Vision Track 3.3

Course 3: Leadership
Session 3

Elders and Deacons

“7Remember your leaders who taught you the word of God. Think of all the good that has come from their lives, and follow the example of their faith.... Obey your spiritual leaders, and do what they say. Their work is to watch over your souls, and they are accountable to God. Give them reason to do this with joy and not with sorrow. That would certainly not be for your benefit.” Hebrews 13:7,17 NLT

We have seen how essential the Ephesians 4 ministries are as they lead and serve in the body of Christ. In this session, we will look at those who are called by God to particular positions of leadership and service in the local congregation. Our society increasingly resists authority in all its forms, and does not think of servanthood as something virtuous. We may, therefore, need to adjust our thinking as we approach this subject. Let us begin by focusing on the ultimate model of leadership and servanthood.

CHRIST — THE SERVANT LEADER

“For a child is born to us, a son is given to us. The government will rest on his shoulders.” Isaiah 9:6 NLT
“...Christ is the head of the church. He is the Savior of his body, the church.” Ephesians 5:23b NLT

Jesus came not only to be our Savior, but also to be our Lord and to exercise a real rule in our lives. However, although it might seem like a contradiction, He also came to serve:

“For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many.” Matthew 20:28 NLT

The Church is built on Jesus, the foundation and chief cornerstone (1 Corinthians 3:11, Ephesians 2:20), and should reflect Him in every way. His nature should especially be seen in those holding positions of responsibility in the local church. Later in this session, we will look at how servanthood is exemplified by deacons, but first we will look at those who lead the congregation.

Elders

LEADERSHIP IN THE LOCAL CHURCH

As already noted in this Vision Track Course 3, there is much confusion in the Church today when it comes to leadership roles and titles. We saw in the last session that even the familiar term pastor is not actually used in the New Testament to refer to those who lead the local congregation. That responsibility is given to elders, also called overseers.

However, elder is yet another term that has often been misunderstood and misapplied. Many churches have “elders” who operate as a board, elected by the congregation to serve a term of office, during which they meet occasionally to make administrative decisions. In many cases, they have little or no involvement in actually leading, teaching, and caring for the flock. They leave that to the “Pastor,” the “professional” whom they (as one of their administrative decisions) will hire to handle the “spiritual” aspects of the life of the church—and whom they will fire if the job isn’t done the way they like it!

The leadership of the local church, as described in the New Testament, was by a plurality of elders who were deeply involved in the practical and spiritual care of the people. However, before examining what Scripture shows us about church eldership, let’s look at elders in Israel prior to the birthing of the Church.

ELDERS IN SCRIPTURE

Elders are mentioned throughout the Old Testament. The term quite literally referred to aged or older men, but came to be used beyond that to refer specifically to those recognized as wise, experienced, and of proven character, and who were, therefore, looked to as leaders in:

The family or tribe (Deuteronomy 5:23)
Civil government (Exodus 3:16-18; 1 Chronicles 11:3 and Joshua 20:4)
Religious life (Leviticus 4:15; 2 Kings 19:2 NASB; Isaiah 37:2 NASB)

In the New Testament, it is clear from the Gospels and Acts that elders still had a similar status and role in the life of the Jewish community. The Greek word translated as “elder” is presbuteros which, like its Old Testament counterpart, conveyed the concept of maturity and character. It is, therefore, not surprising that this term was adopted by the newly-birthed community of Christians to refer to its leaders.

ELDERS AS OVERSEERS

As mentioned above, the other term used in the New Testament for church leaders is overseers. This translates the Greek word episkopos, a compound of epi, meaning “over,” and skopos, meaning “to look/watch, peer about, oversee.” The word “bishop” is derived from episkopos, (i.e., piskop became “bishop”), and in many denominations has come to refer to a hierarchical, regional position. However, in the New Testament, episkopos is used interchangeably with presbuteros as a term for the leaders of the local congregation. For example, in Acts 20:17, we read that Paul sent to Ephesus for the “elders” of the church, whom he then addresses (in verse 28) as “overseers.” One could say that “elder” emphasizes who the person is, and “overseer” what the person does.

QUALIFICATIONS FOR ELDERSHIP

Much of the Church today would consider the necessary qualifications for leadership to come in the form of certificates from seminaries or other academic institutions. This is not what we see in the New Testament. The following are the two passages of Scripture that set out most deliberately and clearly the qualifications for an overseer/elder:

“So a church leader [overseer] must be a man whose life is above reproach. He must be faithful to his wife. He must exercise self-control [i.e., clear-headed, thoughtful], live wisely, and have a good reputation. He must enjoy having guests in his home, and he must be able to teach. He must not be a heavy drinker or be violent. He must be gentle, not quarrelsome [lit. peaceable], and not love money [lit. not covetous]. He must manage his own family well, having children who respect and obey him. For if a man cannot manage his own household, how can he take care of God’s church? A church leader [overseer] must not be a new believer [lit. novice], because he might become proud, and the devil would cause him to fall. Also, people outside the church must speak well of him so that he will not be disgraced and fall into the devil’s trap.” 1 Timothy 3:2-7 NLT
“…appoint elders in each town as I instructed you. An elder must live a blameless life. He must be faithful to his wife, and his children must be believers [lit. are faithful] who don’t have a reputation for being wild or rebellious. A church leader [overseer] is a manager of God’s household, so he must live a blameless life. He must not be arrogant [self-willed] or quick-tempered; he must not be a heavy drinker, violent, or dishonest with money. Rather, he must enjoy having guests in his home, and he must love what is good. He must live wisely and be just. He must live a devout and disciplined life. He must have a strong belief in the trustworthy message he was taught; then he will be able to encourage others with wholesome teaching and show those who oppose it where they are wrong.” Titus 1:5b-9 NLT

These requirements relate to character, capability, and confirmation.

CHARACTER — God is not looking for executives to run a business, but for mature men of integrity who will care for and lead His family (1 Timothy 3:4-5), so it is not surprising that character takes prominence over gifting when appointing elders. The overriding requirement is that an elder be “above reproach.” In the above passages, Paul gives specific examples of this requirement.

CAPABILITY — Though good character is essential, elders must also be able to fulfill certain responsibilities. The areas of ability listed by Paul can be summarized as follows:

Sound Doctrine — An elder must hold firm to sound doctrine and encourage others to do so, rebuking those who contradict it. This requires him to be skilled in correctly handling Scripture (see also 1 Timothy 1:3; 2 Timothy 2:2; Titus 2:1; and 2 Timothy 2:15).
Communication — An elder must be able to teach others—encouraging, comforting, instructing, training, correcting, and rebuking (see also 2 Timothy 2:24-25 and 3:16).
Leadership — An elder must be able to lead, having demonstrated this by how he manages his own household. He must not be a novice, but should have a history of faithfulness in what has been entrusted to him (see also 2 Timothy 2:2).

CONFIRMATION — Elders should have a good reputation and be respected both within the congregation and in the wider local community (1 Timothy 3:2,7).

THE APPOINTMENT OF ELDERS

In 1 Timothy 3:1, we read that “If someone aspires to be a church leader [overseer], he desires an honorable position.” However, elders are not self-appointed on the basis of their own sense of call. Nor are they “democratically” elected on the basis of their popularity. Scripture shows us that there is a process by which a man comes to this position:

The Holy Spirit Anoints

“So guard yourselves and God’s people. Feed and shepherd God’s flock—his church, purchased with his own blood—over which the Holy Spirit has appointed you as leaders [overseers].” Acts 20:28 NLT

When looking at the Ephesians 4 ministries, we saw that it is God who appoints those who are to serve Him in key roles (1 Corinthians 12:28) and that Christ gives these gifts to the Church (Ephesians 4:11). It is not surprising, then, that God plays the primary role in raising up leaders in the local congregation.

The Apostle Appoints

“Paul and Barnabas also appointed elders in every church. With prayer and fasting, they turned the elders over to the care of the Lord, in whom they had put their trust.” Acts 14:23 NLT

The appointment to eldership will be by, or at the direction of, the apostle who serves that church. His apostolic vision enables him to see the hand of God on the emerging elder. His shepherding engagement with the local church enables him to hear the heart of the people. These are aspects of his anointing as a wise master builder.

“I left you on the island of Crete so you could complete our work there and appoint elders in each town as I instructed you. Titus 1:5 NLT

Incidentally, the biblical pattern shows that elders continue in relationship with, and remain accountable to, the apostle. One cannot have a biblical eldership without biblical apostleship.

THE IMPORTANCE OF PLURALITY

It is important to note that in both the Old and New Testaments, eldership is always a plural concept (e.g., Acts 20:17; 1 Timothy 5:17; Titus 1:5; 1 Peter 5:1 and James 5:14). Nowhere in the New Testament do we find a sole elder placed over a church. On one level, this just seems like common sense. No one man is gifted or strong enough to be able to adequately care for and minister to an entire congregation on an on-going basis; we have already considered the adverse consequences for all concerned when someone tries.

However, God’s heart for plurality in leadership is more than just a practical concern. An essential characteristic of God is His triunity. He Himself is plurality manifesting in oneness. His intent is to be reflected on the earth by a Church which is one, though comprised of many. The Church will be brought to this state as it is equipped by Ephesians 4 ministries, working together in unity. On a local congregational level, it is matured and shaped by the example and care of a team of elders working together as one.

THE IMPORTANCE OF EQUALITY

In many elder-led churches, the practice is to designate one as the “lead” or “senior” elder. The main thought behind this is that, even among a group that seeks for consensus in decision-making, there will inevitably be occasional impasses which will require someone with recognized authority to determine a way forward. However, Scripture says nothing of the role of a “lead” or “senior” elder, and our concern is that this practice diminishes true equality in the way elders function. Many an eldership has started with good intentions to function in plurality, only to devolve into an unbiblical structure reminiscent of the “Pastor” and “Associate Pastor” model.

Some will argue that a true equality among elders is impractical and unworkable. Without a genuine and mutual submission to the Holy Spirit, we would agree. However, as is so often the case in the Church, we believe that it is the intention of God to demonstrate something of His manifold wisdom through eldership functioning in equality and agreement. In real terms, this requires a level of humility and yielding as the Holy Spirit leads through one and then another as He sees fit. With regard to occasional impasses as mentioned earlier, it would be the apostle’s job to step in and bring help and direction at these points.

GIFTING AND RESPONSIBILITY

Although there should be governmental equality in an eldership, we should expect to see different degrees of gifting and responsibility in the elders. For example, all elders must be able to shepherd and teach the people of God; however, their level of gifting in these areas will vary and most will not be shepherds or teachers in the Ephesians 4 sense.

In 1 Timothy 5:17 NLT, we read that “Elders who do their work well should be respected and paid well, especially those who work hard at both preaching and teaching.” This seems to imply that, though there should be governmental equality in an eldership, there will be some elders who are particularly given to directing the affairs of the church. It certainly indicates that preaching and teaching will not be the primary work of all elders. While many (perhaps most) elders will fulfill their function in the church while retaining secular employment, some will be released and resourced to work for the church. Consequently, some will take more responsibility than others for the day-to-day administration, the shepherding care, the teaching and preaching, etc.

Indeed, some elders may be (or may become) recognized as apostles, prophets, evangelists, shepherds or teachers, and may combine their local eldership involvement with a wider Ephesians 4 ministry. For example, Peter was, of course, an apostle, but he was also an elder of the church in Jerusalem (1 Peter 1:1, 5:1).

THE AUTHORITY OF ELDERS

“Obey your spiritual leaders, and do what they say. Their work is to watch over your souls, and they are accountable to God. Give them reason to do this with joy and not with sorrow. That would certainly not be for your benefit.” Hebrews 13:17 NLT

Elders carry responsibility not just for the welfare and direction of the congregation as a whole, but for each individual. Jesus is concerned with every area of your life (not just your “spiritual life”), and so are elders. They may, at times, bring very clear correction and direction to you. If you want to become part of a local church committed to New Testament practice, you must ask yourself whether you are willing for its elders to have this degree of involvement and authority in your life.

To bring this into perspective, however, we must recognize that a father directs his toddler quite specifically at first, but expects to see in the child a growing ability to know—and willingness to do—the right thing. Similarly, a new Christian, unfamiliar with the teachings of God’s Word, may need specific direction in many areas. However, a godly leader’s intention will be to bring that believer to a level of maturity in Christ where he is able to know—and willing to do—what is right before God.

A good parent doesn’t discourage questions, and you should feel free to share with your elders any concerns you may have regarding their direction or counsel. Also, just as good parents rejoice to see growing initiative, you do not need the permission of the elders before making every decision, or taking any step in serving the Lord. They will, however, be interested to know what you are doing in order to offer you counsel, encouragement, etc.

RESPONDING TO AUTHORITY

Romans 14:12 NLT tells us that “… each of us will give a personal account to God.” However, Hebrews 13:17 shows that church leaders will also give an account of how they took care of the flock in their charge. Elders, therefore, take their responsibility very seriously. Their aim is to please God and to be good stewards of those He has entrusted to their care.

It is also interesting to note from Hebrews 13:17 that we are to obey our leaders so that their work will be “with joy and not with sorrow,” and that the latter “would certainly not be for your benefit.” Our willing submission is not for the purpose of exalting them, but rather for our own maturity and growth.

Having looked at what the Scriptures have to say about elders, let us now consider deacons.

Deacons

“This letter is from Paul and Timothy, slaves of Christ Jesus. I am writing to all of God’s holy people in Philippi who belong to Christ Jesus, including the church leaders [overseers] and deacons. Philippians 1:1 NLT

Deacon comes from the Greek word diakonos, meaning “servant, waiter, attendant, or minister.” Of course, every member of the church is to serve the whole in one way or another, but clearly the term deacon is reserved in Scripture only for some.

Although not specifically named as such, many consider Stephen and the other men chosen in Acts 6 to be the first deacons. This is because they were appointed to relieve the apostles of the responsibility to “wait on” (Greek verb, diakoneo) tables, thereby enabling the apostles to give their attention to prayer and the ministry of the Word (Acts 6:1-7).

QUALIFICATIONS FOR DEACONS

These seven men were chosen on the basis of being “full of the Spirit and wisdom” (Acts 6:3 NLT). However, when considering the qualifications for deacons, attention is usually given to 1 Timothy 3:8-13. The requirements there are surprisingly similar to those for elders, and can again be summarized as character, capability, and confirmation. However, it is important to note that the ability to teach and defend the faith is not a requirement, and unlike elders, their function in the church is not governmental.

THE APPOINTMENT OF DEACONS

In Acts 6, the deaconing role emerged from a practical need that was causing problems in the church and threatening to take the leaders away from their primary responsibilities. We might, therefore, conclude that deacons are not merely appointed for the sake of having them, but to meet particular needs that arise from time to time.

Secondly from Acts 6, we might conclude that people are appointed as deacons when their ability to serve stands out beyond the normal. The deaconing role has sometimes been thought of as a less ‘spiritual’ function, one that can be left to more “practical” types. This is certainly not the basis on which the Seven were chosen. Indeed, it requires servants who are empowered by the Holy Spirit to produce the sort of fruit subsequently seen in that instance:

“So God’s message continued to spread. The number of believers greatly increased in Jerusalem, and many of the Jewish priests were converted, too.” Acts 6:7 NLT

Therefore, as with elders, we must first look for the anointing of the Holy Spirit when appointing deacons. This must be seen and confirmed by the congregation, who must also be aware that the candidates fulfill the requirements set out in 1 Timothy 3. The elders will then pray for them and lay hands on them, as the apostles did with the Seven.

THE RESPONSIBILITIES OF DEACONS

Deacons operate on behalf of the elders and are accountable to them. Their responsibilities in the church are not general, but are limited to their designated area of service, which may be administrative (e.g., organizing aspects of the life and ministry of the church, handling the finances, etc.) or more shepherding (dealing with specific needs, working with homegroups, children’s work, etc.). Although they do not carry governmental authority, their responsibilities will no doubt include administering and directing others in areas of service. Because they are known to be acting on behalf of the elders, and because they are respected for who they are and what they do, they will receive the willing co-operation of those working with them.

A NURTURED CHURCH

Jesus is referred to in 1 Peter 2:25 ESV as “the Shepherd and Overseer” of our souls. He has fully provided for the maturing and equipping of His Church by giving His Word, His Spirit, and the Ephesians 4 ministries. However, He did not stop there. He has brought an intimate care to each local congregation by establishing elders and deacons to lead and serve His people on a daily basis.

Be thankful for them and be determined to make their work as easy as possible. They need your love, help, and prayerful support!

GUIDELINES FOR MEETINGS

“So, my brothers, earnestly desire to prophesy, and do not forbid speaking in tongues. But all things should be done decently and in order.” 1 Corinthians 14:39-40 NLT

We are told in 1 Corinthians 1:7, when Paul addresses the church in Corinth, that they lacked no spiritual gift, and yet he had much to say regarding how they were to practically function. It is much the same in our meetings; we typically experience a rich flow of spiritual gifts, and therefore require a substantial need for leadership and order.

The following is an outline of many of the responsibilities which we hope will prove to be a useful guide for those who are given the sobering responsibility to lead the church in our meetings together on Sundays.

What is described below may involve multiple people who are leading a various points of the service. For example: someone bringing the welcome, another filtering words, another doing the announcements, etc. However, if you are scheduled to lead the meeting, it is your responsibility to connect with and make sure each part is covered or else it will be your role to fill in each of those areas.

Please don’t be daunted by this fairly extensive list; in reality many of these points are obvious and will be natural without need for much consideration. However, those who are new to leading meetings may find this thorough overview particularly helpful.

THE WEEK OF THE MEETING

Set aside time during the week prior to the meeting to pray and seek God regarding any strategic instruction He might show you for the meeting.
Make contact mid-week prior to Sunday with whoever is leading worship and whoever is speaking, and talk through anything either of them might be sensing in terms of direction for the meeting. Also, find out what songs or scripture they are considering, and if you have an opportunity, use these songs / scriptures in your personal times with God leading up to Sunday.
At some point on Friday or Saturday, it would be good to make contact with one of the elders or the main administrational person to discuss the announcements. List them in a clear, orderly fashion, giving real attention to how you can express this important information in an inspiring and effective way. The most important part of an announcement to communicate is the WHY (why they should sign up or do whatever you’re asking). If people feel compelled to go for it, they will work to find the details (day, time, location, cost) which is often in our Church Center App.
Try not to have too late a night on Saturday, and take some time before you sleep to prepare your heart. Organize and plan anything you can to help the following morning flow frustration-free. This might mean discussing with your spouse the plan for getting the children ready and preparing for the challenges of a busier and earlier morning than usual on Sunday.

SUNDAY MORNING: PRE-MEETING

Arrange to arrive early enough on Sunday (usually 1 hour prior to the start of the meeting) to engage with God in worship as the team finishes rehearsing. This is when some of your practical leadership might start as often the musicians and sound people can experience a number of organizational and/or spiritual challenges in setting up and getting prepared for the morning. In this, you should be a calming and encouraging influence; helping everyone focus on the Lord and the privilege we are about to have in leading His people into His presence.
We may at times have another person set to start off the meeting by welcoming the church and brining a scripture. However, if there is not someone ready to do that, this will be your responsibility.
If you haven’t already received some direction from God regarding how to start the meeting, this will often come in the time you prepare as the worship team practices. Be careful not to over-prepare, this is not a time for a mini-preach. Usually, a short passage of Scripture or a brief exhortation is all that’s required to help our people focus and ready themselves to enter His courts.
Ask the worship leader if they have anything they feel to start the meeting with. Often they will, and many times it is best to let them run with it. Quite frequently you will be blessed to discover a great similarity in what you both have on your hearts. It is not usually necessary for both of you to share, so determine which of you should. Let God will guide you in deciding this.
The worship practice should be finished at least 20 minutes before the meeting begins, allowing people to arrive to quietly playing recorded music, rather than the full volume of the live musicians practicing. This also means you can join the team for a time of prayer prior to the start of the meeting.
Make sure the musicians are in place and ready for the start time, and ask the lead musician to start playing quietly. This generally helps people transition from greeting and chatting to getting ready to worship. Aim to start around 5 minutes after the meeting is scheduled to begin.
Even before the meeting starts, some might come to you with a contribution they would like to share. Rarely should this be something you allow to replace what you have agreed to start with, but it can be helpful to bear this input in mind for later in the worship time.

THE MEETING

We use a countdown clock to help us start on time. You may need to give a 2 minute warning to encourage people to find their seats. After 2 minutes, welcome everyone; be warm and enthusiastic. If you don’t have everyone’s attention immediately, don’t take it personally. People are often excited to connect with one another, or are just distracted with many things, so gently but firmly persist until you have everyone with you. Asking people to stand can often help them to focus so consider doing this straight away, but always before passing things over to the worship leader.
As we explained previously, another person may be set to welcome and begin the meeting with a scripture. If not, that responsibility is on you to begin the meeting. Please keep it to a few short minutes. It’s not the time for a mini-sermon. Reading a short scripture is a great way to get us thinking on God and preparing our hearts to worship Him.
After you, or someone else has started the meeting, engage the best you can in worshiping God on a personal level, but remember you are there to serve, and a huge part of your role is being a bridge between the worship team and the congregation. Do your best to keep aware of where the people are at, while at the same time remaining connected to the worship leader. This will require you to maintain a level of awareness and not allow you to get too "lost in worship.”
Usually after the first or second song, a number of people will approach you with prophetic words, pictures, visions, scriptures, or testimonies (hopefully not all at once). Listen to what they have to say and do your best to help weigh whether these contributions are indeed from God or not. Try and help them determine the following:
- Whether the word lines up with what we know to be true in the Bible and what is established doctrine at One Voice Church
- Whether the word is more for them personally versus the church
- Whether the word is in keeping with everything else that is happening in the meeting
- Whether the person sharing with you seems in the right state of mind and emotion to effectively communicate their message
- Note: It has become quite common for the meeting leader to have a support person helping him screen the words, and also as a means of training and development. This can be a helpful practice, but be careful that too much discussion is not taking place between the two of you, as this can be confusing for the worship leader and awkward for the church.
We would generally recommend caution with testimonies. It is rare that a testimony is brief and prophetically relevant in the flow of a worship time, and the reality is few things can bring a worship time to a grinding halt like a long and poorly communicated testimony. If you feel a testimony should be shared, consider whether this would be better at the close of the worship time or even during the announcements.
Feel free to change the order of when people share if you feel it will help the church follow what God is saying, but provided people are being responsive to God’s promptings, the order will quite often be in the same sequence as people have come to you.
At times, there can be an abundance of people wanting to contribute and some leaders have found it helpful to jot down the essence of what is being shared and then allow the contributions to come as they seem to fit within the worship time. This can help with order, but be careful not to introduce a level of control which is based on your timing versus the natural flow of the Holy Spirit.
In terms of instructing those who are about to share, often there is nothing more than an encouragement to ‘go for it’, particularly with the experienced prophetic people we lead. However, the following are examples of the kind of gentle direction that might be appropriate:
- O.K., that’s great, but just share what you’ve shared with me, nothing more.
- Try and express something of the emotion of the things you are saying.
- Try and reign in your emotion, so that you can get through what you have to bring.
- I’m not sure of the timing of this; can you stay close, so I can bring you up if and when I feel it fits?
- Is this supposed to be spoken or sung?
Listen to what is actually being delivered over the mic, as this can sometimes be very different from what was shared with you. Feel free to ask the next person wanting to contribute to wait until you’ve heard the current person sharing. Sometimes people giving a word can get carried away and begin sharing something that they did not clear with you. If they begin sharing something anti-biblical or inappropriate you will need to step in and correct what was communicated. It may just be that the person made an error in what they were sharing and a simple clarification to the congregation would suffice. If you’re ever not sure how to deal with a situation, get the attention of one of the elders and he can help address the situation.
Someone may approach you with a tongue; the only thing to determine with this is the confidence you feel regarding the person bringing this and whether it fits with the timing of everything else going on. For example, be wary if this happens right at the end of the worship time, as it will typically add another 15-20 minutes to the meeting time due to waiting for the interpretation (which must come, and is your responsibility to bring if it’s not forthcoming) and possible responses.
If you let a tongue come (or even if one is brought spontaneously through the congregation), instruct the church to incline their ears to God and wait for the interpretation.
If a directional prayer or prophecy comes from the congregation and bypass the screening process, bring whatever direction you feel is necessary to keep the flow of engagement with God.
In general, don’t be afraid to leave time for the congregation to respond to prophetic direction. When leading, we can become very sensitive to times of pause, and they can become exaggerated in our minds. Finding the balance between giving time and not allowing blank, directionless space is something learned by experience.
Feel free to walk over and discreetly check with the worship leader to ensure that you are sensing the same direction. Also, it is a good idea to check with one of the elders if you are needing clarity or confirmation at any point.
Be conscious of not going beyond 45 minutes (or 50 minutes from the meeting’s official start time). There may be times when the Holy Spirit will cause the worship time to run longer, even to the extent of taking up the entire meeting. However, if you ever sense this is the direction things are going, always check with the elders who are present before allowing this to happen.
It is usually best to close the time with a prayer that encapsulates the essence of what has come during the time of worship, and then asking everyone to take a few minutes to greet each other. The closing of the worship time can also come from the worship leader rather than you if that seems more appropriate.
It may be that before you dismiss for the greeting time you bring something of a summary or explanation of the key things that came prophetically during the worship time.
The greeting time should typically be about 3-5 minutes. During the break it’s a good practice to check with the speaker if he/she needs anything last minute (like a glass of water). Give people a 1 minute warning to find their seats. Then resume with the announcements.
Levels of attention vary during announcements, so again, be gracious with people. Also, try and be succinct and clear as you go through the list. If someone approaches you with an unscheduled announcement, have them check this with one of the elders before allowing it to come.
After the announcements, take up the tithes and offerings (typically there will be some people ready to help with this). We tend not to be too elaborate, or long winded about this, but remind the church that it is a joy and a privilege to give generously, and this is very much part of our worship to God.
Often times, there will be no need or desire for the speaker to be announced, but always give consideration to this, and obviously, this is a must for visiting speakers.
Your responsibility is not over at the end of the announcements, and it is important for you to remain in the meeting during the teaching. It may be that things arise during the message, like a disruptive person or element, that will require your attention. Also, there may be a need to instruct the congregation in response to the message, or even the organizing of prayer ministry for those who are responding.
There will often be people who will want to talk to you at the end, so be open to this. Visitors, in particular, will consider you a leader, and may well have questions or observations for you.
Finally, although many well organized people will be part of the cleaning up at the end of our meetings, as the meeting leader, you are responsible to make sure nothing has been missed, i.e., everything is cleaned up, switched off, cleared away, and locked up.

GUIDELINES FOR BRINGING PROPHETIC WORDS

Some view prophecy in an overly-mystical way. They might view “the spirit of prophecy” as just something that comes upon us unpredictably, and over which we have no personal responsibility or even control. However, Scripture gives us many practical guidelines and helpful instructions regarding prophecy, for example the following:

“Let two or three people prophesy, and let the others evaluate what is said…. In this way, all who prophesy will have a turn to speak, one after the other, so that everyone will learn and be encouraged. Remember that people who prophesy are in control of their spirit and can take turns. For God is not a God of disorder but of peace…” 1 Corinthians 14:29, 31-33a NLT

God intends that both His order and His care be expressed in how prophetic ministry operates. As God has given us this measure of control in how we are to function prophetically, we need not fear asking God not just what to say but how we should say it so as to properly communicate His heart.

We do not need to start every prophecy with “the Lord says,” nor prophesy in the first person. This is not to say these practices are necessarily wrong, but “styles” of prophecy (even prophesying in “King James English”) do not make the word any more or less authentic. Avoid adding your own emphasis in trying to make the word more impactful and important. Rather, let the word stand on it’s own. If it is truly from the Lord, He does not need us to ‘spice it up’ by adding any extra emphasis. We would recommend simply saying, “I felt God saying…” or “I think God is saying…” as we leave room to potentially be wrong. This also re-enforces the principle that we are to collectively weigh words that are brought to us.

The prophets we find in the Bible are an extraordinary array of personalities, and should leave us in little doubt that God intends that prophecy should communicate His heart with conviction and passion. Therefore, we should faithfully give ourselves to expressing His word in whatever way He leads us.

With this in mind, we should be open regarding whether the word we have might be better brought in a form other than regular speech, for example, with some type of visual presentation (see Agabus in Acts 21:11), or perhaps as a song. In weighing this, however, it is helpful to remember that God did choose you to bring this word, and without being closed to an exception, if, for example, you happen to have an awful singing voice, this could potentially detract from rather than add to the impact of the word. Obviously, the same could be said of dance, playing an instrument, or any other artistic expression.

PERSONAL PROPHECY

In our care for each other, we would encourage particular caution regarding directional words for individuals, and recommend the following guidelines:

BRINGING PERSONAL WORDS

Bear in mind the purpose of prophecy:
“…one who prophesies strengthens others, encourages them, and comforts them.” 1 Corinthians 14:3 NLT
Although words God gives us for others may not always sound positive, we should at least be sure that, if received properly, the word will ultimately result in strengthening, encouragement, and comfort.
Remember that when you prophesy, you are being God’s spokesman, conveying what God thinks and feels. Be careful that you are not being unduly influenced by natural factors, for example the things that you think about the person or would really want for them, or even your frustrations with them!
Consider carefully whether the word you have received should be shared or is simply for you to pray with insight. Do not be quick to act the first time you receive a word, vision, or dream that may have a great impact on someone’s life. Scripture shows us time and time again God’s willingness to repeat and confirm words of great significance to us, often multiple times (for example, with Samuel’s call, Joseph’s dreams, Gideon’s confirmation, and Peter’s rooftop vision).
In most cases, we would recommend submitting directional personal prophecies to the elders of the church prior to bringing them directly to people. Not only could they help you weigh the word, leaders have care and responsibility for this person and will no doubt be involved with them as they seek to respond rightly to the word. Leaders are often able to guide us with the right timing, which can be critical in bringing words. Proverbs 25:11 says, “A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in a setting of silver.”
Seek God for a word of wisdom regarding how it might be delivered (see Nathan with David, 2 Samuel 12). Prophecy can function in conjunction with other gifts, such as words of knowledge and words of wisdom, which can help in the delivery and receiving of the words.

RECEIVING PERSONAL WORDS

“Do not scoff at prophecies, but test everything that is said. Hold on to what is good.” 1 Thessalonians 5:20-21 NLT

Many believers have been inspired, guided and enriched by prophetic words spoken over them. However, this has not always been the case. Some have received erroneous words, sometimes from false prophets, but often from well-meaning but mistaken brothers and sisters. No matter who brings a prophecy to us, we should neither dismiss it nor fully accept it as the word of the Lord until it has been properly weighed. Here are a few general principles for testing a word before accepting it:

Does it line up with biblical truth? No prophetic word from God will contradict or cast doubt on the written Word of God. In assessing this, you might want to seek the counsel of those with strong scriptural knowledge:
“All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right.” 2 Timothy 3:16 NLT
If you are unsure regarding the meaning of a prophetic word, ask whoever brought it to clarify exactly what they heard or saw. They may also tell you what they think the word means, though caution should be exercised here. Those bringing words can easily put their own interpretations on words they bring that may not actually be from the Lord.
Ask God for independent confirmation from other sources, including others who are prophetically sensitive and, of course, those who carry leadership in your life. Interestingly, those who have received multiple prophecies from various people often notice significant similarities and repeated themes. This is because people with prophetic vision who pray over us will often see the same key words and callings that God has placed over our lives.
Do not worry about words that you can do little about. Trust God and see if they come to pass. If they do not produce faith and peace in you, be free to reject them. Sometimes words declare that something will happen in a certain timeframe. If this does not happen, you can probably throw them out completely as false! It will do you no good to hang on to them after their “sell by date.”

Ifopportunity allows, give honest feedback to those who prophesy over you. This can be very helpful in encouraging and correcting those learning to grow prophetically.

LEADING IN HOME GROUPS

We have a separate four session course for our Home Group Leader Training, but we thought it would be helpful to share some of the highlights here in our Vision Track: Leadership course. We hope that many of you would be home group leaders or assistant leaders at some point in the future as our goal is to continue to grow and help more people grow in their faith. Our home group ministry is the heartbeat of our church.

We want Home Groups to be a large part of One Voice Church because we have:

Theological justifications for them:
- Exodus 18:13-27, Luke 9:12-17, the book of Acts, etc.
Practical justifications for them:
- Relationship-building, providing care for people, ensuring teaching is understood and applied, ethnic and generational unity, etc.

Here’s some hopes that we have for home groups:

Developing a deeper COMMUNITY and connectedness in our church family.
Growing in our faith and DISCIPLING each other to be more and more like Jesus.
Reaching out to our neighbors in EVANGELISM.
Moving outside the walls of the church to SERVE our community.

In a sense, our vision is that Home Groups would be the Church on a smaller scale. Regardless of how large One Voice Church might become, Home Groups will keep us connected and growing in our faith in Jesus.

We’re going to explore how home groups can help us grow in …

COMMUNITY — DISCIPLESHIP — EVANGELISM — SERVICE

Or to put it another way, our goals through these groups are to …

“GATHER — GROW — GO — GIVE”

These groups can’t and shouldn’t be the only way in which community, discipleship, evangelism and service are cultivated and lived out in the church … but we do want them to be a vehicle to ensure that these things happen to some extent - and perhaps they’ll be a launching pad for them to happen in other ways.

LEADERSHIP ESSENTIALS

The qualities we’re looking for in our home group leaders are character and capability… along with commitment.

Character

LEADERS LEAD BY EXAMPLE! As a leader, people (inside and outside the church) will be looking at you. We’ve already covered the importance of the character of leaders earlier in this Vision Track: Leadership Course, but we wanted to be clear that character is of the utmost importance for us in raising up home group leaders. You can only lead people where you’re going, so are home group leaders must be committed to moving forward as one being shaped into Christ-likeness.

Capability

The task requires that home group leaders are willing and able to LEAD, CONNECT, ENCOURAGE & INVEST

LEAD: Home group leaders bring a sense of direction and purpose when people gather together.
CONNECT: Home group leaders are willing to do what it takes to connect with everyone in the group.
ENCOURAGE: Home group leaders inspire and motivate people, individually and as a group.
INVEST: Home group leaders are willing to pray for people, to believe in the grace of God in them, to go after them, spend time with them, and sow into them.

No-one has all this down perfectly, but home group leaders work to be this to those they lead.

Commitment

Home group leaders build their lives on Jesus Christ. It should be evident that you follow and have submitted your life to Jesus.

Committed to the foundations of the faith
- Examples: Hebrews 5:11-6:3 & Vision Track: Courses 1 & 2
Committed to our vision – what we’re particularly about as a church
- Examples: Vision Track: Course 3 and the multi-ethnic church
Committed to the work – because it is work
- See: Colossians 1:28-29

We are looking for leaders who want to make a difference, to the glory of God. Someone who can build COMMUNITY, encourage DISCIPLESHIP, energize EVANGELISM and motivate SERVICE. Every home group leader won’t have the same degree of excitement or ability in all of the above, but each one should bring some of each of these elements to the group.

THE FOUR PILLARS OF HOME GROUPS

In our Home Group Leader Training, we go in much more depth on each of these four elements, but let’s look briefly at each of these:

COMMUNITY
Home groups are founded on a deep sense of community, drawing from our shared identity in Christ. This is a place to truly belong, fostered through intentional relationships, shared time, and a welcoming environment. To build this connection, groups can eat meals together, share personal stories, and practice hospitality—creating a family-like space where everyone feels valued and supported. A commitment to spending time together, worshiping, and praying as a group strengthens the bonds that make us more than just a gathering; it makes us a family.
DISCIPLESHIP
Following Jesus is an active journey. Home groups are a vital space for discipleship, where we encourage each other in becoming more like Christ. Leaders can foster growth by setting a vision for spiritual maturity, encouraging participation, and regularly sharing personal testimonies and goals. By praying for one another, discussing Scripture or the teaching from Sunday, and facilitating opportunities for each person to serve, groups inspire members to take concrete steps in their faith. Discipleship happens as we model growth, challenge each other to live out God’s Word, and hold each other accountable to His calling.
EVANGELISM
Our mission extends beyond our gatherings, as home groups provide a context for evangelism, helping members naturally share their faith with those who don’t know Jesus. Groups can work together on outreach projects, such as hosting neighborhood events, inviting neighbors to social gatherings, or simply bringing friends to a Sunday service. Each group member is encouraged to identify people in their own lives they can pray for, build relationships with, and share their stories of faith with. By supporting each other in these efforts, groups become a visible reflection of Christ’s love in the community.
SERVICE
Service flows from our commitment to Christ and each other, both within the group and in our broader communities. Home groups can organize regular acts of service, such as volunteering together at community organizations, meeting practical needs within the group, or initiating clean-up projects in local parks. In this way, groups practice a lifestyle of generosity, responding to the needs of others as a powerful expression of God’s love and purpose.

Home Groups reinforces the holistic nature of our mission to gather, grow, go, and give. By engaging in these practices, each group becomes a place of shared purpose, spiritual growth, and meaningful impact, embodying the heart of our church’s calling.

LEADING IN OTHER MINISTRIES

As we wrap up our final Vision Track course, we want to look at what leadership at One Voice Church should look like no matter what area of ministry we are called to.

Our hope is that we would raise up leaders for all sorts of ministries at One Voice Church. Whether women’s or men’s ministry, Feeding Families, youth ministry, homeless ministry, kids ministry, worship team, event planning, justice ministry, prayer team, host team, evangelism teams, prison ministry, or whatever else God may call One Voice to, we will need leaders who can carry out the mission of One Voice Church in these capacities.

In session 3.1, we covered the character of leaders, the role of both men and women in leadership, our vision for building a multi-ethnic and multi-generational church, and the mission to make disciples. We are not going to repeat what we have already discussed, but want to make clear that everything covered in session 3.1 is essential as we consider how someone should lead in any ministry capacity here at One Voice Church. Additionally, there are other practical things to consider as we look to have a greater impact in our community. Let’s start by talking about our mission.

THE MISSION OF ONE VOICE CHURCH

At One Voice Church, our mission statement is as follows:

We are a multi-ethnic and multi-generational church that helps people pursue God wholeheartedly and live in complete harmony with each other.

Our mission reflects both the vision we believe God had given us specifically at One Voice and the way we can accomplish that vision. We will build a multi-ethnic and a multi-generational church by helping people pursue God and live in harmony with each other. This pursuit of God and love for each other is a reflection of what Jesus described as the Greatest Commandment.

“‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’” Matthew 22:36-40 NLT

In addition, our mission to help people live in harmony comes from the same passage in Romans 15 where we get our name, One Voice:

“May God, who gives this patience and encouragement, help you live in complete harmony with each other, as is fitting for followers of Christ Jesus. Then all of you can join together with one voice, giving praise and glory to God, the father of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Romans 15:5-6 NLT

These verses speak to a deep vision for the church, asking God to help believers live in harmony, creating a community that brings glory to God “with one voice.” This mission is not only a statement of belief but a clear path for how we are to function as a body of Christ—each person, department, and ministry working together to promote wholehearted pursuit of God and unity among believers.

For our leaders, embodying this mission in their approach is crucial. As leaders who strive to reflect God’s vision for the church, it’s essential that they lead in a way that embraces and models both diversity and unity. When leaders champion harmony and encourage people from all backgrounds to draw closer to God, they reflect God’s heart for building a united community under Christ. This unity fosters a welcoming environment where members see their leaders embracing the call to wholehearted worship and mutual respect. Leaders who demonstrate these values create a ripple effect that encourages the entire church body to embrace the mission.

Every ministry and department within One Voice Church should be shaped by this mission, allowing it to serve as a guide for both purpose and function. Whether it’s worship, kids ministry, or local outreach, each department should embody diversity, foster unity, and help people grow in their faith. For instance, as much as possible, each of our home groups should include various age groups and cultures, reinforcing the church’s goal of multi-generational and multi-ethnic connection. Outreach initiatives should mirror the church's heart for diversity and harmony, welcoming those from all backgrounds to come and purse Jesus. Our kids ministry should be diverse and focused on helping kids purse God wholeheartedly and helping them live in harmony with each other.

When considering launching new ministries or evaluating current ministries, we should be asking the questions, ‘Does this ministry align with our mission statement?’ Or ‘What changes can we make to this ministry so that it aligns even more with our mission statement?’ If a ministry is not diverse like it should be, we need to ask the questions why and what can we do to improve the diversity? If a ministry is not helping people pursue God wholeheartedly then we need to re-evaluate if it’s something we should be doing at all or what changes we can make to improve it in that area. In this way, the mission statement becomes a shared framework that aligns each area of ministry, creating a church-wide impact that not only reflects God’s love but also actively builds the “one voice” vision we are called to pursue.

PEOPLE BEFORE PROGRAMS

At One Voice Church, our priority is always people. Our ministry’s purpose is to help individuals grow in their faith, not to create programs that are big, flashy, or impressive for their own sake. We aim to serve each person, guiding them closer to Jesus and fostering unity. When we focus on the people God has entrusted to us, we create a culture where each individual feels valued and is encouraged to pursue Jesus wholeheartedly, building harmony in the community of faith.

BUILDING WISELY

As we grow, we recognize that we cannot take on every opportunity or idea that comes our way. It’s wise to focus on doing a few things with excellence rather than many things with mediocrity. At One Voice, we emphasize patience and steady growth, knowing that strong foundations are built over time. By investing in quality over quantity, we build ministries that serve with purpose, endurance, and impact—avoiding the instability that can come from rapid, unfocused expansion.

PERSONAL MINISTRY

Sometimes, God places a vision on someone’s heart that may or may not become an official ministry of One Voice Church. There is a difference between a church-supported ministry and a personal calling, and this is where we rely on the wisdom of our elders to discern what aligns with the church’s vision. We encourage leaders to share what God has spoken to them; even if it doesn’t become an official ministry, there may be ways we can support it through home groups or other channels. This approach allows us to foster personal ministry and support God’s work in many forms.

PROTECTING THE CULTURE

In building a multi-ethnic, multi-generational church, we may face challenges of division. As leaders, we are called to address divisiveness swiftly and gently, explaining that unity is central to who we are. When needed, an elder can help handle more complex situations. We are also called to be patient, allowing people time to learn to love and understand those who are different. This balanced approach helps us protect the culture of harmony and respect that we strive to uphold at One Voice Church.

BECOMING MORE LIKE JESUS

Our ultimate goal is to become more like Jesus in every way. Each ministry, interaction, and decision should help us grow in His character—loving people as He loved, serving others humbly, pointing others toward God, and honoring Him with our lives. Jesus’s example of self-sacrifice, love for God, and care for others serves as the blueprint for how we lead, serve, and love within One Voice Church. Through this pursuit, we fulfill our mission and reflect His light to the world.