List of All Pastoral Work

Questions for those seeking a pastoral job in a church…

HOUSING

Who pays the rent?

Is there some place that I must / or must not live?
Am I expected to share a home with others, or does my family have our own living space?
If we share a home, how do we share living costs? Food? Utilities? Who does the cleaning? Cooking? Are there are boundaries? Quiet times? Rooms where kids and their toys should not be?
Am I expected to open my home for ministry? How often? Limits on size? Noise? Relations with neighbors.

“Dead Disciples” Acts 5.1-14

“The Acts of the Exalted Jesus done in the Power of the Holy Spirit through His Apostolic Church”

The book of Acts...is a kind of vast treasure.  John Calvin

It is the most lyrical of books…Live in that book, I exhort you: it is a tonic, the greatest tonic I know of in the realm of the Spirit.  David Martyn Lloyd-Jones

There is nothing today’s church needs so much as to rediscover the doctrine, spirit, and commitments of the early Christian community.  James Boice

It’s not the sixteenth century gospel I’m interested in defending; what concerns me is the first-century gospel…The reason for the outpouring of the Spirit is not to make us feel spiritual. It is not to give us a spiritual high. It is so we can do the job that Jesus gave the church to do.  R.C. Sproul

Judgment in Matthew 7

Questions for Preachers

1. Regarding our Message

a. My normal method for determining what topic/text to preach on Sundays is

b. My favorite themes for preaching are

c. The Bible book(s) I have preached most often are

d. The part of the Bible I have preached the least is

e. The issue(s) that determines my choice for topic/text is

Solid Ground for a Sure Faith

Peter to Jesus, "Lord to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life"                          John 6.68

Sufficiency of Scripture

True - No Falsehood in God or His Word

Jesus said, "Your word is truth."                                                             John 17.17

Pastor Mark Blair - BICF ZGC English

That might not be the most comfortable, or politically-correct, question you will hear while living under the burden of this Corona virus. But it might be one you need to consider. If not for your own soul, perhaps for the dear ones in the room next door, down the hall, and all across the great nation.

BAPTISM

A Statement from the Elders of BICF ZGC

An International Church Perspective

March 2012

Uniqueness of an International Church

An international church is different from the situation in our home countries. In our home countries, individuals may join together with others who share similar viewpoints on most matters of faith and practice. In an international church, we function as a community for all genuine Christians to gather for worship, fellowship, teaching, service and ministry, to grow in our knowledge of and likeness to Christ, and to go out to serve. We focus on the most essential issues of faith and practice, allowing latitude in less essential areas. We need a vigorous faith, adopting rigorous standards of study and interpretation, and yet allowing flexible practice in non-essential matters.

Pastor Mark Blair - BICF ZGC - April 2018

Call to Ministry is linked first of all, and most importantly, to our call to Christ.

Our "Identity" is as Son/Daughter before Servant, Philippians 3.8

Our walk with Him should be strong, apart from our "job" or "ministry"

Call to ministry is linked with the call to salvation, all believers are gifted to serve. 

Some believers are equipped with preaching and pastoral gifts and should seriously consider whether they should make church ministry their "career."

Pastor Mark Blair

BICF ZGC JTC

January 2019

Roman Catholic

Sacerdotalism

Sacerdotalism - Roman Catholics believe sacraments have the power to actually convey the blessings they signify. So, the sacrament itself has the power to confer the grace which it signifies. Process is something automatic - 'ex opere operato' - from the very act of participating in the sacrament.