On Monday evening, the Board made its selection of members for the Search Committee. This is in accordance with the Constitution and By-Laws of Community Bible Church.

In September, this congregation was asked to answer a survey and almost 150 participated. The last page included your recommendations for Search Committee personnel. This became our primary list of potential members.

A meeting was then called from that list of names contingent on their desire to  serve in this capacity. What an impressive group of people! The congregation chose well.

Our desire was to pick those who were God centered, biblically based and passionate about their service for our Lord. In addition, we were looking for a fair representation of younger generation as well as older generation believers. We were also looking for an equal composition of women and men.   If possible we wanted the different ministries of the church to be represented and we believe that was achieved. We also wanted people who were email and internet saavy.

Five were chosen (six in total including Paul Fong).

Paul contacted them extending a formal invitation to accept the offer. All 5 did!

So here they are…drumroll please.

Paul Fong – Chairman

Sharon Fait

Jackie Henkel

Holly Dacanay

John Brink

Mark Owens

After our service on January 29, the members of this body will be asked to approve this slate. This is in accordance with the Constitution and By-Laws of Community Bible Church.

I am expecting that working closely with this group to call the next Lead Pastor will be one of the highlights of my tenure.

Doug

What You Reeeally Want in a Pastor

By Jonathan Leeman

There are a lot of things a church should look for in its next pastor. But as your church considers different pastoral candidates, I want to make sure this is toward the top of your list: a supernatural faith in the power of God’s Word.

AS IMPORTANT ANY OTHER QUALITY

I’m not talking about a man who simply checks the belief box on the “authority” or “sufficiency” or “power” of the Bible.

I’m talking about a man who whose conviction here runs so deep that it profoundly influences the way he works and lives. He plans his weekly schedule based on this conviction. He rests his daily mood upon this conviction. He even picks his clothes in the morning knowing that, it’s not how good he looks that will bring life to the dead, it’s the resurrection power of God’s Word and Spirit.

This is as important as any other quality a pastor could have. It’s as important as swimming is to a lifeguard, throwing is to a quarterback, or adding is to an accountant. It defines the very task of what a pastor does.

THE POWER OF THE WORD

Humans create with hands, shovels, and bulldozers. Not God. God creates with words. He says, “Be,” and it is. He says “Peace” to the riotous wind and waves, and they obey. He says “Come forth” to dead people and their eyes pop open.

Just as astonishing, God tells the light to shine in dark hearts, giving them the ability to see the glory of his Son (2 Cor. 4:6). His Word of power saves (Rom. 10:17). It fundamentally changes people (1 Thess. 1:5-7). It gives the new birth (1 Peter 1:23).

Now get this: God gives his faithful servants the ability to do the same things. “If anyone speaks, she should do it as one speaking the very words of God.” (1 Peter 4:11). This is why Don Carson calls preaching “re-revelation.” A preacher’s primary task is to say again what God has already said. Did you think life comes to the dead through the power of our intelligence or humor or charisma?

Picture Ezekiel standing in a valley of dry bones. He preaches God’s Word, God’s Spirit blows, and the bones come to life. Your church wants a pastor who believes—deep in his bones!—that the same supernatural power is available to him. POW! He doesn’t rely on “the weapons of the world” but on “divine power to demolish strongholds” (2 Cor. 10:4). KAZAMM!

WHY THIS IS CRITICAL

Why is this critical for who your church should look for in a pastor search?

1. It will keep him from manipulating. Paul said he “renounced secret and shameful ways” but instead “set forth the truth plainly” (2 Cor. 4:2). If a man believes that the Word alone is powerful to save, that’s what he’ll do—preach plainly and not try to emotionally manipulate.

2. It will keep him from building your church and your spiritual life on his personality. Paul wasn’t a “trained speaker” with an impressive resume, like the “super-apostles.” He just preached Jesus, the Spirit, and the gospel (2 Cor. 11:4-5). Likewise, you want a man who is a good steward of his gifts, doesn’t rely on or trust his gifts to give life. He plants and waters, but relies on God to give the growth (1 Cor. 3:6-7). Men who build on their personalities have churches filled with nominal Christians.

3. It will keep him happy. A man who trusts God to save by his Word and Spirit is a man who can sleep at night, because it doesn’t finally depend on him. This is a happy man who probably has a happy wife and children because he spends time with them. He doesn’t carry the weight of the world on his shoulders. This is a man who won’t burn out as easily and will serve your church for years.

4. It’s the primary means to your growth and your church’s growth. It’s through the words of the apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers that God’s people become prepared for works of service “so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ” (Eph. 4:11-13).

5. It’s your best hope of reaching non-Christian neighbors. “Faith comes from hearing the message,” says Paul (Rom. 10:17). Can the message be proclaimed through special programs and events? Of course. But you want a man who recognizes that it’s the regular, weekly “in season, out of season” work of “great patience and careful instruction” that saves the lost and builds up the saints—you want a man who “does the work of an evangelist” (2 Tim. 4:2-5).

HOW CAN YOU TELL?

How do you know if a pastoral candidate has these convictions?

1. Consider what he’s excited about. Does he make good but secondary things primary?

2. Ask him about his philosophy of preaching.

3. Ask him what his last ten sermons were.

4. Ask what he could imagine preaching in the first year at your church.

5. Ask about his personal evangelism and personal discipleship of Christians. What role does the Word play?

6. Look for evidences of patience. A man who believes in the power of God’s Word will be a patient man, not someone who insists on quick, visible results.

The congregational survey showed that by far the #1 desired and wanted quality of the Lead Pastor should be that of a “strong, gifted preacher and teacher of the Word”. This received the first choice of 101 out of 144 possible votes. If we really believe that one of the corners of the church is teaching then let’s follow the guidelines for a teacher which requires a real clear understanding of what God’s Word says.

Ecclesiastes 12:9-14 is one of the central (but oftentimes overlooked) passages. Let’s look at it now.

[9] Besides being wise, the Preacher also taught the people knowledge, weighing and studying and arranging many proverbs with great care.

[10] The Preacher sought to find words of delight, and uprightly he wrote words of truth.

[11] The words of the wise are like goads, and like nails firmly fixed are the collected sayings; they are given by one Shepherd.

[12] My son, beware of anything beyond these. Of making many books there is no end, and much study is a weariness of the flesh.

[13] The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man.

[14] For God will bring every deed into judgment, with every secret thing, whether good or evil.

(Ecclesiastes 12:9-14 ESV)

The Purpose of Teaching/Preaching (v 9a):

In verse 9 we read about the purpose of teaching. It reads “Besides being wise, the Preacher also taught the people knowledge.” Let’s stop there because I see two purposes

First a teacher must purpose to impart practical skills. This is why he must be full of  “wisdom”. Wisdom is living life skillfully. It is practical maturity. If the goal for our lives is maturity and maturity is the ability to discern between good and evil then a teacher has to communicate the practical skills and insights that will get us all there. Andy Stanley is a master at this.

Second a teacher must purpose to teach knowledge. In teaching those life maturing skills there has to be more than just a “To Do” list.  There needs to be the reason, the apologetic and the theological reasons behind it.  That’s knowledge. Otherwise if one just teaches only the practical stuff it can degenerate into “non-empowered moralism”.  On the other hand, if all one does is just teach knowledge then it errors on becoming only theoretical and not life changing.

So when it comes to SUBSTANCE a teacher must EDUCATE (impart knowledge) and EXHORT (impart wisdom).

Let me add at this point the following.  As you look for your new Pastor who will lead you and primarily through teaching look for a Preacher/Teacher or look for a Teacher/Preacher but don’t look for a Preacher or a Teacher. Let me explain.  Someone who leads you next must be able to educate and exhort.

I have found that God has gifted people differently. There are those who are Preacher/Teachers.  There are those who are Teacher/Preachers.  A Preacher/Teacher primarily exhorts and secondarily educates. They inspire first and instruct next.

A Teacher/Preacher primarily educates and secondarily exhorts. I consider myself a Teacher/Preacher.  They instruct first and inspire next.

Find a Preacher/Teacher or find a Teacher/Preacher but don’t just settle for a Preacher or just a Teacher!

Now the passage moves from matters of SUBSTANCE to matters of STYLE.

The Process of Teaching/Preaching (vv 9b-10):

Here we look carefully at verses 9b-10.

In verse 9 we read “weighing…”

This word for “weighing” actually means to “ponder, revisit, dwell upon” something for long periods of time.  So it’s talking about internalization of the Bible as a way of life. You know when a pastor/teacher has really bought the truth of the Word because that person has really lived it out and seen the Holy Spirit empower change. That CONSISTENCY OF LIFE is what gives credibility to the messenger. When someone is just shouting out words with no heart the message has no credibility.

Not only did he ponder but he “studied”

This means the teacher has done the homework examining and investigating the results in accurate interpretation. Kudos to John Piper and John MacArthur who have been consistently doing this for many years. It is reaching tragic proportions today when many pastors refuse to do the study and just jump right into the application. Where is the integrity? Where is the burning desire to know what God is really saying in the words that He has given? Sloppy exegesis always leads to error. Do not allow for it or else you will have nothing to hold accountable what your pastor says.

Not only did he search out but he “arranged”

This is the word for ORGANIZATION.  A pastor has to be able to organize information which makes for a logical presentation that is clear and understandable. No one (and I mean no one) did this better than the late John Stott. A lot of preaching today reminds me of driving on our crowded freeways at rush hour.  There is a lot of weaving around and little to show for it!

Not only did he organize but he used many “proverbs”.

Now for some of you Proverbs is your favorite book in the Bible.  I can guess it is because Proverbs are short and Proverbs are different.  It doesn’t matter that many of them say the same thing; each one says it differently.

In the same way a teacher who handles the Word isn’t called to come up with new truth – better not! But there is the need to find new ways to say the old truth. Trust me. It is a challenge to teach the same truth in different ways. It can be exhausting but it is of great fulfillment when it is done and when it is appreciated.  And just as Proverbs do it in shortened format so hopefully the same can be said of a Pastor/Teacher! I would say that Tim Keller has perfected this trait well.

Not only did he use proverbs but he searched to find just the right words.

Now this is the second time that word “searched” is used.  It was used once in verse 9 and now used here in verse 10.  But they are two different words in the original language.

“Search” in verse 9 is a mental analytical investigation;

“Search” in verse 10 has an emotional adorational intent.

It means “to seek for something with desire of heart.”

And so it means to be pleasing or to be delightful.  If we really believe that the Word is God’s love letter to us then it better be presented in a delightful manner.  That doesn’t mean someone has to roll over with compromise or refuse to tackle hard issues.  But just because it is hard doesn’t mean that it can’t be done in a manner that is pleasing. I have found in my preaching ministry that….

• A humorous tone is far more effective than a heavy one; (Swindoll is a master at this)

• Being vulnerable about your own struggles gets the job done more effectively than acting like you are victorious and above it all.

So a Teacher must have Substance in what they say and must have Style in how they say it.

And when they bring Substance from the Word and they do so with Style from their Workmanship there is a goal to it all.

The Goal of Teaching/Preaching (vv11-14):

>In speaking of one of those goals verse 11 says “The words of the wise are like goads.” All of you know what a “goad” is right? It was a long rod with a pointy thing on it and it was used to prod livestock to keep them going in the right direction and motivated to do so.

Biblical teaching that really pleases God both motivates and directs. Shepherds do this because they love their sheep.

Second, it also is like a well driven nail. We use nails in order to establish and anchor. And so it is the goal of a teacher to open the Scripture so that believers can be established in the faith and in their convictions.

Biblical teaching that really pleases God both establishes and anchors.

Third, it seeks to encourage change.

Verse 13 says…..

The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man.

I had a friend of mine in seminary who wrote a master’s thesis on the Fear of God.  And do you know what he concluded after he did all of that research? He said that to “fear God” meant to “fear God”.

In our vernacular it would mean “to get serious about God”. But he also said that it is always found in a context having to do with enjoyment of life. There is nothing wrong with “Felt-Need” preaching just as long as it never becomes the centrality of a pastor’s teaching ministry. In this case, it would be simply “Man-Centered” opposed to “God-Centered” teaching. A pastor must always use his pulpit to bring glory to God which will require a consistent admonition to fear God and the assurance that God’s powerful grace is always sufficient to keep His commandments.

A pastoral search requires a lot of written documents.  I can think of at least three fundamental ones.

A community profile: With this document we attempt to introduce (or some would call it “indoctrinate”) the community of Folsom along  with some of the outlying areas.

What is it like to live here? How affordable? How are the schools? What about medical care? What about extra-curricular activities for the children? What are the amenities?

A Community Bible Church profile: This document tells the story of the church – past and present along with the dreams for the future. The congregational survey will give candidates the raw material; this document will give the behind the scenes analysis. We use this document to explain our values and chartered mission.

The Lead Pastor profile: Also known in most circles as a “JD”, this document reveals the primary emphases, basic objective, specific and shared responsibilities and accountability for the Lead Pastor. This profile will also include limited expectations for the first year of ministry. CBC will be looking for a pastor of the 21^st century and it will be clarified to the candidate what that entails.

All three documents will be written up and put on our website. These documents will also be sent to organizations which can assist us in our search.  The clearer we are as to what we desire will make a huge difference in the elimination of the wrong candidate.

Michael Aymett has proven writing skills and he has been asked to use his gifts accordingly. We appreciate his efforts.

Thanks for stopping by! We (primarily Paul and I) will use this section to keep you up to date with the latest on our pastoral search. Make sure to stop in on a regular basis.

I am delighted that Paul Fong will be serving as the Chairman of the Pastoral Search Committee (aka PSC). This has been announced on numerous occasions but I am repeating it in case you missed it. He received by way of the survey an overwhelming amount of congregational support having been endorsed by all age groups, gender, members and attendees alike.

Paul’s first task will be to bring a list of names to the Board of those who will serve on the PSC. This list will be approved by the Board to be sent to the congregation for final approval. The goal is for a vote as early as mid January (or sooner).

On December 4, a working meeting was held with over 20 people. A short list is to be created then brought to the congregation for approval. Those in attendance (by invite only) were the ones the congregation chose as potential search member candidates. Think of a judge having the opportunity to interview potential jurors and you have a better understanding of one of the purposes for this meeting. We are thankful to all those who participated. The congregation really knew what it was doing.

How does a church form a PSC? Let me sign off with the following:

Prayerfully – Do you remember the story of Moses on Mt. Horeb in Exodus 17? While Joshua is down in the valley fighting the Amalekites, Moses is on top of the mountain praying. As long as Moses prays with arms held high, Joshua prevails in the valley but when his arms falter, the Amalekites prevail. Moses then commissions the help of Aaron who holds up one arm and Hur who holds up the other.

We are about to enter into the most important period of time in the recent history of this body. Fatigue, discouragement, disagreement are just a few of the “Amalekites” to battle. Prayer must prevail.

Sacrificially – We are about choosing members who have the time and the energy to sustain at least 4-6 months of heavy duty labor. We need computer friendly, internet saavy members. Just about all of these members were picked because of the respect they have garnered for their involvement with different ministries. They know sacrifice and now will be asked to do even more.

Carefully – We are looking for the best combination of people who will represent the church body. Each member must be godly, of clear reasoning and pure in motive. That goes without saying. We also need members who can work together to build agreement. It wouldn’t hurt if we had one or two people who were experienced in hiring. That’s just wise. Let’s remember this committee will be the face of the church and give the candidate the first and (hopefully) the best impressions.