Dec 17 2024 56 mins
MINI-SERIES: Theology-Strategy-Practice for ministry teams, kicking things off by diving deep into the theology behind church ministry teams.
Drawing from Ephesians 4 and Acts 6, Joel, Tim and Stu explore the Biblical foundation that shapes our understanding of ministry teams and the essential role of pastors as leaders who raise up others — both paid and unpaid — to serve and love the church community.
They also tackle some pressing challenges facing modern churches: the decline of volunteerism, the professionalisation of ministry, and the misconception that paying someone to "do the job" will solve the problem. In many ways, churches have become so concerned with appearing professional and successful that there is a fear of appearing amateur.
This episode raises critical questions: Is the decline in serving due to church structure or a symptom of cultural shifts? Why do we expect pastors to be experts at everything, and how does this align with the vision of the body of Christ in 1 Corinthians 12? We discuss the pressures on pastors, the tension between generalist and specialist roles, and the emerging dynamic where churchgoers act more like consumers than active participants.
Tim wraps things up with a powerful metaphor, likening ministry teams to dragon boating: everyone pulling together in rhythm, with the pastor beating the drum to keep the pace.