Building the Local Church- part 10

Odds & Ends

A few more items to cover before we examine the worship team, to which I'll devote an entire series. First, let's talk about missions and giving.  Every church should support missions work one way or another. If you cannot send someone yourselves, assist those on the front lines with your prayers and financial contributions.

The Great Commission is still Job #1 with God; He hasn't pulled the plug on that operation! There are still many, many thousands of people who have never heard the glorious Gospel of Christ!

   If we want God's blessings on our work, we'd best be involved in His work. Most assemblies take up a missions offering once a month. That's fine: make sure your people know what week so they can prepare! Pastors, never, never be ashamed to ask for money for missions! When I was Head Usher, I used to stuff the bullletins with missions offering envelopes so everyone would have one. Now I'm not a money preacher, but it is true that if you give, it will be given back to you. "But my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus" when you support missions. And THAT'S a fact!

   I'd like to say something about endorsing political parties and candidates: DON'T!! We are not to be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. Thirty-forty years ago, the Church was deceived into thinking the GOP was God's party and the Dem's were satan's. Wake up, folks:  Left Wing & Right Wing are flying the same plane! They told us GOP would overturn Roe v. Wade. Guess not. Nor did "conservative" leaders stall our cultural decay. You cannot serve God and mammon---guess which the politicians serve?

   Finally, let's talk about mentoring. Anyone who's doing anything in the church ought to train someone else to do their job for when they're away or get promoted. This avoids the "last-minute scramble" to cover for you when you're out! "The same commit thou to faithful men who shall be able to teach others also" 2nd Timothy 2:2 instructs. Moses/Joshua, Elijah/Elisha, Paul/Timothy; it's the Biblical model.