Every member of the body is a minister (servant) equipped and empowered by God to serve in a unique way in the body of Christ so the ministry of Jesus Christ can be effectively carried out in the world today.  Service in God's Kingdom, for Christians, is not something optional, it is our response to what God has done for us in Christ and for what He is doing in us through the Holy Spirit (see Romans 12:1-9; 1 Peter 4:10-11; and Ephesians 2:8-10).  When we serve where God is calling us and empowering us to serve, then we will grow and mature spiritually and so will the body of Christ--the church. Every member of the body is a minister (servant) equipped and empowered by God to serve in a unique way in the body of Christ so the ministry of Jesus Christ can be effectively carried out in the world today.  Service in God's Kingdom, for Christians, is not something optional, it is our response to what God has done for us in Christ and for what He is doing in us through the Holy Spirit (see Romans 12:1-9; 1 Peter 4:10-11; and Ephesians 2:8-10).  When we serve where God is calling us and empowering us to serve, then we will grow and mature spiritually and so will the body of Christ--the church.