Imagine asking the average church attendee, “Whose job it is to do the following things?”
Who is supposed to share the gospel with unsaved people? Live a holy life? Pray? Admonish, encourage and help other believers? Visit the sick? Lay hands on and heal the sick? Bear the burdens of others? Exercise his gifts on behalf of the body? Deny himself, sacrificing for the sake of God’s kingdom? Make and baptize disciples, teaching them to obey Christ’s commandments?
Many church attendees would, without hesitation, answer by saying, “Those are all responsibilities of the pastor.” But are they?
According to Scripture, every believer is supposed to share the gospel with unsaved people:
But sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence (1 Pet. 3:15).
Every believer is supposed to live a holy life:
But like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your behavior; because it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy” (1Pet. 1:15-16)
Every believer is supposed to pray:
Rejoice always; pray without ceasing (1 Thes. 5:16-17).
Every believer is expected to admonish, encourage and help other believers:
And we urge you, brethren , admonish the unruly, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with all men (1Thes. 5:14, emphasis added).
Every believer is supposed to visit the sick:
I was naked, and you clothed Me; I was sick, and you visited Me; I was in prison, and you came to Me (Matt. 25:36).
