One of my favorite times of the year when playing sports as a kid was when we were issued our football equipment. We always wanted the coolest and best-looking gear, not only to protect ourselves but to impress those around us. To be honest, it was more about how we looked than how safe we were while using it. We had to impress the ladies…
The necessity behind having equipment was not really understood by our teenage mindsets. We didn’t realize how important equipment truly was until we were put in a situation that needed it.
You see, in every sport there is some type of equipment that the athlete must have in order to effectively participate in that particular sport. Some sports require more equipment than others, but the equipping of the athlete in any sport is necessary none-the-less.
Equipping for life and ministry is not much different from athletes being equipped for their sport. It may not be a physical equipping like that which made us look cool in high school, but as believers we must understand that we need to be helping equip one another so that we can effectively participate in the life God has designed for each of us.
Exposing the Action to Equip One Another
What Does It Mean to Equip One Another?
Equipping one another for life and ministry is not far removed from an athlete being equipped for the sport they are playing. Although the physical nature of the equipping may differ, the purpose proves to be similar. The Bible gives us a clear meaning of what equipping should be like and understanding it will prove to be effective for one another.
We can draw from the content of Scripture that equipping one another is helping provide the necessary paraphernalia for the talents and abilities distributed for achieving a specified tasks to further God’s Kingdom. The work or practice of the equipping may differ from person to person, but the intentionality of the equipping stays the same. We must understand that we as believers are equipped for a purpose; not one of our own, but one that edifies the church and glorifies the King.
What does the Bible say about equipping one another?
The concept of equipping the church for life and ministry is clearly present in Paul’s letter to the church in Ephesus. He admonishes them when communicating the roles established within the church for the purpose of equipping the body (Eph. 4:11-12). He goes on to tell them that the action of equipping is to be accomplished between one another, as they are joined together, for the purpose of effective growth (Eph. 4:15-16).
We can read other stories within Scripture that convey the same message of equipping one another in life and ministry, but the clear command is also present. In Romans 15:14 Paul tells another church, “I myself am satisfied about you, my brothers, that you yourselves are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge and able to instruct one another.” The key word is “instruct.”
When Paul talks of instructing one another he is admonishing them, i.e. giving counsel for one’s own behavior and actions, in order to equip them for what they are facing. Essentially, Paul is giving them the equipment in which they need in order to participate in a manner that is glorifying to God.
What is a clear model of equipping one another?
Like what most coaches do for their athletes, is that they properly display an example that clearly communicates their desire for a particular outcome. It’s true that when we have a clear example to follow it is more likely that we will be able to follow the instructions given.
Jesus is obviously the truest model of equipping that we can look to in Scripture. His life and ministry with His disciples that is displayed throughout the Gospels communicates necessity of equipping. Not only does it communicate the necessity, but it also communicates the commitment to equipping others.
Jesus spent three and a half years pouring His life into the twelve disciples, only for them to not fully understand. It wasn’t until after the pouring out of the Holy Spirit that things in which Jesus instructed really came to life and equipped them for life and ministry.
Why is equipping one another important for impacting the culture of your church?
Equipping one another promotes the growth that God intended for the church to display His glory through making disciples. Through the equipping of one another the culture of the church is impacted by the ability for the church to be unified in their thinking and common goal of glorifying God by fruitful growth. Paul explains this in Eph. 4:15-16 when he states, “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” (Eph. 4:15-16).
So, why is equipping one another important for impacting the culture of your church? Because it is through the growth of the church that fruit will be displayed therefore promoting an environment that is cultivated for personal and spiritual growth. A culture of a church must be centered on the “stuff” that makes it grow. The “stuff” being the instructions and example of Christ.
Conclusion
Whether it’s the heavy, manly enhancing equipment of football or the light, delicate equipment of soccer, the proper equipment is undeniably needed for whatever sport the athlete is participating in a certain season. As you can see, the proper equipping for life and ministry is similar to the athlete’s equipping and must be pursued for an individual to be successful in whatever they are doing. When we help equip each other properly for the engagement that God has gifted us to participate in, we will be able to see the fruit of the labor for God’s Kingdom and change the culture that we minister within.
Allelon Principle 