The concept of the body of Christ and the role of each part of that spiritual body of Christ is descriptive of a living organism with each member functioning for the spiritual health of the body daily.  The Bible does not describe an organization that meets twice a week so each member can contribute some physical, material asset to or for the congregation’s growth.  Neither is it a description of janitors, landscapers, carpenters, or florists that contribute toward the building up of the body.  It has nothing to do with contributing money to keep the organization’s budget on schedule.
God is glorified in His people when each individual part commits his life to His service. Nothing is done through proxy or representatively. Each takes seriously his stewardship and accountability to God. All that is done is done “as unto the Lord.” He is first and foremost a servant of the Most High God who gives his body a living sacrifice because he’s aware that he’s been bought with a price – the precious blood of Christ. His mind is set on things above not on the things below (see Col. 3:1-ff). He is that bright shining light that glows in a dark world and thereby “shows forth God’s excellencies” and glorifies Him. He does not compartmentalize this life into fourths and viewed as separate vocations in business, government, family, and church.  Instead, his service to God encompasses all areas of his life. In short, he has been “crucified with Christ” and the new life that is lived is controlled by his Lord who loved him and gave himself for him (cf. Gal. 2:20).
The Shepherd of the cities would, therefore, extend their watchful eye to the entire life of the flock and because they were divinely appointed of the Holy Spirit, saints would submit to their watchful care. No one questioned their qualifications because they were led by the Spirit. To allow uninspired men today, many of whom are unqualified to teach, to control your belief, practices, and fellowship is following the model of Catholicism, the mother of institutionalism.
Also, the individual saint was not deceived into the notion that all good deeds should be suspended by the individual so that it may be done through the church institution so that the “church gets the glory.” Because the genuine ekklesia is the saved assembly of individuals, as each saint lives the lifestyle described above, God is glorified. That should be our purpose and mission, not the glorification of the church.
The result of such commitment is a burning zeal and diligence. The genuine saint is looking for how and where he can serve, being diligent in prayer and every good work.  Further, he longs after God and his Word, making it His delight and meditation day and night.  He guards his heart with all diligence (Prov. 4:23) knowing from it springs the issues of life. Consequently, he has laid up treasures in heaven, and his speech identifies him as a child of God.
Think about what is most important to you in life. Whatever it is, you will expend a great deal of energy, time, and money in pursuing it.  It’s amazing how much emphasis is placed on this life with secular education and the jobs that it gives than on our spiritual education and the gift of service that it gives.  In secular education, we expect, yea demand, that teachers teach the students so that they will be able to understand, recall, and convey the same on a test, term paper, or speech.  I have had some teachers who lecture the material and expect the students to take notes. Others will tell the class that if they will come and listen to the lecture every day, they will pass the final and the class. Still, others encourage continuous dialogue with students.  But, any class in which the students are merely required to attend without either listening, note-taking, or class participation is a rare joke. We’ve all witnessed the consequences of students who just attended class and the results were not good.   Why would we expect a different outcome among those who are as careless with their spiritual growth? Why do we not expect as much homework and diligence in Bible study and prayer as we do in secular studies?  Is it not strange that we consider it more appropriate to have our teenagers study all night for a test the next morning than giving twenty minutes to answer content questions for a weekly class on Sunday morning?  What is being taught when children stay up late to finish a book report for school only to have their parents rant and rave when someone from their local congregation asks for a term paper on the authority of Christ?  Why is it inappropriate to not expect the same diligent work in our knowledge of the Scriptures? Is this treasure not an indication of our hearts? Did not Jesus tell us that where our treasure is, there our heart would be, also? (cf. Mt. 6:21) Is there any connection between the lack of diligence given to spiritual pursuits and the number of people unequipped for service?
Furthermore, we require children to “go to school” five days a week to prepare them for life and give them the best opportunities for a good future.  Yet, the spiritual training often consists of “going to church” at least once a week (maybe two), so that we may prepare them for service and eternal life.  If all the learning that is required is to get them baptized and be a good member of the church organization, I suppose meeting every day would be “overkill”. In other cases, the only time this is unacceptable is if a child wants to be a preacher.  Then, you’d better buckle down and do a lot of reading and study so you will be prepared to teach people in one of the local church organizations.  This translates into a pastor system that requires more study for an upstarting preacher than required for anyone else.
The diligence required to be approved of God is required of all disciples of Christ. Though Timothy taught, he also taught faithful men who can teach others, also (2 Tim. 2:2; cf. 1 Tim.1:3).  Granted, not everyone is “faithful,” but what disciple would admit to not being faithful or consider it commendable?   Yet, such is characterized as “teaching others, also.”  No doubt, some of those faithful men were shepherds.