The goal of every minister of the gospel should be to serve as the unofficial chaplain of their entire community. Because of this, studying one’s community is vital to be effective as a minister. Key pastors and apostolic leaders should have as a goal to systematically know their communities better than anyone else. Following are seven strategies to accomplish this:
(This based on a teaching I have given in a bible study )
Text Philippians 2:12,13
Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, 13 for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure. [1]
Business does not always mean productivity! I.E. You can practice golf all day and not get better if you never had the right technique to begin with! Business makes people feel important –like there is a purpose to their life, but if they do not work on their inner man of the heart and just fill up their day with activities, then they will not be ready in a time of crisis!
Since my connection to Christ in 1978 I have observed many models or views people have regarding how they connect to the body of Christ. The following are some of the popular views I have observed regarding how believers define the church for themselves.
1. The “I am the church” concept
Many people do not have any personal affiliation to any particular local church even though they still attempt to cultivate a relationship with God. They may even read the Bible, pray, and share their faith but they have no organic connection to any community of believers.
There has been many articles of leaders in the media lately who take advantage of other people. This is a common pattern of abuse in which leaders use their positions of authority to take advantage of their subordinates or those looking to them for help.
There are many signs of abusive leadership, which can relate to leadership in the family, church, business, politics and/or any organization or voluntary association. Also, often abusers are themselves the victims of abuse.
Although we can get ideas and extrapolate principles regarding the application of the moral law to culture from the 613 civic laws, it is important we also attempt to see how the Ten Commandments can affect present day public policy. Because the Ten Commandments are not the sole focus of this book, I will just use a few of the Ten Commandments to show that they are still relevant to public policy today.
Pain is unavoidable in this world. The primary kind of pain I am referring to throughout this article is emotional, mental and psychological. Jesus promised us that in the world we will suffer tribulation John 16:33. (Both physical and emotional in this context.) There are many different reasons for pain: some pain is self inflicted, some is caused by unexpected tragedies like an accident, some is caused by the behavior of other people, some from mental and emotional trauma, some, like in the Book of Job are divine tests, and more.
Divorce has become a major plot line in entertainment today. Although we all know the divorce rate is over 50% in the USA, I have observed that many divorces occur with couples who have been married well over 20 years and are each over 45 years of age. This has astonished me.
Since worship is such an integral part of the church, it is important that worship leaders be spiritually mature in order to be effective.
The following are traits of these worship leaders:
By “rites of passage” I am referring to a person’s transition from one status or phase to another. In the church we have various ceremonies that mark different phases of spiritual and biological maturity like baptism, first communion, confirmation, etc. However, in the context of this article, a rite of passage is more of a test that is part of a process God uses to bring believers into another stage of maturity, before assigning them to another level of kingdom service.
“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen….But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him” (Hebrews 11:1,6).
How many of us have promises, hopes, or dreams that are yet unfulfilled?
