Question for Pastors...

[wcwred]

Do you hold your members accountable to serve in the church (in whatever capacity their gifts may be)? If so, how? And if not, why? It seems that in most churches there is a great minority doing all of the work.

 

[wcwred]

no responses?

 

[Honibee]

Do you hold your members accountable to serve in the church (in whatever capacity their gifts may be)? If so, how? And if not, why? It seems that in most churches there is a great minority doing all of the work.

Hi wcwred~

I've been a member of churches in the past whose leadership structure was very workable. The senior pastor had pastors under him (called the Eldership) that focused on ministering to the congregation, and teaching them to minister. Each elder was responsible for asigned ministeries of the church. Members of the congregation who served were accountable to the elder that was responsible for their ministry. About 6-7 'deacons' also served in the caring of the actual church building.

All in all, it seemed a harmonious government structure.

 

[jsimms615]

Do you hold your members accountable to serve in the church (in whatever capacity their gifts may be)? If so, how? And if not, why? It seems that in most churches there is a great minority doing all of the work.

When I was a pastor I regularly mentioned scriptures that talked about serving and why we serve in the church. I also try to do a good job of enlisting workers to begin with and not to just rush to fill a empty place with a body. Too often people in the church just put anyone that will say "yes" into a position regardless of their spiritual gifts. It seems to me that sometimes that creates a huge problem on down the line.
I've told people when there are vacancies in different positions that we should pray that God would raise up a leader for that position and give it some time. Sometimes the right person isn't the first person who responds to the vacancy.

 

[vespasia]

Just going to add whilst there is often an assumption that deacons only look after the fabric of a building because the church is made up of people.

Deacons bear teaching and pastoral responsibilities too.

Prayer is absolutely essential if the person God wants for the job is to be found because they may not have even thought of doing it.

 

[wcwred]

When I was a pastor I regularly mentioned scriptures that talked about serving and why we serve in the church. I also try to do a good job of enlisting workers to begin with and not to just rush to fill a empty place with a body. Too often people in the church just put anyone that will say "yes" into a position regardless of their spiritual gifts. It seems to me that sometimes that creates a huge problem on down the line.
I've told people when there are vacancies in different positions that we should pray that God would raise up a leader for that position and give it some time. Sometimes the right person isn't the first person who responds to the vacancy.

thanks, and i agree. often the problem is not the wrong person, but rather NO person. If fun and games is what is needed many will jump right in; but when spiritual service or physical labor is needed, no one around to help out.
Would that all members of the church would take Charles Spurgeons advice to "Do something, do something, do something"

 

[shanester]

If the word of God is going out, we do not have to hold the congregation responsible... they desire to. If we try to convict them, then they will be pushed away. Jesus made ministry addictive because he led the way.

Lead the way
Teach the Word
Give opportunity to serve (don't hog it all!)

Hope this helps.




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