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Field Notes of an Ordinary Pastor

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020: ZOOM PRAYER MEETINGS

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020: ZOOM Prayer Meetings

Will ZOOM continue to play a key role in church life once the COVID-crisis is over?

I think that there is one place where it might, and it probably will at Banstead Community Church, and that’s prayer meetings.

ZOOM prayer meetings I reckon are here to stay.

When lockdown began in March 2020, our weekly prayer meeting went online, and we haven’t looked back or longed for what we had before (unlike the Sunday worship gatherings).

Why is that?

Here are four reasons why ZOOM prayer meetings have in our situation at Banstead Community Church turned out to be more beneficial than our weekly in person prayer meeting prior to lockdown.

Firstly, more people have been able to attend.

Our midweek prayer meeting is every Thursday between 8 and 9pm.  This meant that it was difficult for both parents of young children, older folk who don’t come out in the evening or who are shut-in, and those who jobs requires a long commute, to attend.

Since moving to ZOOM our prayer meeting instantly became more accessible, such that around 60-65% of all the adults in the church (before it would be 30-35%) will be at meeting now plus some of the young people.

Secondly, more people have been praying.

Moving the prayer meeting to ZOOM gave us an opportunity to change the way the prayer meeting ran. In the past, we would announce a subject to pray about and then leave space for anyone who wanted to pray to do so. Generally, it would be the same people who prayed each week.

Instead of announcing the topic and then having a time of open prayer for it, we’ve now decided to ask specific individuals to pray for this. We’ve found that more people are willing to be asked than would have prayed out loud during open prayer. Also, others have been willing to do so if given opportunity to prepare a written prayer before the meeting. As a church we have benefited from hearing different voices and a greater variety of voices lead us in prayer.

Thirdly, more prayer meetings have been able to take place.

After the first month of using ZOOM for our prayer meetings, we added a second weekly prayer meeting on Tuesday morning from 9-9.30am. The benefit of using ZOOM is that a 30-minute prayer meeting is only 30 minutes. It has also meant that some of our members have been able to stop work to join in or have been able to listen in while commuting.

Fourthly, more opportunities to pray with others.

ZOOM has enabled us to have a monthly joint prayer meeting with New Life Church in Middlesbrough who we are in partnership with. Past trainee pastors have been able to join us. It has been great to have mission speakers based in this country or overseas give presentations. We have had other FIEC pastors give updates about their church in person so we can pray for them.

So, why have prayer meetings worked so well on ZOOM?

I think Glen Scrivener is on to something when he tweeted, “There’s something about the verticality of prayer which overcomes the horizontal problems with Zoom.” It could be that because prayer meetings are primarily vertical (us to God) rather than horizontal (to each other) that being physically present is not as vital as with a worship service where actually gathering is.

I recognise this won’t be the case for every church, but in our context where over 80% of the church have a computer or tablet and could access ZOOM, prayer meetings this way has been a really blessing and why I think they will probably be here to stay.

(Photo: Julia Joppien)

019: THE SECOND MOST IMPORTANT BOOK

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019: The Second Most Important Book

Garrett Kell writes, “Your church membership directory… I believe it is the second most important book you own because it keeps before your eyes the brothers and sisters you are responsible to help to heaven.”

The membership directory contains the particular brothers and sisters which you are to help fight against sin, stir up to love and good works, and to encourage daily until it is no longer called today.

Some reasons, according to Kell, why a membership directory is so needed are that: a) It gives every member a practical tool to aid in prayer and encouragement; b) It helps pastors better shepherd the flock Jesus entrusts to them; c) It keeps housebound members on your mind, though they may be out of sight; d) It helps homebound members continue to invest in the spiritual health of the church; and e) It helps alert church members to people who may be in spiritual danger.

Whilst the church membership directory is an important book for every member, it is an essential one for pastors.

What are some of the ways they can effectively use it?

He suggests six ways:

  1. Use it in your daily devotions – “pray through a page of the directory each day.”
  2. Use it in your family devotions – “teach your family the importance of loving and praying for the local church where you are members.”
  3. Use it as an opportunity to encourage someone – “if you pray for another member, consider taking a moment to text, email, or call them and let them know.”
  4. Use it as a tool for hospitality – “look through the directory and see if any other members live near by… extend an invitation to have them over for a meal.”
  5. Use it in the elders’ meeting – “talk about and pray for members at the beginning of every elder meeting… to make this more fruitful, email or call those [you’ll] be praying for beforehand to see how they are doing spiritually.”
  6. Use it as part of your sermon preparation – “think… about how the promises and commands in my sermon best apply to different types of people who will be hearing it.”

When it comes to praying for the members, Mark Dever has some helpful pointers. He says, “Your prayers for people don’t have to be long – just biblical. Perhaps choose one or two phrases from Scripture to pray for them, and then pray a meaningful sentence or two from what you know is going on in their lives at present. Get to know the sheep in your flock so well that you can pray for them more particularly. And for those you don’t yet know well, simply pray for them what you see in your daily Bible reading.”

I also think this suggestion I saw from Practical Shepherding Women is a great practical way of getting your family involved too. “Every night at dinner, we pray for one of our church members (and family, if applicable). A few years ago, we went through the church membership roll and wrote down each name/family on a [lollipop] stick… placed them in a mug that we keep in our dining room, and every night we let one of our kids choose a stick. We pray three things (in addition to specific requests we know they might have): that they would treasure Jesus the most, follow Him faithfully, and know that God loves them… [then] snap a pic of the lollipop stick and text it to the person we’re pray for.”

(Photo: Julia Joppien)

018: CONCERNED FOR THE FATE OF OTHERS

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014: Concerned for the fate of others

“I am for certain informed that this our city will be burned with fire from Heaven; in which fearful overthrow, both myself, with thee, my wife, and you, my sweet babes, shall miserably come to ruin, except (the which yet I see not) some way of escape can be found, whereby we may be delivered.”  (John Bunyan)

The first thing the man with the burden and under conviction of sin does in Pilgrim’s Progress, is go to his house and speaks to his wife and children, just like Andrew who after meeting Jesus went and brought Peter to Him (John 1:40-42).

He is greatly concerned, not only for his own fate, but the fate of his family.

So he warns them of the danger they are in.  He shares with them what he knows.  Words are necessary.

The city, representing this world which we live in, is the city of destruction.  God’s judgment is coming upon it and they will be consumed if no way to escape is found.

We won’t speak to other people and warn them of the danger they are in, unless we believe they are in danger because of their sin, and unless we are concerned for them because they are.

(Photo: Julia Joppien)

017: CHURCHES COLLECTIVELY GIVING THANKS

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017: Churches Collectively Giving Thanks

Spurgeon writes in the February 1865 edition of The Sword and the Trowel that “it is the duty of a Church collectively, to declare what God hath done for ‘their souls’.”  So “what God is doing for good in one Church ought therefore to be made known to other Churches, that thanks may be given by many on its behalf and others may be provoked to love and good works.”  One way he sought to do this was by sharing information about the Metropolitan Tabernacle, the church he pastored.

The FIEC have sought to facilitate this through their Get to know… videos as a way of helping churches know what God is doing in other churches in the fellowship.  At Banstead Community Church we have shown each video that has been produced in our Sunday morning service and spent time praying for the churches featured.

The current COVID crisis has also provided a new opportunity to do this in ZOOM prayer meetings.  It has been great to have previous trainee pastors now in different parts of the country join our prayer meeting and share about what God has done in their churches.  We’ve been able to have joint prayer meetings with other churches.  I’ve also been invited to attend the prayer meeting of another local church and make known how God has blessed the church I paster and hear them give thanks to God.

Is there a leader of a local church you could invite to your church prayer meeting “to declare what God hath done for their souls… that thanks may be given by many”?

(Photo: Julia Joppien)

016: THREE PIECES OF GLASS

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016: Three Pieces of Glass

On the Mortification of Spin podcast there was an interview with Eric Jacobsen about his book Three Pieces of Glass, a book that seeks to address the loneliness crisis and the importance of belonging – the right kind of belonging.

What stood out in the interview was the explanation of the book’s title Three Pieces of Glass.  What are these three pieces of glass and how have they each contributed to loneliness?

The three pieces are 1) the car windscreen, 2) the TV, and 3) the smartphone.

The impact of each is that though making life easier they stop human interaction.

The car has meant that people no longer walk to places or take public transport.  It actually goes further than this, changing the configuration of living space (houses have garages and driveways), as well as the distance we live from places we work and shop.

The TV has meant that we get to know people (TV friends) who make no demands on us and with whom communication is only one way (from them to us).

The smartphone has meant that those places where the possibility of engaging with others remained like queues in shop, school pick ups, are now occupied by scrolling through social media feeds.  The result is that our human interactions have shifted from face to face to virtual, from in-front of you to anywhere in the world.

Listening to the interview a two thoughts came to mind:

First, I think there is a real benefit to local churches having members who actually live in the community the churches is based.  Obviously this isn’t always possible, but it does help if possible a local church is a local church.

Second, I need to remember the disadvantages of these screens are still there even though in this COVID season, they have been shown to have benefits.  Prayer meetings on Zoom have worked well and have made them accessible to more of the members and congregation.  Services live-streamed on YouTube has worked well as a good alternative when live in-person not possible.  WhatsApp can be used to send out daily encouragements to a large number in the church.

(Photo: Julia Joppien)

015: WHAT THE MAN OF GOD DOES

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015: What the man of God does

“But you, man of God, flee from these things, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance, and gentleness. Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of eternal life to which you were called and about which you have made a good confession in the presence of many witnesses.” (1 Timothy 6:11-12)

John MacArthur makes 4 really important observations about what the ‘man of God’ (in the context of the letter of Timothy, the man of God is the one who proclaims the Word of God, the pastor/elder rather than an ordinary church member, although they are to do these things as well).

First, the man of God flees.  He flees from pointless arguments and disputes (1 Timothy 1:4).  He flees from silly myths (1 Timothy 4:7).  He flees from the love of money (1 Timothy 3:3; 6:10).

Second, the man of God follows.  He follows after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance, and gentleness (1 Timothy 6:11).

Third, the man of God fights.  He fights for the faith (1 Timothy 6:12).  He fights for godliness (1 Timothy 4:12).  He fights against distractions.

Fourth, the man of God remains faithful.  He is faithful to the good confession (1 Timothy 6:12).  He is faithful to the commandments of God (2 Timothy 3:16-17).

(Photo: Julia Joppien)

014: A MAN, A BOOK, A BURDEN

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014: A Man, A Book, A Burden

“I saw a man clothed with rags, standing in a certain place, with his face from his own house, a book in his hand, and a great burden upon his back.”  I looked, and saw him open the book, and read therein; and as he read, he wept and trembled; and not being able longer to contain, he brake out with a lamentable cry, saying, “What shall I do?” (John Bunyan)

Pilgrim’s Progress opens with a dream, and the first thing seen in this dream was a man.  This man is a description of what lost people when they come under the conviction of their sin are like.

He was clothed with rags (Isaiah 64:6).  They recognise that they are not good enough for God.  Nothing they have done, even the apparent good, makes them acceptable to God and cause Him to let them into heaven.

He was standing in a certain place and looking away from his house.  He was ready to turn his back on his family, neighbours, community (Luke 14:33).

He had a book in his hand.  The book is the Word of God, which had begun to challenge and disturb him (Hebrews 4:12).

He had a great burden on his back.  He feels the weight of his own sinfulness before God and the realisation that he was under the wrath of God (Romans 3:10-11). He has become aware that he has broken God’s law, is accountable to God, and liable to God’s judgment.

He was weeping and shaking.  Deeply concerned for his plight (Hebrews 9:27). Conviction of sin is never a light thing.

He broke down saying, “What shall I do?”  These are the words of a trembling sinner who has come to realise their need for salvation, but has not discovered where this might be found.  He needs someone to tell him how (Acts 16:30-31).

Lost people need God’s Spirit to reveal, as they read the Bible and hear it preached, not only the truth of what they are really like, but also how it is they can be saved.

(Photo: Julia Joppien)

013: MAKING CHANGES IN CHURCH

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013: Making Changes in Church

I can’t remember where I got these two points from (I think they are from a podcast I was listening to), but I’ve found them helpful when thinking about how to get support for any proposed change in church life and ministry, where that be from elders or church members.

The first point is give people time to absorb. They need the opportunity to understand, reflect on, think about, question, give input to what is being suggested. Giving people time to absorb rather than requiring instant support for the proposed change as it, allows time for them to help shape the proposal (making it better), and to own it themselves and be fully behind it.

The second point is give people time to change. Opposition to a change is not always permanent. Not rushing to action what is being proposed can give time to build unity, which is better in the long run. After giving people time to change, if there still isn’t complete unity behind what is being proposed, at that point it is useful to grade the issue to decide how much unity is required to proceed (a simple majority, overwhelming support, unanimous).

Whatever the issue, “try to ensure that the discussion is around what is best for the gospel.”

(Photo: Julia Joppien)

012: THE SWORD AND THE TROWEL

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012: The Sword and the Trowel

In the first edition of The Sword and the Trowel in January 1865, Spurgeon said that it would contain a monthly message to supplement the weekly sermons he preached, and would enable him to say things “which would be out of place in a discourse.”

There are plenty of things that need to be taught which would be out of place in a discourse of the Sunday sermon. How and when will this happen?

In addition, Spurgeon wanted to provide churches and gospel workers with resources, and so in addition, planned to issue one-page tracts suitable for general distribution, outlines of sermons, and Sabbath-school addresses.

I love the generosity of Spurgeon in sharing the resources he produced with other churches and workers. This is an example to follow and one I am trying to with this blog.

(Photo: Julia Joppien)

011: MEMBER CARE DOCUMENTS

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011: Member Care Documents

In implementing a pastoral communication strategy, I have found it helpful to create several documents to help me try and do pastoral care well.

The first document is the ‘How’ document. In this document, by the name of every member I tick off all the different ways they can be communicated with. Can they be contacted face-to-face? (hopefully yes); phone?; Zoom?; Text?; WhatsApp?; Email?; Handwritten letters?

Download ‘How’ document template.

The second document is the ‘When’ document.  In this document, by the name of every member I note the date (when did I contact the member of the church?), the means that I used (was it face-to-face, or by Zoom, or text etc?), and why I contacted them (was it to catch up, to respond to an emergency, regular ask for prayer requests, to tell them I’ve been praying for them?).

Download ‘When’ document template.

The final document is the ‘What’ document [A Field Notes, LEUCHTTURM1917 or Moleskine notebook would work well as a non electronic alternative for this document]. If I have met with, spoken to, or received prayer requests from a member, I try to write down a summary of the communication, especially information learned about them, taking care with recording confidential info.  This document is good for referring to prior to getting in contact with a member again and also for praying specifically for them. It can be encouraging to see when prayers for members have been answered. I’ll also include a note to remind me when to contact them again.

Download ‘What’ document template.

(Photo: Julia Joppien)

010: ABLE TO TEACH

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010: Able to Teach

When Paul writes that “an overseer, therefore, must be… able to teach” (1 Timothy 3:2), what does he mean?

There are lots of different answers out there, but the most convincing one I’ve found is from Jonathan Leeman in a 9Marks Mailbag. His answer is that able to teach means that an elder is someone who rightly teaches the Bible. “An able teacher is someone who holds fast to sound doctrine and can faithfully communicate that doctrine to others.”

Able to teach doesn’t necessary mean preaching from the pulpit or teaching from the front. It does however mean being “able to open the Bible and reliably explain what it says so that people rightly understand” when being asked a question or caring for members of the church.

To prove his point, Leeman surveys the Pastoral Epistle, where we see that:

An elder must not teach different doctrines, especially those that promote empty speculation. “As I urged you when I went to Macedonia, remain in Ephesus so that you may instruct certain people not to teach false doctrine or to pay attention to myths and endless genealogies. These promote empty speculations rather than God’s plan, which operates by faith.” (1 Timothy 1:3-4)

An elder must have as the goal of their teaching love, a good conscience, and sincere faith. “Now the goal of our instruction is love that comes from a pure heart, a good conscience, and a sincere faith.” (1 Timothy 1:5)

An elder’s teaching must match his life. “Pay close attention to your life and your teaching; persevere in these things, for in doing this you will save both yourself and your hearers.” (1 Timothy 4:16)

An elder must teach doctrines that agree with the sound teaching of Christ. “If anyone teaches false doctrine and does not agree with the sound teaching of our Lord Jesus Christ and with the teaching that promotes godliness, he is conceited and understands nothing, but has an unhealthy interest in disputes and arguments over words.” (1 Timothy 6:3-4)

An elder must hold onto the pattern of sound teaching that is found in the Scriptures. “Hold on to the pattern of sound teaching that you have heard from me, in the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.” (2 Timothy 1:13)

An elder must correctly handle the word of truth. “Be diligent to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who doesn’t need to be ashamed, correctly teaching the word of truth.” (2 Timothy 2:15)

An elder will avoid empty speech which departs from the truth. “Avoid irreverent and empty speech, since those who engage in it will produce even more godlessness… They have departed from the truth, saying that the resurrection has already taken place, and are ruining the faith of some.” (2 Timothy 2:16, 18)

An elder will patiently and gentle instruct the truth to those who disagree. “The Lord’s servant must not quarrel, but must be gentle to everyone, able to teach, and patient, instructing his opponents with gentleness. (2 Timothy 2:24-25)

An elder’s teaching should lead to repentance and a knowledge of the truth. “Perhaps God will grant them repentance leading them to the knowledge of the truth.” (2 Timothy 2:25)

An elder will teach God’s Word not their wisdom. “Preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; correct, rebuke, and encourage with great patience and teaching.” (2 Timothy 4:2)

An elder will hold firmly to the word of God and instruct with sound doctrine those who contradict it. “…holding to the faithful message as taught, so that he will be able both to encourage with sound teaching and to refute those who contradict it.” (Titus 1:9)

An elder will not teach what is empty or deceptive in order to make a profit. “For there are many rebellious people, full of empty talk and deception, especially those from the circumcision party. It is necessary to silence them; they are ruining entire households by teaching what they shouldn’t in order to get money dishonestly.” (Titus 1:10-11)

An elder will be sound in the faith and doesn’t get involved in myths and false teaching. “This testimony is true. For this reason, rebuke them sharply, so that they may be sound in the faith and may not pay attention to Jewish myths and the commands of people who reject the truth.” (Titus 1:13-14)

An elder’s teaching will be sound and recognised by others as being so. “But you are to proclaim things consistent with sound teaching… Make yourself an example of good works with integrity and dignity in your teaching… Your message is to be sound beyond reproach, so that any opponent will be ashamed, because he doesn’t have anything bad to say about us.” Titus 2:1, 7, 8)

Leeman is not denying the need for a man to be competent in his communication, but his first concern, as the survey of the Pastorals show, is that the content they teach needs to be faithful and consistent with what Scripture teaches.

Able to teach = Being able to faithfully communicate sound doctrine.

Or as Sam Emadi puts it, “Able to teach” is mainly about doctrinal integrity, not rhetorical ability—but it is a little bit about rhetorical ability. After all, you have to communicate sound doctrine to teach it.”

(Photo: Julia Joppien)

009: THE CHILDREN’S TALK

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008: The Children’s Talk

For as long as I’ve been going into church (all my life), there has been during the morning service, a children’s talk, sermon, address, message (whatever you want to call it). I’ve done hundreds of them over the years (training as a youth and children’s worker has helped with this).

The children’s talk is that 5 minute (plus or minus 2 minutes) slot in the service that is dedicated to communicating to children, often prior to them going off to Sunday school. They seem to have been a feature of services for over 100 years, both in the UK and USA. Alexander Macleod in 1880 suggested that “every morning service, for one ten minutes out of the ninety, let the minister be in direct contact with the souls of the children.” J.G. Merrill two years earlier had published a collection of five minute sermons to children. Henry B. Robins writing in 1918, “The children’s sermon is an established feature in many an order of service, the children under twelve being dismissed at its conclusion, with the hymn just preceding the regular morning sermon.”

For a time I stopped including them in the morning service at Banstead Community Church (they are not an essential element of worship), but now are more convinced of their value, as I have ever been.

Why?

Firstly, it is a way of communicating to children that they are an important part of church life, they are valuable to Jesus, and that they can know and understand God’s Word.

Secondly, it is not just for the children, it is for the whole church to learn together. Maybe the children’s talk is better described as the church family talk or all-age talk. I haven’t come up for a better name for it, yet.

Thirdly, with a number in the congregation at church being elderly and no longer able to focus (or in a few cases stay awake) for the whole 30 minute sermon, the children’s talk has become their sermon.

Fourthly, it can be used to teach topics that may not fit easily into the teaching programme of the church.

Finally, if they are decent, the adults generally will enjoy them and engage with them.

So, I think there are good reasons to include a clear and concise 5 minute slot, aimed at the children but for all the church, in the morning service. But what to do in them?

When writing a kids talk, I have two words in mind: Grab and Hit. I am to grab the children’s attention by asking for answers to questions or giving them something to look at; usually it is both. After this I look to hit them with the truth found in God’s Word, before closing with a short prayer.

Here are some ideas of subjects for kids talks that I’ve done over the years with outlines (more than 300 kids talks) that can easily be adapted to individual contexts.

  1. Overview of the Bible Story – I’ve done a series called The Big Bible Adventure (for a school assembly) which tells the story of the Bible in 104 talks.
  2. Summaries of each book of the Bible – I’ve done a series that does this called The Big Read which has 51 talks.
  3. Doctrinal Series – I’ve got two of these on the go Big Words that End in Shun! (11 talks) and Big Questions (22 talks) which is based on the New City Catechism.
  4. Discipleship Series – on the Apostle’s Creed, 10 Commandments, and Lord’s Prayer. So far I’ve done the Lord’s Prayer in 13 talks.
  5. Heroes of the Faith – biographical talks on famous figures from church history. My Superheroes of the Faith series has 16 talks in it at present.
  6. Hymn of the Month – using the children’s talk to explain the words of a well-known hymn. I’ve done 3 talks on Hymns so far.
  7. Special Occasions (Advent, Christmas, Easter, Harvest etc).
  8. Other ideas would be talks that either introduce what the children will be learning in Sunday school or which preview the passage that will be preached on.

(Photo: Julia Joppien)