Introduction
Many Christians already belong to a church, attend on Sundays, and serve in ways that feel helpful. For them, this rhythm feels sufficient—and they assume that’s what being part of the Church means: attending, being kind, and following Jesus the best they can. But is that really what the Bible says? If you have a sense there's more to it, you may be asking:
Is this what Jesus really meant by "follow Me"?
Am I giving God enough—or does He require everything?
Does my church exist to help me become like Christ in every area of life—or just in the spiritual parts?
Most churches are faithfully sharing the gospel, teaching God’s Word, worshipping Him in praise and offering opportunities to serve within the church. This article praises all of that, but invites us to see more—not to add more burden to faithful staff and volunteers, but to recognize more fully what God has been asking of the Church all along: to love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.
To discover what that truly means, we’re going to peel back a few traditional layers—one at a time—to see the bigger picture. Then we can decide for ourselves where the responsibility of the Church ends: as we see it before...and after reading this article.
Layer 1: What Most People Think Church Is
Most Christians define church in one of three ways:
A place where people gather for worship.
Programs that include teaching, singing, giving, and serving.
People—those who gather, learn, and serve regularly.
None of these are wrong. But none of them are complete.
When Jesus said, “make disciples,” He didn’t mention buildings, services, or denominations. He said: “teach them to obey everything I have commanded you.” (Matthew 28:20)
And what had He commanded? Not just what He said during His earthly ministry—but everything His Father had revealed. He taught from the Law, the Prophets, and the Psalms. He said He came not to abolish the Law but to fulfill it. The New Testament doesn’t replace the Old—it completes it. And the Church’s mission is not to explain half the story, but to disciple from the whole Word of God.
Layer 1 Principle: The Church is not something we go to—it’s something we are becoming. And that becoming requires the whole Word of God, not just the final pages.
Layer 2: What Makes Someone Part of the Church?
Let’s go deeper. If the Church is not just a program but a people, then who exactly is “in”? Are you part of the Church because you believe in Jesus? Because you attend regularly? Because you serve?
Scripture answers with a clear ontological filter:
“Whoever does the will of God is my brother and sister and mother.” (Mark 3:35)
This isn’t about works-based righteousness. Salvation is by grace through faith (Ephesians 2:8). But saving faith is never passive. As James writes, “faith without works is dead.” (James 2:17)
And what is God’s will? That we would return to the very purpose He gave us from the beginning:
“Be fruitful and multiply, fill the earth and subdue it, and rule over it”—for His glory and our enjoyment of Him. (Genesis 1:28)
This isn’t obsolete—it’s foundational. From Genesis to Revelation, this is the mission: steward what God has given us, multiply good into the world, and live in such a way that His image is reflected through us.
Layer 2 Principle: The Church is made of people actively doing God’s will—not just believing in His name. And that will begins with God's first command: be fruitful and multiply for His glory and our enjoyment of Him.
Layer 3: What Is the Church Actually Responsible For Discipling?
Let’s imagine truth in four quadrants, divided by two axes: what Scripture says, and what reality confirms.
| Bible: States | Bible: Silent | |
|---|---|---|
| Reality: Known | (Box 1) Consistent Truth | (Box 2) General Revelation |
| Reality: Unknown | (Box 4) Faith Is Required | (Box 3) Speculation |
This matrix doesn't replace Scripture. It's simply a tool to understand how God's truth is revealed—and how the Church might interact with it.
The Church is clearly responsible for Boxes 1 and 4—truths revealed by Scripture, whether they require faith or can be confirmed by reality. But what about Box 2—general revelation, and Box 3—speculation (see Speculative Hermeneutics for more on that)?
Traditionally, many believe the Church is responsible for discipling only Special Revelation (Scripture). But that raises a deeper question: what about believers living in Box 2 realities—plumbers, teachers, parents? Are they only the Church while at church—or are they the Church always?
Did Jesus mean we are to disciple people using only the New Testament? Or did He mean the whole Bible? And if we take seriously His first command to be fruitful and multiply in all things, where does the Church’s role stop? If we disciple only the gospel, we lean heavily on the New Testament alone. But if we disciple believers in all things, it includes the whole of Scripture and the whole of life.
Layer 3 Principle: The Church is responsible for equipping believers—not categorizing truth. And that equipping includes the whole Bible, not just the parts written in red letters.
Layer 4: What About Work, Science, and Everything Else?
Let’s make it personal:
If you’re a welder, does the Church have anything to say about how you weld?
If you’re a teacher, should the Church help you navigate curriculum and ethics?
If you’re a stay-at-home parent, is your spiritual formation supposed to include home life—or just your prayer life?
If we say "no," we reduce discipleship to quiet times, Sunday mornings, and service roles. If we say "yes," then the Church must equip believers in whatever they do. And that includes applying the full command of Genesis 1:28: being fruitful, multiplying value, stewarding creation, and ruling under God’s authority.
“Whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not unto men.” (Colossians 3:23)
“This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit...” (John 15:8)
“...bearing fruit in every good work...” (Colossians 1:10)
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace...” (Galatians 5:22)
Fruitfulness is not a metaphor—it’s the expectation. It’s the natural outflow of following God. And when the Church equips believers to do that in every domain, it becomes the Church Christ intended. We can't know the will of God for our lives without the Holy Spirit leading us, only made possible by a saving faith in Jesus Christ alone--that is the gospel we must embrace and share first. But with His leadership, we can reclaim God's original plan, on earth as it is in heaven.
This doesn’t mean every church must become a trade school. But it does mean that if no one else is helping a believer become excellent in what God has called them to do, the Church must be willing to step in—however God enables it.
Layer 4 Principle: There is no sacred/secular divide in discipleship. It’s all under Christ—and rooted in God’s first command to steward all of life as worship.
Layer 5: All In or Not In
If this vision of the Church is true, it demands more than weekly attendance. It calls for everything.
You can’t pay half the fare and expect to ride the train. You can’t give God your Sunday and keep your career to yourself. You can’t follow Jesus with part of your life and expect transformation in all of it.
That doesn’t mean you must change everything at once. But it does mean:
You give everything to Him—even if it takes time to surrender each piece until it's all.
This isn’t exclusion—it’s honesty. The door is open to everyone. But walking through it means leaving nothing behind. Fruitfulness is not optional—it is expected. Multiplication is not symbolic—it is real. Discipleship is discovering what God gave you and using it, growing it, and giving it—for His glory and the good of all.
Layer 5 Principle: Discipleship begins with full surrender—even if transformation comes in layers. And it starts by taking seriously God’s first command to steward the whole of life.
Layer 6: Who Are We Following?
Perhaps one of the most radical, and yet obvious truths, is who we’re following.
Are we following church doctrine? Leaders? Structures? Even the Bible as a static book? Or are we following Jesus—living, present, and still speaking?
The answer is clear: we follow Jesus. Scripture tells local congregations how to organize and treat those in authority with respect (Hebrews 13:17). But that’s respect for the office—not a replacement for the voice of God. Jesus is still the only Head of the Church (Ephesians 5:23). And the Holy Spirit is still the one who guides each believer into all truth (John 16:13).
If we ever wonder what God expects, we can ask Him (James 1:5). And if we need confirmation, we have Scripture (Box 1), General Revelation (Box 2) and other faithful believers.
Church leaders are called to serve—not lead on behalf of Christ. Leadership is a spiritual function, not a ruling position. Christ leads. Leaders serve those who follow Him.
As for paid staff: for jobs no member has been equipped and called, staff are hired to serve in whatever capacity they have been assigned by church leaders. These are functional roles—necessary in some settings—but not defining of spiritual authority or identity. In mature churches, the congregation is equipped to fill many of these roles from within.
Layer 6 Principle: Christ alone leads the Church. Everyone else serves to help others follow Him more fully.
Layer 7: Where Do We Go From Here?
Let’s keep doing what we do well—even better! But what about the rest? That’s going to take serious, ongoing discussion. And it’s the kind of conversation The Better Ministry (TBM) is designed to help facilitate.
Each church is called to serve God however He has equipped them for the distinct community they serve. That requires the whole congregation to decide—together with their leaders—how to move forward.
The question is not whether we have all of the answers. It’s whether we’re willing to ask the right questions.
No church is alone. We are one Body in Christ. And we can explore this together—from small groups to full congregations, from churches within a single community to entire denominations.
We are never alone in knowing God's will. From the Holy Spirit and Scripture, to one another and reality itself—God is speaking. We only have to listen, and follow.
In Summary
And that brings us here--after reading this article.
Perhaps you agree with all of it and can't wait to discuss it with your local congregation. Or perhaps you disagree with most of it and won't give it a second thought. Either way, this isn't about having all the answers--it's about asking the the important questions that need Holy Spirit led answers with the help of scripture and one another.
Everything God has made possible remains--will the Church have dominion of it for His glory--or limit itself to only preaching the gospel? Let's at least discuss it with Him together.
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