The Pastoral Team

SERMON STARTER

 

          Today we install another associate pastor to the Sheepfold Pastoral Team. Pastor Ray Scott is an ordained minister, church planter and evangelist. He and his wife Elaine, have a proven ministry of pastoral leadership in this region. We are pleased to have him as a member of the Sheepfold pastoral team.

          When we started the Sheepfold on Madison Street in February of 1991, we decided it was to be a intentionally different type of evangelical church. At any point in time there have been more than 55 churches in the Shenango Valley, our region. There are more than 255 pastors and associates in our 8 city cluster of communities.

          Practically all of these churches and pastors are "traditional" in nature. The Sheepfold Ministries outreach is decidedly different. We are more concerned with giving into the community than how many attend Sunday services or how much money comes through the offering plate. (That's the "Three "N's," Numbers, Nickels and Noses.)

          One of those differences in the Sheepfold is to have a pastoral team that works together in a non-competitive way to advance Christ's Kingdom in our region. Each team member has their own talent and ministry. Together we intend to see the rule and reign of Jesus in our area.

          This morning we welcome pastor Ray and his wife Elaine into the leadership of the Sheepfold! This sermon shows the Biblical background for our team concept.

 

Pastor Phil  <><<

 

 

January 20, 2013 - Sheepfold Ministries

Pastor Phil Roland

 

The Pastoral Team

Ephesians 4:11-16

"Today we install another associate pastor to the Sheepfold Pastoral Team. Pastor Ray Scott is an ordained minister, church planter and evangelist. He and his wife Elaine, have a proven ministry of pastoral leadership in this region. We are pleased to have him as a member of the Sheepfold pastoral team."                                                                                               Pastor Phil  <><<

"And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, 12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ,"                                     Ephesians 4:11,12

I. THE SHEEPFOLD HAS BEEN FOUNDED BY TEAM MINISTRIES

            A. Traditional churches have only one pastor

                        1. They are required to be good at everything

                        2. Read "Perfect Pastor"

                        3. Churches organize "Search Committees" to find a pastor

                        4. "Pastoral Search Reports" In Biblical times

            B. Sheepfold founded upon a "Team" Principle

                        1. Intentionally different

                        2. Goal has been to eliminate competition among leaders

                        3. Set leaders free to pursue their giftings

            C. Five-Fold ministries Implies Five Types of Ministry Leaders

                        1. Special Leadership Enablements / Abilities

                        2. Abilities given by the Holy Spirit to disciple believers                                         3. Purpose is to Mature the Saints

                        4. Mend them, bind them up and mature them - Isaiah 61:1

"The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon Me, Because the LORD has

                         anointed Me To preach good tidings to the poor; He has sent Me to

                         heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives, And the

                         opening of the prison to those who are bound;"

II. OUR GOAL: ESTABLISH FIVE-FOLD MINISTRY LEADERS

            A. Apostles - Those who are sent forth

                        1. Administrative Gifts: Organizing and putting things in order

                        2. Exhorting and Encouraging - 2 Timothy 2:1

                     "You therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus."

3. Training and Commissioning Leaders - 2 Timothy 2:2

                     "And the things that you have heard from me among many  witnesses,

                       commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also."

            B. Prophets - Those who can hear / speak an inspired word from God

                        1. OT Prophets were God's Policemen

                        2. NT Prophets are Exhorters and Predictors

                        3. Warn God's people about waywardness, sin and unbelief

THE PASTORAL TEAM. cont. p.2

                       

            C. Evangelists - Those who can persuade people to follow Christ

                        1. Ability to Preach the Good News with Godly power

                        2. Lead people out of darkness and into light

            D. Pastors and Teachers - Overseers of the Flock

                        1. Feeding - Teaching God's Word

                        2. Watching over God's people and Caring for them

                        3. God given Supernatural Ability to Love People

            E. Summarize: Using the left hand

                        1. Prophet is the Pointer finger - Pointing out mankind's sins

                        2. Evangelist - Middle (longest) finger - Gatherer

                        3. Pastor - Ring Finger of Belonging - "Marries his flock"

                        4. Teacher - Little Finger - Insert into the ear / Teaches where                                  others can hear

                        5. Apostle - Thumb, Interacts with the other four fingers,

                            making them more effective

III. OUR PURPOSE IS IDENTIFYING & EQUIPPING THE SAINTS

            A. Discerning Spiritual Identity is Primary Leadership Task

                        1. Answering the question, "Who am I in the Body of Christ?"

2. Lots of "Wanna-Bes," people who want to help

                        3. Don't know how to help

                                    a. Having a ministry of "Helps" is a great start

                                    b. Be available and willing to assist

                        4. Elisha poured water on the hands of Elijah - 2 Kings 3:11

                        "But Jehoshaphat asked, "Is there no prophet of the LORD here, that

                         we may inquire of the LORD through him?" An officer of the king of

Israel answered, "Elisha son of Shaphat is here. He used to pour

                         water on the hands of Elijah."

B. Equipping the Saints prepares them for Maturity

                        1. "Equip" does NOT mean "Leadership Training"

                        2. Word Picture here is the tying of two broken things together

                        3. Like the setting and mending of a broken bone

                        4. Equipping is healing

                        5. Cannot train anybody that hasn't been first mended by God

                        6. Their brokenness will wreck havoc in the church

                                    a. Listen to them tell you about their role in their families

                                    b. They will assume that role in the church

                        7. Cannot lead with a bitter, broken heart

                                    a. Like begats Like

                                    b. How many more do you want in the church like you?

                        8. We long to lead more and more people to Jesus' Cross

                        9. We urge them to look to Jesus for healing - 2 Cor. 3:18                         "But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of

                         the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to

                         glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord."

 

THE PASTORAL TEAM. cont. p.3

                       

IV. "EQUIPEES" ARE TO DO THE WORK OF THE MINISTRY

A. Traditional Pastors do the Work of the Ministry

                        1. Saints Sit and Observe

                        2. "Sitting on the Premises" not "Standing on the Promises"

                        3. God has not called us to inactivity

            B. Five-Fold pastors Healing, Exhort and Motivate the Saints

            C. Pastor Ray Scott has the calling and gifting of Evangelist

                        1. He and Elaine have attended the Sheepfold for a year

                        2. He and I have shared a common ministry together

                        3. Share a common goal for and love for people

            D. Short word of testimony from pastor Ray

            E. Will you pray for pastor Ray and Elaine and stand behind them?

            F. Extend your hands toward him and pray with me:

                        LORD:

                        We have prayed for laborers for the harvest and we believe                                 You have sent pastor Ray and Elaine to be with us for a                                              season. We are grateful for them, and pray for fruit in their                           lives from our association together.

                        Bless them and us as we serve You together. . .

                        In Jesus' Name,

                        A-Men!    <><<

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Pastoral Team

Ephesians 4:11-16 (NKJV)
11 And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers,
12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ,
13 till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ;
14 that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting,
15 but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head--Christ--
16 from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.

 

 

2 Corinthians 5:14a  "For the love of Christ compels us,"

 

 

 

 

 

 

PERFECT PASTOR

After hundreds of years of search, a model  preacher  to  suit

everyone has been found!  Please listen to his qualifications:

 

He preaches exactly 20 minutes, then sits down.  He preaches with strong conviction, but no one leaves church feeling guilty or convicted.  He condemns sin, but never hurts anyone's feelings.  He is loved by everyone, but he "tells it like it is."

 

He works from 8am to 10pm in any type of work the church requires, from preaching to custodial service.  He makes $100 a week, wears good clothes, buys good books regularly, has a nice, well-behaved family, lives in a $100,000 home, drives a new car, and gives $50.00 a week to the church.  He also has thriftily saved money to contribute to every good work that comes along.

 

He is 26 years old and has been preaching for 30 years.  He is tall and short, thin and heavy-set, handsome.  He has one brown eye and one blue; hair parted in the middle, the left side dark and straight, the right, brown and wavy.

 

He has a burning desire to work with teenagers and spends all his time with older folks.  He spends all his time with a straight face because he has a sense of humor that keeps him seriously dedicated to his work.

 

He makes 15 personal visits per day with church members, spends all his time evangelizing the unchurched, and is never out of his office.

 

Unfortunately, we are unable to supply the name and address of this pastor.

 

Courtesy of Sheepfold Ministries, Sharon, PA

 

 

 

The Search for a Pastor During Bible Times

Dear Member,

We do not have a happy report, as we have not been able to find a suitable candidate for pastor of our church thus far. We do, however, have one promising prospect. The following is our confidential report on the candidates:

 

Adam: Good man, but has problems with his wife.

Noah: Former pastorate of 120 years with no converts. Prone to unrealistic building projects.

Joseph: A big thinker, but a braggart. Interprets dreams. Has a prison record.

Moses: Modest and meek, but poor communicator; even stutters at times. Sometimes blows his stack and acts rashly in business meetings.

Deborah: One word—female.

David: The most promising candidate of all, until we discovered the affair he had with a neighbor’s wife.

Solomon: Great preacher, but serious woman problems.

Elijah: Prone to depression; collapses under pressure.

Jonah: Told us he was swallowed by a huge fish. He said the fish later spit him out on the shore near here. We hung up.

Amos: Backward and unpolished. With some seminary training, he might have promise; but he has a problem with wealthy people.

John: Says he’s a Baptist, but doesn’t dress like one. Sleeps in the outdoors, has a weird diet, and provokes denominational leaders.

Paul: Powerful CEO type and fascinating preacher. But he’s short on tact, unforgiving with young ministers, harsh, and has been known to preach all night.

Timothy: Too young.

Judas: His references are solid. A steady plodder. Conservative. Good connections. Knows how to handle money. We’re inviting him to preach this Sunday with great hopes that he will accept our offer!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pastoral Membership

 

 

 

Authority:         In   Sheepfold   Ministry,   all   activities,  spiritual   and

                             temporal, will be overseen by the  senior  pastor.  In any

                             question  that  cannot  be  otherwise  settled  within  the                           Ministry  Body, the senior pastor's decision will be final,                           except  when  such  a  question  personally  involves the                     senior pastor, in which case,  the  decision  of  the

                             Board of Elders will be final.

 

                             The  main  responsibilities  of  the pastoral members

are  the   spiritual  well-being  of  the  body  as  a  whole

and individually. These responsibilities include

teaching, preaching, counseling, overseeing of

ministries,  and discipleship,  and will be shared among

all the pastoral members.

 

                             There will be an administrative pastor appointed by the

                             senior pastor  from  the  other  pastoral  members upon

                             approval of the Board of Elders. The responsibilities of

                             the administrative pastor are to oversee the above

stated activities, that they are in order  according  to the

Spirit, and  to  inform the other pastoral members of the

status of these affairs.   

                             All    other    activities   of   the   ministry:    committees,                           ministries,   business   affairs,  and   all   other  physical

                             activities  that  pertain  to  the  running  of the

ministries physical  plant,  and  organization  and

operation  of  its temporal  affairs  are  to  be  the

responsibilities  of  the congregational members.

 

 

 

General Requirements:

                       

 

 

                                                                        Pastors  are  to  be  persons  called by God to  shepherd

                             over   the   flock   of   God   as   His  delegated  spiritual

                             authorities  on  earth.    Pastors  must  have  a  thorough                           knowledge  and  practical understanding of the Word of                            God  and  the moving  of  the Holy Spirit. These must be                              persons  of  good  report  among  the Body of Christ and                      the  community  as  a  whole.   A six month internship is                              required  of  pastors   in   all   aspects  of  their  pastoral

                             positions.