Rethinking the Church | Ordinary People, Extraordinary Ministry

13 Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John and realized that they were uneducated and ordinary men, they were amazed and recognized them as companions of Jesus.

Acts 4:13 (NRSVUE)

Peter was a fisherman. Matthew was a tax collector. Luke was a doctor. James and John were also fishermen. Jesus's disciples weren't religious scholars or temple leaders—they were ordinary working people with ordinary jobs and ordinary educations.

But look what happened to them. After spending time with Jesus, these ordinary men became extraordinary ministers of the gospel. When Peter and John were arrested for preaching about Jesus, the religious authorities were amazed. These weren't trained theologians or professional ministers. These were "unschooled, ordinary men." Yet they spoke with such courage and authority that even their enemies had to admit something remarkable had happened to them.

What made the difference? The text tells us: "they took note that these men had been with Jesus." Their relationship with Jesus transformed them from ordinary fishermen into powerful ministers of the gospel.

The same thing can happen to you. You don't need a seminary degree to have a ministry that matters. You don't need to be a professional speaker to share your faith effectively. You don't need to have your life completely figured out to help someone else who's struggling.

What you need is what Peter and John had: a real relationship with Jesus and the willingness to let that relationship transform how you live and serve.

Ministry happens when an accountant uses their financial skills to help struggling families create budgets. It happens when a teacher goes the extra mile to encourage a discouraged student. It happens when a parent models patience and forgiveness in difficult family situations. It happens when a coworker chooses to respond with kindness instead of frustration when someone makes a mistake.

You don't have to wait for perfect opportunities or ideal circumstances. You don't have to wait until you feel completely qualified or until you have all the answers. You just need to be willing to let Jesus work through your ordinary life in extraordinary ways.

The beautiful thing about God is that he specializes in using ordinary people to accomplish extraordinary things. He used a shepherd boy to defeat a giant. He used a young woman to become the mother of the Messiah. He used fishermen to become apostles. He used a tent maker to become the greatest missionary in history.

And he wants to use you, too. Not because you're perfect, not because you have special training, but because you've been with Jesus. When people spend time with you, do they notice something different? Do they see courage where they might expect fear? Do they experience grace where they might expect judgment? Do they witness hope where they might expect despair?

That's what ministry looks like. That's what it means to do the work of the church. It's not about having all the answers—it's about letting people see Jesus through your ordinary, everyday life.

Prayer: Jesus, thank you for choosing ordinary people like us to do your extraordinary work. Help us remember that our qualifications come not from our education or training but from our relationship with you. Transform us as you transformed Peter and John, so that others will see something different about us and know that we've been with you. Use our ordinary lives in extraordinary ways for your kingdom. Amen.