DEFINITION OF TERMS

THE CONCISE OXFORD DICTIONARY
SERVE:
SERVANT:
SERVICE:
MINISTER:

BIBLE DICTIONARIES
SERVANT OF THE LORD
MINISTER.
TRANSLATION OF 'SERVANT' FROM HEBREW TO ENGLISH
...EBED
...ABAD
...SAKIYR
...SHARATH

Applying the Principle of Servanthood to today's church organisation structure is a radical, but necessary, requirement if we are to build a church based upon the principles Jesus espoused and become the model of the single (no pun intended!), united in Spirit, Bride for which Jesus is returning.

At the top of the inverted pyramid are the people. The Church exists…

Summarized, it could read, 'to prepare the people to become like Jesus.'

The church exists for the benefit and training of the people. The people, and not the leadership, as under the worldly system, (where the leadership is above the people on the pyramid, and therefore more important) are to be the focus of the church.

The elevation of leadership is not a new problem. It has existed since Adam sinned. Jesus stated it clearly to the Disciples.

You cannot get it put any more plainly than in verse 44, whoever wants to be first must be slave of all.'

The principle of servanthood is succinctly described in the 'Golden Rule', 'Love your neighbour as yourself.' We ignore this at our peril.

Is this not the case today, where the church spends more time infighting than in taking the message of Jesus to a needy world.

Spiritual gifts are given to leaders, not for our own glory, but to serve others.

Martyrs, the first to reach perfection, and whose example we are to follow by laying down our own will for that of the Lord Jesus Christ, are fulltime servants.

Our servanthood skills are not somehow 'magically' acquired when we reach our final home, but are to be forged and honed here on earth, in the church, through serving others. By putting God's people first.

ROLE OF ELDERS AND DEACONS
Put in simple terms, the role of the elder is to serve the peoples spiritual welfare while a deacon is to care for their physical needs.

1. Elders
The character traits required of an elder, however you see the position as being within the church hierarchy, reflect the attitudes held by one who serves others. Not overbearing, hospitable and holy, to highlight a few.

The elder is not there to control either the people or the pastor, but to help the people in the fellowship to grow spiritually.

2. Deacons
The office of deacon was established specifically to serve the spiritual leaders and the people in the practical matters of living daily life.

Regrettably, in many church situations, the role of elder and deacon is seen as one of status, position and control, for that is the worldly view of one appointed to a such a 'position'.

However, in God's order, such an appointment is to give the office holder a greater opportunity, and also obligation, to serve the people in the congregation.

The appointees are not to be chosen because they are the pastor's friends who will go along with what the pastor wants! Nor, on the other hand, because they are the real power brokers and seek to control the church! Rather because, amongst the people, they have the greatest spiritual (elders) or practical (deacons), most mature servant hearts.

Since the Reformation in the 16th century, and particularly over the last 100 years, the church has been both pastor led and pastor driven.

Put in its simplest form, pastoring has normally been the only paid ministry position in the church. So, very often, the work has been left up to the pastor, or minister or priest. Conversely, often too, the pastor has taken over the running of the church, ruling it with an iron fist, as 'God's' chosen one whose word (of course, it is really God's word - or so it is claimed!) is law. This is particularly prevalent amongst 'Spirit-filled' churches.

As pastoring is generally the only paid ministry position within the church, should an individual with a different ministry gift desires to work full time for the Lord and get paid for it, they have to become a pastor, even though this is not their gifting. And most likely, they will end up becoming unhappy and unfulfilled in the role. The church too, will probably have problems.

The pastoral job is summarized as:

Pastors are to be shepherds over God's flock as humble servants, building up the people to do the work through following the example they set.

The pastor, very often a teacher too, is not necessarily a visionary, an administrator, an evangelist or prophet, all aspects of leadership that are necessary to grow a successful church.

b. The Solution
The Lord desires a 'team approach' towards church leadership. A team consisting of:

Apostle: God's messenger - the visionary.
Prophet: Application of message to local situation.
Evangelist: Evangelism, encouragement of the people.
Pastor: Shepherd
Teacher: Trainer

A team of servants, where each member is not seeking personal status but rather, committed to working together as a team to train the people to do the work.

This is radical in two ways.
1. A team approach to leadership.
2. Getting the people to do the work.

We will look at these areas next week.

as we radically challenge the principles on which the church is currently based.

Who is meant to be leading the church? Who should be doing the work?

Yes, we need to revolutionise the way our churches are run, and by whom, in order to fulfil God's plans for us, His people, and the world!

NEW ZEALAND SHEEP

New Zealand has only 5 million people but 35 million, very healthy sheep! That's right, nearly 7 sheep for every person! 'All like sheep we have gone astray!' They form the backbone of our very large pastoral export industry. Just remember, the farmer is crouching! They are big, but not that big!