Guidelines for Church Meetings
(Body Ministry).
The Bible says, “Forsake not the gathering of yourselves together as the manner of some is, but exhorting one another and so much more as we see the day approaching” (Hebrews 10 v 25).
So we need to gather together and exhort one another, especially as the coming of the Lord draws near. But what type of church meeting is it talking about? What does the bible have to say about the church coming together for mutual encouragement?
Church meetings are structured differently depending on the purpose of the meeting. Gospel meetings will have one style, while meetings with a visiting speaker will have a different format.
The Church meeting for ministry by the body, which is termed ’Body Ministry’ or ‘Bible Pattern ministry’, is a scriptural meeting with specific guidelines in scripture.
In 1 Corinthians chapters 11 to 14, Paul, inspired by the Holy Spirit, explains how a church should function by comparing it with a body and its different members (eyes, ears, hands and feet etc). This gives us the term ’body ministry’.
Ephesians 4 v 16 says, “From Him (Christ) the whole body (the Church) joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.”
The Apostle Paul says, “Whenever you come together, each one has a song or a psalm, has something he wishes to teach, has a divine revelation, has a tongue, has an interpretation. Let all things be done with a view to building up (the assembly)”. 1Cor. 14 v26.
We are here talking about the church in Corinth coming together for fellowship. Now we seem to have a problem, this type of meeting is sadly lacking in most churches. Many churches have worship leaders and allocated speakers but do not have meetings in order to express the ministry of the body. They do not function in the way that Paul says the early church did. We need to allow the body to function as it is meant to when we come together for fellowship.
But surely we all know what will happen, someone will see this as an opportunity to be in charge and will take over the whole meeting not allowing the Spirit to minister through the other members. The problem is increased if what they have to say is carnal, opinionated, and irrelevant. Others will bring up questions that are not appropriate and bring contention. So what can we do?
Well we need guidelines which we must rigidly stick to, these must be scriptural.
Paul told the Corinthians that if their wives had questions, to ask their husbands when they got home. This same advice can be given to many people, wait till the meeting is finished before asking questions that are not relevant to the meeting.
Let us look at Paul’s admonition to Timothy and Titus.
1st All teaching must be according to the Apostles doctrine. (1 Tim ch 1 v 3)
2nd Steer clear of fables and endless genealogies which cause questions rather than godly edifying. (1 Tim ch1 v 4)
3rd Avoid questions and words that cause contentions. (1Tim ch 6 v 4)
4th Avoid empty words that do not honour God and avoid striving about what false science teaches. (1 Tim ch6 v 20).
5th Charge everyone in the presence of the Lord not to be continually striving about words to no profit as it will destroy the faith of those who hear. (2Tim ch2 v 14).
6th Give a wide birth to unhallowed and empty discussions as they will cause ungodliness. (2Tim ch2 v 16)
7th Foolish and unlearned questions avoid because they will gender controversy. (2 Tim ch2 v 23).
8th Be gentle and meek towards all. (2 Tim ch2 v 24-25).
9th Paul tells Titus to teach sound doctrine (a lot of doctrine isn’t sound so beware). (Titus ch2 v 1).
10th Avoid foolish questions, and genealogies, and strivings about the law. (Titus ch3 v 9).
Most of these are saying the same thing but sometimes they need repeating before anyone takes any notice.
Of course everyone has their own opinion about subjects that the Bible isn’t black and white about. This is okay but it is carnal to form cliques of people who hold strongly to schools of opinion which cause strives. (Gal 5 v 20).
The term, worship leaders or worship teams in body ministry is ambiguous to say the least.
Musicians, song leaders, chorus leaders, praise leaders, do have their place in organised meetings such as gospel services or where special speakers are invited. If they are very spiritual minded the Holy Spirit can use their ministry to lift a meeting.
However when we have body ministry the worship team has a different role to play. In body ministry the people with a ministry in worship must not control the worship but rather encourage the body to be led by the Spirit in worship. Unfortunately some keep a tight hold of the meeting resisting any spontaneous worship. In body ministry this can block the flow of the Spirit. Those who believe they are the worship leaders need to recognise they are servants of the body and need to be very sensitive to the Spirit in spontaneous worship. In body ministry those with a ministry in this area would be better sitting amongst the congregation in order to support others who start a song off, or to lead into worship themselves as part of the congregation when the Spirit lays a song on their hearts. All the congregation should come with a worship song or hymn but especially those who feel it is their ministry. Worship leaders should be listening to the Spirit and to what the Spirit is ministering through others. Please listen.
In a meeting there must be time to allow the gifts to operate but even these should be done decently and in order, without causing confusion. (1Cor ch14). In other words one at a time and should be edifying.
If anyone needs to request prayer in the meeting either write it down and pass it to the leaders or mention it without taking up most of the meeting talking about the problem.
Comments to mark@christian-truth-ministry.com