Do you want your church staff, both paid and volunteer, to serve effectively? If so, encourage them to do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus. In His name comes the authority and power to make a difference.
And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. (Col. 3:17)
What Needs to be Brought Under the Banner of His Name
Notice how Colossians 3:17 takes “whatever you do” beyond actions to also include communication. Giving thanks accompanies what we do and say in Jesus’ name, thus referencing heart attitudes as well. Everything needs to come under the banner of His name to effectively serve.
When serving is all about aligning with the Lord Jesus from the inside out, we can’t help but give thanks. We can say and do the right things but for the wrong reasons or with a bad attitude. We won’t be prone to give thanks when doing something begrudgingly. Complaining and giving thanks don’t go hand in hand.
What Happens When Everything is Done in His Name
It’s reasonable to expect church staff, both paid and volunteer, to serve in accordance with the basics of life in Christ. That will happen when they do whatever they do in the name of the Lord Jesus. (Click on links for more about these staff expectations.)
1) prioritizing and aligning with what Jesus deems as most important
2) treating people as He would by adhering to Body Life principles
3) assuming and pursuing His mission
4) demonstrating Christ-like character and integrity
5) relying on His power and wisdom
Serving in accordance with the basics of life in Christ puts the focus on Him rather than ourselves. He gets the praise for effective ministry, and so we find ourselves “giving thanks to God the Father through him” as we “do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus”.
Encourage Staff to Engage in That Which Propels Them to Do It All in the Name of the Lord Jesus
Getting staff to do everything in Jesus’ name will take more than a pep talk. It will require more than pointing to Jesus’ example for them to follow. They need God’s help. We must therefore encourage staff to do that which will motivate and empower them to do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus. Here’s what we need to encourage them to do: (Click on links for more about each of these means.)
- Walk by the Spirit to bear fruit that reflects His character and ways.
- Pray without ceasing in reliance on His wisdom and power rather than on human strength and understanding.
- Be strong in the Lord to stand firm when the enemy throws temptations, doubts, and obstacles.
- Regularly feast on God’s Word to have discernment of what truly is of Him.
For More on These Topics:
All Posts about Staffing:
- Church Staff Expectations
- Communicating Expectations to Church Staff
- Church Staff: Expect Alignment with Church Purpose
- Church Staff: Expect Adherence to Body Life Principles
- Church Staff: Expect Pursuit of God’s Mission
- Church Staff: Expect Christ-like Character & Integrity
- Church Staff: Expect Reliance on God’s Power
- Church Staff: Expect a Partnership Mentality
- Encourage Church Staff to Grow in Grace
- Encourage Church Staff to Walk by the Spirit
- Encourage Church Staff to Use Their Spiritual Gifts
- Spiritual Gifts Best Suited for Staffing Ministry
- Encourage Church Staff to Pray Without Ceasing
- Encourage Church Staff to Regularly Feast on God’s Word
- Lead Staff by Shepherding
- Encourage Church Staff to Be Strong in the Lord
- Encourage Staff to Do Everything in His Name
- Encourage Staff to Set Their Hearts & Minds on Things Above