For many administration is a ‘necessary evil’, something we all have to do but don’t particularly enjoy, form-filling, paying bills, responding to emails and general correspondence, and so on. Most of us Brits tend to have this low view of administration (abbreviating it to ‘admin’) but this isn’t a particularly accurate or biblical view of this gift.

The Greek word for administration that Paul uses in 1 Cor 12:28 is kuberneseis. It is a nautical term meaning navigation; it describes the role of a ship’s helmsman. The Theological Dictionary of the New Testament states: “The reference can only be to the specific gifts which qualify a Christian to be a helmsman to his congregation, i.e. a true director of its order and therewith of its life. What was the scope of this directive activity in the time of Paul we do not know. This was a period of fluid development. The importance of the helmsman increases in times of storm. The office of directing the congregation may well have developed especially in emergencies both within and without…”

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“When you come together, each of you has a hymn, or a word of instruction, a revelation, a tongue or an interpretation. Everything must be done so that the church may be built up.”
1 Corinthians 14:26

In the run up to Christmas we often find that our diaries get booked out with parties. Like myself, I am sure when you are invited around to a friend’s house party you might ask “Is there anything I can bring?”, as you want to play your part in making the celebration one to be remembered.

I’m equally sure you’d recognise the usual responses to that question might include “No problem we have everything covered, just bring yourself!” or “Thanks for asking, could you possibly bring….(fill in the blank)”

Likewise, and as Paul exhorts the believers in 1 Cor 14:26, when we gather together each week for the corporate expression of our worship in response to the divine invitation to “Taste and see that the LORD is good” we each have something to bring, an important part to play. This cannot be separated from the very health and life of the church.

With this in mind, I want to stir you with three short thoughts that might help you to prepare to join in the corporate celebration each week and that I believe could see our times of corporate worship come all the more alive with the voice and “suddenly” of God.

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