Some people claim there's an "80/20" rule...

Some people claim there's an "80/20" rule that governs congregations: 80 percent of the work is done by 20 percent of the people.

While that rough estimate might be surprisingly accurate in many cases, it doesn't have to be true of any congregation. Any church can aim for better!

What if we aimed for more engagement from more people and thus left less "heavy lifting" on the same small portion of the membership?

Our congregation is ripe with potential. To really take advantage of it we must dedicate ourselves to the Lord's work. Things don't move well if people are complacent, but great things can happen when we have "a mind to work" (Nehemiah 4:6).

You can work at evangelism by giving deliberate attention to how you conduct yourself around friends and co-workers. Let them see the beauty of Jesus in you by living in accordance with God's will. When they ask you questions about it, be ready to gracefully explain yourself (1 Peter 3:15).

In benevolence you can help individuals in genuine need, and consider bringing larger needs to the attention of our Elders. We don't have the means to help everybody, but giving deliberate thought to benevolence can improve our congregation's effectiveness.

Edification is an ongoing need, and one that doesn't require any money or special skills. Take time to encourage a brother or sister who needs it (hint: we all need it). Consider sending a card or making a phone call to a shut in. If you're capable of teaching, volunteer to teach or assist in an upcoming quarter.

If you're already excelling in one or more of these areas: thank you! Your continued good work is valuable, meaningful, and noticed by God (consider Matthew 10:42). Let's intentionally look for ways we can contribute to the work of the church, even if it's just a little bit more than we've done before.