Ask not how a preacher can minister to you; ask how you can minister to others. Then you will begin to experience the “one anothers” of the New Testament and God’s love will no longer be a theory, but will become a reality in your midst.

There are many “one another” commands in the New Testament.  For example:  “Teach and admonish one another;” “Encourage one another;” “Speak to one another with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs;” “Submit to one another;” “Carry each other’s burdens;” “Love each other deeply.”

Biblically ministry was intended to be one to another; not just one ordained professional to others.  However, we have been trained to mostly be receivers of ministry — to attend a meeting, passively sit back, and let the same person (week after week) teach, preach, and/or minister to us. 

It is a rare church meeting where Christians are given the opportunity to minister to one another — to encourage one another, to teach and admonish one another, to personally pray out loud with one another, to share their testimony with one another.  We act like I Corinthians 14:26 isn’t even in the Bible:  “What then shall we say, brothers and sisters? When you come together, each of you has a hymn, or a word of instruction, a revelation, a tongue or an interpretation. Everything must be done so that the church may be built up.”

Paul clearly tells us that when we come together as a church, each one of us has something to share with the gathering.  Perhaps that verse is more than a suggestion that we can ignore.  Perhaps it is God’s way of bringing His life and power to us!

Nowadays there are Christians who meet and obey this verse.  It is called organic church.  In Nashville, a place to experience I Corinthians 14:26 in action is:  The Salvation Army Berry Street Worship Center, 225 Berry Street, 37207, at 10:45am on Sundays.