The Church as a people is responsible for building up one another as followers of Jesus. God gives the Church leaders who are to work for the spiritual maturity and formation of the people. 

“And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.” – Ephesians 4:11-16

The ministers are to equip the members of the church so that the members of the church can minister to one another and build up the body. As the body grows in maturity, it becomes more singularly focused on Jesus and his purposes so that there is a greater unity among God’s people. Not only does serving others in the body help grow them and strengthen them, but it helps create greater maturity in the one who serves. It is also important to note that each member is to be speaking the Word, the truth, to other members. “Church as a place” sees the professional ministers as the talking heads who expound on the Bible, but “Church as a people” understands that we are all responsible for speaking truth to one another so that the church can be holy and healthy and accomplish God’s purpose for it. So, the Church should be led by leaders who are equipping the members to do works of ministry and to speak the truth, so that the body is served, built up, and matured.