On 8/14, Lord willing, we plan to look at Hebrews 6:9-12. One verse that stands out is v.10, highlighting the ministry of these people to their fellow believers. Sad to say, but much of the contemporary church creates a great divide between “ministers” and laity. Here’s John Stott weighing in (from his book The Contemporary Christian, p.140):
all Christians without exception are called to ministry, indeed to spend their lives in ministry. Ministry is not the privilege of a small elite, but of all the disciples of Jesus. You will have noticed that I did not say that all Christians are called to the ministry, but to ministry, diakonia, service. We do a great disservice to the Christian cause whenever we refer to the pastorate as “the ministry.” For by our use of the definite article we give the impression that the pastorate is the only ministry there is, much as medieval churchmen regarded the priesthood as the only (or at the least the most “spiritual”) vocation there is.
In this section of Hebrews, the writer has dealt with spiritual immaturity. But because these Christians aren’t just nominal Christians (professing something but not living it) but actually serve others, they can have hope and confidence in their spiritual standing. I wonder if your current service to others would point to you being one who has spiritual fruit? Of if you would just be Christian in name only, not in deed? Come this Sunday and see how we live relates to what we believe.