Unleashing the Power of DeaconLed Ministry Teams

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Unleashing the Power of Deacon-Led Ministry Teams
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The Dilemma of the Modern Church

• Many ministries do not address our modern society
• Offering Rituals that Never Produce Ministry
• Requiring Service from Individuals Not Gifted for
  the Assignment
• Leaders feel overworked and burned out

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What Dilemmas Do You Face In Your Deacon Work?
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Whats Wrong With Individual Effort?

• No backup
• Mentoring and Training is difficult
• Burnout
• Limited options for solutions

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What is a Ministry Team?

• A ministry team is a group of Christians joined
  in a cooperative effort to minister to a specific
  need in the church or community.

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Characteristics of a Ministry Team

• Focused on meeting a need
• Last only as long as the need exists
• Open to involving any volunteers

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Comparison of Ministry Teams and Committees

• Teams focus on needs Committees focus on
  control
• Teams focus on people Committees focus on
  institutions
• Teams invite others to help Committees are
  closed efforts
• Teams exist as long as needed Committees are
  perpetual

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Why Are Teams Better?

• Teams model Jesus ministry better
• Teams multiply the ministry
• Teams improve accountability
• Teams increase support and encouragement

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Advantages of Deacon Ministry Teams

• Individual Choice of Assignments
• Cooperation with other Deacons
• Invitation for the Congregation to Participate

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Which One?
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A Typical Church

• God
• Pastor
• Staff
• Deacons
• Teacher
• Committee Member
• Church Member
• Saved
• Lost

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Emphases in the Typical Church

• Position
• Spirituality
• Authority
• Privilege
• Restricted Divine Revelation
• Uniform Ministry from Each Position

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A New Testament Church

• God
• Congregation
• Ministers Deacons Teachers Committees

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Emphases in the New Testament Church

• Function
• Service
• Diversity of Gifts
• Usefulness
• Expanded Ministry
• Every Member Becoming a Minister

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II. Why Are Deacons So Important?

• Deacons As Servants
• Acts 6
• Deacons As Models
• Acts 244-47
• Acts 432-35
• Deacons As Leaders
• Administrators of Ministry!
• Deacons As Partners

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Deacon ministries converge from...
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Identifying Our Deacon Purpose

• Study other deacons
• Study the New Testament
• Discuss
• Ask the Congregation

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Identifying Needs

• Intellectual
• Physical
• Social
• Spiritual

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The Key to Proper Assignments of Service

• TO KNOW WHERE WE ARE GIFTED IS TO KNOW WHERE WE
  ARE TO SERVE!

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The Holy Spirit Gives to All Believers Spiritual
Gifts that Equip Them for Ministry

• 1 Peter 410

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1 Cor. 124-7 Characteristics of Spiritual Gifts

• V. 4 gifts grace gifts
• V. 5 ministries service or ministry
• V. 6 - activities energy or empowering
• V. 7 manifestation revealing or
  manifestation

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Difference Between A Talent, Skill, or Spiritual
Gift

• A Talent is a born ability
• A Skill is a learned ability
• A Spiritual Gift is a Supernatural Ability

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Reasons the Spiritual Gifts are Given

• To Build up the Body of Christ
• To Minister to One Another
• To Glorify God

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Deacon ministries converge from...
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We Need Passion and Calling
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DeterminingGods Call My Ministry
Gordon Cosby offers these indicators...

• 1. You have a feeling of Eureka--Ive
  found it!
• 2. You see visions and dream dreams.
• You cant stop talking about it

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The Difference Between Passion and Calling
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Definition of the Church
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Mobilizing Deacons

• Volunteer for ministry that centers on calling or
  passion
• Team with others in ministry effort (Lu. 101)

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Team Responsibilities

• Develop a Job Description
• Create a Procedure for Coordination
• Discuss Needs for the Ministry
• Identify Budgetary Needs
• Enlist and Train

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Mobilizing the Membership

• Communicate a plan
• Identify Their Value to the Work
• Invite Volunteers to Join
• Train and Coordinate
• Celebrate

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Transition to Team Ministry

• Identify current functions performed
• Example
• Hospital visitation
• Ordinances
• Grief ministry
• Shut-in visitation
• Allow each deacon to volunteer to lead only one
  function
• Develop Teams of deacons volunteered
• Enlist and train membership to assist
• Add new functions as needed

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Important Factors to Remember

• Offer Gods best, not just your best
• Keep a manual and share this with all new deacons
• Include the membership in the ministry
• Be accountable (Matt. 2531-46)
• Accept ministry as an unending process

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Practical Suggestions to Increase Team Ministry

• Focus on serving people
• Encourage servants to enlist others to help
• Share the need in public meetings
• Encourage members to ask for help
• Emphasize on-the-job training

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Benefits of Deacon Led Ministry Teams

• Personal Choice of Assignments
• Flexibility of Ministry Offered
• Expanded Workforce
• Positive Influence in the Church
• Other Deacon Styles May Be Included
• People Needs Are Better Answered
• Practical Witness in the Community

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Together, We Can!
Instinctively, the Great Northern Geese travel
thousands of miles in perfect formation-- and
therein lies the secret. Formation flying is
70 percent more efficient than
flying alone. Dan Zadra
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Make a Difference!