Because of the inefficient, ineffective clergy-laity model of role expectations in the present churches the members of the Body are not functioning as they should. While lip-service may be paid to how important each member is, in many instances neither the pastor nor the people really believe this.

The people are only too ready to give their spiritual proxy to the pastor. In too many cases the pastor is only too ready to receive their proxy and do their spiritual work for them. When this is true, Christ is not formed in the believers.

The Body must be built by that which every joint supplies. We cannot emphasize too strongly that every believer is given grace by the Spirit so that the members of the Body can come to the fullness of Christ.

But how can a member of the Body of Christ find out what he or she is supposed to be contributing?

The only way you can really find and enter your ministry is by presenting your body a living sacrifice. This is how you prove the will of God.

The laying on of the hands of a godly presbytery accompanied with prophecy is very helpful, and scriptural. But all will come to nothing until you come before God in stern discipleship.

It is incumbent on the leaders of the assemblings of Christians to encourage widespread participation. An effort must be made to get the people going, particularly the young people. It isn't easy and takes lots of prayer.

The old programs are not going to bring us into the Kingdom. We must bring the people to an awareness of what God wants.

Prayer is the main thing. We are having forty-five minutes of prayer in our Sunday morning service, just before the main service begins. People with needs come forward and the saints that are there pray for them. This "burden-bearers" time is conducted by elders and experienced Christians. I am in my office preparing the message. Never do for the congregation what they can do for themselves is a good rule to follow I believe.

Much can be accomplished with banners and tambourines to get things moving, particularly with the young people and children. Expressive worship movements can occur as the children and young people come forward during the song service and portray with their bodies the words of the choruses.

We have a group of men doing Hasidic dancing with some of the hymns. There are all kinds of things that can get the congregation involved.

Mime is an effective way of communicating.

Hopefully this is just the beginning. We still haven't got to the place where the prophets are acting out their prophecies as well as speaking or singing the words.

It's onward and upward. This is only the beginning. The people are not going to be able to stand during the age of moral horrors that is upon us if all we have is an introduction, three points, some anecdotes, and a conclusion. Final hymn. Stand by the door. Marvelous sermon, Pastor. God bless you. Football game this afternoon. Mickey Mouse tonight.

Vigorous expression in worship on the part of everyone is necessary to carry us through the week. Hopefully such participation will lead to more manifestation of the gifts and ministries of the Spirit.

Did you know the United States is by far the number one producer of pornography (U.S. News and World Report)? One hundred fifty hard-core pornographic videos are being produced each week. And America is a Christian nation? Business as usual in the churches is never going to prepare God's people for what they and their children and grandchildren will be facing in the immediate future.

We are to be built up in Christ by that which every member supplies. The clergy-laity pattern must give way before the Body of Christ pattern.

The goal is to provide a dwelling place for God. Your contribution is absolutely essential if God is to have the house He desires.