In a world filled with countless voices vying for our attention, the church stands as a beacon, charged with a critical mission: to exalt God by equipping the saints. This mandate is not merely about proclaiming the Word but involves a more profound, more intentional process of restoration and growth within the body of Christ.

The Apostle Paul, in his farewell address to the Ephesian elders in Acts 20:27-31, lays bare the dangers that threaten the church. He warns of "savage wolves" that would arise even from within the church, speaking perverse things to lead believers astray. Though given nearly two millennia ago, this warning resonates with striking relevance today. Myriad voices bombard us through social media and other platforms, often more influential in shaping our thoughts and beliefs than the sermons we hear on Sunday morning.

This is why the third pillar of our philosophy of ministry—equipping the saints—is crucial. Paul’s admonition to the Ephesian elders was clear: They were to be watchful and diligent in their ministry, remembering the example Paul set during his three years among them—admonishing each one with tears, day and night. The gravity of this task cannot be overstated.

But what does it mean to equip the saints? In his letter to the Ephesians, Paul provides clarity:

"And He Himself gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ" (Ephesians 4:11-12, LSB).

Equipping, at its core, involves restoration. We are broken, marred by sin, and in desperate need of being restored to our original condition—a right relationship with our Lord. Our Lord gives gifted church leaders to the church. These men are responsible for using His Word while trusting the work of the Holy Spirit to heal this brokenness, which brings about spiritual restoration.

But equipping is not an end in itself. It serves a greater purpose—the building up of the body of Christ. This building-up is both a collective and individual process aimed at nurturing the church with the Word, leading to spiritual edification and strength. It is a continuous practice, one that persists "until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the full knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ" (Ephesians 4:13, LSB).

The church is vital in equipping the saints, fostering maturity, and protecting against deceptive schemes that threaten to lead believers astray. As Paul warns in Ephesians 4:14, equipping helps us avoid being "children, tossed here and there by waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, by craftiness in deceitful scheming."

This echoes Paul’s earlier warning in Acts 20—savage wolves are a real and present danger. The church must be vigilant, equipping its members to stand firm in the faith, rooted and grounded in the truth of God’s Word.

Beloved, our times are indeed perilous. The challenges we face—whether from external opposition or internal strife—are significant. Yet, the church's mission remains unchanged. We exist to exalt God by equipping the saints; this equipping is not optional but essential. It prepares us to navigate the complexities of our world with maturity, ensuring that we live lives that glorify and exalt our Lord.

As we look to the future, let us commit to this task with the same zeal and dedication that marked Paul’s ministry. Let us not shrink back in the face of opposition but continue to declare the profitable truths of Scripture, being equipped and equipping one another for the work of service to the building up of the body of Christ.