Category: Church Development

The October issue of Equipper is now online. It has seven articles (linked below), with most addressing the theme of developing the leaders in our congregations. Current and past issues of Equipper are always available at http://equipper.gci.org.

From Greg: Invest in the development of your leaders
Greg Williams urges pastors and ministry leaders to plan now to invest in the development of established and new congregational leaders in 2017.

Mentoring young leaders
Michael Rasmussen draws from his experience in discussing ways to mentor young (emerging) leaders.

Developing a new pastor: It began with a question
PD Kurts tells the story of how he helped a young leader hear God’s call to pastoral ministry.

Using ministry descriptions in developing your ministry leaders
Heber Ticas tells about how ministry descriptions have been helpful in developing the ministry leaders in his congregation.

Building the leaders around you
We summarize an article and offer a video that show how you can utilize Jesus’ methods in building the leaders in your church.

Sermon video: Safe and Sound
This month we share a video about the Parable of the Prodigal Son. It provides a good basis for a sermon.

Kids Korner: What about Halloween?
This month we address the topic of Halloween. What’s the best way to approach this holiday in Children’s Church?

Many churches have friendly members, but are they friendly to visitors? In a recent post on his blog, LifeWay president Thom Rainer offers “Six Reasons Why Your Church Members May Not Be Friendly To Guests” (click here to read the post)—it offers some good food for discussion on the importance of extending hospitality to visitors.

In a recent post on his blog, Carey Nieuwhof, teaching pastor of Connexus Church near Toronto, Canada, asks, “How do you interact with infrequent church attenders who don’t seem to be embracing the mission of your church the way you hoped they would?” His answer is simple and to the point: “You embrace them anyway.” To read his post, click here.

Looking for help in preparing sermons that align with our incarnational, Trinitarian faith? Joseph Tkach’s Weekly Update letter typically has material that can be turned into a sermon. Also check out these other GCI resources:

1. Sermon Series, which is emailed to subscribers. This publication is currently covering the book of Ephesians. Click here for a sample. To subscribe, email your request to Ted.Johnston@gci.org.
2. Sermon Summary, which is a feature in CAD’s monthly e-zine, GCI Equipper. Click here for a sample. To subscribe, email Ted.Johnston@gci.org.
3. Trinitarian Preaching Forum on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/groups/480011505381562/
4. Trinitarian Theology Forum on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/groups/174169545968632/
5. The Surprising God blog at http://thesurprisinggodblog.gci.org/

If you have a sermon (in manuscript form) you would like to have published in Equipper, or on one of the online forums, email it to Ted.Johnston@gci.org.

The September issue of GCI Equipper focuses on conducting worship within fellowship groups (very small congregations) and includes a sermon summary and an article on children’s ministry. Here are links to the five articles in this month’s issue:

From Greg: It’s not about numbers
Drawing from his childhood experiences, Greg Williams discusses the advantages of worship in fellowship group-sized congregations.

Here’s what it looks like: demonstration of a fellowship group worship service
Ted Johnston shares a video of a demonstration of a fellowship group worship service, and offers related observations.

Tips for facilitating discussions in fellowship groups
Lee Berger offers tips on how to effectively facilitate group discussions like those held in fellowship group worship services.

Sermon Summary: Parable of the fig tree
Lance McKinnon, in a sermon titled “Is God an Ax Murderer?,” shows how Jesus challenged misconceptions about how God relates to us.

Kid’s Korner: Is your children’s ministry in survival or creative mode?
Learn what the video game Minecraft has to do with children’s ministry.

Because a pastor’s work is never done, it’s important that they manage their time well. For some assistance, click here.

Here from Jeff McSwain (national coordinator of the GCI-USA Intern Program) is a list from A to Z of practices that exemplify an incarnational-relational approach to ministry.

Appropriate with all relationships

Build a relationship as if you are going to know the person for the rest of your life

Consistency….consistency…..consistency

Do the unexpected (random acts of kindness, shoot a text just to let them know you are thinking about them)

Eye contact (don’t look over the shoulder of the person you’re talking with to scan for others)

Family (learn to see the person more and more in his/her family context)

Go wherever folks congregate (especially those disinterested in God)

Hi! Be the first to say hi. Initiate with people and see where the Spirit leads.

Identify without being identical (when confronted with questionable stuff, don’t condemn but don’t condone)

Joke around without sarcasm (avoid “one-upmanship” while building up)

Keep your word

Listen sincerely (don’t be leaning towards “the next thing”)

Make them the experts; find opportunities for them to teach you (very difficult when you’re not interested!)

Notice their achievements (be ready for “How did you know?” If it’s publicly available it’s not stalker-ish!)

Open-ended questions (“So tell me about the team this year, how’s it looking?” vs. “Is the team going to be good?”)

Pick up where you left off (“How is your grandmother doing?” “How did that science test go?”)

Quit while you’re ahead (before their awkward, “Uh, sorry, but I gotta go”)

Remember names (“A person’s name is the sweetest sound to them in any language.” – Dale Carnegie)

Show up just to see them and or support them (not to invite them to something) 90% of success is showing up!

Talk about what they are interested in

Understand before being understood (They don’t care how much you know ‘til they know how much you care!)

Vary levels of contact (see, talk, do, deepen—don’t underestimate the value of level one: simply being seen)

With-ness before witness (nothing communicates like consistent presence)

Xpert on your community (newspaper, websites; notice and attend community or school events)

Yearbook is your friend (use it to familiarize yourself with the school culture)

Zealous in prayer before, during and after (God is in charge—give him your successes and failures)

In a recent post on his self-named blog, Chuck Lawless wrote this:

Let’s face it, church leaders. Some of us much prefer preaching over pastoral care. Others love pastoral care, but not all of us. Some do it because our role demands it, but that doesn’t mean we always enjoy it.

To read Chuck’s post, click here and feel free to add your comments in the box below. For a post on GCI’s Surprising God blog that addresses the theology of pastoral ministry, click here.

GCI recently published 40 Days of Discipleship, a three-part, self-paced course that leads students through an exploration of Incarnational Trinitarian Theology and the basics of Christian doctrine. It does so by linking relevant articles on the GCI.org website. The course would be helpful to any adult disciple, but has particular applicability for equipping ministers (pastors and ministry leaders) for their teaching and preaching ministries. Here are links to the three parts of the course:

• Part one at https://www.gci.org/discipleship/40
• Part two at https://www.gci.org/discipleship/80
• Part three at https://www.gci.org/discipleship/120

GCI urges its ministers to participate in continuing education. Doing so is an important aspect of growing in effectiveness in Christ’s service. Toward that end, GCI makes available master’s level courses at Grace Communion Seminary, and bachelor’s level courses at Ambassador College of Christian Ministry. The new discipleship course provides a less rigorous, no-cost third alternative.

How should we vote in upcoming elections? To help us answer this question, Dr. Tkach recommends the newly published book Faith in the Voting Booth: Practical Wisdom for Voting Well by National Association of Evangelicals leaders Leith Anderson and Galen Carey. Here is a review of the book from GCI member Terry Akers (who works in GCI’s Home Office):

This book is a fine resource designed to guide the Christian in matters pertaining to faith and politics. Wisely, it does not tell you how to vote, rather, it offers thoughtful biblical insight that helps the reader affirm their positions on the issues in the light of their faith before voting and educates voters concerning the pitfalls of being influenced by campaign ads and political rhetoric that play on their fears and anger.

The authors show the reader how to vote in a way that is consistent with Scripture but puts the broader focus on the importance of prayer before casting their vote. The book offers a refreshing overview to the way Christian faith should engage the political process, dispelling numerous myths and media-generated false impressions along the way. Not all evangelicals, for example, are white, Republican, and live in the suburbs.

This helpful guidebook engages specific issues including poverty, diversity, marriage and families, immigration, taxes, prisons, foreign policy, and creation care. It does not, however, attempt to influence your vote, rather, it informs you on how to vote for yourself. The book is nonpartisan—it does not identify with any party or agenda. The overall emphasis is on Scripture and prayer with the goal of helping Christian make informed and wise choices.

The content is thoughtful and respectful throughout, acknowledging the diversity and range of political views among Christians. It also expresses the theological differences within the Body of Christ, but celebrates their overall unity. Interestingly, it shows that Christians in general, contrary to common assumptions, are not obsessed with politics—their main focus is on Christ.

This book discloses the tendency among many believers to make up their minds and then pray for God’s implementation, rather than submitting to the mind of Christ and God’s will by praying for wisdom and being open to surprise. It shows how to interpret politics by the Bible instead of the other way around. Most importantly, it teaches believers how to think for themselves.

The authors are clear on the question, “Does evangelical mean political?” They give a firm “no” answer here, noting that there are 600 million evangelicals in 129 countries and the vast majority are not white, Republican, or Democrat. They are adamant in their assessment that evangelicalism is centered in faith, not politics.

Anderson and Carey reveal in this book that believers are not commanded to participate or abstain from politics, demonstrating that the Bible offers wisdom that we can apply to political questions. They provide a thoughtful and commonsense approach to these complex and potentially divisive subjects, daring to actually talk about “religion and politics” in an engaging and stimulating way. Probably the most helpful and encouraging chapter in the book is the last one, titled “A Call for Civility.”