The Bible offers the key ingredient Christians — laypeople, ministers and church leaders alike — need to help them learn to lean upon one another. Each believer is a necessary and vital part of the body of Christ.
Robert Creech, director of pastoral studies at Baylor University’s Truett Theological Seminary, pointed to Romans 12, Ephesians 4 and 1 Corinthians 12-14. Romans 12 emphasizes each part of the body has a use, and God has given each believer a different gift to use as part of the church.
Christians are to use their gifts to foster unity in the body of Christ, according to Ephesians 4. Unity comes when Christ’s followers recognize they are bound through one Spirit, one faith and one baptism. God lives in followers and works through all of them.
First Corinthians 12 is more specific in its call for each part to remember its function and that the body relies on it to fulfill its special place. Chapter 13 reminds believers that their role in the body must be wrapped in love, and chapter 14 focuses on using special gifts appropriately.
Second Corinthians 1:3-4 guides Charles Chandler’s work through his Ministering to Ministers Foundation. In his mercy, God comforts his followers, who, in turn, are to comfort others in the same way.
Jesus’ life is the model, noted Bob Dale, an author and leader coach based in Richmond. “Jesus modeled how to welcome others’ gifts and blessings when he allowed his feet to be washed and perfumed,” he said.
“Churches are webs of blessing. We need others to bless us and to be blessed by us. And the flow of blessing is multi-directional,” he added, citing Acts 2:43-47.