“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind… And love your neighbour as yourself.” — Matthew 22:37–39
The Greatest Commandment in Action
The heartbeat of the church is simple: It’s all about Him—the One who created, redeemed, and sustains us. And yet, the wonder of the Gospel is that He is all about us—His people, His bride, His Church.
When we get this order right, the church flourishes. But when we forget that the church is people—not programs, not buildings, not personalities—we risk missing His purpose.
1. The Church Exists to Glorify God
Everything begins with Him. The greatest commandment is to love God with all our heart, soul, and mind. That means:
- Worship is central, not optional.
- Prayer is essential, not an afterthought.
- Obedience is joyful, not burdensome.
“So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.” — 1 Corinthians 10:31
The church is His bride – treasured, loved, and called to reflect Him to the world.
2. The Church Is People, Not Programs
We often talk about “going to church,” but biblically, we are the church.
Programs, places, and personalities can help, but they are tools—not the essence.
“You also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house…” — 1 Peter 2:5
The real church is the people of God, shaped by His Spirit, sent into the world to live out His love.
3: Bringing Out the Best in You
If He is all about us, then part of glorifying Him is letting His Spirit draw out the best He placed in us:
- Identify your God-given gifts (Romans 12:6–8).
- Surrender them to His purpose.
- Cultivate them through discipline, learning, and service.
Action Step: Ask God in prayer this week: “Lord, show me one gift or strength You’ve placed in me that You want to grow in this season.”
4: Bringing Out the Best in Others
The church grows when we invest in people the way He invests in us. That means:
- Seeing potential where others see problems.
- Speaking life and encouragement.
- Equipping, not controlling, those around us.
“Let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds.” — Hebrews 10:24
Action Step: Identify one person in your church you can affirm and empower this week. Give them encouragement, responsibility, or an opportunity to grow.
5: Empowered to Empower
“So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up…” — Ephesians 4:11–12
This is the biblical blueprint for the Church—leaders equipping God’s people so they can step fully into their calling. Christ never intended for ministry to rest solely on a few leaders. His design is for every believer to be empowered, equipped, and released for works of service that build up the whole body.
That’s why we offer our Empowered Course – a practical, Spirit-led training designed to help believers draw out His best within, so they grow personally and strengthen the church collectively. Through this course, participants receive:
- Biblical principles that speak into God’s calling and purpose for their lives
- Practical tools for discovering both natural and spiritual giftings
- Prophetic insight into what God has for them, especially in this season
- A systematic process for implementing these discoveries into personal life plans and church ministry
When every believer sees and seizes the best God has placed in them—and calls it out in others—the church becomes a multiplying movement of influence, love, and transformation.
When the church lives with the reality that it’s all about Him and knows that He is all about us, it becomes unstoppable. It moves beyond buildings and events into being a living testimony of His love and power.
Next Steps
Johnson Ministries would be honoured to bring the Empowered Course to your church, equipping your leaders and congregation to see and release the best in each other for His glory.
Empower your leaders
