We know that many electric vehicle readers have awakened to the gospel, but they are in churches where the same thing did not happen, so the question arises: to go out or fight for reform?This series of articles by Bobby Jamieson, from the Department of 9 Brands, brings some sobriety to the subject, before making a decision I suggest you wait for the four messages and be in prayer.
In my first article in this series, I explained that in the normal course of things, if you are not the pastor of your church, you cannot change your church fundamentally. In the second article, I explored several apparent exceptions to this, including some that are in fact exceptions.
- In this article.
- I want to answer the question: “Well.
- What can I do if I’m in a church that really needs to change?”.
Obviously, there is no one-size-fits-all answer. Every church is different and every person who asks the question is different. So in this post I am not giving you universal and absolute addresses. Nor do I try to speak for every situation in this world. Instead, I will try to offer some suggestions that should apply very well to many people in many churches.
First, a general principle: find as many common denominators as possible with your church and its leaders, and invest as much energy as you can working on these common denominators.
If you disagree with your church leaders on the election, do you at least agree with them that people should believe in the gospel and be saved?And then evangelize. If you disagree with the programmatic approach of church ministry, do you at least agree that programs are designed to serve people and help them mature in Christ?Then serve others and make disciples, whether through a program or not.
My point is, is it easy to stick to the 10% you don’t agree with and ignore the 90% you agree with?And the countless ways they can work together happily based on this 90%. What if it was another 50%?-50 divided? I will cover this briefly in my last article in this series.
Now for some specifications. Here are several ministries that most people in most churches can practice and that should, by God’s grace, help the church grow healthily.
First, the Banking Department. (I encourage you to read Colin Marshall’s excellent article on the subject. ) The basic idea here is that every church meeting is an opportunity to serve others. It is an opportunity to welcome a visitor, to share the gospel with someone who is not. -Christian who has come with a friend, to help things happen behind the scenes, to discover and carry the burden of others, and to provoke love and good works in others (Hebrews 10: 24-25).
So stop being a consumer and become a producer. Do not see the church as a time for a private religious experience, but as a unique and valuable opportunity to serve so many people in such a short time.
If your church suffers from 20/80 syndrome, 20% of people do 80% of the work, so your banking department will not only help the necessary departments perform, but also set an example for others. Who knows how many people can become a disciple to do a more active and selfless service in the church?Learn more below.
Finally, this kind of silent, diligent service and initiative is exactly the kind of thing that eventually gains respect, trust, and sometimes even the ear for new ideas.
Second, the nominating committee department. Of course, few people will have the opportunity to be part of a pastoral reference committee. (Actually, I don’t think churches should have “nomination fees,” but is that another story?And we have to do what we can with what his church needs a leading preaching pastor, there is no more strategic way to change his church than to work to call a faithful and pious exponent of the Word.
In a nominating committee, a little leadership can do a lot, so suggest starting with the recommendation of a trusted pastor instead of carrying lots of resumes, this can be approved, if only by reducing the commission’s workload and proposing from the beginning. a biblical list of qualifications and priorities. This can steer the commission in the right direction and help prevent non-biblical preferences from triggering the candidacy of a pious and qualified man.
But my main point is: however, it can logically influence the choice of the next pastor in your church, do so. Of course, not everyone will have the opportunity to be on the nominating committee, but in most churches, each member will have some kind of opinion on who will be the next pastor. So, drive, and maneuver this responsibility wisely.
Third, the ministry of prayer. Pray to God for the gift that is your church. Love him for his wonderful plan to call a people to their glory and promise never to leave their church or let Satan win it.
And, more specifically, give thanks for your church. Does Thanksgiving take away bitterness and root complaint?and if you passionately want to change your church, these temptations will always be there. So give thanks for every test of God’s grace in the church that you can imagine.
Confess your own sins, the way you have been unjust to the church, and intercede for your church. Ask God to give your entire church discernment, love, unity, humility, patience. Ask God to give your leaders wisdom and courage. Ask God to cultivate understanding and obedience to His Word in your church. Pray constantly. And trust that God will work.
You may not be able to change your church, but God can. Then pray
Fourth, the Ministry of Personal Discipline. Instead of focusing on what’s wrong with “the church,” focus on how you can help church members grow in grace. You can change your church by helping members grow in their understanding of the scriptures, Christ’s love, love for the church, service to their families, audacity in evangelization, and more.
And you don’t have to ask anyone’s permission to start discipline yourself, just start looking for the spiritual good of others. Establish relationships focused on mutual help to grow in Christ. Read Bible books with other church members after lunch or on weekends. Ask questions of spiritual examination and set an example for others with their own transparency and humility.
In short, perhaps the only most effective way to change your church is to personally help others conform to the image of Christ.
Fifth and last, the ministry of personal example. One of the most effective ways to change a church is to constantly grow in Christ and deliberately serve as a model for others. Of course, this goes hand in hand with discipline.
You may not be able to change the leadership structure of your church, but it can serve as an example of humble submission to your leaders and make your work a joy (Hebrews 13:17). You may not be able to convert your pastor to explanatory preaching, but it can be a contagious model of scripture love spread over others.
You don’t want to model in a way that creates a small group of disciples that are more dedicated to you than to the church, but your example should have the opposite effect, your life should be a model of faithful service that builds unity in the church, that what others learn from their example is not only how to grow in personal piety , but how to be a good member of the church.
In other words, you should be the kind of example that if everyone in the church followed you, you would make your church healthier, more united, and more committed to the good of others.
You may not be able to change everything you want in your church, but I think this list is more than enough to keep most of us busy.
There is still a cowardly ending that I want to link: how do you handle humility and contentment with a church that has serious problems and is unlikely to change?I can only offer the shortest and most general of all the answers, but I hope I can do it. do it in my last article in this series.
By Bobby Jamieson. Copyright © 2012 9Marks. Website: 9marks. org. Original: How to change your church (part 3 of 4)
Authorizations: You are authorized and encouraged to reproduce and distribute this material in any format, provided that the author, his ministry and translator are no longer no longer modified and not used for commercial purposes.
No. T. : In English.