Special Studies Pastoral Lead Lecture 5

EQUIPPING: NOT OPTIONAL IN MINISTRY

“Use ‘em or Lose ‘em”

How can you effectively assimilate new people into the church?

If your church is not doing well at assimilation…this can absolutely be traced back to inadequate equipping

If newcomers end up coming back and seem to be ready to stay — that means something good kept them there. Something positive attracted them

Friendliness, positive and welcoming, worship and preaching that touched them deeply

So why would someone like that end up leaving?

Some people will eventually leave a particular church because they begin to feel unsatisfied or like they don’t fit.

A good church should give special attention to newcomers, doing everything they can to make them feel like part of the family

Where do things begin to break down?

When the “honeymoon” is over there is a risk of taking new members for granted

When we give the new folks responsibilities without consideration for their gifts and passions…this can quickly become frustrating for them

When the new folks don’t feel welcome into various groups or ministries

Here’s the thing: most churches don’t reject or leave out people from groups, activities, or ministries: they just don’t have a focused way to assimilate them in a positive way

The Recurring Scenario

People are attracted to churches / They are initially welcomed and wooed / They find no place to use their gifts / Authentic relationships don’t happen / They are soon taken for granted / Their spiritual growth stagnates / They leave — Dr. Lynn Anderson

People are attracted to churches / They are initially welcomed and wooed / They find no place to use their gifts / Authentic relationships don’t happen / They are soon taken for granted / Their spiritual growth stagnates / They leave — Dr. Lynn Anderson

They are initially welcomed and wooed

Each member must be intentionally equipped

They find no place to use their gifts

Healthy churches develop leadership styles and an organizational infrastructure that effectively supports equipping - Anderson

Authentic relationships don’t happen

Equipping means helping them:

Help them find genuine relationships

Help them discover their gifts

They are soon taken for granted

Help them discover legitimate areas where they can serve passionately

Help them to understand and teach them skills to use their gifts most effectively

Help them to understand and take ownership of the mission of the church

Leaders are Christ’s gift to the church

Ephesians 4:11–13 NIV

So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 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.

Ephesians 4:11–17 NIV

So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 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. Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming. Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ. From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work. So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking.

Apostles / Prophets / Evangelists / Pastor-Teacher — These are the ones that “equip the saints for service”

In order to be effective, equipping churches, we must bring a balance between Bible knowledge and essential skill — as we do, we can begin to truly equip them

Why Equip?

Growth

Numerical, Spiritual, and growth in unity

Philosophy of Equipping

Common sense — match ministries to gifts

Equipping must be on-going and wide-spread in the church

2 Timothy 2:2 NIV

And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable people who will also be qualified to teach others.

Equip Like Jesus Equipped

Good equippers do it like Jesus did it: recruit twelve, graduate eleven, and focus on three - Anderson

Thousands

Hundreds

Seventy-two

Twelve

Three

One

Jesus didn’t equip by being the president of an organization…delegating tasks from behind a desk — He smelled like sheep because he lived with them

Elders are hands-on Shepherds, not a board of directors

What was Jesus’ “Finished Work”?

He couldn’t have been referring to the work of salvation…that would come with the Cross

John 17:4 NIV

I have brought you glory on earth by finishing the work you gave me to do.

He had completed the work of equipping the Disciples

John 17:18 NIV

As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world.

It is no accident that Paul and other apostles followed Jesus’ style of equipping in their own ministries by taking “Interns” with them wherever they traveled - Anderson

Some specific characteristics of how Jesus equipped people

Frequent and long-term contact with those whom He equipped

Jesus and his disciples spent most of three years on the road, walking

Jesus and his disciples spent most of three years on the road, walking

Deuteronomy 5 NIV

Moses summoned all Israel and said: Hear, Israel, the decrees and laws I declare in your hearing today. Learn them and be sure to follow them. The Lord our God made a covenant with us at Horeb. It was not with our ancestors that the Lord made this covenant, but with us, with all of us who are alive here today. The Lord spoke to you face to face out of the fire on the mountain. (At that time I stood between the Lord and you to declare to you the word of the Lord, because you were afraid of the fire and did not go up the mountain.) And he said: “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery. “You shall have no other gods before me. “You shall not make for yourself an image in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, but showing love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commandments. “You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God, for the Lord will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name. “Observe the Sabbath day by keeping it holy, as the Lord your God has commanded you. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your male or female servant, nor your ox, your donkey or any of your animals, nor any foreigner residing in your towns, so that your male and female servants may rest, as you do. Remember that you were slaves in Egypt and that the Lord your God brought you out of there with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm. Therefore the Lord your God has commanded you to observe the Sabbath day. “Honor your father and your mother, as the Lord your God has commanded you, so that you may live long and that it may go well with you in the land the Lord your God is giving you. “You shall not murder. “You shall not commit adultery. “You shall not steal. “You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor. “You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife. You shall not set your desire on your neighbor’s house or land, his male or female servant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor.” These are the commandments the Lord proclaimed in a loud voice to your whole assembly there on the mountain from out of the fire, the cloud and the deep darkness; and he added nothing more. Then he wrote them on two stone tablets and gave them to me. When you heard the voice out of the darkness, while the mountain was ablaze with fire, all the leaders of your tribes and your elders came to me. And you said, “The Lord our God has shown us his glory and his majesty, and we have heard his voice from the fire. Today we have seen that a person can live even if God speaks with them. But now, why should we die? This great fire will consume us, and we will die if we hear the voice of the Lord our God any longer. For what mortal has ever heard the voice of the living God speaking out of fire, as we have, and survived? Go near and listen to all that the Lord our God says. Then tell us whatever the Lord our God tells you. We will listen and obey.” The Lord heard you when you spoke to me, and the Lord said to me, “I have heard what this people said to you. Everything they said was good. Oh, that their hearts would be inclined to fear me and keep all my commands always, so that it might go well with them and their children forever! “Go, tell them to return to their tents. But you stay here with me so that I may give you all the commands, decrees and laws you are to teach them to follow in the land I am giving them to possess.” So be careful to do what the Lord your God has commanded you; do not turn aside to the right or to the left. Walk in obedience to all that the Lord your God has commanded you, so that you may live and prosper and prolong your days in the land that you will possess.

(think of )

How else can we possibly equip people effectively? One hour a week in a sermon won’t do it.

2. Warm and loving relationships

He traveled with them, ate with them, slept with them, and even washed their feet

We cannot expect real transformation if we only teach a class or direct ministries

3. Honest Exposure of Emotions

Lazarus — Money Changers — Trimuphal Entry

If we follow Jesus’ example of shepherding, we will be vulnerable, expressive and unafraid to reveal our emotions

Discernment and prudence are vital

4. Variety of Shared-Life Experiences

Run your mind across the story line. Find Jesus with his disciples at the synagogue—on the road—by the sea—by a hillside—on the road—in the temple—by a well—in a boat—at a wedding—on the road—on the mountain—in the garden—in court—at banquets—on the road - Anderson

5. A Life of Integrity

Hebrews 4:15 NIV

For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin.

1 Peter 2:21–23 NIV

To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps. “He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth.” When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly.

6. Time Balance Between Problem and Possibility People

Their spiritual growth stagnates

They leave