You’ve been given a free ticket to a football / Cricket game. A heavy flooded rain the night before makes the drive to the stadium risky. Would you go? Okay: same game, same heavy flooded rain; except this time, you paid Rs 3000 for the ticket. Now would you go?
You decide to go to church or not but there are deeper decisions that are involved to make it happen for you to come and be a part of it. Decision making as a congregation involves everyone to participate because the price is heavy that was paid on the cross.
Before we get into decision making in the church, Let’s look at the metaphors and structure of the church (refer FC book)
Church is known with lot of Metaphors –
Body of Christ
Bride of Christ
Army of the Lord
Family and Christ is the head of the family
Structure looks like:
Elders (not literally but they help us to set some ground rules. They are like the architects)
Deacons (Administrators, Accounts, and so forth)
Pastors (Heads all the offices along with shepherding the congregation.)
Leaders in different ministries.
Congregation – different functions, gifts, and operation. They grow and contribute to the congregation.
Church has a lot of decisions that goes on at the background.
General Decisions
Some are General decisions like what sermons to preach
When to have the Sunday school annuals
what diet to implement for the street children and so on
Critical Decision making
Some are crucial decisions, which can impact positively if taken wisely and can impact negatively
Budget
Threat to the church by external / internal factors
Who takes certain decisions?
We’ve recognised that certain people have been set aside for the task and that with the role of elder comes a certain Biblical authority. Church members are to submit to elders (1 Peter 5:5), obeying them and ensuring that their labour for the Lord is joyful. (17 Have confidence in your leaders and submit to their authority, because they keep watch over you as those who must give an account. Do this so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no benefit to you. Hebrews 13:17).
Daily there will be some situation that doesn’t fit neatly into the binary “yes or no” boxes. In these types of situations, we need to pray and seek wisdom. But this begs the question, “What if I don’t have time to pray?” What if we need an answer now, and I don’t have time to get on my knees and ask God?
Proverbs 11:14 says, “Where there is no guidance, a people falls, but in an abundance of counselors there is safety.”
Proverbs 12:15 says, “The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but a wise man listens to advice.”
“I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my eye upon you. Be not like a horse or a mule, without understanding, which must be curbed with bit and bridle, or it will not stay near you. Many are the sorrows of the wicked, but steadfast love surrounds the one who trusts in the Lord.” Psalms 32:8-10
Decisions taken as a community makes a great impact and enables the church to grow, flourish and thrive.
Church members are not meant to be passive.
We are the ones who should be using our gifts to encourage and build one another up towards unity (Ephesians 4:10-13).
Just because I am not a pastor or leader doesn’t mean I have no role to play. I just follow the decision and can’t take a decision is deception. We all work and function as the body of Christ.
What is my role in this? I am only a church member.
9 For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you. We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives,[e] 10 so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, 11 being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, 12 and giving joyful thanks to the Father, who has qualified you[f] to share in the inheritance of his holy people in the kingdom of light. 13 For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, 14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. Colossians 1: 9 – 13
live a life worthy of the Lord
Please Him in every way
Bearing fruit
Grow in the knowledge of God
become strengthened for future endurance
God has qualified you for an inheritance in the Kingdom of Light.
The above verse gives me sufficient reasons to participate, be responsible and involve in decision making in the church.
Acts Early Church
42 They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. 43 Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. 44 All the believers were together and had everything in common. 45 They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. 46 Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, 47 praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved. Acts 2: 42 – 47
God calls each one of us irrespective of who we are or where we have come from.
Look at the way the early church started distributing responsibilities and made Biblically based decisions as a community –
In those days when the number of disciples was increasing, the Hellenistic Jews[a] among them complained against the Hebraic Jews because their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food. 2 So the Twelve gathered all the disciples together and said, “It would not be right for us to neglect the ministry of the word of God in order to wait on tables. 3 Brothers and sisters, choose seven men from among you who are known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will turn this responsibility over to them 4 and will give our attention to prayer and the ministry of the word.” Acts 6: 1- 5
Tithing, regularly attending church, involving in church activities, offering.
Taking a decision to Tithe, to bless the church with your generosity helps the church to move ahead and function. To buy latest equipment, to repair certain instruments, to think of buying our own place all involves finances. Your decision to contribute for the church purpose enables the leaders to plan and take further decisions.
Your regular attendance enables the church to decide on activities and gives the confidence to divide tasks accordingly. If you behave like a visitor then we’ll miss out on contributing to the church.
Church Prays for miracles & right decisions
5 So Peter was kept in prison, but the church was earnestly praying to God for him.
6 The night before Herod was to bring him to trial, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, and sentries stood guard at the entrance. 7 Suddenly an angel of the Lord appeared and a light shone in the cell. He struck Peter on the side and woke him up. “Quick, get up!” he said, and the chains fell off Peter’s wrists.
8 Then the angel said to him, “Put on your clothes and sandals.” And Peter did so. “Wrap your cloak around you and follow me,” the angel told him. 9 Peter followed him out of the prison, but he had no idea that what the angel was doing was really happening; he thought he was seeing a vision. 10 They passed the first and second guards and came to the iron gate leading to the city. It opened for them by itself, and they went through it. When they had walked the length of one street, suddenly the angel left him.
11 Then Peter came to himself and said, “Now I know without a doubt that the Lord has sent his angel and rescued me from Herod’s clutches and from everything the Jewish people were hoping would happen.”
12 When this had dawned on him, he went to the house of Mary the mother of John, also called Mark, where many people had gathered and were praying. Acts 12:5 – 12
Church decides to stand for the needy, the imprisoned, and the lonely. Decisions to intercede and help the community to release them from shackles.
Hospitality: Decide to open up homes (church also decides and gives these responsibilities) – FRIENDSHIP WITH THE COMMUNITY
9 Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. 10 Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. 11 Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. 12 Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. 13 Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality. Romans 12:9 – 13
Gifts – Use your gifts and talents – Decide to get involved and contribute your gifts.
3 For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you. 4 For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, 5 so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. 6 We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your[a] faith; 7 if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; 8 if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead,[b] do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully. Romans 12:3 – 8
Let’s see how we RHC take decisions on many things:
How Church Leadership takes decision
By the Word of God
17 When the Philistines heard that David had been anointed king over Israel, they went up in full force to search for him, but David heard about it and went down to the stronghold. 18 Now the Philistines had come and spread out in the Valley of Rephaim; 19 so David inquired of the Lord, “Shall I go and attack the Philistines? Will you deliver them into my hands?”
The Lord answered him, “Go, for I will surely deliver the Philistines into your hands.”
1 Samuel 5: 17 – 19
Choosing Leaders
He looks into the Heart and not the outward appearance.
7 But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” 1 Samuel 16: 7
Strategic Decisions
There are decisions that the whole church makes together. I’ve given a couple of examples already above but these decisions include staffing, church discipline and major projects. Renting or Buying the place.
Finances – benefit community and missions
32 All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of their possessions was their own, but they shared everything they had. 33 With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And God’s grace was so powerfully at work in them all 34 that there were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned land or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales 35 and put it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to anyone who had need. Acts 4: 32 – 35
To resolve conflicts (leave the church, disturbing the peace of the church)
In 1 Corinthians 12, not only is it the whole church that are addressed concerning the gifts that they all have but it is also the whole church that are addressed concerning the need for discerning of spirits (12:1-3) and when it comes to the decision to excommunicate a member in serious and unrepentant sin, then the decision is made by the whole church body together (1 Corinthians 5 and Matthew 18:15 – 17 – 15 “If your brother or sister[b] sins,[c] go and point out their fault, just between the two of you. If they listen to you, you have won them over. 16 But if they will not listen, take one or two others along, so that ‘every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.’[d] 17 If they still refuse to listen, tell it to the church; and if they refuse to listen even to the church, treat them as you would a pagan or a tax collector.
Future (aligned with God’s heart and the community). God’s heart on decision making, even when it is tough.
To Lean on the prophecies and promises that the church has received all through the years.
God speaks and we need to make certain decisions in faith. Some of our current moves are because God has revealed His heart for the future. It feels impossible, foolish, out of place but we need to spearhead what God has revealed. Such decisions are very crucial.
As a church member you have the responsibility to pray for your leaders to cover them.
Christ died for the church. Church is the bride of Christ. Jesus is going to comeback to take the bride.
Ephesians 5: 25b- 27 & 29,30
Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her 26 to make her holy, cleansing[b] her by the washing with water through the word, 27 and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless. 29 After all, no one ever hated their own body, but they feed and care for their body, just as Christ does the church— 30 for we are members of his body.
Sandra Francis Worships at the Renewed Hope Community. The Renewed Hope Community is situated in the heart of the city between Old and New Panvel. We can confidently share that Renewed Hope Community is a Church in Kamothe, Church in Khandeshwar, Church in Khanda Colony, Church in Karanjade, Church in Panvel, Church in New Panvel, Church in Karanjade because we are centrally located and these places surround our church Venue.
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