¹¹ It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, ¹² to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up ¹³ until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ....¹⁵Speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ. ¹⁶ From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.   Ephesians 4:11-13,15,16

What an amazing, powerful picture is painted of Christ's church.  The church is not about entertainment, petty attitudes, religious ritual, power-mongering, socializing or charity.  It is the body of Christ.  And Jesus is the head.  And every member plays an important part, even as every ligament plays an important part for the support and strengthening of the human body.

It is amazing, to me, the design of the human body.  God has created us in such intricate detail that if even one of the smallest ligaments does not fulfill its role, the entire body is dysfunctional.  Some of you may remember my little bicycle accident in our cul de sac.  (I wish I could say I got my injury from a motor bike after I had just sailed over a gnarly jump that landed me in a tree.  But, alas, no, it was only me, a youth bicycle and a curb.)  Regardless, the result was a ligament that tore off in my thumb, taking a chip of bone with it.

When the hand specialist told me I would need surgery, I asked him if I could just "let it be."  He assured me that this was not possible.  And, frankly, I found it easy to agree with him.  For even as I tried to button my clothes and grasp everyday objects, it became evident to me just how important that one little ligament was.  Paul's message to the church is that, just as every little ligament in the body has an important part to play, each member of Christ's church has an important part to play.  If we do not fulfill our roles, the body, in some measure, becomes dysfunctional.  But as we do fulfill our roles, then the body is built up.

Ultimately, the goal of "going to" church is not to experience an inner sense of personal fulfillment, though this is a tremendous by-product.  Instead, biblically speaking, we are part of the church so that we might be better prepared to serve and, together with other believers, build up the body of Christ.  Not members, not crowds, not even organizational success are the primary goals.  It is unity, growing, becoming mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.

I pray that we, the elders of Renton Bible, along with our intern Joshua Williamson, will be the sort of pastors and teachers who are effectively preparing God's people for works of service.  I pray that we will do our part in the building up of the body of Christ, to be growing toward maturity and helping others do the same.

And I pray that all those who count themselves "God's people" at Renton Bible will be responsive to this instruction and will, in turn, do the work of ministry!  Given my upcoming sabbatical, it will be especially important that everyone is doing their part so that Renton Bible can not merely survive this summer, but thrive this summer.  As one of the elders mentioned, this sabbatical is a great opportunity for our body to express the fact that ministry is not dependent upon a single individual, but upon the whole body functioning together.

Borrowing from a well-known speech, "Ask not what Christ's church can do for you, ask what you can do for Christ's church?"  Together, may we build each other up in love, for the strengthening of Christ's body and the advancement of Christ's kingdom.

Your Fellow Minister, Pastor Dan