Landon Coleman's Blog, page 4

6 Characteristics of a Great Church Staff

I realize many regular pastors find themselves leading churches that don’t have a staff. At the first church I pastored in Kentucky, I was the staff! Even though most regular pastors won’t have a staff like the mega-church down the street, you will likely have a couple of key people on your leadership team. These folks may be full-time employees, part-time employees, or lay leaders. Whatever their employment status may be, these are the folks who lead with you and serve alongside you. This group of people must be healthy and functional if the church is going to be healthy and functional. To that end, here are 6 characteristics of a great church staff.

They pray together. The work of Christian ministry requires the power of God. When we pray, we acknowledge our dependence on God. We depend on God for future grace and sustaining power. We depend on God to give growth to the seeds we plant and water. A healthy church staff must regularly and consistently as God to do what only God can do.They spend time together. The work of Christian ministry involves a surprising amount of busyness. There is much planning, many odd hours, and more emergencies than people would imagine. In the midst of this busyness, a church staff should seek to spend time together. The best church staffs actually enjoy being together.They give each other the benefit of the doubt (and they give their people the benefit of the doubt). The work of Christian ministry invites criticism from all directions. This criticism may come from other staff members, from church members, and even from outsiders. Criticism should never be arrogantly dismissed, but the best church staffs are committed to giving each other (and their people) the benefit of the doubt. They refuse to gossip or listen to gossip. The work of Christian ministry requires talking and listening – lots of talking, and lots of listening. There are many situations, issues, problems, and crises to discuss. However, the best church staffs are committed to never gossip, and they are committed to never listening to gossip. They defend each other and celebrate each other. The work of Christian ministry has many highs and lows. Sometimes our plans come to fruition, others times the fall flat. Whatever the outcome, the best church staffs are resolved to defend their coworkers and to celebrate their victories. They love their church. The work of Christian ministry is centered on the church. A church staff has the unique role of working at a church, helping to lead a church, and also being part of a church. These responsibilities are harder to juggle than you might imagine. Those who juggle these things well are always those who love their local church.

10 Verses to Memorize in the War Against Porn

The following post was written by Jacob Way.

Psalm 119:11 says, “I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.” For those who are battling the sin of pornography, here are 10 verses to store up so that you might not sin against God.

“No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.” (1 Corinthians 10:13)“Against you, you only have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight, so that you may be justified in your words and blameless in your judgment.” (Psalm 51:4)“What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it?” (Romans 6:1–2)“There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” (Romans 8:1)“Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” (Hebrews 4:16)“For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.” (John 6:40)“For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace.” (Romans 8:6)“And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.” (1 Corinthians 6:11)“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.” (2 Corinthians 5:17)“Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (1 Thessalonians 5:23)

If you’re looking for a book to help in the battle against pornography, check out Hope to Win the War, by Jacob Way.

In Defense of Sad Funerals

One of the great honors of regular pastoral ministry is officiating a funeral. It is a high and holy privilege to walk with a family through the loss of a loved one and the planning of a funeral service. This is a serious time when people are thinking about serious things. It is a time that should not be wasted.

Often, in the planning of a funeral, families say things like this … “We don’t want to have a funeral, we want to have a celebration of life” … “We don’t want anything too sad or weepy, we want something happy” … “We don’t want a big production, just something very simple.”

To be sure, I understand what families mean when they say these things. I’m all for celebrating life – especially a life that was well-lived and honoring to the Lord. I’m not dead set on trying to make a funeral entirely depressing and mournful. And I certainly don’t think a funeral has to involve any kind of big, over-the-top production.

However, I think we should have “funerals.” The world funeral comes from a Latin word that means “dead body.” We have funerals because someone has died. Yes we celebrate their life – but the funeral service isn’t a birthday party – it’s a funeral. Furthermore, I think funerals should be sad. Let me explain.

For one thing, funerals are an opportunity for family and friends of the deceased to express grief and experience closure. There is a heavy finality to death, and a funeral service is a formal opportunity to experience that finality. Of course, we want to honor the deceased, celebrate the impact they made on our lives, and give thanks for the time we had with them. However, trying to remove the sadness from a funeral deprives family and friends of the opportunity to continue the grieving process. Sadness and sorrow is an inevitable part of the grieving process, and funeral services are a time to experience and express this pain. Secondly, as stated above, funerals take place when a person has died. Contrary to what many might try to tell you – death is sad. It’s always sad. Even when your sadness is mixed with hope and relief and joy, death is always sad. Death is sad for the non-Christian because this life is our only opportunity to repent of our sin and believe in Jesus. Death is sad for the Christian because death is a yet-to-be-defeated enemy. Death is sad for loved ones because our loved one is no longer with us. Death is sad for estranged family and friends because the opportunity to reconcile has passed. Death is always sad, and a funeral should honestly recognize the sadness that is wrapped up in death. Last, funerals remind us that one day we will die. This is an important reality that we all need to be reminded of from time to time. This is the reason the author of Ecclesiastes insists that the house of mourning is better than the house of rejoicing – because life is short, hebel, a breath, a mist, a vapor, smoke. It’s here today and gone tomorrow. Of course, no one really wants to die, nor do we enjoy thinking about the certainty of our own death. Such thoughts often leave us feeling anxious and sad. Nevertheless, from time to time, we need to think about such things so that we can live our lives today in light of the certainty of death and the hope of eternity. A funeral that tries to replace sadness with laughter misses this opportunity.

The next time a loved one dies or the next time you attend a funeral, consider the following suggestions. First, remember that is normal and right to feel sadness at a funeral. It’s also healthy to express your sorrow in an appropriate way. Ignoring these feelings of sorrow in the name of “celebration” only delays the inevitable grieving process. Second, learn how to lament. The book of Psalms is filled with examples of God’s people taking their sorrow to the Lord in the form of a lament. We are naturally good at complaining, but lamenting is something we have to learn. Third, grieve and grieve with hope. Of course we have incredible hope as believers, but we still experience grief. Grieving with hope doesn’t mean celebrating the horror of death. Grieving with hope means embracing the sadness that comes with death even as we fix our eyes on Jesus.

10 Ways to Win the War Against Porn (Part 2)

The following post was written by Jacob Way.

Here are five more practical strategies you can implement today to help win the war against pornography.

Call a friend.

Hopefully, you have a good Christian friend of the same sex who you can ask to partner with you on your road to recovery. Maybe the two of you or your small group can read and work through Hope to Win the War together. Whoever you have, agree to have a “pick up the phone whenever I call” rule. I’ve had this with several brothers. Call your friend when you are losing a battle or struggling with doubt, at any hour in any place. When they pick up, talk about anything and everything. It doesn’t even have to be about what’s currently happening. You don’t need to explain why you’re calling at 2:00 AM. They know why. Talk about a new movie you just saw or the boring science class you both are suffering through. Just get your mind out of your room, and make yourself be with someone else. Have them pray for you and vice versa.

. Worship.

Nothing emboldens the heart, or makes the enemy flee in fear, more than worship. Worship is a powerful tool to fight temptation and maintain sobriety. By singing, you are forcing your body and spirit to align in worshipping the King. You also humble yourself as you gaze upon Him. This puts your struggle in perspective. Before you worship, your sin or doubt is an immovable mountain. But the second your heart starts to praise Him, your problems shrink before your eyes. You are in the throne room of the Almighty. Then, with an effortless Word, your Savior easily knocks over that immovable mountain like a Jenga tower.

Trust the Holy Spirit.

We must remember that the Holy Spirit is omniscient—He knows everything. This means He knows how we operate and our frailty. When He tells us not to do something, we should always listen. Several times I have been about to start a movie, and the Holy Spirit has warned me against watching it. However, I would immediately rationalize it. I hadn’t heard anything bad about this movie and had people tell me it was funny, great, or life-changing. Not heeding His warning, I would watch the movie. However, every single time, some dialogue, scenarios, sexual image, or sensual situation would lead to more sin in my life. All of that sin and temptation could have been avoided if I had just obeyed God. Be sensitive to His voice, and trust His warnings. He knows you, and He knows best.

Remember Jesus was punished for your sin.

When you are fighting sin, it helps to remember the consequences of giving in to sin. Every sin, every single sin, must be punished. In His mercy, God has chosen not to punish you and, instead, to offer you grace. This grace is not cheap. It cost Him His only Son. Both the Father and the Son joyfully paid the price of your forgiveness. That forgiveness was the exchange of you for Christ. Your sin would be transferred to Him so God could transfer His righteousness to you. He became dirty so you could be clean. Jesus was punished as if He was a sinner so that we could be lavished with grace and fellowship as if we were holy.

Start now.

Not tomorrow, not after church this week, but now. We both know the motivation to do anything the next day is always strong. Tomorrow, you will start that new diet. Tomorrow, you will wake up at 5:00 A.M. to run a mile. Tomorrow is a place and a time in which you will accomplish everything you want to do. The problem with tomorrow is that it eventually becomes today. Today, change is much more difficult to achieve. Our schedules get full, and our motivation depletes, and inevitably we put off our sobriety until tomorrow. Therefore, start today. Right now. Now is the time. Ask the Lord for help, and by His grace and for His glory, take the first steps to win the war now.

If you’re looking for a book to help in the battle against pornography, check out Hope to Win the War, by Jacob Way.

4 Ways Regular Pastors Can Make a Big Impact

Serving as a regular pastor may be one of the least glamorous, most overlooked jobs in the world. Our culture may recognize the outsized contributions of celebrity pastors, but it places little value on the contributions of regular pastors. This isn’t a pity party or a plea for validation, just a recognition of what is true, has always been true, and will always be true.

When I use the phrase “regular pastor” in this context, I’m referring to the men who pastor normative sized congregations – congregations with around 100 people in worship each week, congregations that do not have multiple staff members, congregations that do not have huge budgets. Many regular pastors are the only full time employee at their church, and many are bi-vocational / co-vocational. Despite the social media visibility of large churches and mega-churches, there are far more regular pastors than celebrity pastors.

Odds are, regular pastors won’t make a big impact through massive attendance on Sundays, impressive buildings, large and diverse staffs, or entertaining performances. Most regular pastors won’t have popular blogs, podcasts, or social media platforms. Most regular pastors won’t sign lucrative book contracts or headline the biggest conferences. No, regular pastors won’t make a big impact through any external, worldly metric of success.

However, regular pastors can make a big impact in the following four ways.

1. Tie yourself to the Word of God. Preaching fads will come and go. Narrative preaching, conversational TED-style talks, summer at the movies … let these preaching fads come, and watch them go. The way to have a big impact as a regular pastor is to commit yourself to expository preaching. The Word of God is living and active and sharper than a two edged sword. Allow the Word of God to pierce and shape your people. The Word can accomplish what no trend can.

2. Commit yourself to making disciples. Church growth experts, missional strategists, and pastor-coaches will always have some program or event or technique that they describe as a sure-fire way to grow your church. I’m not opposed to programs or events or techniques. However, I’m convinced that making disciples – just a few at a time – is a better way to pursue growth, and a better way to make a big impact over time. This was Jesus’ method, after all.

3. Strive for long tenure at your church. Two clarifications are in order. One, I think it’s OK for a regular pastor to “move on” to a new place of ministry. Two, I recognize that regular pastors don’t always have the opportunity to stay in one place for a long time. However, pastoral tenure is powerful. I agree with those who argue that young pastors tend to overestimate what they can accomplish in 1-3 years, while underestimating what they can accomplish in 7-10 years.

4. Pursue holiness in your personal life. In the 20 years since I first started seminary at Southern Seminary in Louisville, I’ve seen a shocking number of young pastors forfeit their ministry future because of personal, moral failure. Problems with money and sex are a sure-fire way to make sure you never have a big impact in ministry. Longevity, on the other hand, is a powerful way for a regular pastor to have a big impact on multiple generations of people.

10 Ways to Win the War Against Porn (Part 1)

The following post was written by Jacob Way.

Here are five practical strategies you can implement today to help win the war against pornography.

Get a dumb phone.

If you find that you access porn through the internet or watch stored files on your smartphone, get rid of the phone. You can easily get a standard phone that has no internet access. Yes, you will lose lots of great apps and other abilities. Yes, you better believe everyone will ask you about it. But what an opportunity to share the dangers of porn and the courage to combat it. You may even get guff from Christian friends who accuse you of “taking it too seriously” or, my favorite, “legalism.” That’s okay. They can think what they want. You are on a mission to please God and obey Him in all things. You are trying to win the war by building a healthier and holier life. Be smart and get a dumb phone.

Be honest with God.

Get in the habit of being honest. Remember that God knows everything you have done and everything you think. Get in the habit of praying in all circumstances. While sitting down at the computer, tell God that you are struggling, and call out for help. When you are in the middle of sin, just be honest and cry out for mercy and the power to stop. In recovery, be honest that you are doubting His love and ask Him to show you His love in a new way. Don’t try to pretend that God doesn’t already know your thoughts and inner motivations. The only person you are deceiving is yourself. Open up to God more frequently, and you will find it easier to do over time. This will help you build spiritual stamina and deepen your relationship with God.

Do not joke about sin.

One important reminder about addiction and recovery is that it affects every area of your life. It is not confined to when you are alone or tempted but is shaped by your other habits. This means that thoughts, images, and even what you hear can affect you later. This is why detoxing from all types of sexual content is so important. This includes, of course, pictures, movies, videos, and so on. But it also entails crude jokes or humor. Whether you are the one listening to or telling sexual jokes, those images are getting put into your mind. You are training yourself to think sexually. This will only backfire for you later on and will create more work for you as you detox.

Treat self-control like a muscle.

Self-control is evidence of the Holy Spirit in us, so all Christians, by definition, are given the power of self-control. Just like any muscle, you need to exercise it in order to move something really heavy, like pornography addiction. If you want to increase your self-control for pornography, increase your self-control in other ways. Maybe you could work on your diet. Grow in self-control by limiting sodas to only Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. If sweets are out of control in your life, restrict them to just the weekend. Maybe only watch TV every other day or video games only on Friday and Saturday. Perhaps you want to start to exercise. Do ten push-ups a day. It’s not about building strength but self-control. Pretty soon, you will find that you are more disciplined with these new habits and self-control will get easier.

Create visual reminders.

In the middle of temptation or a season of doubt, seeing God’s Word can cut through the darkness, right to the heart. Suddenly, a single verse brings clarity, hope, and strength. You “snap out of it” and can think fight again. I found that putting specific verses somewhere easy to see can determine victory or failure. I put several verses encouraging me to fight on sticky notes on my computer screen. That way, when I am losing the battle, I can’t help but see the Word of God. The Holy Spirit does incredible things through His Word. Sometimes, a small reminder is all you need.

If you’re looking for a book to help in the battle against pornography, check out Hope to Win the War, by Jacob Way.

Regular Pastors and Meetings

Recently I had a day that was nothing but meetings … first a regularly scheduled staff meeting, followed by a meeting with a church leader, followed by a BSM planning meeting, followed by a meeting with a family to plan a funeral, all capped off with an elders meeting at night.

If you’re a regular pastor, you’ve had days like this – days when all you do is meet, and it feels like absolutely nothing is accomplished. I know that no one likes meetings, but I also know meetings are essential to the work of pastoral ministry. Rather than viewing meetings as a time waster that takes you away from sermon preparation, think of meetings as an opportunity to advance ministry goals.

Meetings are an opportunity for discipleship. Many of your meetings will be with people who value your time and are eager to learn from your wisdom. Use these opportunities to help God’s people grow in their knowledge of the Word and love for Jesus. Even in a crisis situation, the way you respond to problems and the way you shepherd grieving people can promote discipleship.Meetings are an opportunity for encouragement. Many of the people you meet with will be serving in your church in some capacity. Few of the people you meet with will be over-encouraged. Meetings are an opportunity to encourage others! Especially when you meet with frustrated people or grieving families, meetings are a prime opportunity for giving encouragement to those who need it. Meetings are an opportunity for building unity. When you meet with ministry leaders – or when you meet with disgruntled members – you have the opportunity to strengthen unity within your church. Unity doesn’t happen on its own. You must build it. This opportunity exists in regular, run-of-the-mill meetings, but it certainly exists when you are meeting with disgruntled members. Meetings are an opportunity for listening. Listening can be tiresome and draining, but good leaders know how important it is to listen to others in their church and others on their team. If you take time to listen, people will tell you all kinds of things. Pastors must listen to their staff. Pastors must listen to their leaders. Pastors must listen to hurt people. Pastors must listen if they want to lead.Meetings are an opportunity for preparation. Doing ministry well requires thoughtfulness, teamwork, and preparation. Programs don’t run themselves, and events don’t happen on their own. The work of ministry calls for leaders to meet and prepare. The time spent in a meeting may not count as getting any one thing finished, but it is time you must spend to eventually finish.

There are two keys to making the most out of meetings. First, as the leader of various meetings, you must prepare. Whether you’re walking into a staff meeting, a leadership meeting, a counseling meeting, a confrontational meeting, or even a funeral meeting – you must be prepared to lead the meeting toward your desired goals. Think about who will be at the meeting, consider the situation and your goals, and come up with some sort of agenda to manage the meeting time. Never walk into a meeting without first preparing.

Second, you must pray. You as the leader must pray for wisdom before you rush into a meeting, during the meeting itself, and after the meeting as you process the discussion and implement the plans. Seeking wisdom in the Word and being devoted to prayer are the means by which you include the Lord in your meetings. Often we meet and make our plans without giving consideration to the Lord and his will. We dare not meet without considering the Lord (James 4:13-17).

Faithful in Little, Faithful in Much

“One who is faithful in a very little is also faithful in much, and one who is dishonest in a very little is also dishonest in much.” (Luke 16:10) In this verse, Jesus was teaching his disciples a basic lesson about stewardship. The immediate lesson was about money. Hence, Jesus’ concluding statement, “No servant can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the others. You cannot serve God and money.” (Luke 16:13)

Of course, Christians need to understand the biblical concept of stewardship when it comes to money. However, rightly understood, stewardship is about being faith with whatever the Lord has entrusted to you – money, talents, opportunities, family, and influence – just to list a few possibilities. Nothing that we have is ours by way of right or accomplishment, and everything we have is a gift from the Lord – a gift for which we will one day give an account. How did we use the Lord’s money, talents, opportunities, family, and influence?

A helpful example of stewardship can be found in the life of Barnabas. Barnabas made a remarkable contribution to the spread of the gospel and the growth of the church in the book of Acts. Consider these bullet points from Barnabas’ resume:

Barnabas was the one who welcomed Saul into gospel fellowship when the rest of the church was skeptical, hesitant, and scared (Acts 9:27).Church authorities sent Barnabas to investigate when the gospel began spreading to Greeks. Not only did Barnabas encourage these new believers to be faithful in their walk with the Lord, but he also recruited Saul to help teach the new believers in Antioch (Acts 11:19-26). Barnabas was recognized as one of several prophet-teachers in Antioch (Acts 12:25).When the church in Antioch took up a special offering to help the starving believers in Jerusalem, Barnabas was part of the team who was entrusted with that offering (Acts 11:30). The church knew Barnabas could be trusted to handle a large amount of money and to get that money to the people in Jerusalem who needed food.When the Holy Spirit called the church in Antioch to send out the first official mission team, it was Barnabas and Saul who were set apart for that work (Acts 13:1-2). On that trip, Barnabas displayed grit and endurance, persevering in the face of persecution (Acts 13:50). His leadership skills were also on display, as many assumed he was the leader and Paul was the spokesman (Acts 14:12).Barnabas was one of the people invited to the Jerusalem council (Acts 15:2). Not only was he invited, but Barnabas was also allowed to speak at this important meeting (Acts 15:12). When the council reached a consensus about the conversion of Gentiles, Barnabas was entrusted to carry the letter and report on the decision of the council (Acts 15:22). When Barnabas and Paul set out to take a second mission trip, Paul refused to take John-Mark who had quit and gone home early on their first mission trip. Barnabas was so insistent that John-Mark receive a second chance, he was willing to part ways with Paul (Acts 15:39). Later, Paul would be reconciled to John-Mark, and it’s reasonable to assume Barnabas’ decision played a role in that future reconciliation.

I think many believers would love to have the spiritual resume of Barnabas. He was the first to befriend and recruit a great missionary. He was trusted with large missions offerings. He was involved in pioneering mission work. He was part of an important, pivotal church council. He was willing to separate from Paul to give a young believer a second chance. These are great acts performed by a remarkable leader. Many young leaders in the church long for such a resume – one that gives them opportunity and status and recognition.

It is at this point that Barnabas proves a helpful example of biblical stewardship. Long before Barnabas proved himself faithful in big things, he first proved himself faithful in little things. Consider the following examples:

The first thing we learn about Barnabas is that he was an encourager (Acts 4:36). His real name was “Joseph,” but the apostles nicknamed him “Barnabas,” which means “Son of Encouragement.” This is a helpful insight into Barnabas’ faithfulness in something little. One does not have to have title, position, or prestige to be an encourager. One only needs a willingness to seek out the good in others and to share a word of kindness to a fellow believer. You don’t have to have a special giftedness or a unique skill set to be an encourager. You only have to set out to speak true, gospel centered, encouraging words to another person. Long before Barnabas was asked to speak at the Jerusalem council, he was faithful in the little work of encouraging God’s people. The second thing we learn about Barnabas is that he was a good steward of his money (Acts 4:37). Luke tells us that among the early believers, a remarkable spirit of generosity prevented any from having unmet needs. Those who had money or property understood that what they had did not really belong to them – it belonged to the Lord. These good stewards were willing to sell “their” property so that others might not go without. Barnabas was one of these generous individuals who sold a field that he “owned” and set the money at the apostles’ feet. Long before Barnabas was called to be part of the first missionary team, he was faithful in the little work of giving. It doesn’t take a special person to be faithful in giving, nor does it take a wealthy person. Only a person who is willing to be faithful with whatever the Lord has entrusted to them.

Regular pastor, before you long for the big work of gospel ministry, make sure that you are faithful in whatever work the Lord has set before you. Your family. Your church. Your influence. Your money. Your time. Your life.

5 Great Books about the Holy Spirit

Here at the beginning of 2024 I’ve been preaching a series on The Holy Spirit at Immanuel. Each week we’ve tried to focus on one aspect of the person and work of the Holy Spirit – who he is, what he’s done in the past, how he works in the world, and how he works in the lives of believers. Additionally, each week we’ve tried to be grounded in a particular text of Scripture even as we tried to understand that particular text in light of the full counsel of God’s Word. In this series I have been greatly helped by several commentaries, and I have been greatly helped by several books about the Holy Spirit. Here are five in particular that have proved helpful in my preparation.

The Holy Spirit, by Sinclair Ferguson … This book is part of the well-respected Contours of Christian Theology series. Ferguson is a well-respected theologian and preacher. This is a very helpful book with rock solid theology.

“Because the Spirit works in us we are able freely to respond. Sovereign divine activity does not negate the necessity for human activity; rather it grounds in and renders it possible.”

The Holy Spirit, Ferguson

The Mystery of the Holy Spirit, by RC Sproul … Sproul had a unique ability to clearly communicate complex ideas to the average lay person. This book stands alongside The Holiness of God and The Glory of Christ as a trilogy on the Trinity.

“We conclude then that the Bible clearly ascribes deity to the Holy Spirit. The Spirit is a person; the Spirit is God.”

The Mystery of the Holy Spirit, Sproul

Keep in Step with the Spirit, by JI Packer … This is actually the first book I ever read on the Holy Spirit. Packer – the author of Knowing God – lays out a robust doctrine of the Spirit while also responding to some of the errors of Pentecostal and Charismatic churches.

“No experience just by happening can authenticate itself as sent by God to further his work of grace. The mere fact that a Christian has an experience does not make it a Christian experience.”

Keep In Step with the Holy Spirit, Packer

The Holy Spirit: An Introduction, by Fred Sanders … This is the most recent book I’ve read on the Holy Spirit, and I’m thankful to have read it. This is a thought provoking book that sets the doctrine of the Holy Spirit in a Trinitarian context.

“The Holy Spirit points in three different directions: he points to the Son, he points back to us, and he points to all truth.”

The Holy Spirit: An Introduction, Sanders

The Holy Spirit, by Gregg Allison and Andreas Kostenberger … This book is the longest of the five on this list. Part I is devoted to a Biblical Theology of the Holy Spirit, and Part II is devoted to a Systematic Theology of the Holy Spirit.

“The method that we use prioritizes biblical revelation as it presents the person and work of the Holy Spirit; this God-breathed Scriptures possesses ultimate authority in the construction of our pneumatology.”

The Holy Spirit, Allison and Kostenberger

Ecclesiology Matters More Than I Thought

I am a lifelong Southern Baptist. Within the world that is the SBC, I’ve been a church member, a summer missionary, custodian, a seminary student, and a pastor. After 41 years of involvement in Southern Baptist life, I am happy to be part of the SBC. At the same time, after 41 year of involvement in Southern Baptist life, I find myself convinced that many of the issues faced by Southern Baptist churches can be traced back to ecclesiology. I also find myself convinced that ecclesiology matters, and it matters a lot.

I attended seminary at The Southern Baptist theological seminary. As an MDiv student in Systematic Theology III, I wrote a paper on ecclesiology. In that paper, I argued that the New Testament presented an ecclesiology marked by elders (overseers, pastors) who led, deacons (servants) who served, and a congregation that held authority under the headship of Jesus Christ. I stand by those convictions today, and I am thankful to serve in a Southern Baptist church (Immanuel) that tries to function within these parameters.

I don’t have numbers or statistics for what I’m about to say – just an anecdotal observation. Most Southern Baptist churches do not follow the ecclesiology I described above. Instead, most are led by a single, senior pastor (in theory). Most are functionally controlled by a team or teams (deacons, committees). Most do not have a healthy, biblical view of church membership (hence, our bloated membership numbers compared to actual attendance numbers).

I’ll be honest, I used to think these issues didn’t matter that much. I used to think bad ecclesiology was something that could be overcome as long as a pastor preached well, pastored well, led well, and kept the engine of the church running. I was wrong.

On a personal level, I pastored two churches where power and authority was delicately shared between a single, senior pastor (me) and a team (deacons). Neither church had a plurality of elders, and both had an unbiblical view of what it really means to be a member of a local church. While pastoring these churches, things went reasonably well. Hence, my advice to other, younger pastors used to be, “Preach well, pastor well, lead well, and keep the engine of the church running.” I thought that if a pastor did these things well, there was no need to work toward ecclesiological change. Again, I was wrong.

I now think ecclesiology matters, and more than I ever thought. Churches need to understand what an elder (overseer, pastor) is and is not. Churches need to have a right understanding of the role of deacons in a church. Churches need to embrace a biblical view of church membership. Ecclesiology matters. Churches with poor, unbiblical ecclesiology will resist biblical teaching and needed change no matter how well the pastor preaches, pastors, leads, and keeps things moving within the life of the church.

Disclaimers

Before I talk about the dangers of unbiblical ecclesiology and the benefits of biblical ecclesiology, I want to offer two “disclaimers” relating to the pursuit of biblical ecclesiology:

One, ecclesiology is NOT magical. You can (and will) have problems in a church that is sound in its ecclesiology. Getting your bylaws and your organizational structure “right” will not eliminate the presence of sin in you or your people. Two, pastors should NOT come into established churches like wrecking balls, exploding structures and changing ecclesiology on day one. This is especially true if the pastor does not intend to stay long enough to see these changes through.

A Plurality of Elders

There are several problems with the typical Southern Baptist model of a single, senior pastor leading a church.

Most Southern Baptist churches have not wrestled with the interchangeable terminology used by the New Testament in speaking about the leaders of a church. The three terms used are pastor, elder, and overseer. Each word describes a different aspect of leadership in a local church, but each word refers to the same office (see the graphic below).Sometimes the single, senior pastor comes out on top in terms of authority, and that dominant pastor rules like a tyrant. Other times the single, senior pastor is topped by a team (deacons, committees), and that doormat pastor is not able to lead. Neither scenario is helpful or healthy for a church.When it comes to the usage of the title “pastor,” Southern Baptist churches are all over the map in unhelpful ways. Some smaller churches only recognize a single, senior leader with the title “pastor.” All others are given other staff titles. On the other extreme, some Southern Baptist churches grant the title “pastor” to anyone and everyone on staff. In determining who can serve as a pastor in a Southern Baptist church, many churches depend on a man’s internal sense of “call” rather than relying on the objective standards set forth in passages like 1 Timothy 3 and Titus 1. Also ignored is the affirmation of a local church in recognizing those who God truly has called to the office of pastor. This reliance on a subjective sense of call has been adopted by those who now argue that females can hold the office of pastor. The fact that the New Testament restricts this office to qualified males doesn’t matter as long as these women are able to articulate a convincing experience of being “called” by God. Many Southern Baptist churches undervalue training and theological education. It’s true that many churches write job descriptions with educational requirements (especially medium to larger Southern Baptist Churches), but it seems that the further away you move from a seminary or Bible college, the less theological education you will find among Southern Baptist clergy. This suggests that some Southern Baptist churches prioritize availability and proximity over preparedness.

In contrast to a single, senior pastor at the head of a local church, the New Testament speaks about a plurality of elders (pastors, overseers) who lead the church together. This model has several benefits.

A plurality of elders (pastors, overseers) recognizes that the New Testament uses these terms interchangeably to refer to the group of men who are called by God and set aside by the church for leadership (see the graphic above). Recognizing the interchangeable nature of these titles is more than nomenclature. It is a recognition that the men who lead a church are called to be shepherds, leaders, and teachers. It is also a recognition that the New Testament ought to guide our selection of pastors (overseers, elders). The qualifications spelled out in 1 Timothy 3 and Titus 1 are not simply suggestions, but they are binding requirements in the selection of leaders.This model follows the pattern displayed in Acts 6. In the early church in Jerusalem a crisis necessitated the development of ecclesiology. The apostles led the church to set aside a group of men to serve the body so that the apostles themselves would be able to focus on prayer and teaching the Word of God. To be clear, pastors are not apostles, and not everyone agrees that the men set aside in Acts 6 were “proto-deacons.” However, I think the pattern of Acts 6 applies well to what the New Testament says about the roles of pastors and deacons – pastors leading through prayer and teaching, deacons serving the church to preserve unity. Focusing on the apostles as proto-elders (pastors, overseers), they were convinced that the leaders of a church should lead through faithfully teaching the Word of God. When plurality is the norm in a local church there is less dependence on paid, full-time pastors. For example, in the church I pastor we have several elders who are full time employees of the church, several elders who are part time employees of the church, and several elders who make a living outside the local church. This situation allows the church to have a larger group of pastoral leaders without a larger payroll. This model also provides a church with greater stability in the absence of a main, preaching pastor who moves to another ministry role, retires, or dies. Even when the main preacher is gone, the church has a consistent, stable group of qualified men leading in his absence.

Deacons Who Serve

There are several problems with the typical Southern Baptist model of a group of deacons who try to control the affairs of a church, even if that means exercising authority over the single, senior pastor.

In the New Testament, deacons are called to serve the church. In many Southern Baptist churches, deacons take the initiative to control a church and micro-manage the pastor. This power-grab is understandable because many smaller Southern Baptist churches experience a never-ending rotation of single, senior pastors. Without a plurality of elders in place, this leadership transition is jarring and disorienting for a church. Often times these deacons know they will outlast any pastor who is called, so they try to be the de-facto leaders of the church. While the motive is understandable, playing fast-and-loose with ecclesiology is unwise.The process of deacon selection in Southern Baptist churches is often a flawed process that looks nothing like Acts 6 and that completely ignores the qualifications spelled out in 1 Timothy 3. Many times deacons are picked because they are consistently involved in the life of a church. Other times they are picked because a quota needs to be met (determined by bylaws). Still other times deacons are chosen because they are leaders in the community, they are well-known in the church, or they show some potential for leadership and service.

In contrast to a group of deacons who try to control the church and limit the authority of a single, senior pastor, the New Testament speaks about a group of qualified men who serve the church. This model has several benefits.

The word deacon literally means “servant.” So expecting deacons to be a serving body is faithful to the teaching of the New Testament and the meaning of the word deacon. It’s clear that the New Testament expects all believers to serve in their church (1 Corinthians 12), and a group of deacons who serve the church also serve as an example for the rest of the church to follow. This model follows the pattern displayed in Acts 6. In the early church in Jerusalem a crisis necessitated the development of ecclesiology. The apostles led the church to set aside a group of men to serve the body so that the apostles themselves would be able to focus on prayer and teaching the Word of God. To be clear, pastors are not apostles, and not everyone agrees that the men set aside in Acts 6 were “proto-deacons.” However, I think the pattern of Acts 6 applies well to what the New Testament says about the roles of pastors and deacons – pastors leading through prayer and teaching, deacons serving the church to preserve unity. Focusing on the proto-deacons of Acts 6, these men were wise men and filled with the Holy Spirit.A group of deacons set apart for special service in the church is faithful to the teaching of the New Testament. For one thing, a group of deacons who serve rather than lead preserves the distinction between elders, deacons, and the congregation. This three-part structure is presented in the opening verses of Philippians where Paul addressed the saints, the elders, and the deacons. We must not confuse the office and function of elder and deacon. Additionally, when a church puts an emphasis on deacons fulfilling their biblical function, there is greater likelihood that a church will give serious attention to the qualifications spelled out in 1 Timothy 3. These qualifications have everything to do with a deacon’s character and family life, and nothing to do with his community status, with how many people know his face and name, or with his potential for leadership.

Meaningful Membership

When it comes to understanding membership, Southern Baptist churches are all over the ecclesiological map. So many of our churches have serious problems in the present because of a history of not emphasizing biblical church membership. Consider the following problems that are common in Southern Baptist churches.

In a typical Southern Baptist church, especially our smaller churches, there is no process for receiving new members. All a person has to do is walk down the aisle at the end of the service, fill out an information card, and shake hands with people after the service. That’s it. They’re a member. Additionally, when people move to a new community, most churches do not have a process by which they remove relocated members from active membership. Instead, many people maintain a membership in a church in a community where they no longer reside. Many of our Southern Baptist churches do not present new members with any sort of expectations for membership. Churches rarely tell new members what they should expect from their new church, and churches rarely tell new members what their new church expects from them. Without clarity about expectations, both churches and members are set up for misunderstanding and disappointment. Churches rarely communicate the importance of attending, serving, giving, and fighting for unity.In all honesty, most churches treat membership in a church like membership in any number of other, human organizations. Some think of it like membership at a Sam’s club – if you pay your dues (membership fees at Sams, tithes at a church), you’re entitled to “access.” Other churches think of church membership like membership at a country club. Again, if you pay your dues you become part of an exclusive club and gain access to certain facilities and amenities. Still others think of church membership as something people are entitled to in perpetuity – not unlike a person’s citizenship in the country of their birth.

Instead of the all-too-common view of church membership that devalues attendance, service, giving, and unity, churches must give serious attention and effort to establishing meaningful membership expectations. New members classes and membership covenants are helpful tools in establishing a biblical view of membership, and once established, a biblical view of membership has several benefits.

An emphasis on meaningful membership begins with the clear expectation that members of a church be Christians. This may seem obvious, but for many people it’s anything but obvious. Baptists have a long history of arguing for “regenerate” church membership, and this argument is tied to our view and practice of baptism. However, functionally, many Baptist churches are plagued with problems because their laziness in establishing meaningful membership has allowed unregenerate people to populate the church. These people vote in congregational decisions, and some of them end up in positions of leadership and influence within the church. This problem must be addressed through a process of establishing meaningful and biblical expectations for membership. Emphasizing meaningful membership means establishing a culture of devotion and eagerness to meet together for worship (Hebrews 10). Membership must be more than having your name on the roll. It must involve a commitment on the part of the church member to be present, supportive, and active in the life of their church. This commitment to participation fits well with the meaning of the word “church.” Literally, a church is a “congregation” or an “assembly.” Without being overly simplistic, it is worth pointing out the congregations “congregate” and assemblies “assemble.” Thus, meaningful expectations for membership are essential for a church actually being a church.In addition to being faithful to the meaning of the word “church,” meaningful membership allows a church to live out the various metaphors used in the New Testament to describe the church. For example, the church is described as the “body” of Christ. To be healthy, every member of the body must be present and active. Another metaphor is the “family” of God. Families exist in community, and families spend time together. A third metaphor is the temple of God. The temple was a place where the Hebrew people came together for worship, and this is exactly what the people of God are expected to do when they meet together as a church.