Answers for Pastors

Who should lead the church musically?

9Marks
Leading the church through singing and playing music is a kind of diaconal service, whether or not the people in the position have been formally affirmed as deacons. It’s diaconal in that musicians employ their common grace skills in order to serve the church for larger spiritual ends. Such a ministry is analogous, one could say, to the situation in Acts 6, in which several men were chosen to “wait on tables” in order to serve the larger purpose of unity in the church (see Acts 6:1-6).

How important is the style of music a church sings?

9Marks

The style of music a church sings is relatively unimportant.

What opportunities is a pastor missing by not praying a pastoral prayer of intercession every Sunday?

9Marks

When a pastor does not lead a prayer of intercession, he misses the opportunity…

Which is better in church gatherings: pre-written or spontaneous prayers?

9Marks

Some people prefer pre-written prayers, because it gives them the opportunity to carefully think through how they want to lead the congregation. Other people worry that pre-written prayers will “quench” whatever the Spirit might do in the moment. Here are several thoughts on the prayers for which you have the opportunity to plan:

What are some guidelines for leading a church in prayer?

9Marks
Use “we,” not “I.” You’re praying on behalf of everyone in the room, not just yourself.

Who should lead the church in prayer?

9Marks
Pastors and elders. Pastors and elders should lead the church in prayer because they are responsible for teaching the Word and shepherding the flock (1 Tim. 3:2; 1 Pet. 5:2). Remember, when you’re praying, you are teaching those around you! Therefore, much of the church’s corporate prayer should be led by those whom the church has recognized as its spiritual leaders.

Why should a church devote extended time to corporate prayer?

9Marks

A church should devote extended time to corporate prayer:

Why should a worship service contain these different kinds of prayers (praise, thanksgiving, confession, intercession)?

9Marks
A Christian worship service should contain different kinds of prayers so that the church would worship God rightly. God is inherently worthy of our praise, so we should praise him in prayer (Ps. 135:3). God is the giver of every good and perfect gift (Jas. 1:17), so we should thank him. God is the holy Lord of the universe, so we should confess our sins to him (Dan. 9; Neh. 9). God is a wise, all-powerful, and loving Father, so we should make requests of him and intercede with him on behalf of others (Matt. 7:7-11; Phil. 4:6).

Should elders be ordained?

9Marks

The answer depends on what’s meant by “ordain.”

Should elders have terms or serve for life?

9Marks

The Bible is silent on this issue, which means that wisdom and a prudent application of broader biblical principles must guide our decision.

How should elders be selected?

9Marks

Nowhere does the Bible give precise instructions concerning how churches should select elders. Yet there are biblical principles and patterns that should inform how churches go about this process:

How many elders should each congregation have?

9Marks
Nowhere does the Bible identify a specific number of elders that should lead each local congregation. Therefore, churches are left to godly wisdom and prudence to help determine how many men God has called to lead them.

What are the advantages of having a plurality of elders?

9Marks
Biblical accountability. Godly fellow elders are a great means for holding the pastor accountable to live, teach, and lead faithfully. In addition, sharing authority among a number of men can keep one man from wrongly lording it over the congregation Wisdom. There is more wisdom to be found in a multitude of counselors (Prov. 11:14; 24:6).

What are the different kinds of prayer a church’s gathering should include?

9Marks

In the Bible, we find prayers of praise to God, prayers of confession, prayers of thanksgiving, and prayers that lift up specific requests to God (Ps. 111; Ps. 51; 1 Cor. 11:24; Phil. 4:6). There’s no verse which says that a church gathering must contain four distinct times of prayer, each of which covers one of these four different postures. But we believe it’s prudent to do so for the sake of being deliberate about each, and for the sake of teaching the congregation how to do the same:

Can women be pastors or elders?

9Marks

In order to answer this hotly contested question we need to make sure a few biblical pieces are in place.

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