Pastoral Note - 4th November

Last Tuesday I attended ‘Cement’, a small group gathering organized by the Friday cell group leaders to challenge some of their regulars to be the ‘cement’ that binds and grows the Friday cell group ministry. Cell group leadership is tough and lonely and sometimes a thankless ministry. ‘Cement’ was all about sharing the needs of our Friday leaders and regulars to be partners in growing God’s people together on Friday night. I was deeply moved as I heard some of our Friday leaders share their struggles, challenges and joys of ministry this year – and their heartfelt appeal for others to be the ‘cement’ in the ministry with them.

So often we come to cell group looking only to receive, to be fed, to be taught, to be listened to, to be comforted, to be encouraged. What we often forget is that we’re not just there to receive, but to also give, to also love. You can’t say you love God, or that you know the love of God, when there’s no evident love for those who “church” with you (1 John. 3:16-19). Love we’re told is expressed not just in words, but in action and truth i.e. acting rightly towards those around you.

It’s the responsibility of all God’s people to practically and actually love people when we gather, not just the responsibilities of our leaders. Taking an interest in people, making them feel welcomed, following up those who aren’t around, finding out people’s prayer points and needs, sharing your story and needs with others, practically helping out when you meet, offering to help and asking where you can serve when you meet … they’re all expressions of love that we are all called to. It’s not just our leaders who are called to love, but all God’s people when we gather. As one of our Friday cell group leaders put it, ‘by ourselves we can’t be the cement that binds and grows people on Friday nights. There’s not enough cement to bind and grow people - you guys need to be part of the cement that does it.’

Imagine a cell group where everyone came only thinking of themselves. Imagine a church where everyone came only thinking of themselves. It’s not the kind of church Jesus had in mind, and I’m quite sure that it’s not a church he’s saved or gathered. Those who really know the grace and love of God, will show grace and love. If the one who loved us and died for us, to save us and gather us is at the centre of our gathering whether on Sunday or any other day, then when we meet, we should come with a heart to serve, to love, to give, to reach out, to bless, to comfort, to listen, to encourage, to make a difference in someone’s life. You lay down your life to love and serve others whenever you meet, because Jesus first laid down his life to love and serve you. As he has loved you, so love others when you gather in your cell groups. We need more of your ‘cement’ if we’re to grow this ‘church’.

Pastoral Note - 4th October

This week our pastoral staff spent some time looking at what it means for us to do “church” ministry. One of the challenges the pastoral team faces is the many expectations both the leadership and congregation have of them. As I’ve observed churches and spoken to church leaders both here in Sydney and overseas, it’s amazing the diverse expectations churches have of their pastors. Counsellor, strategist, administrator, fund-raiser, musician, communicator, preacher, evangelist, mobilizer, mentor, vision caster, problem solver, cleaner, care-taker … the list is endless.

There’s a difference between what the church wants and what the church needs. Growing as a church will take pastors and leaders who will give the church what it biblically needs. But growing a church will also take a congregation that knows what they should expect biblically from their pastors and leaders. When there is biblical congruency between what our pastors and leaders are giving, and what our congregation is expecting, we will grow.

Ephesians 4:11-16, tells us what we should expect biblically of our pastors/teachers. There we are told that God gave the church pastors/teachers (there is no ‘and’ in the NIV bible separating pastor and teacher. A pastor pastors through teaching the word, and a teacher pastors by teaching the word). The role of the pastor/teacher is to serve the church by equipping all God’s people to serve in ministry and to grow in maturity, so that they might stand firm and not fall over in the Christian life. That means that the role of our pastors and leaders is to help you work out how to serve others at church (ministry); helping you discover and unpack the gifts God has given you to serve at church, so that together with others you might grow in maturity to become more like Jesus (maturity).

There are many needs at church, but we’re told here that our greatest need is to grow in ministry and maturity so that we might become more like Jesus. Your leaders and pastors are there to help you do this. It’s not just their primary responsibility, it’s biblically what God has called them to focus on; to do and busy themselves with. My role is to pastor/teach you by helping you work out how to best serve using the gifts God has given you, so that together with others as you do this, you might grow to be more like Jesus. It’s the role of all our leaders to do this. But it’s also your role to want to be equipped to serve others; to want to discover and use your gifts at church, so that you might grow in maturity with others.

In fact, we’re told in v.16, that when there is congruency between what your pastors and leaders are giving, and what you are expecting, we will grow, because as Paul put’s it, ‘each part does its work’. If you’re a leader may you focus on and busy yourself equipping others in ministry and maturity. If you’re not a leader may you focus on and seek to be equipped in ministry and maturity. It’s what every church needs, it’s what our church needs to grow.