How To Support Your Church
1. Be faithful to attend and participate
Commit yourself to the church and let them know they can count on you. Obviously you can’t be of much help if you don’t show up or take part. Some people underestimate their value of simply being present. Joining together with others adds to their encouragement, and it encourages the leaders and the pastor who have prayed and prepared all week to minister to you (Heb. 10:24-25). It helps your pastor and the whole church for you to come faithfully and on time. And don’t merely sit there like a bump on a log. Be friendly, put a smile on your face, and enter into the service by singing and worshiping. You can even utter an audible Amen or two when the pastor makes a good point. Go ahead, it’ll make his day!
2. Commit yourself to love the Lord and your brethren
The Bible teaches that all the desires of God are condensed into only two cardinal commandments that Jesus gave to His followers. “ And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself.” (Luke 10:27). By clothing ourselves in God’s love, we help the church to reinforce this objective for every believer, and we also help to eliminate the elements of conflict and division which can hinder the unity of the church. I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. (Eph. 4:1-3).
3. Pray for your church, its pastors and leaders
The Apostle Paul explained that it is the duty of Christians to pray for all who are in authority, especially those in spiritual authority. I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men;
For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. (1 Tim. 2:1-2). Your church leaders are on the cutting edge of the battle with Satan, and will face temptations and spiritual conflict unlike anything you could imagine. The devil knows that if he can topple a spiritual leader or get him discouraged enough to quit, it will have a domino effect on the rest of the church. You can be a tremendous help by praying fervently for your church, and especially for the pastor and his family.
By Dr. Dale A. Robbins
10 Ways to Stand with Your Pastor
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1. Let him know if his preaching is a help to you. Point out something specific God spoke to you about.
2. Assure him of your prayers for him and his family.
3. Show open support for projects he has prayed over and believes God wants the church to do.
4. Be slow to criticize him. He will make mistakes.
5. Realize that a true under-shepherd would rather die for the sheep than knowingly hurt them. Deal with him from this premise.
6. Pray for God’s hedge of protection around his family.
7. Tell him of the blessings of God in your life. Your faith and victory will strengthen his faith immeasurably.
8. Understand that one of the main ways he stays in touch with you personally is around the services of the church. Many communication issues can be handled after a church service. If you work in some capacity in the church, be sure to touch base with your pastor before you leave.
9. Receive his admonitions with grace. The unique responsibilities of a pastor involve many things in addition to preaching. Your pastor’s work out of the pulpit consists of many unseen efforts in dealing with individual needs and problems.
10. Know that God in His kindness to you has put it in the heart of one of His servants to watch for your soul. Your pastor is one of God’s gifts of grace to you intended to bring your family eternal profit by his preaching and teaching, as well as his shepherding.
“Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you.” Hebrews 13:17
