Sermon Title: I'm the Pastor ..... I Mean Minister
Bible Text: 1 Peter 2: 2-10
In the New Testament, there are two books called 1 and 2 Peter. They are not really books,
but letters that Peter, the leader of the twelve Apostles, wrote to the newly formed
Christian churches to help them know what it meant to be a Christian and a congregation.
And what he told them is still powerful for us today. Peter said that fellow Christians
are like building blocks. Each one, when put together, builds up the house of the Lord.
In other words, Christians, joining together as a congregation, bring forth Christ's
compassion and care. Peter summed it all up in 1 Peter 2: 10 when he said that Christians
are called by Christ "that you may declare the wonderful deeds of him who called you out
of the darkness and into his marvellous light."
Now, consider this. Some years ago I was given a bulletin from a church in a distant city
where someone from my church had attended while visiting relatives. It was inspiring to
read the responsive passages used by another pastor and to get a feeling of how that
church held worship. But at the top of the bulletin I read something that disturbed me.
The heading said,
South Side Church Pastor: Arthur White Ministers: The Members
of the Church.
My thoughts were that this was theatrical, calling the members of the congregation ministers.
But the more I thought about it, and the more I considered what Peter is saying in his
letters to the new churches, that pastor is right. Each member of a church is a
minister ...... in a way. Being part of a church means proclaiming Christ as Lord,
giving to the work of the Lord, being together to praise the Lord, living a life that
is honorable to the Lord, and working as the Spirit leads you, to do bring the care of the
Lord into the lives of others. Isn't that what Peter is saying when he states "that you
may declare the wonderful deeds of him who called you of the darkness and into his
marvellous light."
There's a poem that has three closing lines that helps us understand how, being part of a
church congregation, does make us ministers. The poem says"
When I say I am A Christian, I'm not going it alone,
I know I have my church and faith.
I know we are his own.
When I say I am a Christian, I can celebrate His call.
The Lord appointed each of us to minister to all.
When I say I am a Christian, it is fellowship divine.
To be His church, and trust His light,
through me, through us may shine.
So maybe that pastor's statment on his bulletin was not so off beat after all. Not when
you consider that being a minister means "answering the call to do the will of Christ" in
word, in deed, in action.
And to do that, it takes a congregation .... people who, because you are Christians, are
shown ways to "declare the wonderful deeds of him who called you out of the darkness and
into his marvellous light."
When I say I am a Christian, it is fellowship divine.
To be His church, and trust His light
through me, through us may shine.
Good ministering to you. Amen.