Matthew 7:12 In everything, therefore, treat people the same way you want them to treat you, for this is the Law and the Prophets.

Romans 15:1 Now we who are strong ought to bear the weaknesses of those without strength and not just please ourselves.

Mutual MinistryWhat is it, why do it and common hurdles or objections that stand between us and the Biblical ideal.

Mutual ministry is the biblical concept communicated in such verse as Galatians 6:1-2 (c.f. Romans 15:1, Galatians 5:14, Philippians 2:4 and many others). A quick expositional note here on the Galatians passage. Verse one indicates that a brother has been caught in a sin and that those around him who are spiritual (e.g. not entangled with the sin of his fellow brother) are to

restore him. Verse 2 indicates our moral obligation to come along side a brother to ease his burden and verse 3 shows us that self-reliance is a moral and spiritual hazard we must fight.

To the point, here’s what we need to know about mutual ministry- it is critical to the fellowship. Negatively, it is ministry that restores the fallen, positively as indicated by the other cross-referenced passages, it is a proactive expression of Christian fellowship and love. It is not a biblical suggestion,

personal conviction, or simply a good idea….mutual ministry is commanded by the Scripture with the force of a moral imperative!

So what is mutual ministry? It is the personal obligation of each believer to proactively consider the needs of other believers. It’s inherently relational and thereby can be quite messy. Our model is Jesus Christ who left perfect triune fellowship to take on humanity whereby He could initiate salvific relationships with all who would believe in Him. To engage in mutual ministry is to do nothing less than manifest the character of Christ as it resides in you, to people who are hurting, burdened or otherwise in need.

Why we do it? We are to engage in mutual ministry because we have been commanded to, because Christ left us an example of what this looks like and because you ought to be desiring to be more like Him. Plus it’s really a cool thing to step outside your comfort zone and work with people who might make you feel uncomfortable. It’s my observation that God is able to accomplish more of your sanctification when you find yourself outside of your comfort zones.

You also want to cultivate a life style of mutual ministry because you live in a world of deep hurts and around people who have been deeply hurt. Ephesians chapter 4 and especially verse 3 teaches that we are spiritually joined together. If your brother is burdened or hurt you too now hurt and to some degree the body of Christ at Harvest Bible Fellowship hurts as well. Whenever I get the tiniest eyelash in my eye, I get to

1 Corinthians 1:3-4 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ the…God of all comfort, who comforts us in our afflictions SO THAT we will be able to comfort those who are in any affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God

work removing it with all abandon. My whole person is thrown into action to address one part of my body, dealing with a tiny but painful problem. How much more should we be addressing, with all grace and compassion (Eph. 4:2), the hurts, issues and problems of those around us. You are united with those who hurt. You are also part of the God ordained remedy by fulfilling the Law of Christ through bearing the burden of your brother.

What hinders mutual ministry? Mutual ministry is often destroyed when we fail to confront self reliance in our lives and in the fellowship surrounding us. Clinging to non-biblical cultural values such as personal privacy and autonomy are the proverbial nail in the tire, they leave mutual ministry flat and fellowship difficult to move forward. Against such ministry hindering influence that we are all susceptible to, we have only the remedy of God’s Word and it’s clear instructions to put off self reliance and embrace our weakness as sinners so that we will be humble enough to receive and extend mutual ministry.

A second ministry killing hurdle is that we who lead are often not open to receiving mutual ministry from others. If we are not modeling the giving and receiving of mutual ministry, you can tell the people in your small group all you want about this but they will most likely not get it, nor be inspirited to get it. Without being self seeking, create opportunities for people to serve so they can be equipped with experiential knowledge and develop a sense of what this dynamic could look like with other people in other situations.

Where do we start? As I’ve been meditating and praying over small groups it has become more apparent that accountability time is like announcing open season for mutual ministry. Here are some tips to get into the hunt:

1) Take notes about who is dealing with what.

2) Accountability partners are your prime target to get involved in mutual ministry.

3) Frequently call on your people to keep their ears open for opportunities to serve one another. Empower your people to do this by letting them know they don’t need your permission or a pastors permission to engage in mutual ministry, have them jump right in the game!

4) Know your people, when you are confronted with a need, know who in your group you can call to run with the ball.

5) Take time to give instruction on mutual ministry.

Mutual ministry starter ideas

1) Offer babysitting to a young couple2) Deliver meals or buy gift cards for people who would be helped.3) Help a person with a project like working on the yard or car, or give help cleaning

up the house, whatever is appropriate and makes sense!4) Commit to praying for a person, make it a point to call them and let them know

they are being prayed for.5) Write notes of encouragement to the down hearted.6) Share belongings, if someone is in need of something and you have the resources

to meet the need, do it!7) Do you homework, find out what your person in need of mutual ministry like to

eat, listen to, his favorite sports team, etc….. use that information to encourage a brother.

8) OPEN YOUR HOME!!! You may have no greater venue for mutual ministry than your own home. Share a meal together, have a play date with the kids, whatever excuse you can find to get people into your home, USE IT!

Key Principles

Mutual ministry is inherently PROACTIVE. Don’t wait for someone to ask you to help, that’s lazy. Instead be on the alert, keep your eyes and you heart open, pray for discernment and sensitivity and then respond when you perceive a need. Learn to stop asking “Can I bring you a meal?” and learn to start saying, “I want to help by bringing a meal, what day would work best?” Stop saying “Whatever you need, brother let me know!” learn to say “Let me help you with that….”

Mutual ministry is properly INTRUSIVE. You don’t need permission to engage in mutual ministry. You will often be in a better position to perceive the needs and burdens of a hurting person than they themselves are. Identify an issue, proactively approach it and get involved. Since this type of ministry is inherently relational when you intrude into the life of a fellow believer with grace and truth, don’t be surprised if you develop a lot of new friends who you’ll want to spend time and share life with.

Mutual ministry is going to be MESSY. When dealing with the convoluted problems of sin impacted life it’s going to get messy. That’s o.k. and a sign you are in the mix when you find yourself perplexed about what to do or how to respond to someone. Frustration is not failure! If we could tie of life’s problems with neat little bows then all we would need is a pastor of “Life’s Solutions” but this isn’t God’s intent. His intent is to have you learn more about yourself through serving others so that you can be conformed into the image of Christ while rendering compassion aid to others. The rock never asks for the chisel but the sculpture is formed nevertheless by the hammering, scraping, chipping and polishing away all that stands between the artist and the final form.

A culture of mutual ministry makes a church sticky and makes a church stand out. It’s the mortar that binds the lives of all the individual people in our church together. It represents the frame in which the picture of God’s gospel work among His people is being painted. “For by this will all men know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another (Jn. 13:35).”