|
|
[ all are called... to discipleship and ministry ]
|
|
The  website takes its name
indirectly from 1 Peter 2:9.
Out of this Bible verse comes the idea of “the
priesthood of all believers.”
With and through the work of the Holy Spirit, the
body of Christian believers, the people of God,
represent Him on earth.
That’s us, folks, but in many churches and groups you
wouldn’t guess that this is God’s pattern and
purpose. In
many churches, the leaders, sometimes called
‘Ministers’, do it all, are happy to do it all –
and we’re happy for them to do it all!
Most of the church’s activity happens in the
building and perhaps between certain hours on a Sunday.
No accusations (we’re all in this together),
but if the cap fits … wear it.
|
But you are a chosen race, a royal
priesthood, a holy nation, God's own people, in order that
you may proclaim the mighty acts of him who called you out
of darkness into his marvellous light.
(1 Peter 2:9)
|
|
Contrast this with the view below (from a recent Peterborough Diocese newsheet on
learning opportunities for lay people).
|
-
The primary call of the laos,
the people of God, is to be the church in the
world, living the Kingdom in our everyday life.
There can be no higher calling than this.
- The role of the clergy is to help
lay people fulfil that role and there can be no
higher calling than this.
- The call of the church is to be a
sign of the Kingdom in God’s world.
|
Another key Bible idea is expressed in Ephesians
4 – all followers of Jesus Christ are
called to be ministers of God’s
grace, mercy, love and truth, and thus to grow in
knowledge and maturity. The use of capital M
Minister for church leader is rather misleading!
|
|
The gifts he gave were that
some would be apostles, some prophets, some
evangelists, some pastors and teachers, to
equip the saints for the work of ministry, for
building up the body of Christ, until all of us
come to the unity of the faith and of the
knowledge of the Son of God, to maturity,
to the measure of the full stature of Christ. (Ephesians 4:11-13)
|
|
So,
the purpose of is to
encourage all Christian believers to take
discipleship and ministry seriously.
You can learn more about what eLearning is
and what it has to offer.
The site will also tell you about courses
that will help you to grow, and enable you to link
across to www.equipforministry.org
where you can view
some sample eLearning courseware.
We
hope too that you might like to join the
allbelievers community of lay people who want to
“come … to maturity, to the measure of the
full stature of Christ.”
|
 If
you would like a fuller understanding of all this,
please drill down for some heavy theological stuff that has already been
signed up to by many church streams.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
up level