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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