Be An Extension of Your Pastor

I originally posted this article on FRMBC's "Acts 6 Leadership" blog for our leadership. However, I thought it would be good for every member.

Are you a help or a hindrance? You are one or the other.

You can be an extension of your pastor. Extend means to stretch or open to full length; to make longer, broader, or wider: to continue; to prolong; to put forth or hold out, as the hand; to exert to full capacity; to offer something.

You can be an extension of your pastor as you:

Exemplify a yielded spirit. Carry out his philosophy in the ministry and seek to do things the way he would want them done.

Examine your heart. Psalm 139:23, “Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts.” Stay thoroughly right in your relationship with your pastor

Trust his discernment. He might know more about the situation and cannot share details with you.

Encourage those around you. He cannot be everywhere, but you can be his extension. I can help extend my pastor's ministry by helping him so he can use his time to do those things God has called him to do! At church, be positive and appreciative of your fellow members.

Never limit your pastor's vision. Ask yourself, how would he want it done? Don't have tunnel vision and not look around you to see the visitors and the needs. Don't talk to your four friends and forget to look for those who need to be liked and belong and are accepted. I dare you to sit in a different spot or move closer to the front this week in Sunday School or in church!

Have a servant's heart. Be supportive of your pastor in the ministry. Help him serve the Lord.

Have approved initiative. Make sure you have your pastor’s permission to be sure what you’re doing is in line with his vision, then take the initiative to carry out ministry. Proverbs 6:6-8, “Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise: Which having no guide, overseer, or ruler, provideth her meat in the summer, and gathereth her food in the harvest.” I admire people who work hard whether “the boss” is looking or not. Stay busy; with permission!

Overlook. (Allow him to make a mistake now and then!)

Never say no. Have a can-do attitude. Some project might seem overwhelming at first. Break it down into workable sections. Have a heart for your ministry.

Capture the heart of your pastor—loving and building people and sharing Christ.

(adapted)

10 Ways to Help Your Pastor

Experience the Joy of Helping the Man of God

If you want to be an obedient Christian, you have one of two choices: be the pastor of a Bible-preaching, Bible-practicing Baptist church (if you are called of God to do so, and that you meet the qualifications in 1 Timothy 3 and Titus 1), or help a man who is the pastor of a Bible-preaching, Bible-practicing Baptist church. According to the Word of God, you need your pastor and he needs you! Here are some ways that you can be a tremendous help and blessing to your pastor.
1. Pray for Him and His Family
Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need. (Hebrews 4:16)
Praying for your pastor daily will help him, and it will keep you tender toward his leadership.
2. Show up for the Preaching of God’s Word
The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed: Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind; (1Peter 5:1-2)
Pastors are commanded to feed the flock. However, they are not commanded to make “home delivery” of the feed. Your pastor cannot feed you if you do not show up for the meal.
It has been said, “Every Christian needs three to thrive: Sunday morning, Sunday night, and Wednesday night.”
3. Pick a Ministry and Be Faithful in it
Then beware lest thou forget the LORD, which brought thee forth out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage. Thou shalt fear the LORD thy God, and serve him . . . (Deuteronomy 6:12-13)
Only fear the LORD, and serve him in truth with all your heart: for consider how great things he hath done for you. (1Samuel 12:24)
If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honour. (John 12:26)
Jesus taught that the primary attribute for His followers was faithfulness. Rare is the church member today who can always be counted on for serving faithfully.
4. Obey the Lord in Your Stewardship
But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully. Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver. (2 Corinthians 9:6-7)
The church needs your offerings for the Lord’s work. More importantly, you need to be obedient to the Lord and give it. If every church member were obedient about giving, churches would be looking for more good ways to use the Lord’s money.
5. Teach Your Children to Respect Their Pastor
Remember them which have the rule over you, who have spoken unto you the word of God: whose faith follow, considering the end of their conversation. Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you. (Hebrews 13:7, 17)
Honor, respect, and obey your pastor whomever he happens to be. He may not be your “ideal pastor.” He certainly will not be perfect, but God has placed him in the office of pastor and that office is worthy of respect and honor.
6. Envision a Great Future for Your Church
Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he. (Proverbs 29:18)
Focus on the wonderful opportunity you have to see people saved, baptized, growing in the Lord, and serving in the church. Get excited about the events, outreach efforts, and special meetings of the church.
7. Take an Active Part in Making That Vision a Reality
But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed. (James 1: 22-25)
8. Increase Your Love for Your Church Family
Jesus taught that the world would recognize us as His followers by the love that we have for each other.
Be faithful in prayer for one another.
Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. (James 5:16)
Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints; (Ephesians 6:18)
Be aware of those who are struggling and look for ways to help.
Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God. But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. (Hebrews 3:12-13)
Extend personal care to each other—function as the body of Christ.
Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ. (Galatians 6:2)
9. Share Christ and Your Church With Others
And the lord said unto the servant, Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled. (Luke 14:23)
This is the first step in becoming a soulwinner. Bringing people to church with you is the “entry level” of soulwinning. Anyone and everyone can do it.
10. Keep a Positive Spirit
Determine to focus on the good things in life and the good things about your church. Anybody can criticize. Critics are a dime a dozen.
Happy is he that hath the God of Jacob for his help, whose hope is in the LORD his God: (Psalm 146:5)
For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. (1John 5:4)
Encourage your pastor by sharing his vision for your church.

"BEFORE PENTECOST"

Here are some facts to show that the Lord's church was in existence before Pentecost.

1. The apostles were in it before Pentecost. "And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues " (I Cor. 12:28).

2. The prophets and teachers were in it before Pentecost. "And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues " (I Cor. 12:28).

3. It had an ordained ministry before Pentecost. "And he ordained twelve, that they should be with him, and that he might send them forth to preach" (Mark 3:14).

4. It had the same gospel before Pentecost that it did afterwards. "The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God" (Mark 1:1). "And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come" (Matt. 24:14).

5. It had a commission to preach before Pentecost and did it "And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand" (Matt. 10:7).

6. It had authority to baptize before Pentecost. "(Though Jesus himself baptized not, but his disciples,)" (John 4:2).

7. It had the Lord's Supper before Pentecost. "For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, That the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread: And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me. After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me" (I Cor. 11:23-25): "Saying, I will declare thy name unto my brethren, in the midst of the church will I sing praise unto thee" (Heb. 2:12), "And when they had sung an hymn, they went out into the mount of Olives" (Matt. 26:30), "Now I praise you, brethren, that ye remember me in all things, and keep the ordinances, as I delivered them to you" (I Cor. 11: 2),

8. It had a rule of discipline before Pentecost. "But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican. Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven" (Matt. 18:16-18).

9. The keys of the kingdom were given to it before Pentecost. "And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven" (Matt. 16:9).

10. It had a church roll before Pentecost with an hundred and twenty names on that roll. "And in those days Peter stood up in the midst of the disciples, and said, (the number of names together were about an hundred and twenty,)" (Acts 1:15).

11. It had a church treasurer before Pentecost. "For some of them thought, because Judas had the bag, that Jesus had said unto him, Buy those things that we have need of against the feast; or, that he should give something to the poor" (John 13:29).

12. It held an election before Pentecost. "And in those days Peter stood up in the midst of the disciples, and said, (the number of names together were about an hundred and twenty,) Men and brethren, this scripture must needs have been fulfilled, which the Holy Ghost by the mouth of David spake before concerning Judas, which was guide to them that took Jesus. For he was numbered with us, and had obtained part of this ministry. Now this man purchased a field with the reward of iniquity; and falling headlong, he burst asunder in the midst, and all his bowels gushed out. And it was known unto all the dwellers at Jerusalem; in so much as that field is called in their proper tongue, Aceldama, that is to say, The field of blood. For it is written in the book of Psalms, Let his habitation be desolate, and let no man dwell therein: and his bishoprick let another take. Wherefore of these men which have companied with us all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, Beginning from the baptism of John, unto that same day that he was taken up from us, must one be ordained to be a witness with us of his resurrection. And they appointed two, Joseph called Barsabas, who was surnamed Justus, and Matthias. And they prayed, and said, Thou, Lord, which knowest the hearts of all men, shew whether of these two thou hast chosen, That he may take part of this ministry and apostleship, from which Judas by transgression fell, that he might go to his own place. And they gave forth their lots; and the lot fell upon Matthias; and he was numbered with the eleven apostles" (Acts 1: 15-26).

13. To this church there were about 3,000 additions on Pentecost. "Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls. And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers" (Acts 2:41-42).

(From H. Boyce Taylor's "Why Be A Baptist")

Characteristics of a Biblical Co-laborer

What kind of person is a blessing to a church and a pastor in the ministry? Here are qualities God will bless:

Integrity - a pure, godly life of maturity. This should be someone who obviously has the filling of the Holy Spirit.

Intelligence - at least the basic competence to know or to learn the ministry functions a pastor is delegating.

Intensity - a willingness to bear a burden, to work hard, to intervene, and to get into action. There is a difference between interest and commitment. When you are interested in something, you do it only when it is convenient. When you are committed to something, you accept no excuses. Someone observed, "Trying is just a noisy way of not doing something."

Intuition - an instinctive understanding of the heart. The apostle Paul wrote of this in reference to Timothy in Phil. 2:19-21. When Paul looked around for a man who shared his heart for God's people, he could only find one at the time - Timothy.

A pastor's co-laborers must be men who understand his vision and are willing to express his heart in ministry. There should be no room for a renegade or someone with his own personal agenda. I've experienced this personally in the ministry, and it will drag a pastor and a church down fast. Pastor's are looking for a few good men; more than a few is even better!

A Philosophy Contrary to the World

A philosophy is a sum of beliefs or ideas. A Christian’s beliefs are based on the Word of God, while the world’s system of values is rooted in their own exaggerated intellect and foolish imaginations, inconstant and varying with the whims of society. In the Bible, we read, “Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools... [they] became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened…[they] changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man.” (Romans 1:22, 21b, 23a) Corroboration of this passage is as near as the newspaper on your desk. Saturated by the world’s philosophy—a liberal slant in practically every commentary—it contains hardly any evidence that our nation was founded on Biblical principles.

The Environment and Animal Rights - The environmentalists and animal rights activists are hurting more than helping America. Three decades ago, the population of the country was approximately 200 million. Now, 33 years later, the population is over 300 million. People need places to live; churches, schools, stores, and other facilities must be developed and built to accommodate the growing populace. Yet so often, projects toward this justifiable purpose are inundated with costly requirements relating to the study of endangered animals on the premises or some other superfluous factor. Rather than relocate the animals or determine a reasonable solution regarding their habitation, the world’s philosophy dictates that the families be displaced instead. The world would have us believe that the animal supersedes man or, at least, is his equivalent. Certainly, we should tend to what God has created for man and be aware of how our daily routines might adversely affect or pollute the environment. We should, as we read in the book of Proverbs, regard the life of a beast. Yet I remind our readers that the Lord created man as the most superior in all His creation. Man is to “have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.” (Genesis 1:26b) The earth was given to man, not to the animal.

The Sanctity of Human Life - The word is pro-choice, advocating rights for the expectant mother; yet the word deceitfully veils a deed nearly unparalleled in depravity—the murder of unborn babies, numbering in the countless millions. For over thirty-five years, we have witnessed the world’s philosophy ingrain itself into how a people regard life, resulting in a culture of death. Our children are being taught that human life is valueless as they learn of abortion, euthanasia, and suicide—and we wonder why our young people are involved in so many mass murders. If a child is not protected in what should be the safest place in the world (a mother’s womb), then why would it be important for a man or woman, boy or girl to consider the life of another person or even his own?

Psalm 139:13-16 “… thou hast covered me in my mother’s womb. I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well. My substance was not hid from thee, when I was made in secret…”

Jeremiah 1:5a “Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee…”

The Welfare System - We find a number of illustrations in the Bible of people caring for those in need—King David cared for a handicapped Mephibosheth when he could not provide for himself, a good Samaritan assisted a fallen traveler, Stephen and six other men helped the widows, and others. The recipients of these benevolent acts could not help themselves at the time because of one circumstance or another. Thousands of years later, the belief of helping those in need has been distorted by the world’s philosophy. Rather than being a help to others, people want to be helped and believe that they are entitled to that help in whatever form and by whatever avenue. In II Thessalonians 3:10, we read, “…that if any would not work, neither should he eat.” The philosophy of the world nurtures idleness and indolence, resulting in a self-serving people unwilling to work. Why, then, should it come as a surprise when we learn of those considering the financial advantages of having children out of wedlock or participating in multi-million-dollar embezzlement scams?

The Home - In Genesis 5:2, we read, “Male and female created he them.” Before the establishment of kingdoms and government, God had already defined the institution of marriage—one man with one woman (Adam and Eve). The world views homosexual marriage as a matter of personal rights and presses for laws to be passed to allow for those rights; but the right to define what constitutes a marriage belongs not to man or to government but solely to God. The media is strongly pushing the world’s philosophy, proposing that holding the Biblical position of marriage be classified a hate crime.

Wicked Kings - The Bible is clear about not negotiating or collaborating with godless kings, leaders, presidents, and authorities. How foolish it is, then, to think that we can negotiate peace with other countries when the foundation of peace is not there. (A foundation is not a glass of wine or a signed document.) Furthermore, I am sickened as I see our nation apologizing for what we are and what we believe. The God of America is the God Jehovah, not Allah or Buddha. I praise the Lord that our Supreme Court has thrice declared that America is a Christian nation. I certainly do not believe that everyone in our nation is a Christian; but in reading the founding documents and history of our nation, one can arrive at no other conclusion except that America was founded as a Christian nation.

Isaiah 57:21 “There is no peace, saith my God, to the wicked.”

Psalm 33:12 “Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord.”

The Answer - The New Testament churches are the answer for our nation. A church that preaches the gospel and warns people of an impending judgment called Hell and a wonderful place called Heaven can bring about only good in a community. A preacher of the gospel is far more important than a new bank, a gas station, a sports team, a restaurant, or any other business or program that can be brought to a city. I believe that the Flat Rock Missionary Baptist Church was a great addition in 1951 to the city of Flat Rock, Michigan. Eternity will reveal how many crimes were not committed, how many lives were changed, how many sorrows were avoided, how many homes were salvaged, and how many children’s lives were saved as a result of the preaching of the gospel of salvation through Jesus Christ. Oh how many more we need to reach!

The world’s philosophy will continue in its downward spiral, threatening to destroy America at every turn. So much the more ought we to give ourselves to the things of Christ and be prepared for the days that lie ahead.