation is truly a superpower in the call to love others.