Every Member Matters

Sermon Summary: “Every Member Matters” — Pastor Bailey

Traditions often feel timeless, but many of the practices we consider permanent are far younger than we realize. Pastor Bailey opened this message by reminding us that for over a century, Americans lived without reciting the Pledge of Allegiance. Likewise, before the TSA was formed, air travel operated very differently. These examples reveal how quickly customs can become “normal,” even though they are not eternal truths.

The same danger exists in the church. Over time, congregations can mistake routines and programs for God’s pattern. What many think of as a “traditional service” often features one minister and a small team doing the work, while the majority remain passive observers. But Scripture paints a very different picture.

Pastor Bailey turned to Matthew 16:18, where Jesus declares, “I will build my church.” The Greek word ekklesia means “assembly” or “called out ones” — not a building. God’s design for the church is a living congregation, not a location or a structure. The Bible consistently describes the church as people: the congregation in the wilderness (Acts 7:38), the body of Christ made up of many members (1 Corinthians 12:27), and believers gathered in homes (Romans 16:5).

From the start, the church grew through a simple, Spirit-led pattern: Go, Teach, Baptize, Teach (Matthew 28:19–20). In Acts 2:42, we see them continuing in doctrine, fellowship, meals, and prayer. Ministry was relational and participatory, not complex or program-driven. Even a boy’s simple offering of loaves and fishes (John 6) became miraculous in Jesus’ hands — a reminder that God uses ordinary contributions to accomplish extraordinary results.

This truth leads to the heart of the message: every member matters. In 1 Corinthians 14:26, Paul describes gatherings where “every one of you” brings something — a psalm, a teaching, a word of encouragement. Order was needed, not to silence participation, but to ensure edification. The biblical pattern is not passive attendance, but active, Spirit-led contribution from the body.

Pastor Bailey emphasized that the church grows healthiest when participation flows beyond the pulpit and into the congregation. Whether in public meetings or from house to house (Acts 20:20), God designed His people to strengthen one another through testimony, prayer, encouragement, and teaching.

To help restore this biblical pattern, Pastor Bailey shared practical questions he uses in gatherings, such as:

Has anyone seen God answer prayer this week?

Does anyone have a song or verse to share?

Who needs prayer or encouragement today?

These are not programs, but invitations for the Spirit of God to work through His people.