BIBLE READING: Jude 1.3-4, 17-23; Acts 20.28-35; Acts 14.19-23; 1 Peter 5.1-5; Proverbs 31.8-9

There are many circumstances and people that can assault, discourage and deviate our faith. 

• Struggling with financial or health circumstances (Proverbs 30.8-9)
• Physical persecution against our beliefs (Acts 14.19)
• False teachers (even in the church!) with wicked motives (Acts 20.30)
• Ungodly people posing as believers (Jude 4)
• Scoffers who live by their passions and cause divisions among God’s people (Jude 17)

Frankly speaking, we are not always aware of danger or equipped to defend against it. If we were, there would be no need for fellowship with others. But God knows better, and we should too. Repeated admonitions in scripture are “do not be deceived” (see 1 Corinthians 6.9-10; 15.33; Galatians 6.7; Colossians 2.8), “bear one another’s burdens” (Galatians 6.2) and “pay attention to yourself” (see Acts 20.28; 1 Timothy 4.16). Even those who charged with being defenders must observe this warning, because we are involved in spiritual warfare that is both powerful and persistent (Ephesians 6.12; Revelation 12.17). 

Protectors and defenders are a gift from God and a critical work in the body of Christ. We know that overseers, or shepherds are specifically appointed to fulfill this role (see Acts 20.28-ff). In his wisdom, God knew that if it was simply everyone’s job, it would easily become no one’s job. And so, we need to appoint men to watch over our souls (Hebrews 10.17). However, protecting and defending are works we all can do in some way.

Our relationships with one another should develop greater awareness of spiritual needs and improper influences.  We need to understand that this awareness creates responsibility. That means we need to hold each other accountable for wonky ideas. Sometimes we need to involve ourselves in a situation to keep another from destroying their faith. Sometimes we need to go out of our way to show compassion and love when someone is ready to give up. The enemy and the influences of this world are too much for us to handle on our own. And so, we must appreciate those with the courage and boldness to protect, defend and come to our aid. This work can be difficult, but it may be the work that keeps you faithful and saves your soul.

Not everyone has the personality to defend publicly, and that is why we need elders. But we must appreciate that in the body we must protect and defend one another if we are to build up the body to maturity and, ultimately, glorify God. As Jude would say, “you, beloved, building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life. And have mercy on those who doubt; save others by snatching them out of the fire; to others show mercy with fear, hating even the garment stained by the flesh” (Jude 20-23).

BIBLE READING: Romans 10.13-17; Acts 18.24-28; Ephesians 4.11-16; 2 Timothy 4.1-5; Acts 8.26-35

A crucial part of the body is the work of teaching and preaching. God gave “apostles, prophets, evangelists, shepherds and teachers” – roles requiring various levels of instruction – “to equip the saints for the work of ministry” (Ephesians 4.11-12). The body cannot grow up unless those with the ability to teach exercise that talent for the good of others.

Teaching is often viewed through the lens of public speaking. This is an important responsibility not everyone is capable of doing and should be handled with care (see James 3.1-2). Preachers specifically must “reprove, rebuke and exhort with complete patience and teaching” (2 Timothy 4.2). Bible class teachers must guide others in understanding both the meaning and the call to action from scripture (see Acts 8.30-ff). But they aren’t necessarily the only teachers in the body, and we must not think this is the only teaching that matters. Apollos was a bold proclaimer of the Scriptures, but he needed to be taught more accurately the way of God by Priscilla and Aquila (Acts 18.26). His influence was great but this couple had the important role of teaching him in a private way.

I would argue that more critical teaching often occurs in these intimate settings. Having coffee to discuss challenges in parenting can bring clarity from God’s word to specific situations. Sitting on couches and helping couples work through relationship and family struggles makes God’s word a real and relevant force in these moments. The preacher can teach on these subjects, but these moments of fellowship and teaching make it personal. While very few will know, this work of teaching shapes and solidifies faith in ways that public speaking never can.

Teaching and preaching are skills given by God’s grace to build up the body in love (Ephesians 4.15), and those who serve in this way must never forget the goal: to make Jesus known and help others to grow (Acts 8.35; Ephesians 4.12, 16). There is no value in filling time with words or chasing rabbits. “Faith comes by hearing the word of God” (Romans 10.17), not some idea or speculation about what it says. These things lead to instability and self-righteousness, not trust in God (Ephesians 4.14-15). The greatest threat to the church is not persecution or government restrictions. It is a false gospel that allows people to sit comfortably in sin and selfishness. Our culture is filled with feel-good, self-help messages that allow pride to fester in our hearts. We can easily default to thinking we are doing fine because we are “good” people who behave “better” than others. This is not the gospel nor is it humble before God. The body needs people bold and sound in faith to show us the way of God accurately. And so, our teaching and preaching must not concede to anything but the Savior of our souls and his rule in our lives. Let us have this expectation of one another and let those who teach take seriously this charge from God.

BIBLE READING: James 5:13–16; Colossians 4:2–4; 2 Thessalonians 3:1–5; Hebrews 13:18–19

“Finally, brothers, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may speed ahead and be honored, as happened among you…” (1 Thessalonians 3.1)

We should never be trite in saying, “I’ll pray for you.” Prayer is a powerful and effective in our work of faith (James 5.17). We are encouraged to do so with devotion (Acts 2.42), both steadfastly and earnestly (Colossians 4.2; Hebrews 13.18-19; Acts 12.5). It is not a last resort or a way to excuse ourselves from involvement with others. To truly pray for one another is a the most meaningful work that we all should do.

In scripture, the prayers of the saints brought unity, direction, encouragement, and wisdom (ex. Acts 2.42-47; 6.1-6 13.1-3; 16.25). It moved God to save (Acts 12) and settle their hearts in the fear of him (Acts 4.23-31). The outcome of prayer is always in God’s court, according to his purposes and for his glory. But it is our efforts of prayer that position us to receive his mercy and align ourselves with his purposes. When we pray for one another, it knits us together in one mind and heart. In Christ, I grow when we grow. God is glorified as we become closer knit together as a single body, working in harmony and love (Ephesians 3.10, 4.11-16; Colossians 2.2). We need to constantly pray for one another towards this end (Colossians 1.9).

For this reason, Paul often sought the prayers of the brethren in his work of faith. He trusted in the power of God’s Spirit to align their thinking according to God’s plans and not his own. In his request to the Thessalonians, we see his intentions: To speed ahead God’s word and honor him. Paul understood it was the Lord’s work to move his efforts forward. He had seen it happen among these very brethren. But he also knew that it would come according to God’s timing and purposes. Their prayers to this end would be encourage him and honor God’s work in their efforts.

When we pray for each other, we become more aware of God’s will. We learn more about his desire for all people to be saved and come to repentance (2 Peter 3.9). We recognize the need for his people to grow into maturity in Christ (Ephesians 4.15; Colossians 1.28). We gain confidence in his love towards us and through us (1 Thessalonians 3.4-5).

We must never see prayer as a wishful incantation or an easy out. It is a powerful tool for fellowship and direction from God. We pray because we believe God hears and acts. We don’t presume to tell him what to do, but we trust that when the righteous cry out, the LORD hears them and delivers them out of their trouble (Psalm 34.17). So, let us be earnest to serve one another with this work of faith.

BIBLE READING: Colossians 3:23

Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men…” (Colossians 3.23)

We should be encouraged that in God’s kingdom there is work that we all can do. But we must also understand that Jesus expects us to work, and to work hard. This general admonition applies not just to specific efforts of faith, but (as Paul showed in the context of Colossians 3) to every moment in life (see Colossians 3.18-24). God’s people are known for making the best use of their time (Ephesians 5.16) and treating every opportunity as an occasion to serve the Lord.   

For some, this verse is an admonition to set aside laziness and get to work. Our culture has conditioned us to seek comfort which can lead us to apathy rather than urgency. We must see that idleness is inconsistent with the example of Christ, the New Testament believers, and the teaching of scripture (see 2 Thessalonians 3.6-12). The wise man emphatically said, “Go to the ant you sluggard and learn his ways” (Proverbs 6.6-11). In other words, laziness is unwise and unacceptable. There are seasons of rest where we enjoy God’s grace, but we must never stop working for the Lord. In fact, the scriptures encourage us to become more determined to work as we mature in faith (Philippians 3.12-16; 2 Peter 1.12-15). As Paul would say, “Let those of us who are mature think this way” (Philippians 3.15). Our calling is to be devoted to good works (Titus 3.8, 14), and not grow weary in doing good (Galatians 6.9).

For some, this is an admonition to pursue proper approval. There are many who work hard because they want to be seen by others. They want the recognition for their actions. “Beware of practicing your righteousness to be seen by others,” Jesus would warn. “For then you will have no reward from your Father in heaven” (Matthew 6.1-2). Frankly speaking, men can be appeased by mediocrity or deceived by one who gives the occasional appearance of industry. But God sees and expects us to work from the heart and not simply for pretense. Do your work in a way that God would be pleased and not just those who will see you.

For all, this is a call to be diligent in what we do regardless of the circumstances. Our life has purpose and value, even in the most mundane moments, because our service reflects greater truths about God and Christ. “Even though he was in the form of God, he did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped but humbled himself taking the form of a servant…” (Philippians 2.6-7). It is not the magnitude of our efforts but the determination of our hearts that God honors. Just like Christ, if we submit ourselves to service in this lifetime, we have the glory from God before us to live in for all of eternity. And so, let us have this mind in ourselves, to work hard as for the Lord, knowing that our labor is not in vain (Philippians 2.3; Colossians 3.23; 1 Corinthians 15.58).

BIBLE READING: 1 Peter 4.7-11; 1 Corinthians 15.58; 1 Thessalonians 5.15-22; Titus 3.4-8; John 6.26-29

The New Testament calls us to work, and our bible reading this week is a snapshot of this calling:

• “As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace…” (1 Peter 4.10)
• “Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.” (1 Corinthians 15.58)
• “The saying is trustworthy, and I want you to insist on these things, so that those who have believed in God may be careful to devote themselves to good works.” (Titus 3.8)

God, through Christ has called us to himself and given us abundantly what we need for life and godliness so that we can work for him. Through his generosity, there is not a single person in Christ who lacks what they need. Therefore, our focus should not be on my perceived value or the difficulty in front of me, but his grace to me and making the most of what I’ve been given. That’s the parable of the talents (Matthew 25.14-30) and that’s the motivation for why we MUST work in our faith. We are called and equipped for service in every good work.

So, we must appreciate that in the body there is work that we all can do. This is a critical thought for all of us because there is such a vast spectrum of people composing the body of Christ. Some have very evident roles while others may never be seen. Some people are naturally confident, while others are more reserved. Some struggle with pride as they practice their faith while others insufficiency. These factors affect how we view others, ourselves, and the body as a whole. But what makes the body thrive is when each member is aware that 1) their function is given to them by grace and 2) has an attitude that ‘I MUST use my gift to serve the body.’

To do this, we must settle our attention on the right things. We must see people and their needs. We must see opportunities matching our abilities. We must open our hearts to the tug of God’s calling even when we are afraid or feel lacking. We must believe in Jesus, recognizing his grace is sufficient in every circumstance to allow us to serve him for the glory of his name. We may feel inadequate or limited but it is not my power that secures his promise. It is my faith in his completed work, trust in his direction and determination to follow Jesus that settles my spirit in obedience to do the work he has planned for me.

We must not get caught up in simply meeting our needs in the present. As Jesus said, “Do not worry about your life, what you will eat… drink… wear… is not life more than food and clothing? Besides that, your heavenly Father knows that you need them all” (Matthew 6.25-34). We must set our minds on things above (Colossians 3.1) and realize that true fulfillment comes from believing Jesus and doing the work of God has planned for us (John 6.26-29).

“The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.” (1 Corinthians 15.56-58)