Podcast Episode #406
Listener questions are always fun to answer. Today we cover a wide-ranging group of topics and answer several pressing questions from listeners.
Some highlights from today’s episode include:
- Do I see all denominations dying? No. But we are seeing more struggling.
- When you study Scripture, it’s difficult to argue against a plurality of leadership.
- Good financial stewardship should be a requirement for church leadership.
- Co-vocational ministry is the future mainly because of its effectiveness.
The listener questions we answer are:
FROM PAM:
On podcast 390 you mentioned the rise of networks. I would like some detail about various networks and how they are utilized for the strength and growth of the Church.
FROM DAN:
I see in the Scriptures that the early church was led by a plurality of elders. There seemed to be no “senior pastors” in the early local churches. In your opinion, must a church have a senior pastor? If so, should that person have greater influence over other pastors/elders? What are the benefits and drawbacks of equally shared authority and influence shared among a plurality of elders in a local church?
FROM JEREMY:
The treasurer at the church I pastor at recently told me that one of the members of our finance committee does not give financially to the church. What do you do in a situation like this? How do you avoid this from happening in the first place?
FROM TODD:
If my church is in a small, rural town with other small towns 15 minutes down the road, is having multiple sites in other towns a good idea and how far from the home site do you go?
FROM JASON:
We struggle, like many churches do, to get our guests to acknowledge that they are visiting using our communication cards. What are some other ways that we can connect with these guests? We recently started using greeters in the sanctuary which has helped some, but we are still missing large amounts of guests.
FROM MATTHEW:
As a bi-vocational pastor, I often get asked the question, “So when are you moving to full-time ministry?” It even happens in my church from time to time, where well-meaning members tell me, “Well, Lord willing we’ll be able to get you full-time on the field someday.” Often, bi-vocational ministry is looked upon as something to try and escape, or as a steppingstone to a “real” pastorate, rather than being valued as a dual calling. I feel a distinct call to bi-vocational ministry. I am a pastor and a public school teacher, and I feel convinced that God has placed me in both situations. My question is, why do Christians and pastors downplay the value of bi-vocational ministry?
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Feedback
If you have a question you would like answered on the show, fill out the form on the podcast page here on Church Answers.
