God has made all of His creation interrelated, especially mankind, whom He has made in His own image. This is especially true within the church. 1 Corinthians 12:20-27 reminds us that as important as some of the prominent members of the human body are it is possible to live without them, they are important but not absolutely necessary. You can lose an eye, ear, hand or leg, and still live and function. But if you lose your heart, liver or brain you will die. You can notice the breathing of your lungs and the pulse of your heartbeat, but their work is not nearly as obvious as what we do with our hands or feet, yet their work is vital to life. Yet these vital organs are not often recognized for what they do, they are often taken for granted until they are not working properly. So to is the work that takes place in the body of Christ. Much of the work goes unnoticed and unrecognized by the people around them, but that work is vital to the life and service of the church. Remember, what you are doing in the body of Christ may seem insignificant to you, … READ MORE

I am forever in debt to people who I have never met. I am indebted to them because of the impact they have had in my life through outstanding books and articles. My life is richer and my ministry has been strengthened by people I have never met, but because of them I have grown through their work and ministry. The reality we need other in our lives. After God put man in the garden and man had named all the animals, God said, “It is not good for man to be alone!” If we needed each other before sin entered the world, how much more we need each other now. That is why Christ established a redemptive community for His body (the church). God has made us and redeemed us not only for Himself but for each other. We do not grown in faith and obedience if not for Christian teachers and friends who help and guide us along the way. We cannot possibly fulfill our own ministry, without being mutually dependent on others. Let me turn this for a moment and suggest something in light of these truths. Just as we need others, others need us. Relationships are … READ MORE

We need to understand that the most vital gifts to the church are not those that everyone sees, but those which produce the heartbeat of the church, and bring life to the church. The obvious gifts give the church identity, but not life. What a privilege it is to serve the Lord, don’t rob the church and yourself of the privilege of service to the body. You want to have a sense of belonging and a sense of satisfaction in your life? Use the gifs and talents you have to serve the body of Christ whether they express appreciation for those things or not. It is a blessing to know that there is One who ALWAYS notices the little things we do. Remember Jesus said in Mark 9:41 “For whosoever shall give you a cup of water to drink in my name, because ye belong to Christ, verily I say unto you, he shall not lose his reward.” Now go out and serve the Lord this weekend!… READ MORE