Finding Hope When Leaders Failნიმუში

Finally, we have arrived at the day I am most excited about!

Possibly my favourite aspect of church is the diversity of gifts God has distributed to his people through the Holy Spirit. While so much attention is generally given to appointed leaders in our churches, the truth is God has designed the church to be a complex, interdependent body, made up of many indispensable parts.

Have you ever experienced an “open mic” time in a church service, where any member of the congregation can share a message of hope or encouragement with the church? Undertaking such an activity can make many people nervous (and admittedly, can sometimes go in unhelpful directions). It can also reveal to us our underlying beliefs about ministry in the church, i.e. is it really for everyone, or just for the professionals?

The apostle Paul’s writing in 1 Corinthians 12 assumes (most likely because he has already experienced it) that there will be tension in the body of Christ and unequal honoring of the various gifts within it. Unless you are part of a perfect church (in which case, please let me know!), I suspect you know what he’s talking about.

Read these words again, “But God has put the body together, giving greater honor to the parts that lacked it, that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other” (1 Corinthians 12:24b-25 NIV). This presents an incredible opportunity for you and me—to give greater honor to the people that lack it in our churches!

Who do you know who has incredible wisdom but almost never holds a microphone? Who rarely prays in public but is a prayer warrior in their home? Who serves in your church–first in, last out, every week–without acknowledgement or pride? Who keeps to themselves but when they speak, words of encouragement and life pour out of them?

It is the world that chases after the loud, the confident, the successful and the wealthy. It is the world that honors eloquence, physical beauty, “strength” and positions of power. Not Christians. Not in the church. Honor your leaders… AND… give greater honor to the whole body of Christ.

[This Bible Reading Plan has been based on Episode 2 of Embracing the Fall, a six-part video discipleship series available on RightNow Media and at https://inspiringfaith.au. There is a Study Guide available if you would like to engage with this topic further with your small group.]