Enough3 min read

There are not enough pastors. There are not enough teachers. There are not enough volunteers.

Small congregations. Stagnant congregations. Closing congregations.

The promise remains. “I will build my Church, and the gates of hell will not prevail against it” (Matthew 16:18b ESV).

There are at least three things we should take notice of in this short verse. First, the work of building the Church is the work of Jesus and He will accomplish it. Jesus, seated at the right hand of the Father, works through the power of His Spirit by His Word to draw people into the Christian faith. We should believe this to be true. Jesus will build His Church.

Second, He is intent on building His Church. Not your congregation. Not our denomination. His Church. Certainly, congregational life is God’s plan for Christian living. The partnership that happens within a denomination is a great resource. But the end work of Jesus is building His Church, the Holy Christian Church, the one people of God.

Third, He says the gates of hell or Hades cannot prevail against it. Commentators have interesting insights into this phrase, what it refers to. But for our purposes let us simply understand it as an argument of the greater to the lesser. If nothing as great as the gates of hell can prevail against Jesus and the building up of His Church, then it doesn’t sound like something lesser (culture, the government, alternative religions) can either.

All of this is to say that we do have enough to go about our work and life together in our local congregations, the District, the Synod, and beyond. We have Jesus’ power. We have His goal. We have His assurance.

So, let’s be at it, doing what we can with what He has given us at this time. Remember the miracle of the five loaves and the two fish? “… bring them here to me” (Matthew 14: 18 ESV). Instead of being concerned with what we don’t

have enough of, let’s bring what we do have and put it in Jesus’ hands. Let’s love one another. We have enough for that. Let’s love our neighbors. We have enough for that. Let’s proclaim the Good News of the Kingdom. We enough for that too.

Yes, from one point of view we wish we had more for the Church and her congregations than what we have at hand. But let’s come together and make the most of the opportunity that we do have with the resources we have. Specifically, consider the following:

• Begin one new community outreach initiative with your neighborhood with what you have. The key thing you have, by the way, is proximity.
• Love one another within your congregation. Build community with those who are already there.
• Share resources with other neighboring congregations. Share pastors, other church workers, volunteers. Remember, Jesus is at work to build His Church, which is not the same as your congregation.
• Be open to closing your congregation if resources would be better utilized by another congregation.
• Don’t be closed to opening a new congregation. If a new one thrives, even at “the expense” of yours, we celebrate a victory for the Church.
• And pray. As you seek to be faithful over what God has given you for ministry, pray to the Father to send more workers into the harvest as Jesus instructed. This is indeed a time for the Church and her congregations not to wring their hands in anxiety but to fold them in prayer.

We desire to build healthy congregations. And God has given each of them enough to be so. He has given us His Son. He has given us His Word. He has given us His Spirit. He has given us His promise. He has given us to each other. He has given us enough resources to do what He calls us to do: join in the work of Jesus as He builds His Church in the face of even the worst adversary.

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