What is “Body ministry”? Most people understand the importance of taking care of their bodies. Diet, exercise and self-discipline are very important to achieve and maintain a healthy body. But what is “spiritual” body ministry? What is God’s plan for the church (the body of Christ) to take care of itself?

A key verse is found in the book of Ephesians…

“And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equip- ping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head–Christ– from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.” Ephesians 4:11-16, NKJV.

The above text is commonly used in the “Pentecostal” community to promote the doctrine of “the 5-fold ministry”, the teaching that every church needs not only pastors, teachers and evangelists but also apostles, prophets and those with “special” spiritual gifts. Though this point is well taken we often overlook the most important aspect of this text. I call it, “the 6-fold ministry”. That is, the equipping of the saints (every true Christian) for the work of the ministry. The purpose of all church “leadership” is to train, encourage and equip the entire church (the saints) for ministry.

You are ALL called to “ministry” (service).

Let 2018 be the year you step up and fulfill your calling!

Pastor Mike