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Nile
Street Notes
Anna Church of
Christ 104 Nile Street,
Anna, Illinois 62906 833-5815 |
Website: www.annachurchofchrist.com
Vol 24. Issue
23 June
6, 2010
Five Must
NOTS in Congregational Leadership
Last week I posted an article on the
“Five Must Needs in Congregational
Leadership,” and today I want to share with you “Five Must
NOTS of Congregational Leadership.” The congregational leadership
should determine the course and liveliness of the congregation, not the preacher.
yes, you read that correct, the leadership as a whole needs to set the pace for
each congregation and show them the possibilities and vision that awaits
each Christian.
Often you will see the preacher as
the main motivation in a congregation because he is often at the forefront of
the efforts, but the shepherds needs to be leading the flock. There is a
powerful relationship between the role of a physical shepherd and a spiritual
shepherd and over the next few weeks, I would like to walk through that relationship.
Five Must NOTS of Congregational
Leadership
5 – Congregations do not need a “Cruise Control” Leadership
- Congregations do not need a leadership who sits back
and lets things run. Congregations need an active leadership involved in
the lives of the members. Just as physical shepherds know the
characteristics of the sheep, spiritual shepherds need to spend enough
time with their members that they know their characteristics.
- A “Cruise Control Leadership” often lets the work
remain as it is, after all
everything is running fine. The leadership needs to step up, motivate and
challenge the membership to continually grow and flourish in the gospel.
4 – Congregations do not need a “Pew Packing” Leadership
- The age of mega-churches has sent some congregation
scrambling to fill the seats in order to compete against another group.
Anyone can fill seats, but not everyone can commit people to Christ. May
the leadership of congregations seek to commit people to the Lord and to
the salvation of souls , rather than commit them to a worship pew for an
hour a week.
- Commit them to the Lord and the attendance will take
care of itself.
3 – Congregations do not need a “Micro-Managing” Leadership
- While I do believe congregations need leaders who
understand and see the future of the congregation, I know leaders who
micro-manage congregational efforts and in turn, kill the great works of a
congregation. Leaders can become so domineering they take over the good
works of someone else and leave that person out in the cold. (See 1 Peter 5.2,3)
- Consider this question: Which is more beneficial to a
congregation: Shepherds who can cut the church grass or shepherds
visiting the lost sheep (missing members) of a congregation? I do not
think you need any guidance on the correct answer.
- Congregations need shepherds willing to let the deacons
do their job. The deacons are given responsibilities for them to own and
fulfill. Brethren, let the shepherds leave the deacons to the “deacon’s
work” and let the shepherds get to leading the congregation!
2 – Congregations do not need “Leadership in Name”
- There are congregations who have made mistakes in
gaining leadership because they appointed shepherds to lead the
congregation based on the fact “the Bible says so.”
- While “the Bible says so” is a good rule to follow, we
must remember, spiritual shepherds have a job to do and not just a title
to wear. Do not appoint leaders to fill a position, appoint qualified
leaders to fulfill a work!
1 – Congregations do not need a “Non Participating” Leadership
- Congregations need to see their leaders standing in the
pulpit each week. Leaders need to lead and that involves being seen by the
congregation in a role of public (and private) leadership. Seeing elders
who will stand before a congregation to motivate them or rebuke them is a
lost art in the religious world. Too many of those moments are given to
the preacher to fulfill, when it should and must be the role of the
shepherds to address the congregation.
- Personally, I love going to meetings and lectures where
preachers are asked to do nothing. Instead, the elders are the ones
leading the prayers, making announcements, etc. Do not get me wrong, I
think it is great for preachers who attend another congregations meeting
to lead a prayer, but I would much rather see the elders leading.
- Chris Gallagher, Minister, Mt. Pleasant church of
Christ in Mt. Pleasant, SC.
SERMON TOPICS
A.M. – “Remember What the Cross Brings”
– Part 2 (Mt. 27:27-31)
P.M. – “Going The
Second Mile”
(Mt. 5:38-42)
Those For
Whom We Are Praying:
Kathleen Ritchey
Jerry Ward
Bonnie Mangum
Bill Whitnel – was buried yesterday. Our sympathy is with his
family.
Kittie Yates’ sister, Peggy – has
Parkinson’s Disease.
Dawn Bradley –
having surgery on her septum tomorrow in St. Louis.
Charles Dillow – Cancer has returned.
Virginia McIntyre
Jerry Toler –
battling prostate cancer.
Haley Inman –
Ann’s granddaughter. Remember Ann in your prayers as well.
Wardell’s brother, Carroll, is undergoing
treatment for prostate cancer.
Nellie
Childers - Mellie's sister.
Quotable Quote: “Take, then, your paltry Christ, your
gentleman God. We want the carpenter's son, with his saw and hod.” - Henry Adams
Wisdom From Proverbs: “The
slothful man roasteth not that which he took
in hunting: but the substance of a diligent man is precious.” (Prov. 12:27).
Welcome! If you’re visiting with us, we extend you a
special welcome and invite you to come back at every opportunity. If our
worship seems unusual to you, please let us know what you find different. We
endeavor to worship “in Spirit and in truth” (Jn. 4:24) and do only what
scripture authorizes (Col. 3:17, Deut. 4:2; Rev. 22:18-19).
NEWS & UPCOMING ACTIVITIES
* Please remember to mute or turn off cell
phones.
* Men’s monthly Bible
class tomorrow night.
* Change collection cans
for Schults-Lewis Children’s Home are on the shelf in
the back of the auditorium.
* Please continue
to drop any Bible questions in the Question & Answer box in the foyer.
* Campbell Soup has not
discontinued support for the homosexual agenda. Please continue boycotting
them.
* Today is Potluck
Sunday followed by our quarterly men’s business meeting.
* Gospel Meeting at the Mounds church of Christ
June 13-16 w/Robert Holt.
* The new teaching assignment lists are in
the foyer.
* Hearing assistance available
upon request.
BIBLE QUESTION/ANSWER:
Last week’s
answer: Emerods (I Sam. 5:6).
New question: What are emerods?
Sentence Sermon: “No problem can stand the assault of sustained effort and prayer.”
Birthdays &Anniversaries
Ryan & Rebekah Thornsberry - 6/11
“Bleacher Coaches”
My youngest daughter is 8 and plays softball. While I enjoy
watching her play, one thing I absolutely hate about her softball games is all
of the “bleacher coaching” that goes on. Even from their earliest T-ball games,
this was going on. What am I talking about? All of the “suggestions” that are
yelled from the stands by parents and/or other fans. Having to tolerate loud
parents and fans that “know better” than the coaches very nearly ruins the
experience for me. I’m not talking about yelling out words of congratulation
for good plays or effort – I think that’s encouraging to the kids. My complaint
is with all the instructions people yell that are often contradictory to what
the coach has told the player (not to mention distracting to both spectator and
player).
As I “stewed” over one particularly vocal spectator at
last Thursday’s game, the thought struck me that this is really no different
than what goes on in religion. Picture God as the coach. By sending His Son to
die for our sins and stipulating that we contact His blood through baptism (I
Pet. 3:21, Rom 6:3-4, Acts 2:38), He has devised a "game plan" that
will lead people to victory. We can be on His team and follow His plan
throughout life and end with a “winning season,” if you will.
However, there are those misinformed – often uninformed –
individuals along the sidelines who will yell contradictory things at us, such
as, “You don’t need baptism to be saved,” or, “One church is as good as
another,” etc. They speak error and without authority.
Picture yourself as a player on the field. To whom
will you listen? The “coach,” the Heavenly Father, who alone has the authority
to give instructions, or the spectators along the way who think they know
better than the one in authority? If we want to win, we need to listen to the
coach. Give it some thought.
R.W.