Serving in a Local Church
Considerations concerning serving in a local church
As you read this lesson, be sure to hover over the the Bible verses to read them or look them up in your own copy of the Bible. When the Bible passage is longer, you need to click on “more” in the bottom right corner of the pop-up window.
Introduction
Welcome! The Bible has much to say about this interesting topic. You may find it helpful to invite a mature Christian from your church to study this topic with you. You may have a lot of questions that are not answered here. Maybe there are ideas here that seem hard to understand. Do not get overwhelmed! You can contact us with any questions that you may have. The elders of your local church can help you as well.
Remember that learning the information about this topic is helpful; but knowing the information will not truly change you. For you to benefit fully from this topic you must...
First, be born-again by securing a personal relationship with God the Father and His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, through faith. This information cannot change you until the Holy Spirit of God gives you a new heart that is able to apply this information to your life. To begin a personal relationship with God, you must understand and believe the following:
God is separated from you, because He is good, pure, and holy. 1 John 1:5-6
You are sinful, impure, and unholy because you do not measure up to God’s holiness. Romans 3:10-12 You are a descendent of Adam and Eve who rebelled against God. Romans 5:19
Your sinfulness provokes God’s anger and separates you from God because He is holy. Romans 5:12 As a result, you deserve to be thrown into the Lake of Fire forever. Revelation 20:14-15
God the Father sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to earth. Jesus is God in the Flesh. He lived a sinless life. He was nailed to the cross, shed His blood, and died on the cross in your place for your sins. He was buried, rose again and went into Heaven to prepare a place for all who believe. One day He will return for those who believe. 1 Corinthians 15:1-4
Only the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus is enough for you to be accepted by God the Father forever the moment that you believe. John 3:16 God does not accept you because you try to be a good person and do good works. Romans 4:5 He accepts you fully and forever the moment you abandon your sins and call on Jesus to save you. John 3:36
Second, as you understand, meditate on, and believe the information presented here about this topic, you must also do what the Bible says. James 1:21-22 Only by trusting and obeying what the Bible says regarding this topic will you experience the full benefits of this information. James 1:23-24 Trusting and obeying God’s Word will change you as you learn this information. 2 Corinthians 3:17-18 You will be happy as a result of your obedience. James 1:25
Third, seek and heed the advice of the elders/pastors of your church regarding this topic. Hebrews 13:17
Fourth, depend upon the Holy Spirit to change you. Galatians 3:1-3 You cannot change without Him enabling you. John 15:5 He will change you in His time and way; but not apart from your faith and obedience to God’s Word. Trust Him to do His work in your heart. Philippians 2:12-13
Fifth, allow the joy that you experience from obeying God’s Word to transform how you interact with others. James 2:12-20
As an elder
By being an elder of a local church. You are committing to:
Be an example of Christ that is worthy of imitation.
Ensure that Christ’s name is represented well by you to your family, the other members of the local church, and the community at large.
Facilitate the enablement of church members to better represent Christ to their families, one another, and to the community at large.
Help lead the church toward Gospel maturity and Gospel effectiveness.
Provide accountability for fellow leaders and members of the local church.
Speak, teach, and explain the Gospel clearly and effectively.
Provide biblical wisdom to maturing believers.
Substantially aid in the process of conflict resolution and church restoration.
Aid in providing guidance and direction for the overall ministry of the church.
Ensure that the church is striving to obey Christ’s commands.
Ensure the church’s teaching is doctrinally sound and practically consistent with the Gospel and the teachings of the Bible.
Each elder is required to meet the criteria of 1 Timothy 3:1-8 and Titus 1:3-5 regarding character before God and reputation before their family and community. However, each elder is gifted differently and called to serve God in different ways. Each elder has different personalities, experiences, circumstances, passions, preferences, cultures, and maturity levels.
All elders are to be able to teach, but not all are gifted at teaching.
All elders are to shepherd the hearts of the flock, but not all are gifted at shepherding.
All are elders are to lead the church by their example, but not all are gifted in leading.
All elders are to help the church to function in an organized way, but not all are gifted with administration.
All elders are to be hospitable, but not all are gifted in the area of hospitality.
All elders are to share the Gospel, but not all are gifted as evangelists.
All elders are to help the Gospel spread across the world, but not all are gifted as apostles.
All elders are to ensure the church is worshipping in a biblical way, but not all are musically gifted.
Some elders are great at one-tone conversations, while are others are better at public speaking.
Some elders have the ability to remember scripture easily, while others are better at giving sound wisdom.
Some care more about doctrine than people, while others care more about people than doctrine.
Some elders have a vision for the future of the church, while others are focused on the day-to-day.
Some elders are better equipped to handle serious counseling situations, while others may be better at present during times of grief.
This is why a plurality of elders is the best model for a local church. Each brings the value to the leadership, but in different ways.
What do you feel most passionate about doing as an elder?
What do you think is the most difficult for you to do joyfully as an elder?
What are you willing to give up for the sake of the greater good?
What are you unwilling to give up for the sake of glorifying Christ?
How does God want to use you to make the church more healthy?
How are you refusing to listen to gossip?
How are you refusing to spread gossip?
How are you holding members accountable for spreading gossip?
Different tasks of an elder:
Preaching the bible
Teaching the bible
Counseling believers
Decision-making
Praying for the members
Sharing the Gospel
Attending meetings
Record keeping
Baptisms and communion
Maintaining the order of the church service
Ensuring that the various ministries of the church are functioning biblically and effectively well.
Assisting in the process of church restoration or discipline
Attending to missions and missionaries
Attending to the various groups of the church.
Raising up more leaders
Informing deacons of various physical needs within the church
AS A DEACON
Being a deacon of a local church. You are committing to:
Be an example of Christ that is worthy of imitation.
Ensure that Christ’s name is represented well by you to your family, the other members of the local church, and the community at large.
Facilitate the enablement of church members to better represent Christ to their families, one another, and to the community at large.
Help lead the church meet physical needs which impede Gospel maturity and Gospel effectiveness.
Provide accountability for fellow members of the local church.
Speak, teach, and explain the Gospel clearly and effectively.
Substantially aid in facilitating meeting the physical needs of church members during the process of conflict resolution and church restoration.
Inform the elders of the physical needs within the church and help organize and facilitate meeting the physical needs of the members of the local church.
Each deacon is required to meet the criteria of 1 Timothy 3:1-8 and Titus 1:3-5 regarding character before God and reputation before their family and community. However, each deacon is gifted differently and called to serve God in different ways. Each deacon has different personalities, experiences, circumstances, passions, preferences, cultures, and maturity levels.
All deacons are to be able to serve, but not all are gifted in serving.
All are deacons are to lead the church by their example, but not all are gifted in leading.
All deacons are to help the church to function in an organized way, but not all are gifted with administration.
All deacons are to share the Gospel, but not all are gifted as evangelists.
All deacons are to help the Gospel spread across the world, but not all are gifted as apostles.
Some deacons are great at one-to-one conversations, while are others are better at public speaking.
Some deacons have the ability to remember scripture easily, while others are better at giving sound wisdom.
Some deacons care more about doctrine than people, while others care more about people than doctrine.
Some deacons have a vision for the future of the church, while others are focused on the day-to-day.
Some deacons are more focused on budget than people, while others are more focused on people than budget. Some want to save money, some want to spend money.
This is why a plurality of deacons is the best model for a local church. Each brings the value to the leadership, but in different ways.
What do you feel most passionate about doing as a deacon?
What do you think is the most difficult for you to do joyfully as an deacon?
What are you willing to give up for the sake of the greater good?
What are you unwilling to give up for the sake of glorifying Christ?
How does God want to use you to make the church healthier?
How are you refusing to listen to gossip?
How are you refusing to spread gossip?
Differing tasks of deacon:
Decision-making
Praying for the members
Sharing the Gospel
Attending meetings
Record keeping
communion
Maintaining the order of the church service
Ensuring that the various ministries of the church are functioning biblically and effectively well.
Attending to missions and missionaries
Attending to the various groups of the church.
AS A MEMBER
Being a member of a local church. You are committing to:
Be an example of Christ that is worthy of imitation.
Ensure that Christ’s name is represented well by you to your family, the other members of the local church, and the community at large.
Facilitate the enablement of church members to better represent Christ to their families, one another, and to the community at large.
Grow in Gospel maturity and effectiveness.
Provide accountability for fellow leaders and members of the local church.
Bring the Gospel to the lost.
Learn from the biblical wisdom of other members and leaders.
Substantially aid in the process of conflict resolution and church restoration.
Ensure that the church is striving to obey Christ’s commands.
Ensure the church’s teaching is doctrinally sound and practically consistent with the Gospel and the teachings of the Bible.
To be a member of a local church, one is not required to meet the criteria of 1 Timothy 3:1-8 and Titus 1:3-5 regarding character before God and reputation before their family and community. However, it should be something that the member is actively pursuing in their daily lives. They should submit to the leadership of the church and allow them to lead the affairs of the local church. Each member is gifted differently and called to serve God in different ways. Each member has different personalities, experiences, circumstances, passions, preferences, cultures, and maturity levels. This is why they need godly leaders for which to imitate, respect, and follow.
All members should become mature enough to teach the basics of the faith and disciple someone else, but not all are gifted as teachers.
All members are to shepherd the hearts of one another, but not all are gifted at shepherding.
All are members are to live in a manner worthy of imitation, but not all are gifted in leading.
All members should grow in hospitality, but not all are gifted in the area of hospitality.
All members are to share the Gospel, but not all are gifted as evangelists.
All members are to help the Gospel spread across the world, but not all are gifted as apostles.
This is why a plurality of elders is the best model for a local church. Each member needs godly leadership who can help equip them to mature in the faith. Each member brings value to the church, but in different ways.
What do you feel most passionate about serving as a member of your local church?
What do you think is the most difficult for you to do joyfully as a member of your local church?
What are you willing to give up for the sake of the greater good of your local church?
What are you unwilling to give up for the sake of glorifying Christ in your local church?
How does God want to use you to make the church more healthy?
How are you submitting to the leadership of your local church?
How are you refusing to listen to gossip?
How are you refusing to spread gossip?
Different tasks of a member:
Praying for the members
Sharing the Gospel
Attending service and meetings
Intentionally growing in the faith.
Allowing someone to disciple them.
Making disciples
Using their spiritual gifts
Investing their time and money into the health of the members of their local church.
Building meaningful relationships within the local church and outside of the local church.
Assisting in the process of church restoration or discipline
Attending to missions and missionaries
Attending to the various groups of the church.
Informing the elders and deacons of various physical needs within the church
AS A MINISTRY LEADER
Being a ministry leader in a local church (under the authority of the elders). In addition to your commitment as a church member, you are committing to:
Foster unity between the church leadership, ministry leaders, and ministry participants.
Enable others to use their gifts to better serve the ministry that you facilitate.
Invite the oversight from the elders in your ministry.
Intentionally seek to facilitate the ministry with excellence, integrity, and accountability.
Look for opportunities to delegate your responsibilities for the purpose of encouraging other members to serve.
Seek to develop someone else who can replace you.
Keep the Gospel the main focus.
To be a ministry leader of a local church, under the authority of the elders, one is not required to meet the criteria of 1 Timothy 3:1-8 and Titus 1:3-5 regarding character before God and reputation before their family and community. However, it should be something that the ministry leader is actively pursuing in their daily lives. Additionally, women ministry leaders are called to meet the criteria of 1 Timothy 3:11. Also, both men and women leaders should meet the criteria of Titus 2:1-8 and follow the principles of 1 Timothy 2:9-15; 1 Corinthians 14:33-40; and 1 Corinthians 11:1-19. They should submit to the elders of the church and allow them to lead the affairs of the local church, (including allowing them to provide oversight and accountability for the ministry of the ministry leader). Each ministry leader is gifted differently and called to serve God in different ways. Each ministry leader has different personalities, experiences, circumstances, passions, preferences, cultures, and maturity levels. This is why they need godly elders for which to imitate, respect, and follow.
All ministry leaders should become mature enough to teach the basics of the faith and disciple someone else, but not all are gifted as teachers.
All ministry leaders are to shepherd the hearts of those to whom they are ministering, but not all are gifted at shepherding.
All ministry leaders are to live in a manner worthy of imitation, but not all are gifted in leading.
All ministry leaders should grow in hospitality, but not all are gifted in the area of hospitality.
All ministry leaders are to share the Gospel, but not all are gifted as evangelists.
All ministry leaders are to help the Gospel spread across the world, but not all are gifted as apostles.
This is why a plurality of elders is the best model for a local church. Each ministry leaders needs godly leadership who can help equip them to mature in the faith. Each ministry leaders brings value to the church, but in different ways.
What do you feel most passionate about serving as a ministry leader of your local church?
What do you think is the most difficult for you to do joyfully as a ministry leader of your local church?
What are you willing to give up as a ministry leader for the sake of the greater good of your local church?
What are you unwilling to give up as a ministry leader for the sake of glorifying Christ in your local church?
How does God want to use you to make the church more healthy through your ministry leadership?
How are you submitting to the leadership of your local church in the ministry to which you are leading?
How are you refusing to listen to gossip?
How are you refusing to spread gossip?
Different tasks of a ministry leader (in addition to that of a church member):
Concerning the facility
Technology and sound
Grounds and maintenance
Building use
Security
Men, Women, Youth, and Children ministry
Outreach
Community Groups
Record keeping
Attending services and meetings
Additional Thoughts
Concerning the disqualification of leaders:
There may be times when a leader disqualifies himself from leadership. The response should be as follows:
Follow the protocol as explained in 1 Timothy 5:1-2; 1 Timothy 5:19-25; Matthew 18:15-20 and in the topic How to Reconcile with Others.
Recognize that disqualifying one’s self from leadership does not mean that:
They disqualified one from being a child of God, nor does it disqualify them from loving and encouraging people in and outside of the church.
They are unforgiven by Christ.
They should be excommunicated from the church. (That depends upon their repentance).
They are permanently disqualified from leadership.
Their family has done something wrong.
The church has done something wrong.
They are irredeemable.
Reflection:
According to Scripture, did the leader actually disqualify themselves?
If so, for how long are they disqualified from leadership?
If not, how can the church provide accountability with integrity, while not unnecessarily removing the leader from leadership?
What protocol does the church have in place to protect leaders from disqualifying themselves?
What protocol does the church have in place to navigate all the circumstances for when it is discovered a leader has been disqualified?
How will the church minister, encourage, and help the disqualified leader as a brother/sister in Christ?
How will the church minister, encourage, and help the family of the disqualified leader?
How will the church prevent themselves from unnecessarily ostracizing the family of the disqualified leader?
How is Christ best represented and the Gospel adorned in the church and in the community- Restoring the leader to leadership or never restoring the leader to leadership? Is there a path to being restored to leadership, if so, when and how?
How is the church preventing the spread of gossip and slander in the community?
If the disqualified leader is unrepentant, and excommunicated, how is the church helping facilitate accountability with other local churches?
Concerning your ministry outside of your local church:
As a believer-priest (1 Peter 2:9-10) you are free to share the Gospel and minister to anyone anywhere and in anyway that does not violate the Scriptures. In fact, you are commanded to do so. Matthew 28:18-20 You can serve in public, in homes, through parachurch organizations, and in the ministries of other local churches.
Seek the advice, wisdom, and counsel from the elders of your local church regarding your ministry outside of the church.
The spiritual wellbeing of you and your family should be overseen by the elders of your local church.
It should not replace your ability to be a committed member of your local church. Rather, it should overflow from your commitment to your local church.
It must not prevent the elders of your local church from shepherding your heart.
It should not prevent your ability to edify the members of your local church
It should not prevent you from actively and meaningfully contributing to the health of your local church.
Concerning transferring your church membership to another church:
There some good reasons for changing churches:
You are sent out by your church to serve at another church or in missions.
Another church has a greater need for your spiritual gifts.
By you leaving your current church, it allows others to grow by stepping up to fill in where you were serving.
When it goes against your conscience to submit to the decisions of the leadership. For the sake of unity, and after much counsel from the elders, with a spirit of humility, grace, and a desire to edify others, it may best glorify God for you to leave the church.
There are some wrong reasons for changing churches:
You are unwilling to esteem others as more important than yourself.
You want the entire church to cater to your preferences and they won’t.
Because God moves the pastor elsewhere.
You are unwilling to repent.
You should not simply leave a church without first seeking counsel from your elders. Allow them to shepherd your heart, reconcile with you or help you to reconcile with someone else, and help you find another church where you can be edified.
You should not leave a church without already knowing where you will transfer your membership, with the blessing of your current elders.
If you have to leave your church, always leave on a positive note and do not allow it to become a habit. If possible, don’t leave ministries vacant.
Conclusion
Now that you have studied this topic, we encourage you to...
Ask us or any of your elders about any questions or concerns you still have about this topic.
Pray for yourself to grow in maturity regarding this topic.
Do your best to practice what you have learned.
Tell someone else about what you have learned.
Ask one of the elders at your church to help you overcome your weaknesses regarding this topic.
Teach this topic to someone else.
Consider reviewing this topic once a year.
Commit to growing in this area together with other members of a local church.
Trust the Holy Spirit to change you as He uses His Word, people, and circumstances to make you more like Christ.