Foundational Statement: We believe in the ministries that Christ has set in His Church, namely, apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers and in the present operation of the manifold Gifts of the Holy Spirit according to the New Testament.
Ministries are Given by God but Recognised in the Local Church
This is where conflicts can arise. Whilst we each have a responsibility before God for our ministries, the local church is where these are recognised and commissioned.
Hebrews 13:7: Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith.
Hebrews 13:17: Obey your leaders and submit to their authority. They keep watch over you as men who must give an account. Obey them so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no advantage to you.
Now here are two verses that have been misused by some to prove that they must be obeyed at all costs. That's not the case. We are clearly told to consider the outcome of their life and then imitate their faith. We are also told elsewhere that we imitate leaders as long as they imitate Christ (1 Cor. 11:1).
That said there are some important principles that you need to know about releasing gifts and ministries in Life Church. It will help your understanding.
We take it seriously: we have to give an account, not just for our lives, but for yours too. That's why we will be selective in who preaches and at what service. We want you to receive the best we can give and the best we can get.
We look for humility and teachability: humility opens doors, arrogance closes them. We are not looking for overlords, but servants.
We do not do this quickly: 1 Timothy 5:22: Do not be hasty in the laying on of hands, and do not share in the sins of others. Keep yourself pure. God has given you a gift, but character and holiness is your responsibility. Obviously, all of us fail in some areas, but if there is known, deliberate or habitual sin in your life don't blame the leaders when we don't release your gifting! Don't blame us either if we have to step you down either! Your gifts can write cheques your character cannot cash.
We always try to approach these things biblically. We always look for when we can restore someone in due course. Galatians 6:1 Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted. Obviously, all of us fail in some areas, but if there is known, deliberate or habitual sin in your life don't blame the leaders when we don't release your gifting! Don't blame us either if we have to step you down either! Your gifts can write cheques your character cannot cash.
We release prayerfully and under the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Acts 13:2-3: While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, "Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them." [3] So after they had fasted and prayed, they placed their hands on them and sent them off. Notice a few things... They were praying and in prayer when they were told to set them aside. Then they prayed some more! Note too, we see the model of a sending church. We are a sending church. We want to release you for that is our mandate. Ministries are recognised and released from the local church. I worry about people setting up ministries without the release of their church.
Our Task is Your Preparation: Our role is to prepare you to walk in the ministry and service God has called you to, to help mature you: Ephesians 4:11-13: It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, [12] to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up [13] until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.
The Harmony of Ministries
God loves it when a plan comes together.
When I was a small boy my mother, not a Christian at the time, decided to run a community choir to get all the kids off the streets late at night. This was before Gareth Malone, famed for his council estate choirs, was even born. It was ground breaking. In that time I learnt a lot about harmonies and what an amazing difference to a musical piece they make.
When ministries work in harmony they make everything work better! When a church is united in its mission, when every member is doing their bit, it's as though heaven opens.
1 Corinthians 12:14-31: Now the body is not made up of one part but of many. [15] If the foot should say, "Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body," it would not for that reason cease to be part of the body. [16] And if the ear should say, "Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body," it would not for that reason cease to be part of the body. [17] If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be? [18] But in fact God has arranged the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. [19] If they were all one part, where would the body be? [20] As it is, there are many parts, but one body. [21] The eye cannot say to the hand, "I don't need you!" And the head cannot say to the feet, "I don't need you!" [22] On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, [23] and the parts that we think are less honourable we treat with special honour. And the parts that are unpresentable are treated with special modesty, [24] while our presentable parts need no special treatment. But God has combined the members of the body and has given greater honour to the parts that lacked it, [25] so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. [26] If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honoured, every part rejoices with it. [27] Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it. [28] And in the church God has appointed first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then workers of miracles, also those having gifts of healing, those able to help others, those with gifts of administration, and those speaking in different kinds of tongues. [29] Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? [30] Do all have gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues ? Do all interpret? [31] But eagerly desire the greater gifts. And now I will show you the most excellent way.
Many of you will know the song from the Sound of Music, Do-Re-Mi. We are going to try a little experiment this morning in harmonisation (Unbound Service only; Unplugged this will be mentioned).
To my left you're the "dohs." Sing with me - doh!
The centre block, you're the "re's." Sing with me - re!
The block to my right, you're the "Mi's." sing with me -mi!
Now balcony! We love you guys. Please don't take this the wrong way. For this illustration you're basically the village idiots! We need you to illustrate when some things go wrong or when people are not being used in ministry or jealous of others. So you guys are going to sing, "Jingle bell, jingle bell, jingle bell rocks!" It's nowhere near Christmas, so makes it even more weird! Sing that with me! ""Jingle bell, jingle bell, jingle bell rocks!"
OK. Now when I point to you, I need your section to sing your bit. At the end you'll all join together.
On Our Own We Don't Sound Great: dohs!
[14] Now the body is not made up of one part but of many.
It does not matter how well we do with a few others of the same gifting, we still need others. If we only have 'one sound' as a church things would become dull and monotonous quickly. Equally if we have too many things going on, we would lose the flavour of who we are in Christ.
We Need Others to Create a Harmony: Re and Mi
[18] But in fact God has arranged the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be.
[24b] But God has combined the members of the body and has given greater honour to the parts that lacked it.
When we start working together as God intended we begin to see (and hear) harmony coming forth. We have fun together. we begin to feel like we are on mission together. We start to progress. The next time it becomes easier to work together, it becomes more natural (sing again).
We |Should Not be Jealous of Another's Ministry: (balcony)
[15] If the foot should say, "Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body," it would not for that reason cease to be part of the body.
It's all very well having a ministry and a calling, but if we try and be something we're not it just doesn't work. it will always sound odd and out of season.
God Has Placed Us Together in Ministry: do-ria-mi
[27] Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.
When we begin to celebrate but togetherness in Christ and our voices in ministry, we begin to get a richness in our harmony. Unity becomes the norm. we begin to celebrate who are in Christ and enjoying being part of a church.
We Need to Sing the Song God has Given the Church (all together).
As good as we might think that sounds from where we are sitting, it jars a little because it wasn't totally united.
[29] Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? [30] Do all have gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues ? Do all interpret? [31] But eagerly desire the greater gifts. And now I will show you the most excellent way.
Obviously we don't all have the same ministries and there is variety in the church. Equally trying to be something we are not will run the harmony of the church. It's just frustrating for you and for the leaders.
If we all sing in harmony together we will discover a new richness.
Balcony! We're going to try this one more time, but this time we need you to join the harmony by signing the 'fa' line. So when the others sing, if you can come in with the 'fa' line that'd be great!
All together, sing!
All of a sudden there's a resonance, a harmony, a joining with one voice whilst playing our individual parts.
So it is with the gifts and ministries we each have.
Do your part and the church will be richer for it!
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