The CHURCH:
What is the church? It is not a building. It is not just a Sunday morning activity as some people think who consider Sunday morning their religious obligation for the week. Church is a seven day activity. It a group of dedicated Christian Joining together to fulfill the calling that God has given their church. Notice it is a group, it takes more than one, it takes a team. The group are dedicated Christians. Church is hard work. It takes time, money and effort. You will need a core group of dedicated leaders to make it successful.
The first thing we need to remember is that Jesus Christ is the head of the Church as we see in Colossians 1: 15-18. As leaders, it is our responsibility to get the mind of Christ for the Church he has given us. We must know what direction he wants us to lead the church.
It is not what the congregation wants for the church, it is what Christ wants. Church is not a democracy, but a theocracy. The last time I read my Bible, when a democratic vote was taken, the group wandered in the wilderness for 40 years. We do not ignore the congregation, and try to lord it over them. But we must lead (influence) them in the direction God has given us. Leaders must lead.
Ephesians 4:11 & 12 says that Christ, who is the head of the church, gave the church Apostles, Evangelists, Prophets, Pastors, and teachers to equip the believers to do the work of ministry. Please note it is not the pastor that does all the work.
The pastor and the other 5 fold ministries’ responsibility is to equip and build up the believers for ministry. It is usually the pastor that God gives the vision for the church. The pastor sets the vision and equips the people to complete the vision. The Pastor is the coach and cheerleader of the flock. The responsibility of the leadership is to release their people for ministry. To identify spiritual gifts and to train and release the people for ministry.
The leadership job is not to try to get the community into their church, but to get their church people into the community ministering to needs. Remember sheep beget sheep, not shepherds. So it is important that we train and release our people to ministry in the community. As we do that, I believe that we will see the revival for which we have all been praying. The other result of getting your people to minister in the community will be more people who come to your church so that you can disciple, train and release them for more ministry in the community.
Ephesians 13-16 has some good input for the leaders of the church. Verse 13 says till we all come into the unity of the faith… The first thing we need is unity among the believers. God direction (vision) for the church will bring unity to the church. Unity does not mean that we agree 100% on everything. But we have a consensus of the direction we are going. Once the decision is made, the leaders must support that decision, especially publicly. Some times leaders have to agree to disagree, but can continue to respect and love each other, but when the majority agrees on the direction God is leading, they must support that decision.
Verse 13 continues ... and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ.
As leaders, we must be preaching and teaching the word of God. How do we come into the knowledge of the Son of God? How do we become a mature Christian? Though the study of the word of God. As leaders we must take time to read the Word of God, The Bible every day. WHY? Because of what verse 14 warns us against. That we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting...
If we are not in the word daily, we can be fooled by the new age philosophy. New Age Philosophy may sound good, but is not of God. How many times have you heard people say that the Bible says “God helps those who help themselves.” This is not found in the Bible; in fact I believe that the Bible teaches just the opposite. We trust God and God works through us to accomplish His will.
One time I was teaching a Sunday school class and we had a new couple join the class. They were a young couple that had just moved into the area. We were so excited to have them consider coming to our small church. But during the Sunday school class, she started sharing. What she was sharing sound good and moral, but it was not Biblical so I had to stop her in love and point out what scripture said. What I found was they were new Christians and they had just move into the area from Salt Lake City. She had Mormonism and Christianity confused. But if I did not know the word of God, I could have been deceived and worse yet the whole class could have fallen for the deception.
The leadership must be on guard. It is the leadership’s responsibility to make sure that the Scripture does not get perverted in our churches. Pastors cannot be everywhere. So all the leadership must take time to study the work of God. As 2Timothy 2:15 tells us be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
In fact, God gives a promise in Psalms 1 verses 2 and 3 But his delight is in the law of the Lord (the word of God) and in His law he meditates day and night, he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that brings its fruit in its season whose leaf also shall not wither; and Whatever he does shall prosper.
As we meditate and get God’s word with understanding down in our spirits, God through the Holy Spirit can bring to our remembrance His Word to bring Godly knowledge and wisdom to solve the problems in our lives and the life of our church. Without the word of God operating in our lives, we become like the Israelites in the Old Testament. We will be doing what seems right in our own eyes.
Verse 15 says: but speaking the truth in love may grow up in all things into Him who is the head-Christ.
We as leader must give each other permission to speak truth to each other in love. This is called accountability.
1. When we are in a meeting we must allow our brother or sister to express his opinion without taking offense.
Everybody has heard these comment “I did not say anything because I did not want to hurt their feelings” This statement is from the pit of Hell. Satan’s main goal is to stop truthful, loving communication between leadership and people and to break communication with the leadership and the congregation.
I know this would never happen to you, but I was in a meeting where a person knew information that would have stopped us from making a poor decision, but the person did not disclose the information because he did not want to hurt someone’s feelings.
2. If we truly love each other we will hold each other accountable: Galatians 6:1
Speaking the truth in love will set people free. It may hurt, but it will always set them free. Allow others to speak truth into your life. Remember, you’re never as good as you think, and you are never as bad as your enemy thinks. But the truth is that we all need constructive criticism in our lives. Most of the time constructive criticism comes from our loving spouses. Receive it with love.
As we excises these truths we will become more Christ like, which should be our goal as leaders: to have the mind of Christ.
And as we walk in unity, use our spiritual gifts, as every part of the body does its part, the outcome will be growth of the church in love.
The first thing we need to remember is that Jesus Christ is the head of the Church as we see in Colossians 1: 15-18. As leaders, it is our responsibility to get the mind of Christ for the Church he has given us. We must know what direction he wants us to lead the church.
It is not what the congregation wants for the church, it is what Christ wants. Church is not a democracy, but a theocracy. The last time I read my Bible, when a democratic vote was taken, the group wandered in the wilderness for 40 years. We do not ignore the congregation, and try to lord it over them. But we must lead (influence) them in the direction God has given us. Leaders must lead.
Ephesians 4:11 & 12 says that Christ, who is the head of the church, gave the church Apostles, Evangelists, Prophets, Pastors, and teachers to equip the believers to do the work of ministry. Please note it is not the pastor that does all the work.
The pastor and the other 5 fold ministries’ responsibility is to equip and build up the believers for ministry. It is usually the pastor that God gives the vision for the church. The pastor sets the vision and equips the people to complete the vision. The Pastor is the coach and cheerleader of the flock. The responsibility of the leadership is to release their people for ministry. To identify spiritual gifts and to train and release the people for ministry.
The leadership job is not to try to get the community into their church, but to get their church people into the community ministering to needs. Remember sheep beget sheep, not shepherds. So it is important that we train and release our people to ministry in the community. As we do that, I believe that we will see the revival for which we have all been praying. The other result of getting your people to minister in the community will be more people who come to your church so that you can disciple, train and release them for more ministry in the community.
Ephesians 13-16 has some good input for the leaders of the church. Verse 13 says till we all come into the unity of the faith… The first thing we need is unity among the believers. God direction (vision) for the church will bring unity to the church. Unity does not mean that we agree 100% on everything. But we have a consensus of the direction we are going. Once the decision is made, the leaders must support that decision, especially publicly. Some times leaders have to agree to disagree, but can continue to respect and love each other, but when the majority agrees on the direction God is leading, they must support that decision.
Verse 13 continues ... and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ.
As leaders, we must be preaching and teaching the word of God. How do we come into the knowledge of the Son of God? How do we become a mature Christian? Though the study of the word of God. As leaders we must take time to read the Word of God, The Bible every day. WHY? Because of what verse 14 warns us against. That we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting...
If we are not in the word daily, we can be fooled by the new age philosophy. New Age Philosophy may sound good, but is not of God. How many times have you heard people say that the Bible says “God helps those who help themselves.” This is not found in the Bible; in fact I believe that the Bible teaches just the opposite. We trust God and God works through us to accomplish His will.
One time I was teaching a Sunday school class and we had a new couple join the class. They were a young couple that had just moved into the area. We were so excited to have them consider coming to our small church. But during the Sunday school class, she started sharing. What she was sharing sound good and moral, but it was not Biblical so I had to stop her in love and point out what scripture said. What I found was they were new Christians and they had just move into the area from Salt Lake City. She had Mormonism and Christianity confused. But if I did not know the word of God, I could have been deceived and worse yet the whole class could have fallen for the deception.
The leadership must be on guard. It is the leadership’s responsibility to make sure that the Scripture does not get perverted in our churches. Pastors cannot be everywhere. So all the leadership must take time to study the work of God. As 2Timothy 2:15 tells us be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
In fact, God gives a promise in Psalms 1 verses 2 and 3 But his delight is in the law of the Lord (the word of God) and in His law he meditates day and night, he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that brings its fruit in its season whose leaf also shall not wither; and Whatever he does shall prosper.
As we meditate and get God’s word with understanding down in our spirits, God through the Holy Spirit can bring to our remembrance His Word to bring Godly knowledge and wisdom to solve the problems in our lives and the life of our church. Without the word of God operating in our lives, we become like the Israelites in the Old Testament. We will be doing what seems right in our own eyes.
Verse 15 says: but speaking the truth in love may grow up in all things into Him who is the head-Christ.
We as leader must give each other permission to speak truth to each other in love. This is called accountability.
1. When we are in a meeting we must allow our brother or sister to express his opinion without taking offense.
Everybody has heard these comment “I did not say anything because I did not want to hurt their feelings” This statement is from the pit of Hell. Satan’s main goal is to stop truthful, loving communication between leadership and people and to break communication with the leadership and the congregation.
I know this would never happen to you, but I was in a meeting where a person knew information that would have stopped us from making a poor decision, but the person did not disclose the information because he did not want to hurt someone’s feelings.
2. If we truly love each other we will hold each other accountable: Galatians 6:1
Speaking the truth in love will set people free. It may hurt, but it will always set them free. Allow others to speak truth into your life. Remember, you’re never as good as you think, and you are never as bad as your enemy thinks. But the truth is that we all need constructive criticism in our lives. Most of the time constructive criticism comes from our loving spouses. Receive it with love.
As we excises these truths we will become more Christ like, which should be our goal as leaders: to have the mind of Christ.
And as we walk in unity, use our spiritual gifts, as every part of the body does its part, the outcome will be growth of the church in love.
A very apt and timely word. Thank you. This touches strongly on some things at the fellowship we attend and also the net board where we minister. God bless you.
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I love the statement posted here that reads the first thing to remember is Jesus is the head of the church. As leaders, it is our responsibility to get the mind of Christ for the Church he has given us. We must know what direction he wants us to lead the church.
This is so important because whether we want to believe it or not we have lost an entire generation of young people.
We have allowed them to be sucked into a false gospel of material wealth, and a gospel that does not teach them the words of Christ. We have not taught our young to deny self and follow Christ.
We have lost a generation that is hearing its okay to preach about your potential, your destiny, your God given right.
We have lost a generation that is being lied to; told they have the blessing of Abraham, "He was rich and you are suppose to have the same thing."
The truth is, the blessings of Abraham is justification by faith.
Oh how long before we lead our churches back to Christ Jesus who died for his body (the Church)?
Scripture is twisted and our young are told to call those things that be not as though they were.
The scripture reads, Romans 4:17 I have made thee a father of many nations, before him whom he believed, even God, who quickenth the dead, and calleth those things that be not as though they were. The bible says Abraham believed God, the God who is able to call those things that be not. But todays church leaders are saying you can do it also, borrowing from element of the little god doctrine, where man has the same ability's as God the Father, and God is a puppet who must do what we say.
We, the true church, have allowed young and old to become self centered.
We see the same flesh driven acts of religion offered to Jesus at his temptation and we have failed by not speaking out.
Since the church is a body of believers, it is time we return to teaching our people that as Christians we will suffer.
As Christians we will not always have the best in this life, but we will behold the face of the one who died for us.
We must return to teaching on the blood and how it has saves, heals and justifies.
We must get back to telling and showing young and old church members how it is important to walk in the spirit.
WHY? Because of what verse 14 warns us against. That we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting...
When we do as the Lord commands we avoid the above verse.
May God Bless and keep you. May He pour out His blessing upon you.
Rev Patrick Williams
TMCI-Bread And Wine Ministries
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