Foundations of Healthy Church Government

By Tom Lane

Good People Doing Good Things Cannot Overcome Unhealthy Church Government.

The government model you choose will determine your church’s destiny. Some churches foster an environment of harmony, stability, and leaders who feel energized. Other churches are plagued by disunity, conflict, lack of growth, and leaders who feel alone and overwhelmed. How do you ensure your church is on a path to fruitful ministry?

Foundations of Healthy Church Government will help you:
• Develop an enduring, biblical model of governance for your church.
• Replace time-wasting and internal strife with harmony and accountability.
• Avoid power struggles among leadership before they start.
• Reignite church growth and membership.
• Move your church staff and vision from confusion to unity.
• Turn a potential battleground into fertile ground for ministry

• Language: English
• Publisher: BookBaby
• Release date: Dec 15, 2017
• ISBN: 9781945529313

Book preview

structure.

SECTION 1

A HEALTHY CHURCH STRUCTURE

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CHAPTER ONE

Three Results of a Healthy Structure

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EVERY CHURCH HAS some form of structure or government, but only a healthy form of government furthers the vision, purpose, and power of God’s work in the church. I cannot overemphasize the fact that no church will achieve its optimal ministry effectiveness without a healthy structure of organization and systems of governmental thought that rightly influence and shape the church’s operations.

The type of government a church chooses will mold, shape, and cast its destiny. The organizational structure and its governance of the ministry will ultimately determine the work that God can accomplish through that particular church. A church with a healthy organizational structure and system of governance will be able to achieve three promised important results:

CLEARLY DEFINED AND FULFILLED VISION

A church with a healthy organizational structure and system of governance will be able to establish a clearly defined vision for itself as well as enable its members to establish vision in their own lives. Vision for God’s work flows out of the church. God designed the church to implement His kingdom’s work throughout the earth. Peter writes:

So I exhort the elders among you, as a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, as well as a partaker in the glory that is going to be revealed: shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you; not for shameful gain, but eagerly; not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock. And when the chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory (1 Peter 5:1–4 ESV).

I have heard some people say, Well, it’s not really that big of a deal how I connect to the church, or for that matter, what church I go to, or if I even go to church. As referenced in the introduction, David seemed to have a different opinion. In Psalm 92:12, he says that the people in the house of God will flourish, even in old age.

I want you to make this important connection: God will work out His plans and purposes individually and corporately in connection with the church. I noted earlier that the church does not control everything in your life; however, it does lay the foundation for God’s work throughout your life. God will plant you there and cause you to become fruitful and flourish. The church connects you with God’s purpose and vision, which will help the other parts of your life make sense.

FORMATION AND DEVELOPMENT OF GOD’S PURPOSE

The church will help you form, develop, and fulfill God’s purpose for your life. It will provide a place for service, training, ministry, and connection. The apostle Paul describes an effort made by the believers in Macedonia to give a gift to the church in Jerusalem. He uses their gift as a model to inspire the Corinthian church to join in giving for the benefit of the church in Jerusalem. He writes:

Moreover, brethren, we make known to you the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia: that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded in the riches of their liberality. For I bear witness that according to their ability, yes, and beyond their ability, they were freely willing, imploring us with much urgency that we would receive the gift and the fellowship of the ministering to the saints. And not only as we had hoped, but they first gave themselves to the Lord, and then to us by the will of God. So, we urged Titus, that as he had begun, so he would also complete this grace in you as well. But as you abound in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in all diligence, and in your love for us—see that you abound in this grace also (2 Corinthians