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Church Staff: Expect a Partnership Mentality

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The Gospel “is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes” (Rom. 1:16). Without the Gospel — Jesus dying for our sin and being raised from the dead (1 Cor. 15:2-5) — there would be no Church. We have all been “brought near by the blood of Christ” and He reconciled us together “through the cross” (Eph. 2:13-16).

Expect a Partnership Mentality in Church Staff Conducting Themselves Worthy of the Gospel

Because of the Gospel, we have a partnership with fellow believers that forms the essence of who we are as a Church. Consequently, all church staff, paid or volunteer, should be expected to conduct themselves “in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ” (Phil. 1:27) which means having a partnership mentality.

What Happens When Leaders View Church Staff as Partners in the Gospel

The Apostle Paul could have looked at himself as superior to the church body because he was a leader but instead, he saw them as partners.

I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. (Phil. 1:3-6)

When leaders view church staff, paid or volunteer, no matter their position, as partners, they tend to provide a higher level of support to the staff.

  • They extend appreciation. – “I thank my God every time I remember you”
  • They pray for their staff. – “I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now”
  • They encourage their staff. – “being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus”

What Happens When Church Staff Acquire a Partnership Mentality

As partners in the Gospel, church leaders have the right to place on their staff, paid or volunteer, the same expectation we find Paul putting on the Philippian church believers whom he viewed as partners.

Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm in the one Spirit, striving together as one for the faith of the gospel without being frightened in any way by those who oppose you. (Phil. 1:27-28)

When church staff acquire a partnership mentality, it makes a difference in their ministry.

  • With the support of fellow staff, they’re better able to persist and persevere because they aren’t alone. – “you stand firm in the one Spirit”
  • Knowing others are standing with them, they can serve with greater confidence and boldness. – “striving together as one for the faith of the gospel without being frightened in any way by those who oppose you”

Importance of Expecting a Partnership Mentality Due to the Gospel

Paul wrote the book of Philippians to the whole church, not just those who worked side by side with him. We should view all fellow believers as partners in the Gospel because we have all been saved by it and should all conduct ourselves worthy of the Gospel.

Yet, not all believers live like they’re in such a partnership. Many in our churches sit on the sidelines. They don’t do their part, sometimes even doing that which fights against the unity Jesus’ death and resurrection makes possible.

God calls on leaders to lead by example (1 Pet. 5:2-3). That means treating church staff, paid and volunteer, as partners in the Gospel, and teaching and encouraging them to acquire a partnership mentality as well. In turn, you will have many who will be qualified to teach others in the Body that the power of the Gospel extends beyond our initial salvation to living in a manner worthy of the Gospel, as partners one with the other.

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