In the recent history of God’s people, believers have tended to leave the advancement of His Kingdom to ministry professionals. Yet God has always had a different plan to fulfill His purposes.

From the beginning, Jesus called and equipped disciples right in the flow of life: “Jesus called out to them, ‘Come, follow me, and I will show you how to fish for people!’” (Mark 1:17, NLT).

All along the way, Jesus called everyday people in all kinds of vocations as ambassadors of His kingdom (see Luke 5:24-25; 8:38-39; 19:8-9). And where did God use them? Most of the time, it was right in their own neighborhoods or other pathways of everyday life.

Over the last few weeks, I’ve been focusing on what these everyday disciplers look like. These men and women, whose characters reflects the fruit of the Spirit, are:

• Grow in relationship with God
• Know and live from the Scriptures
• Live among those who don’t know Christ
• Engage in community with other Christ-followers
• Raising up spiritual generations: Showing Christ-followers how to help others follow Christ

After Jesus’ resurrection, it was not paid professionals who built the foundations of His church. I love what the local Jewish leaders observed in them: “When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus” (Acts 4:13, NIV).

It’s the way God envisioned it: everyday people, who live as conduits of His gospel. They make disciples, who will, in turn, raise up more followers of Jesus, right where they live, work, and play.

John R. Stott once said, “The first reformation put the Bible in the hands of laymen; the second reformation will place the ministry in the hands of laymen.”

Let’s start a reformation!

Whether you are a “ministry professional” or “laymen,” what ideas do you have to start a second reformation?