The Biblical Basis for a Member Care Ministry
In the early chapters of the book of Acts we read of the birth of the church. The disciples of Jesus obeyed their risen Lord by going to Jerusalem and waiting for the coming of the Holy Spirit. As they prayed, there was suddenly the sound of a mighty wind, the appearance of fiery tongues and the disciples were all filled with the Holy Spirit. They all spoke the mighty works of God and miraculously, thousands of visitors in Jerusalem coming from all corners for Pentecost, heard the disciples praise God, as if they were speaking in their own native languages (Acts 2:1-13).
Signs, miracles and powerful preaching were the order of the day for the early church. The evidence of their Holy Spirit fullness went beyond signs and wonders however. The Bible tells us that the thousands who were converted as a result of the Apostles’ preaching were added to the church, and they all dwelt together in unity, happily sacrificing for one another so that no one among them went without.
The love and unity which developed among such a diverse group was as much evidence of the Holy Spirit’s work as were the miracles.
However, these idyllic conditions didn’t last forever. In the 6th chapter of Acts, we read this:
Now in these days when the disciples were increasing in number, a complaint by the Hellenists arose against the Hebrews because their widows were being neglected in the daily distribution. Acts 6:1
Widows were to be cared for by the church, but it seems that as relief was being distributed among the widows, the Greek-speaking Jews were being neglected. The oversight of the needs of these widows caused some in the church to complain and a rift developed between the Hebrew and Greek contingents of the fellowship. The unity of the church was threatened.
It wasn’t just the unity of the fellowship that was in danger however, the passage continues:
And the twelve summoned the full number of the disciples and said, "It is not right that we should give up preaching the word of God to serve tables. Acts 6:2
Also at risk was the very ministry of the word of God. If the Apostles were to spend their time overseeing and fulfilling the practical needs of the congregation, they would neglect their most important callings – prayer and the preaching of the word of God. This was not something the Apostles were willing to do.
Prayer and the preaching of the word are the very means by which the gospel goes out, and by which believers grow. For the men who were gifted and called to this purpose to spend their time serving practical needs, instead of preaching would be a misapplication of their gifts, and an abdication of their calling.
That is not to say that the meeting of the practical needs was not important to the church – they were (and are). It is to say however that some, other than the Apostles, would have to be appointed to this task. The passage continues:
And the twelve summoned the full number of the disciples and said, "It is not right that we should give up preaching the word of God to serve tables. Therefore, brothers, pick out from among you seven men of good repute, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we will appoint to this duty. But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word." And what they said pleased the whole gathering, and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolaus, a proselyte of Antioch. Acts 6:2-5
To bolster the above claim that the meeting of these needs was an important aspect of the church, consider the type of men which were sought out for the purpose. Seven men of good reputation, full of the Spirit and wisdom. These were not spiritual slouches who were delegated menial tasks. These were spiritually mature men, entrusted with an essential service.
These seven men got to the task of caring for the needs of the widows, and their service immediately helped the church:
These they set before the apostles, and they prayed and laid their hands on them. And the word of God continued to increase, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests became obedient to the faith. Acts 6:5-7
Our passage begins with “Now in these days when the disciples were increasing in number” and ends with “And the word of God continued to increase, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly...” but this is only the case because between these statements, we have the appointing of men to care for the practical needs of the church. The growing church needed a ministry to care for the practical needs of its members, and these men fulfilled it well.
Some believe these men should be called deacons while others are not so sure. Regardless of what you call them, these men were servants of the church, meeting the practical needs of the people, so as to help those who were ministering the word to not be distracted from their primary calling. This is the purpose and biblical basis for a member care ministry.
Beyond Acts
The type of sacrificial care which paid close attention to the practical needs of church members (especially those who were suffering) became a hallmark of the church of Jesus Christ. After all, to show such mercy was to simply follow the example that he left us. John said:
John said:
By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers. But if anyone has the world's goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God's love abide in him? Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth. 1 John 3:16-18
James spoke similarly:
Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world. James 1:27
For James, faith expressed without this mercy, was no faith at all:
What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them, "Go in peace, be warmed and filled," without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? So also, faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. James 2:14-17
It can sound very spiritual to put all of our emphasis on the ministries of teaching and preaching while downplaying the care of people’s practical needs. But according to James and John, to meet practical needs is spiritual service. A faith which is unwilling to help the suffering or sacrifice for those in need, is a dead faith. We can conclude then that a church which is not actively organizing to meet the same sorts of needs, is itself on thin spiritual ice. A growing church which is not careful to tend to the practical needs of its suffering members is in the same danger of disunity that the early church was before they appointed men to the task.
The Congregation - Gifted for Ministry
Paul wrote to the Thessalonians:
We ask you, brothers, to respect those who labor among you and are over you in the Lord and admonish you, and to esteem them very highly in love because of their work. Be at peace among yourselves. And we urge you, brothers, admonish the idle, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with them all. (1 Thessalonians 5:12-14)
Notice that in this passage Paul is addressing, not the leaders in Thessalonica, but the congregation. He gives them the charge to encourage the fainthearted and to help the weak, and to do it with patience. The church members were to be actively ministering to one another and to ensure they were exercising the proper attitude as they did it.
Paul’s letter to the Thessalonians above makes it clear that the congregation, not just the Pastor or elders, are called to minister to one another. Whereas the leaders in the church are called to labour in the word, the congregation is called to serve one another. Paul presents this vision for church life in his letter to the Ephesians:
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. (Ephesians 4:11-16)
Notice that the Pastors and teachers are given the task of equipping the saints for the work of the ministry. The Pastors and teachers pray, and labour in the word, and teach, and preach, and counsel, all the while setting an example of selfless service. They do all of this, with the aim of training and equipping church members to be able to come alongside one another and to minister
According to Paul, when this arrangement is working properly, the church will grow in unity, maturity, doctrinal stability, and love.
Further, we see that God has designed his church so that its members will minister to one another in the way in which he has provided spiritual gifts to the church. Paul says:
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. Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight. (Romans 12:6-16)
In Paul’s list of spiritual gifts, we see a few which directly relate to a member care ministry. He mentions the gift of service, giving, and mercy.
The word which Paul uses for service is the same word from which we derive the word “deacon.” It is a broad word which encompasses the idea of ministering to the church by organizing and providing for the material needs of the church. According to Paul, certain individuals are particularly gifted by God for this purpose. No doubt, evidence of giftedness would be seen in their ability to carry out this ministry while maintaining joy and patience.
Next, Paul mentions giving. This is straightforward - it is simply referring to those who have the means and willingness to share their wealth to provide for others, and to do it with joy, without ulterior motives.
Lastly, Paul mentions the one who does acts of mercy. This refers to the one who is particularly aware of, and sensitive to the needs of others. This person is not only empathetic, but is moved to act and give themselves to help alleviate the pressures upon those who are suffering.
The fact that God has gifted some believers for the specific purpose of loving others through practical service, mercy and giving, drives home the point that a well-functioning church not only must have a thriving word ministry, carried out by those who are gifted for the task, but also a robust mercy ministry which has equally gifted believers working within it. This is what we at Calvary call a member care ministry.
See also: Gal 5:13; 1 Pet 4:10; Gal 6:2; Mark 10:43-45; John 13:14-15; Acts 20:35; Rom 15:1-2; 1 Cor 13:4-7
