Jump Start # 2129

Titus 1:5 “For this reason I left you in Crete, that you would set in order what remains and appoint elders in every city as I directed you.”

As I stood in the back of the auditorium last evening, as our services were coming to an end, it occurred to me that there are many things, in the practical fashion, that the New Testament doesn’t detail how we are to conduct them. The principles of worship are there. We see the early church being instructed to gather to take the Lord’s Supper. We see that preaching was done. We see singing praises. Those are the principles. What’s missing is just how these things were conducted.

On a larger scale, the New Testament, is not a manual, detailing every exact and specific thing. For instance, you buy a baby bed. It comes in a large box. You open it up and there are zillions of parts and a manual that seems as thick as a phone book. Step by step, you follow the instructions. You must do it in order. There’s no skipping a few pages. When you stay with it, you will have a sturdy baby bed ready to be used. The New Testament isn’t like that. There are several things that require our judgment.

For instance:

1. The appointing of elders. This is what our verse states that Titus was to do. Just how did he do that? Did the congregation submit names? What was the process? Was the congregation given a couple of weeks to think about all this? Was Titus supposed to preach about the role of elders before they were selected?

2. The Lord’s Supper. Were the men who pass the Lord’s Supper supposed to stand before the congregation? Was there supposed to be a song before the Lord’s Supper? Are the people in the front to be served first?

3. The contribution. Are plates supposed to be passed through the audience so money could be dropped in, or are the members to pass by and individually put the money in? Should there be a song before we give? Should the giving and the Lord’s Supper be done at different times during the worship?

4. How is the support or the pay of a preacher to be determined? Do we average up what the men in the congregation make for a living and give that to the preacher? Do we contact area preachers and ask them what they make? Do we base it upon his years of experience or the size of his family? Should he be paid monthly, weekly or in some other fashion?

5. How does a congregation go about finding a preacher and what is the process to “hire” him? Should he come in just one Sunday, preach a couple of times and then, based upon that, be offered the opportunity to come and work with the congregation? Should there be a series of meetings before that? Should he “try out?” Is the basis of a congregation making an offer determined by how well he does that one Sunday?

6. How often should deacons meet with elders? Should they even meet with elders at all? Who decides what deacons ought to be doing? The elders? The deacons? The church? How many deacons should a church have?

7. Does the preacher have to stand in the water with the person being baptized? Can the preacher stand outside of the water and lean over? Should the preacher where a tie and jacket when he is baptizing someone? Should he hold one hand up in the air before he immerses a person?

8. How many songs ought to be sung during a Sunday service? Should the services end with a prayer or a song? Or, either? Should the announcements be made at the beginning of services or the end of services? Who should give the announcements? Elders only? Any male member? What should be announced? Do “Non-church” items, such as potlucks, baby showers, graduation open houses, get included in the announcements? Do Gospel meetings at other congregations get announced? Everyone has a friend, co-worker, or neighbor, who is sick or in the hospital. Do those names get included in the public announcements? How long ought the announcements be? If the announcements fall at the end of the service, should a recap of the sermon be given? Should anything about the sermon be said? Can anyone speak out from the audience to add an announcement that was not included?

I expect, to most of these questions, we all have our thoughts and opinions. Some may even get upset if someone suggested doing something different than what they were accustomed to. Some may even feel that others are wrong, if they do things differently than what they do in their congregation. But can you see all the decisions, choices and judgments that take place. The New Testament isn’t a step-by-step manual, like what comes with putting a baby bed together. In some ways, it would be nice if it was detailed that way. We can fuss and get upset about many things that are simply not detailed in the New Testament.

When I preached in India, all the women sat on one side of the auditorium and all the men on the other side. A long time ago, most church buildings had side by side front doors. One was for the women and the other for the men.

Now, comes the real important part of these thoughts. Just who is going to make these judgments? Who is going to decide how all of these things are going to be decided? Tradition? Which tradition? Whose tradition? Take up a vote? That’s subject to change all the time. The elders. The men in a business meeting? One person? A group of people? Can those judgments, or how they do things, ever be changed? This is happening more and more, and for some, they have to work these things out in their minds. What is the principle and what is left to our judgment on how to fulfill those principles? How many services on Sunday? One service or two? If one, do we have two preaching segments or just one?

It seems that each congregation must work out these judgments for what is best for them. Leadership ought to lead and help reason through why changes are being made in these judgments and why we do what we are doing. At the end of the day, God is to be worshipped, and we are to be encouraged. People should not leave upset over how worship was conducted. So, when visiting another congregation, keep in mind the difference between the principles we are to follow in the Bible and the judgments which allows a congregation to fulfill those principles. Keep in mind, if you move and want to fellowship with a congregation, we use the term “place membership,” you come in to a place that is already doing things. You agree to be a part of that fellowship. Don’t come in with the sprit of wanting to change how they do things. Judgments are just that, judgments. If you don’t like how they do the Lord’s Supper, the order of the worship, how they do announcements, maybe you ought to look for another congregation. If I came into your house, and started moving the furniture around to my liking and taste, you’d probably show me the door. Your house is the way you want it to be. A lot of friction comes when someone moves in and they try to turn the congregation into the way the last one operated. You can’t do that. As long as it is Biblical, judgments will vary and we need to be open to that.

Sometimes it’s good to make changes in these judgments. I once worshipped in a congregation that had a Wednesday song service once a month. But it wasn’t the first Wednesday of the month. It was the first Wednesday that followed a first Monday of the month. So, if the new month started on a Wednesday, that would not be singing night. The singing night had to follow the first Monday. I never did get that. I was always confused. Long ago, they used to have a visitation night on the first Monday of the month. The singing followed that. The visitation Monday was dropped long ago, but they kept the singing. They kept the singing on the first Wednesday that followed the first Monday of the month. That eventually got changed. It needed to be changed. Few people understood it. Judgments. They help us do what we do. But don’t put the judgments before the principle. Don’t treat the judgments as unchangeable like the principle.

Openness, good communication, and explaining why goes a long way to help folks understand what is being done. It’s interesting to stand in the back of the auditorium and see just how a worship is conducted. A person learns a lot of lessons.

Roger

Jump Start # 1813

Titus 1:5 “For I left you in Crete, that you would set in order what remains and appoint elders in every city as I directed you.”

Appointing elders—this was something that Paul wanted Titus to do. Congregations need qualified men to lead them. The American arrangement of “business meetings” isn’t ideal. It allows “unqualified” men to lead and set the direction of the congregation. It also sets the tone for a spirit of democracy and instead of a congregation following leaders, a congregation leads itself. On paper, that sounds like the best alternative when there are no elders, but what happens when a Laodicea, a lukewarm church, or a Sardis, a dead church, leads itself? There were just a few at Sardis that were walking with the Lord. Democracy there, would continue the path to the spiritual cemetery.

In our Jump Start yesterday, I wrote about what preachers want from their elders. That relationship is two way. I have in my 37 years of preaching worked with some fine men who served as elders. I have worked with some that should never have been elders. Today, I work with the most amazing group of elders that I have ever witnessed. I sent my elders an email yesterday and asked them to share some thoughts that they felt was important in the preacher-elder relationship. Specifically, I asked them, “What do elders want from a preacher.” This morning I share their thoughts. I encourage preachers across the land to take these words to heart. I encourage elderships to share these words in an open discussion with your preacher. The elders and the preacher works as a team. Together, great things can happen.

My elders wrote:

1. To be connected to the congregation. There is so much more to the preacher’s work than what happens in the pulpit. The preacher needs to be engaged, building relationships, building trust so that he can influence with his teachings. This happens through personal studies, hospitality, investing time in the lives of the members. Elders gain great value on the spiritual status of the church family through the insights from the preacher’s involvement in the congregation.

2. To be a learner. The congregation needs a preacher who is always seeking to study God’s Word and not be satisfied with where he is with God’s word. The congregation benefits by a preacher who pushes them to learn and this only happens when he pushes himself.

3. To be applicable. Sermon after sermon on fornication to a congregation of senior citizens may not yield great benefits. Deeply using God’s word to bring applicability to where a congregation is in its spiritual journey is important.

4. To be open. Elders benefit from a preacher that is transparent about where he is in his work. Some times we get tired and discouraged in our work. It’s no different for a preacher. It is helpful for preachers to talk to elders when they need their batteries recharged so we can work together.

5. To be a partner. The shepherd’s work is to encourage the faithful to remain zealous, rescue the weak back to God’s word for strength and protection, and to feed the new Christians to become mature in God’s word. The elder cannot do this work effectively without the partnership of the preacher. The preacher’s work in the pulpit and in the Bible class, and the personal studies helps tremendously impact this effort.

6. To be Scripturally sound and bold. Too many times in today’s church services, members think the preacher must be a ‘rock star’ for “church” to be interesting. Members sometimes act as though they are watching a TV show and want to grade the preacher’s style and approach like the judges do on The Voice. Is a well thought out, well organized , well delivered sermon important to make a connection to the audience? Absolutely! An elder will take a preacher who is rock solid in Bible soundness and boldness over a “rock star” presenter of fluff any day of the week.

7. Additionally, the preacher needs to understand and respect the roles of the elder. He needs to understand   the differences in their work and instead of working against the elders, be a team player. The preacher needs to be the friend of the elders. Openness in communication and trust between them is essential.

That’s the thoughts from my elders. Awesome and amazing, just as I expected from them. It helps the relationship to spread some sugar around. The congregation needs to see and hear that the preacher and the elders not only get along with each other, but that they praise each other and are united. Just like kids do at home, there are times when some members will try to divide the preacher against the elders. They will try to work around and behind the scenes to get what they want. Don’t get into that mess. Support, defend, and back each other. Be united.

The preacher needs to listen to the elders. Too many of us do all the talking and we can be pushy and bossy at times. Just because you happen to be the one who gets paid to stand behind the pulpit, Mr. Preacher, it doesn’t mean you know the Bible better than anyone else. Those elders have years of experience and knowledge. It’s good to listen to them. They will help you grow.

I’d expect most preacher woes come from poor relationships with the elders. Developing real shepherds, not future CEO’s, is the work of the church. Teaching, showing and living God’s way is what we all must be doing.

File these articles. Keep them handy. Refer to them. Share them with future preachers and elders. Take a look at them once in a while and remind yourself what the relationship should be. Preachers often get together to study and talk and learn. It might be good for elders to do the same, even elders from different congregations. Learn from one another. We must move past the idea that “I don’t need to be taught.” That’s a dangerous spot for any of us to be in.

Things not going well down at the church house? Maybe these two articles, yesterday and today’s, can be a start that will open the lines of communication and help things get better. We want the kingdom to grow. We want folks to walk with the Lord. We want to fill Heaven up. When we all have that spirit, then we can roll up our sleeves and work together, side by side, just as the Lord intended.

Roger

Jump Start # 1812

Titus 1:5 “For this reason I left you in Crete, that you might set in order what remains, and appoint elders in every city as I directed you”

Paul’s words to Titus are one of the few places that we find elders and preachers in the same context. The preacher Titus was to appoint elders in every city. This was by direction of the apostle. One wonders how Titus could do that. In far too many places today, no one is qualified and no one wants to do the work. Years pass, and the church limps along without elders. In some places, it’s been generations since elders were appointed. It may be that some of these appointed elders had special spiritual gifts, including “faith” that made them qualified. Having qualified elders is the design that God wants and it ought to be the goal of every congregation. A goal, not a mere wish. Plans to accomplish that goal and specific classes designed to get the men to see the great value of this work out to be a part of the teaching program. Teaching men the proper understanding of this role is important. Elders do not run the church—God does! They are not CEO’s of the corporation. They are shepherds among God’s flock. Their work is to tend to the sheep. Healthy, growing sheep is the goal of the shepherds.

Elders and preachers—there is a special relationship between the two. In some places that relationship is not healthy. Suspicion exists and secrets are held from each other and an atmosphere of trying to undermine the other is felt by the members. Poor relationships between the elders and the preacher is the cause for many preachers to leave.

Having said that, here are some things that preachers like to see from the eldership. This is from the preacher’s perspective. Don’t read between the lines here. I’m not jabbing at my guys. We have a beautiful, transparent, trusting relationship. But I know too many in other places that do not. So, what would a preacher like to see from the elders?

1. Trust—not every thing said is a backhanded attack upon them. Believe in the preacher. He is gifted, experienced and knowledgeable. Allow him to do his work. Don’t handcuff him by trying to do his work. Compliment him when he does well. Support him. Defend him. Don’t allow the members to take cheap shots at the preacher and get away with it. Open the barn doors and allow him to preach and teach.

2. Be a team—there are definite lines of differences between the preachers work and the elders work. But much too often, there are things that would help each other if the communication was better. Often people will come to the preacher with things before they come to the elders. The preacher knows things. He should not keep secrets from the elders, especially if it involves the spiritual well being of the members. That is the concern of the elders. Before a conversation begins, the preacher ought to tell a person, if what you are going to tell me affects spiritual things, the elders need to be informed about this. It helps the preacher’s work to know who the elders are working with. Sermons can be directed towards problems, questions that people have. Don’t fight against each other. Be on the same team. Help each other. Talk openly and freely. Share information. Help each other. Holding secrets indicates that there is a lack of trust.

3. Create an inviting atmosphere for ideas and suggestions. The preacher often travels to other congregations and he may get some great ideas that would help out back home. If the elders are always limiting the preacher’s input or saying “no” to everything he suggests, then he will get greatly discouraged and feel like they do not trust him or are interested in what he is saying. Ideas also come from elders. The preacher needs to listen to their ideas and not think that he is the only source of good ideas.

4. Personal attention—it’s nice once in a while for an elder to ask the preacher how he is doing. How are things at home? What can the eldership do to help his work? Just knowing that they care about you as a person is impressive. Good elderships know that if the preacher is troubled because of finances, worries or problems, it will taint the work that he does. The preacher who is true to his colors and humble will not take advantage of this. If he does, again, the trust factor will take a hit.

5. Learning together—it’s great when the preacher and the elders have their own classes together. Study deeper topics and subjects that will help them do their work in the kingdom. Raising the bar on themselves will help the overall spirit and work of the congregation. Make a list of things that need to be studied out. Invite the preacher to lead some of those discussions. Learn from one another.

6. Become friends—the relationship between elders and the preacher is not the same as in the work setting. You are brethren. You are in fellowship. You have hearts and a work that is united and tied together. The closer you become as friends, the better your relationship grows. Go out to eat and just get to know each other. Be in each other’s homes. Don’t always talk about the church and troubles and what needs to be done. Develop a friendship. Do things together. This will carry over into your work together.

Often there is an fear between the eldership and the preacher about the preacher leaving. Every time the preacher leaves town to preach, the eldership wonders if he is trying out at another church. The preacher often fears that if he says the wrong thing in the wrong way, he will be tossed out. That uneasiness is like walking on ice. Everyone is guarded and careful about what they say. No one ever reveals all the cards in their hands. This can be eliminated by both parties being open and honest. If the eldership likes their preacher, let him know that you want him to stay for the next decade or more. If the preacher likes what is going on, let the eldership know that he has no intention of leaving. Being honest, transparent puts everyone at ease.

The preacher and the elders. Their work is different but they still can and should work together as a team. Together, side by side, powerful things can happen. Fighting against each other, the congregation comes apart at the seams.

Share this article with your preachers and elders. Begin a healthy conversation about that special relationship that they ought to have. Good can come about when attitudes are right and the glory of God is what everyone is after.

Roger