January 20th, 2026
by Matthew Spoon
by Matthew Spoon
Eight Pillars of a Thriving Church: Where Do You Fit In?
Have you ever wondered what makes a church truly great? Not great in terms of building size or budget, but great in the eyes of God—a community that transforms lives and advances the kingdom?
The answer might surprise you. It's not found in programs, platforms, or prestige. It's found in people. Specifically, eight types of people whose qualities and commitments form the backbone of every thriving New Testament church.
These aren't theoretical categories. They're real people, drawn from the pages of Scripture, whose lives paint a vivid picture of what God can do through ordinary believers who make themselves available to Him. As you read about each one, ask yourself an honest question: Where do I fit in?
The Flexible Servant
Meet Tychicus—a man whose name means "fortunate," and he lived up to it. Paul called him a beloved brother, a faithful minister, and a fellow servant. But what made Tychicus so valuable wasn't a spectacular spiritual gift or extraordinary talent. It was his remarkable flexibility.
When Paul needed someone to collect an offering, Tychicus said, "I'll do it." When a 1,300-mile journey was required to deliver letters, Tychicus volunteered. When churches needed an interim pastor, guess who stepped up?
Tychicus was the ultimate "Swiss Army knife Christian"—willing to do whatever needed to be done, whenever it needed to be done. He started as an usher and ended up in the pulpit. He proved a profound truth: the best ability is availability, and the key to availability is flexibility.
Too many believers are waiting for the "big opportunity" to serve God while ignoring the small needs right in front of them. But Scripture teaches that faithfulness in little things qualifies us for greater things. A thriving church needs people who don't just talk about serving—they grab a broom, make a call, set up chairs, or fill whatever gap exists.
The Redeemed Past
Then there's Onesimus—a runaway slave with a criminal past. He had stolen from his master Philemon and fled 1,300 miles to Rome, hoping to disappear into the crowds. But God had other plans.
In Rome, Onesimus encountered the gospel and was transformed. The first thing he wanted to do as a new believer? Make things right. Despite the risk of execution, he chose to return to the man he had wronged.
Here's where the story gets beautiful. Not only did Philemon forgive him, but church history suggests Onesimus eventually became the pastor of that very church. The runaway slave became the shepherd of souls.
"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. Old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new." (2 Corinthians 5:17)
Your past doesn't disqualify you from God's service—it positions you for it. Every great church is filled with people who have overcome past immorality, people who can testify that Jesus Christ changes lives. If you're living under the weight of shame and guilt from your past, it's time to stand up and embrace your new identity in Christ.
The Empathetic Heart
Aristarchus understood what it meant to suffer for Christ—he'd been imprisoned himself during a riot in Ephesus. When Paul was later under house arrest in Rome, Aristarchus chose to stay with him. He became Paul's companion in confinement, offering the gift that hurting people often need most: his presence.
Sometimes we don't need to say the right thing; we just need to be there. Aristarchus reminds us that empathy—the willingness to enter into someone else's pain—is a powerful ministry. He was a burden-bearer, and every thriving church needs people who will sit with the suffering, bring meals to the struggling, and simply show up when life falls apart.
The Maturing Believer
Mark's story is one of failure turned to faithfulness. On Paul's first missionary journey, when things got difficult, Mark abandoned the mission and went home to his mother. Paul was so disappointed that he refused to take Mark on the next journey, causing a sharp disagreement with Barnabas.
But Mark didn't stay down. Years later, Paul wrote: "Get Mark and bring him with you, for he is useful to me in ministry" (2 Timothy 4:11). Mark went from being so useless that Paul refused to work with him to being so valuable that God chose him to write one of the four Gospels.
Mark proves that our failures don't define our futures. What matters is whether we're willing to repent, reengage, and grow in Christian maturity. Every church needs people who are committed to spiritual growth, who don't make excuses for immaturity but instead pursue Christlikeness with determination.
The Righteous Example
Jesus Justus (also called "the one we call Righteous") gets only a brief mention in Scripture, but what a mention it is. His very nickname was "Righteous." He lived in such a way that his character brought comfort to Paul.
You might think you don't have special talents or abilities to offer the church. But here's something everyone can do: live righteously. Be a good representative of Jesus Christ. Let your life be a testimony that encourages other believers and attracts unbelievers to the gospel.
The Doctrine Defender
Epaphras co-founded the church at Colossae and served as its pastor. When false teaching threatened his congregation, he traveled 1,300 miles to consult with Paul. He prayed with such intensity for his people that Scripture describes it as painful labor.
Epaphras understood something crucial: what you believe determines how you live. Wrong doctrine leads to wrong living. Right theology leads to right practice. A thriving church needs people who protect biblical fidelity—who study Scripture, teach truth, and guard against error.
The Skilled Professional
Luke was a physician who could have focused solely on his lucrative medical practice. Instead, he used his skills to serve Paul's ministry, caring for the apostle's physical ailments so the gospel could be preached effectively. He also used his abilities as a historian to write the Gospel of Luke and the book of Acts—two of the most important documents in human history.
God's work needs people willing to transform their vocations into ministries. Whatever your profession—whether you're a plumber, electrician, teacher, accountant, or artist—God can use those skills for kingdom purposes. The question is: Will you offer them?
The Tragic Warning
Finally, there's Demas—the cautionary tale. He appeared alongside these faithful servants in Paul's letters. He seemed to be serving, seemed to be committed. But in the end, Paul wrote these heartbreaking words: "Demas has forsaken me, having loved this present world" (2 Timothy 4:10).
Demas was good at playing church. He fooled everyone around him. But he never truly gave his heart to Christ, and eventually, his true priorities were revealed.
This is the sobering question every person must answer honestly: Am I genuinely saved, or am I just playing the part?
Jesus warned that many will say "Lord, Lord" on that final day, only to hear Him reply, "I never knew you" (Matthew 7:21-23). You can fool other Christians. You can even fool yourself. But you cannot fool Christ.
Where Do You Fit?
As you've read about these eight individuals, where have you seen yourself? Are you the flexible servant, willing to do whatever needs to be done? Are you someone with a redeemed past, now living as a new creation? Do you have an empathetic heart for the hurting? Are you growing in maturity, defending sound doctrine, or using your unique skills for God's glory?
Or are you, perhaps, more like Demas—going through the motions but never truly surrendering to Christ?
If you've never genuinely trusted in Jesus Christ, today is your day of salvation. Don't wait another moment. Turn from your sin, place your faith in Christ, and experience the transforming power that has changed countless lives throughout history.
And if you are a believer, don't just warm a seat. Find your place. Use your gifts. Serve with flexibility, live with integrity, and invest your life in something that will outlast you.
A great church isn't built by a few superstars—it's built by ordinary people who make themselves extraordinarily available to God. The question isn't whether you have something to offer. The question is whether you'll offer what you have.
Where do you fit in? The church—and the kingdom—is waiting for your answer.
Have you ever wondered what makes a church truly great? Not great in terms of building size or budget, but great in the eyes of God—a community that transforms lives and advances the kingdom?
The answer might surprise you. It's not found in programs, platforms, or prestige. It's found in people. Specifically, eight types of people whose qualities and commitments form the backbone of every thriving New Testament church.
These aren't theoretical categories. They're real people, drawn from the pages of Scripture, whose lives paint a vivid picture of what God can do through ordinary believers who make themselves available to Him. As you read about each one, ask yourself an honest question: Where do I fit in?
The Flexible Servant
Meet Tychicus—a man whose name means "fortunate," and he lived up to it. Paul called him a beloved brother, a faithful minister, and a fellow servant. But what made Tychicus so valuable wasn't a spectacular spiritual gift or extraordinary talent. It was his remarkable flexibility.
When Paul needed someone to collect an offering, Tychicus said, "I'll do it." When a 1,300-mile journey was required to deliver letters, Tychicus volunteered. When churches needed an interim pastor, guess who stepped up?
Tychicus was the ultimate "Swiss Army knife Christian"—willing to do whatever needed to be done, whenever it needed to be done. He started as an usher and ended up in the pulpit. He proved a profound truth: the best ability is availability, and the key to availability is flexibility.
Too many believers are waiting for the "big opportunity" to serve God while ignoring the small needs right in front of them. But Scripture teaches that faithfulness in little things qualifies us for greater things. A thriving church needs people who don't just talk about serving—they grab a broom, make a call, set up chairs, or fill whatever gap exists.
The Redeemed Past
Then there's Onesimus—a runaway slave with a criminal past. He had stolen from his master Philemon and fled 1,300 miles to Rome, hoping to disappear into the crowds. But God had other plans.
In Rome, Onesimus encountered the gospel and was transformed. The first thing he wanted to do as a new believer? Make things right. Despite the risk of execution, he chose to return to the man he had wronged.
Here's where the story gets beautiful. Not only did Philemon forgive him, but church history suggests Onesimus eventually became the pastor of that very church. The runaway slave became the shepherd of souls.
"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. Old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new." (2 Corinthians 5:17)
Your past doesn't disqualify you from God's service—it positions you for it. Every great church is filled with people who have overcome past immorality, people who can testify that Jesus Christ changes lives. If you're living under the weight of shame and guilt from your past, it's time to stand up and embrace your new identity in Christ.
The Empathetic Heart
Aristarchus understood what it meant to suffer for Christ—he'd been imprisoned himself during a riot in Ephesus. When Paul was later under house arrest in Rome, Aristarchus chose to stay with him. He became Paul's companion in confinement, offering the gift that hurting people often need most: his presence.
Sometimes we don't need to say the right thing; we just need to be there. Aristarchus reminds us that empathy—the willingness to enter into someone else's pain—is a powerful ministry. He was a burden-bearer, and every thriving church needs people who will sit with the suffering, bring meals to the struggling, and simply show up when life falls apart.
The Maturing Believer
Mark's story is one of failure turned to faithfulness. On Paul's first missionary journey, when things got difficult, Mark abandoned the mission and went home to his mother. Paul was so disappointed that he refused to take Mark on the next journey, causing a sharp disagreement with Barnabas.
But Mark didn't stay down. Years later, Paul wrote: "Get Mark and bring him with you, for he is useful to me in ministry" (2 Timothy 4:11). Mark went from being so useless that Paul refused to work with him to being so valuable that God chose him to write one of the four Gospels.
Mark proves that our failures don't define our futures. What matters is whether we're willing to repent, reengage, and grow in Christian maturity. Every church needs people who are committed to spiritual growth, who don't make excuses for immaturity but instead pursue Christlikeness with determination.
The Righteous Example
Jesus Justus (also called "the one we call Righteous") gets only a brief mention in Scripture, but what a mention it is. His very nickname was "Righteous." He lived in such a way that his character brought comfort to Paul.
You might think you don't have special talents or abilities to offer the church. But here's something everyone can do: live righteously. Be a good representative of Jesus Christ. Let your life be a testimony that encourages other believers and attracts unbelievers to the gospel.
The Doctrine Defender
Epaphras co-founded the church at Colossae and served as its pastor. When false teaching threatened his congregation, he traveled 1,300 miles to consult with Paul. He prayed with such intensity for his people that Scripture describes it as painful labor.
Epaphras understood something crucial: what you believe determines how you live. Wrong doctrine leads to wrong living. Right theology leads to right practice. A thriving church needs people who protect biblical fidelity—who study Scripture, teach truth, and guard against error.
The Skilled Professional
Luke was a physician who could have focused solely on his lucrative medical practice. Instead, he used his skills to serve Paul's ministry, caring for the apostle's physical ailments so the gospel could be preached effectively. He also used his abilities as a historian to write the Gospel of Luke and the book of Acts—two of the most important documents in human history.
God's work needs people willing to transform their vocations into ministries. Whatever your profession—whether you're a plumber, electrician, teacher, accountant, or artist—God can use those skills for kingdom purposes. The question is: Will you offer them?
The Tragic Warning
Finally, there's Demas—the cautionary tale. He appeared alongside these faithful servants in Paul's letters. He seemed to be serving, seemed to be committed. But in the end, Paul wrote these heartbreaking words: "Demas has forsaken me, having loved this present world" (2 Timothy 4:10).
Demas was good at playing church. He fooled everyone around him. But he never truly gave his heart to Christ, and eventually, his true priorities were revealed.
This is the sobering question every person must answer honestly: Am I genuinely saved, or am I just playing the part?
Jesus warned that many will say "Lord, Lord" on that final day, only to hear Him reply, "I never knew you" (Matthew 7:21-23). You can fool other Christians. You can even fool yourself. But you cannot fool Christ.
Where Do You Fit?
As you've read about these eight individuals, where have you seen yourself? Are you the flexible servant, willing to do whatever needs to be done? Are you someone with a redeemed past, now living as a new creation? Do you have an empathetic heart for the hurting? Are you growing in maturity, defending sound doctrine, or using your unique skills for God's glory?
Or are you, perhaps, more like Demas—going through the motions but never truly surrendering to Christ?
If you've never genuinely trusted in Jesus Christ, today is your day of salvation. Don't wait another moment. Turn from your sin, place your faith in Christ, and experience the transforming power that has changed countless lives throughout history.
And if you are a believer, don't just warm a seat. Find your place. Use your gifts. Serve with flexibility, live with integrity, and invest your life in something that will outlast you.
A great church isn't built by a few superstars—it's built by ordinary people who make themselves extraordinarily available to God. The question isn't whether you have something to offer. The question is whether you'll offer what you have.
Where do you fit in? The church—and the kingdom—is waiting for your answer.
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