Author Archives: Ministry Tools Resource Center

Where Should We Be As a Church?

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We need to constantly ask ourselves strategic questions to make sure we get or stay on track as a Church — ministry assessment questions. Start with the question “Where should we be as a Church?” because that provides God’s standard against which to measure all other questions we might ask.

God’s Standard for Answering the Question, “Where Should We Be As a Church?”

God's Standard Answers Where We Should Be as a ChurchWhile the Church has undergone changes in recent days, we still have an unchanging standard for where we should be:

  1. God’s Purposes for us to love Him with all of who we are and to love people (Matt. 22:37-40)
  2. God’s Design for the Church to function as a Body (1 Cor. 12)

How we get there may change but the above realities should remain our priorities for when we are who we should be, we will tend to do what we should do — God’s mission (Matt. 28:18-20).

Reflect on the potential, not the current reality. Then in light of God’s purpose and design for His Church, zero in on what ministry you should be doing to accomplish His priorities.

The question “Where should we be as a Church?” is the first of five helpful questions we might ask. Input for doing ministry assessments using those five questions is included in the Staffing Ministry Manual because to effectively staff, we need to see where it fits into the big picture so we recruit the right people for the right ministries and provide them with the training and resources they need to do the work.

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What About Goals for Adult Ministries?

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The words of Psalm 90:12 becomes more and more relevant as we get older. While it certainly relates to us as individuals, perhaps we can also pull out some goals for adult ministries.

Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.

Back up a couple of verses and we find the relevance of this verse for us as adults. — Our days may come to seventy years, or eighty, if our strength endures; yet the best of them are but trouble and sorrow, for they quickly pass, and we fly away. (Ps. 90:10)

In light of how difficult life can be and how fleeting it may seem, we need to make the best of the time we have. That will happen, as seen through a reading of the entire Psalm, by acknowledging God as the all-powerful, always existing God in whose unfailing love we find satisfaction and joy no matter what we experience in life.

Goals for Adult Ministries Derived from Psalm 90:12

Goals of Adult MinistriesWe can find at least three goals in Psalm 90:12 adults need to apply to their lives. It only makes sense, that we can turn these points into goals for adult ministries in our churches. (Click on the links below to read more about each goal.)

1) Adult ministry needs to be instructional. — “Teach us …”

2) Be intentional. — “Teach us to number our days … “

3) Look for an internal impact. — “… that we may gain a heart of wisdom.”

Also Check Out: Adult Ministry Resources

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What About Training for Adult Ministries?

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Adult MinistriesHave you ever noticed the low volume of training resources for adult ministries compared to what’s available for children and youth ministries? While the number of resources does increase when searching by age grouping, gender, and marital status, you’ll find relatively few resources for adult ministry in general.

Why isn’t more emphasis placed on training for adult ministry?

Adult ministries are important and, therefore, so should training be for it.

God Himself lays the foundation for why adult ministry is important:

Jesus, in His earthly ministry, welcomed children to Himself but primarily ministered to adults.

The Bible, though relevant to children, is written in language geared to adults with concepts difficult to understand.

God has given parents the main responsibility of nurturing children (Deut. 6:4-9; Eph. 6:4) so helping them grow in their walk with God will flow into the training of children. Even adults without children serve as role models for younger generations (Matt. 18:5-6).

If adults walk away from the Church, and more specifically from a growing relationship with the Lord, what will become of the next generation (Ps. 78:4)?

Adequately train adult ministry leaders and teachers so they more effectively disciple and meet the needs of those they serve.

Think about the difference it makes in adult ministries when the following questions can be answered affirmatively:

  1. Do we build the kind of atmosphere most conducive to adult ministry?
  1. Do we know how to break through the walls many adults have built?
  1. Do we adequately address the responsibilities and issues adults deal with as they journey from young adulthood to senior adulthood?
  1. Do we present a God big enough to meet the demands and crises of life?
  1. Do we adapt to the changing landscape of life adults face today, knowing what needs to change and what stays the same?
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How Can We Teach Children to Serve?

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Teach Children to Serve - They're Part of the Body

Since the only qualification the Bible puts on who gets spiritual gifts is that they are a follower of Jesus, it’s important to teach children to serve. They are part of today’s church, not merely the church of tomorrow.

Also Read: What about Children and Spiritual Gifts?

Ways to Teach Children to Serve God Using Their Spiritual Gifts

You may want to implement the following ideas before considering the use of a spiritual gifts test with children since their experience-base is so limited.

  1. Provide teaching about spiritual gifts and God’s design for the church.

Help young people to understand God’s purposes for the Church and for their lives which include serving. Help them realize that they have a part to do right now, not just when they’re older.

  1. Provide opportunities for children to serve.

Children need to develop a base of experience in ministry so they can begin to identify how they may be gifted. Encourage them to get involved in a variety of ways. Offer a consistent diet of ministry opportunities. Involve them, as you can, in the various aspects of total church life where they can work side by side with adults. Suggest that families serve together as teams. God will use these opportunities to grow passions within their hearts and to surface and develop their spiritual gifts.

  1. Provide children with affirmation and feedback.

When Jesus sent out his disciples to minister, He took the time to discuss how it went with them. Why would we do any less with the children and youth whom we deploy into ministry of any kind? First, they should be included in training opportunities. Second, they should be affirmed in what they are doing. If there seems to be an area in which they do particularly well, tell them. Third, provide feedback afterward. Evaluate with them what happened, both the positive and the negative. Offer suggestions on how they might improve. Or, if they just don’t seem to be suited for a particular type of ministry, help them find something that may be a better fit.

  1. Provide these young believers with role models.

Adults must set a good example for the kids. So many adults, however, do not do their part. This can send a strong message to them contradicting all your verbal teaching about why they should get involved. If you expect young people to get it, you better work at making sure the adults get it.

  1. Provide prayer support.

Develop a prayer base for the children and youth of your church that goes beyond praying for only the troubled ones. Pray also for those who seem to be doing well and who want to be a part. They need to be empowered by the Holy Spirit in whatever they do just as much as an adult. Let’s not grow kids who are self-sufficient and self-reliant in their Christian walks, starting their life of service learning to do it in the flesh. Both their motivations and means of serving need to be an outgrowth of abiding in Christ who said “apart from Me you can do nothing.”

  1. Provide a starting point for identifying their spiritual gifts.

While using spiritual gifts tests with children may prove inconclusive due to their lack of experience, a test geared to their age can be a starting point. Using a test would be most beneficial after having provided all of the above first.

Check out Your Gifts for Children: Kid-Friendly Spiritual Gifts Adventure by Church Growth’s Team Ministry as a tool to introduce children to spiritual gifts.

Or, if you’re in youth ministry, you’d be interested in Your Gifts For Teens: The Easy to Use, Self-Guided Spiritual Gifts Survey.

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Should We Really Try to Teach Children Bible Truths?

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The Bible is an adult book, written in adult language with adult concepts. Some therefore question if we can really teach children Bible truths, especially young children. If that’s true, it would take away some of the importance of children’s ministry. Let’s look to God’s Word for the answer.

Scripture Response to Question about Trying to Teach Children Bible Truths

The Apostle Paul answers that question in his words to Timothy:

… from infancy you have known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. (2 Tim. 3:15)

So, even if you serve in a church nursery, it’s possible to teach children Bible truths, even babies.

Paul goes on to in the very next verse to provide the ways God’s Word helps us.

All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. (2 Tim. 3:16-17)

What better source to teach, rebuke, correct, and train children of all ages than the Bible. The words of Scripture carry more authority and power than anything a parent or teacher can communicate.

How Children Best Learn the Truths from God’s Word

The question is not “if” children can learn the Bible but HOW. How do we teach children Bible truths?
Teach Children Bible Truths

  1. Begin by understanding their age level traits. Take into account the whole person when planning what to teach and how to teach it — spiritual but also physical, emotional, mental, and social traits.

The PowerPoint presentation, Teaching the Bible to Children, helps you know “how” to teach Bible truths in accordance with their age level characteristics.

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  1. Do not underestimate the role of consistency and repetition when teaching children.
  • a consistency between what’s in the parent’s heart and what they say (also true for teachers)

These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. (Deut. 6:6)

  • a consistency between what’s taught formally and informally

Impress them on your children. Talk about them when … (Deut. 6:7-9)

  • a repetition of truth in a variety of settings, using a variety of methods, teaching both verbally and visually

Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates. (Deut. 6:7-9)

For More: Children’s Ministry Resources

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The Church Needs a Network of Shepherds

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Shepherding ministry in the church is about tending to the welfare of Christ-followers by watching over, nurturing, and guiding them. The needs of the flock are great and consequently shepherding is a big investment of time and effort into the lives of people. It will take a network of shepherds to best facilitate shepherding so people don’t fall through the cracks.

Shepherding by Pastors and Elders

Obviously people in the position of pastor would be included. But, the pastoral staff cannot possibly provide personal and consistent care for each member of the Body. And, God never intended for a single pastor, or two, to adequately care for everyone, which is why we find this command given to elders:
The Church Needs a Network of Shepherds with Elders and Pastors

Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, watching over them – not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not pursuing dishonest gain, but eager to serve; not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock. (1 Pet. 5:2-3)

The congregation could be divided among the elders, or other designated persons, to help ensure that everyone in the Body has a shepherd. However, unless the span of care for each shepherd is small enough and the shepherd is willing, and able, to consistently be available, contacts will tend to be infrequent and therefore care will still be less than adequate in many cases on an ongoing basis.

Further Expanding the Network of Shepherds in the Church

God gave elders the role of shepherds but that doesn’t mean they must do it all themselves. They do, however, need to make sure it gets done. So, they, along with pastors, need to encourage and equip others in the Body to do their part in shepherding those in their spheres of influence.

Sometimes churches will relegate this responsibility to the small group ministry of the church. While that would help, those who aren’t members of a small group will probably get overlooked.

The best approach may be to expand the network even further. In addition to pastors, elders, and small group leaders, think about how Sunday School teachers, facilitators of support groups, ministry team leaders, equippers, mentors, and disciplers can help shepherd people in their sphere of influence. And, let’s not forget the role of parents in shepherding their own children.

In addition to content similar to what you find in this post, the Shepherding Ministry Manual includes a list of five benefits churches can experience when shepherding comes from a variety of sources as opposed to one shepherd over all.

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