Active Engagement: Being the Church Together

The call to “be the church” is not just about attending a service or belonging to a group, but about living out an active, engaged faith as part of Christ’s body. Every believer, upon surrendering to Jesus, is not only welcomed into the universal and local church but is also called to participate, to serve, and to use the unique gifts God has given. Too often, church is seen as a spectator event, but Scripture paints a different picture: each member is vital, each gift is necessary, and the health and growth of the church depend on everyone’s engagement.

God has given a variety of gifts and roles within the church, as seen in Ephesians 4, Romans 12, and 1 Corinthians 12. Some are called to leadership—apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers—whose role is to equip others for service and maturity. But the gifts go far beyond leadership: prophecy, service, teaching, encouragement, giving, administration, mercy, wisdom, knowledge, faith, healing, and more. Each of these is a manifestation of the Spirit, given for the common good, and no gift is more valuable than another. The church is like a body, where every part, no matter how small, is essential.

Engagement in the church is often hindered by personal barriers—introversion, selfishness, pride, or fear of failure. Yet, God’s call is to step beyond these, trusting that He has a purpose and a place for each one. Sometimes, the very thing we resist is what God wants to use most powerfully in us. The early church grew not through elaborate strategies, but through prayer, surrender, and a willingness to say “yes” to God’s leading.

To be the church is to move from passive attendance to active participation. It means discovering and using your gifts, serving others, and allowing God to work through you for the good of the whole body and the world. The invitation is simple but profound: don’t just go to church—be the church. Say yes to God’s call, however small the step may seem, and trust that your obedience will build up the body of Christ and shine His light in the community.

Key Takeaways

• 1. Every believer is uniquely gifted and called to active engagement in the church. God does not call anyone to be a mere spectator; each person’s involvement is essential for the church to function as Christ intended. When you withhold your gift, the body is less than it could be, and your participation brings fullness and strength to the community. [05:52]
• 2. The diversity of gifts—whether leadership, service, encouragement, giving, or mercy—reflects the unity and creativity of God. No gift is higher or lower; all are needed, and each is a manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. Recognizing and honoring the gifts in others fosters humility and interdependence, making the church a dynamic, living body. [24:27]
• 3. Barriers to engagement often come from within: fear, pride, selfishness, or a sense of inadequacy. These are not just personal struggles but spiritual battles, as the enemy seeks to keep us from effectiveness in God’s kingdom. Often, the area of greatest resistance is where God most wants to use us, and saying “yes” in that place can unlock new purpose and fruitfulness. [29:40]
• 4. The early church’s growth was rooted in simple, faithful practices: prayer, surrender, and obedience. Rather than relying on complex strategies, they sought God together, listened for His direction, and responded when He called. This model remains powerful today—when we pray and surrender, God reveals His will and empowers us to serve. [32:15]
• 5. Serving in the church is not about position or recognition, but about love in action. Whether teaching children, organizing projects, giving quietly, or showing mercy, every act of service is valuable. The call is not to do everything, but to do something—responding to God’s prompting and allowing His love to flow through us to others. [34:48]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [00:39] - Called to Commit: The Meaning of Church
• [02:05] - Barriers to Engagement
• [03:20] - The Call to Serve: Ephesians 4
• [06:31] - Understanding Apostles, Prophets, Evangelists
• [08:26] - The Role of Pastors and Teachers
• [10:21] - Moving from Spectator to Participant
• [11:37] - Everyone is Gifted: Romans 12
• [14:13] - The Gift of Prophecy and Truth
• [16:03] - Serving, Teaching, and Encouraging
• [18:00] - The Quiet Power of Givers
• [21:53] - Organizers and Mercy-Givers
• [23:07] - The Body of Christ: 1 Corinthians 12
• [25:05] - Unity in Diversity: One God, Many Gifts
• [27:39] - Every Member Matters
• [28:57] - Overcoming Resistance to God’s Call
• [31:38] - The Early Church’s Simple Model
• [33:32] - For the Common Good: Manifesting the Spirit
• [34:48] - Start Small: Saying Yes to God
• [35:26] - Closing Prayer and Blessing

Bible Reading

Ephesians 4:11-16 (ESV) — > And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.

- Romans 12:6-13 (ESV)
> Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching; the one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who contributes, in generosity; the one who leads, with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness. Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality.

- 1 Corinthians 12:4-12 (ESV)
> Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone. To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. For to one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another the ability to distinguish between spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. All these are empowered by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as he wills. For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ.

Observation Questions

1. According to Ephesians 4, what is the purpose of the different leadership roles (apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, teachers) in the church? [04:38]
2. In Romans 12, what are some of the different gifts Paul lists, and how does he say they should be used? [12:17]
3. How does 1 Corinthians 12 describe the relationship between the different gifts and the unity of the church body? [24:27]
4. The sermon mentions that every believer is given a unique gift. What are some examples of these gifts, and how do they function in the church? [18:00]

Interpretation Questions

1. The sermon says that when believers withhold their gifts, the church is "less than it could be." What does this mean for the health and growth of the church? [27:00]
2. Why do you think Paul emphasizes that no gift is higher or lower than another? How does this challenge the way we sometimes view certain roles in the church? [25:45]
3. The pastor shared that barriers like fear, pride, or a sense of inadequacy can keep people from serving. Why might these internal struggles be so powerful, and how do they relate to spiritual opposition? [29:40]
4. The early church grew through simple practices like prayer, surrender, and obedience. What does this suggest about what is most important for church growth and effectiveness? [32:15]

Application Questions

1. The sermon challenges us to move from being spectators to active participants. In what ways have you been more of a spectator than a participant in church life? What is one small step you could take to get more engaged? [10:21]
2. Think about the list of gifts in Romans 12 and 1 Corinthians 12. Which gift do you most identify with, or which one do others see in you? How could you use that gift to serve others in the church? [12:17]
3. The pastor mentioned that sometimes the thing we resist most is what God wants to use in us. Is there an area of service or involvement you have been avoiding? What might it look like to say "yes" to God in that area? [28:57]
4. Barriers like fear, pride, or feeling inadequate can keep us from serving. Which of these barriers do you most relate to? What would it look like to trust God and take a step past that barrier? [29:40]
5. The early church relied on prayer and surrender rather than complex strategies. How could you make prayer and surrender a bigger part of your approach to serving in the church? [32:15]
6. Serving is not about recognition or position, but about love in action. Can you think of a way to serve quietly or behind the scenes this month? What would motivate you to do it? [34:48]
7. The pastor’s first act of service was teaching a Sunday school class, even though it scared him. Is there a way you could start small, even if it feels intimidating? Who could encourage you as you take that step? [34:48]