Contract Question - Page 17

*AQuietPlace* · #**161** 02-25-2009, 03:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MissBrattified

Do you have that reference?

I Cor. 7:32 I want you to be free from anxieties. The unmarried man is anxious about the things of the Lord, how to please the Lord. 33But the married man is anxious about worldly things, how to please his wife, 34and his interests are divided. (ESV)

Sherri · #**162** 02-25-2009, 03:24 PM

As in everything else, it all comes down to BALANCE. There should be nothing surprising or shocking in a ministry covenant. By signing it, a person is holding himself/herself accountable and pledging to do what is required. If someone ceases to live up to it, we don't stone them, but we do talk to them and if they feel that they cannot any longer, then we ask them to sit down from certain ministries. They are not considered second class saints, and they are welcome to perform a myriad of other ministries in the church - just not platform, teaching, or mentoring.

It has worked for us; our church is growing like crazy! We will soon hit a thousand and we have over 300 people active in ministries.

Digging4Truth · #**163** 02-25-2009, 03:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MissBrattified

Sure. But if you do believe that ministry, above and beyond simple Christianity should come before devotion and obligation to family, then we wouldn't agree. (on that)

My family and I are just now getting involved again in local ministries (music, singing etc) because I looked around one day and my oldest was about to be a teenager and I hardly knew my kids.

Never ending practices, stuff going on before services, after services, on off nights... nearly every night of the week we were up there tagging our kids along in tow treating them as if they were second, or third, or fourth in line for our devotion.

The main reason that we are getting back involved now is because our children play instruments and sing so this is something we can do together. I have already ran into a few scenarios where I had this knee jerk reaction (flashbacks

).

You can quickly become irreplaceable in a small church and that is when the guilt begins to be dumped on you if you have a trip out of town etc. We are enjoying ourselves but I find myself fearful sometimes.

MissBrattified · #**164** 02-25-2009, 03:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by *AQuietPlace*

I Cor. 7:32 I want you to be free from anxieties. The unmarried man is anxious about the things of the Lord, how to please the Lord. 33But the married man is anxious about worldly things, how to please his wife, 34and his interests are divided. (ESV)

Thanks! Good scripture!!!!!

Pressing-On · #**165** 02-25-2009, 03:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Digging4Truth

My family and I are just now getting involved again in local ministries (music, singing etc) because I looked around one day and my oldest was about to be a teenager and I hardly knew my kids.

Never ending practices, stuff going on before services, after services, on off nights... nearly every night of the week we were up there tagging our kids along in tow treating them as if they were second, or third, or fourth in line for our devotion.

The main reason that we are getting back involved now is because our children play instruments and sing so this is something we can do together. I have already ran into a few scenarios where I had this knee jerk reaction (flashbacks

).

You can quickly become irreplaceable in a small church and that is when the guilt begins to be dumped on you if you have a trip out of town etc. We are enjoying ourselves but I find myself fearful sometimes.

Preach!! Don't we know it!! Sometimes it feels exhausting.

Digging4Truth · #**166** 02-25-2009, 03:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sherri

As in everything else, it all comes down to BALANCE. There should be nothing surprising or shocking in a ministry covenant. By signing it, a person is holding himself/herself accountable and pledging to do what is required. If someone ceases to live up to it, we don't stone them, but we do talk to them and if they feel that they cannot any longer, then we ask them to sit down from certain ministries. They are not considered second class saints, and they are welcome to perform a myriad of other ministries in the church - just not platform, teaching, or mentoring.

It has worked for us; our church is growing like crazy! We will soon hit a thousand and we have over 300 people active in ministries.

By letting ones yeas be yea and ones nays be nay one is holding himself/herself to do what is required as well.

Sherri · #**167** 02-25-2009, 03:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Digging4Truth

By letting ones yeas be yea and ones nays be nay one is holdnig himself/herself to do what is required as well.

But people feel more committed by signing a paper, trust me. We've had people who have told us that when they are at a party for work or something, and alcohol is served, they abstain because they have signed a contract - even though we don't teach that it will send you to hell for taking a drink. It makes them stop and think twice before participating in something questionable that might harm their witness.

Obviously you have been hurt in church in the past and you are now recovering. That's understandable! But hopefully people see our hearts as their pastors and know that we aren't into abuse and legalism. We are here to protect them.

"GL" · #**168** 02-25-2009, 03:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MissBrattified

Sure. But if you do believe that ministry, above and beyond simple Christianity should come before devotion and obligation to family, then we wouldn't agree. (on that)

I think it depends on how we define ministry. I have witnessed too many people who choose to use the God first, family second, church/ministry third approach in an attempt to justify unchristian behavior. Your calling or ministry should be an outflow from your relationship with God. When we make them totally separate, I believe we leave ourselves open to error from time to time in our priorities.

As a result of my relationship with God, I can truly endeavor to love my wife and Christ loved the church, giving myself for her. I cannot have a right relationship with Christ, if I do not endeavor to have a right relationship with my wife. It is an outflow from my relationship with God.

*AQuietPlace* · #**169** 02-25-2009, 03:33 PM

Balance is very, very important. I think that's why so many ministers lose their children to the world.... they were so busy saving the world that they neglected their own children. I don't mean that in a critical way, it's just true, sometimes. Some preachers' children can end up very bitter because "church" always came first, and the desires and interests of the children were last.

Thankfully, many preachers are able to find that balance. I just think it's very sad when they don't.

Digging4Truth · #**170** 02-25-2009, 03:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pressing-On

Preach!! Don't we know it!! Sometimes it feels exhausting.

It does...

I'm not griping... just sayin'....

I started playing my horn in church the last few weeks of last year. So we are looking at just over 2 months.

Since then....

I play my horn.
I preach.
My son now plays the drums.
My daughter is beginning to play the keyboard in some services.
She has also been asked now to start a children's choir.
My wife sings from time to time.
I have been asked to write a play.

We attended for 6 months and did nothing but show up and sit on a pew. I broke the ice and agreed to play my horn and 9 weeks later... WOW...

Like I say... not griping... we are enjoying ourselves thus far... but taking a look back at the last 9 weeks... Whew... makes me shake my head at the whirlwind pace from nothing to where we are now.