Ministry Papers
(Sourced from Christian Resource Centre Presbyterian Youth NSW)
Used by permission of Presbyterian Youth NSW (Camping Director)
00 Introduction
Welcome to the MINISTRY PAPERS. These ministry training papers have been developed in a local church context at Southern Cross Presbyterian Church Lismore in partnership with Presbyterian Youth. They aim to provide an integrated approach to training for the local church. The MINISTRY PAPERS present a training model that goes beyond events, to relationships. They aim to equip the whole local church in the service of Christ and his gospel.
01 The Ministry Training Church (Perparatory Material)
This ministry paper introduces the big picture of the training model adopted in these ministry papers. It focuses especially on the role of pastor-teachers, introducing the ideas of intentional ministry and relational ministry. It is essential to work through this paper before using any of the others.
02 Meeting one on One (Perparatory Material)
The ministry training church’ paper introduced the training model adopted in these ministry papers, focusing on the role of pastor-teachers. This paper ‘meeting one to one’ fills out the relational aspects of the model, and broadens the focus to the role of other key leaders. It is vital background for all coaches/leaders before looking at their specific small group or ministry papers.
03 Joining a Small Group
Our church has two main ‘arms’: small groups & ministry teams. This ‘joining a small group’ paper relates to the small groups arm. It’s designed to help your small group leader introduce you to what it means to be part of one of our small groups.
04 Welcoming Ministry
This ministry paper investigates how a church family can ensure it’s offering a welcoming environment to newcomers. From the spiritual basis for community involvement in welcoming, to the pragmatic aspects of an intentional welcoming ministry, this ministry paper will help your church towards a more lovingly welcoming church.
05 Preaching that Connects
The focus of this paper is an introduction to writing Bible talks that communicate God’s truth effectively. Tools for planning, delivering and evaluating a bible talk are all included in this scriptural and practical guide to illuminating God’s word for the effectual edification of His people in your church.
06 Kids Talks
For many good reasons the Kids’ Talk has become a regular part of many church services, however good intentions don’t always transpire into good kids talks. Considering some serious pitfalls to avoid, this ministry paper offers creative helpful hints to ensure your kids talks are engaging and beneficial to the kids in your church.
07 Leading Church
The way Church services are structured and presented has been one of the most significant areas of change in the past decades. This ministry paper explores the elements included in a service, the best way a service leader can link the service together, and tips to ensure the service clearly conveys a message to God’s church.
08 Christian Households
This ministry paper outlines the blessings and opportunities available to Christians, particularly young university students, who decide to live in a house together. Discussing the blessings of fellowship, mutual studying of the word, the breaking of bread, prayer and opportunities for evangelism – this paper presents an attractive model of young people living together in community.
09 Raising Kids to Follow Jesus
This ministry paper addresses the crucial issue of raising our kids to follow Jesus. Discussing the role of the bible, the role of prayer and the role of the church, this paper presents a balanced approach to establishing the most conducive environment for our children’s spiritual growth
10 Personal Evangelism
Restating the importance of personal evangelism in light of Jesus’ Great Commission, this ministry paper provides practical tools to assist people as they share the gospel. Giving clues on what to say and when to say it, this paper will equip God’s servants with skills and confidence to be effective witnesses of Christ.
11 Music Ministry
Beginning with a holistic clarification of what worship is, this ministry paper focuses on the role of music ministry in our churches. Investigating how musical gifts can be best used to serve the body of Christ, this ministry paper also offers practical suggestions for song selection, use of microphones and the flow of music in a service
12 Audio Ministry
This ministry paper is designed to help your audio ministry leader introduce you to what it means to be part of the audio ministry team
13 Child Protection
It is essential for all leaders to be familiar with our child protection policy. This ministry paper is designed for your child protection officer to introduce you to the policy
14 Creche Ministry
This ministry paper is designed to help your crèche ministry team leader introduce you to what it means to be part of serving in the crèche ministry team at our church. It’s much more than a training tool, it’s all about relationships: who you minister for, who you minister with, and who you minister to...
15 Daily Time with God
This ministry paper is designed to help your small group leader encourage you to spend a daily time with God in Bible reading and prayer
16 Drama Ministry
This ministry paper is designed to help your drama ministry leader introduce you to what it means to be part of our drama ministry team. The focus is ‘set-up pieces’. These are dramas designed to introduce the big idea coming in the bible talk later in the service
17 High School Lunchtime Ministry
This ministry paper is designed to help your high school ministry team leader introduce you to what it means to be part of serving in the high school ministry team. It's much more than a training tool, it's all about relationships: who you minister for, who you minister with, and who you minister to...
18 Hospitality Ministry
This ministry paper is designed to help your small group leader encourage you to grow various key relationships through hospitality
19 Joining a Ministry Team
This ministry paper is designed to help your small group leader introduce you to our ministry teams. It also offers a process for thinking through which ministry team you might join.
20 Kids Church Ministry
This ministry paper is designed to help your kids church ministry team leader introduce you to what it means to be part of serving in the kids church ministry team. It's much more than a training tool, it's all about relationships: who you minister for, who you minister with, and who you minister to...
21 Kids Club Ministry
This ministry paper is designed to help your kids club ministry team leader introduce you to what it means to be part of serving in the kids club ministry team. It's much more than a training tool, it's all about relationships: who you minister for, who you minister with, and who you minister to...
22 Leading a Small Group
This ministry paper is designed to help your pastor/coach introduce you to what it means to lead a small group. Small group leaders play a crucial role in our church. This paper is longer than others and may need a couple of sessions. It starts with the material everyone looks at in ‘joining a small group’, and then builds in extra material for leaders.
23 Giving Your Testimony
Our church has two main ‘arms’: small groups & ministry teams. This ‘giving a testimony’ paper relates within the small groups arm. It’s designed to help your small group leader encourage you to make the most of every opportunity to give the reason for your hope in Christ
24 Marriage Preparation
This ministry paper is designed to help your small group leader (or pastor) prepare you for a Christ-centred marriage
25 Personal Apologetics
This ministry paper is designed to help your small group leader encourage you to be prepared to give an answer for your hope in Christ.
26 Primary School Scripture Ministry
This ministry paper is designed to help your school scripture ministry team leader introduce you to what it means to be part of serving in the school scripture ministry team. It's much more than a training tool, it's all about relationships: who you minister for, who you minister with, and who you minister to...
27 University Ministry
This ministry paper is designed to help your university ministry team leader introduce you to what it means to be part of serving in the university ministry team. It's much more than a training tool, it's all about relationships: who you minister for, who you minister with, and who you minister to...
28 Youth Ministry Paper
This ministry paper is designed to help your youth ministry team leader introduce you to what it means to be part of serving in the youth ministry team. It's much more than a training tool, it's all about relationships: who you minister for, who you minister with, and who you minister to...
29 Small Group Prayer
Our church has two main ‘arms’: small groups & ministry teams. This ‘small group prayer’ paper relates to the small groups arm. It’s designed to help your small group leader introduce you to a vital aspect of what it means to be part of one of our small groups
30 Building A Christian Library
If pastor-teachers and leaders are going to get serious about training, we need to develop a training mindset. That’s what this ‘building a Christian library’ paper is all about. Building a library is not only important for equipping yourself to train others, it will be an essential tool in the training itself. The main target of this paper is the motivated small group or ministry leader.
31 Bible Readings In Church
Our church has two main 'arms': small groups & ministry teams. This 'bible readings in church' paper relates to the ministry teams arm. It is designed to help us all think 'beyond the roster' about such ministry. When you read the Bible in church you are very much part of a ministry team in service of Christ and his people.
32 Church Calendar
This ministry paper acts as a companion to the introductory papers ‘the ministry training church’ and ‘meeting one to one’. If pastor-teachers are going to get serious about training, it means planning ahead. As discussed in the ‘getting ministry done’ paper, training isn’t one of the urgent things screaming to be done today. A church calendar can be an essential tool in prioritizing training. That’s what this paper is about.
33 Getting Ministry Done
This ministry paper acts as a companion to the introductory papers ‘the ministry training church’ and ‘meeting one to one’. If pastor-teachers are going to get serious about training, it means learning how to say no to things, how to delegate things and how to plan things. It means learning to deal with the hundreds of things always coming at you. That’s what this paper is about. It’s about getting ministry done.
34 Pre-School Mums Ministry
There are two main ‘arms’ of a healthy church: small groups and ministry teams. This pre-school mums ministry paper relates to the ministry teams arm. It’s designed to help your ministry team leader introduce you to what it means to be part of serving in the pre-school mums team at our church. It’s much more than a training tool, it’s all about relationships
35 Giving A Short Talk
Our church has two main 'arms': small groups & ministry teams. This 'bible readings in church' paper relates to the ministry teams arm. It is designed to help your ministry leader train you for giving a short talk as a part of the ministry of that team. For full length sermons refer to the 'preaching that connects' paper. 'Giving a short talk' draws on that paper applying many of the same principles to shorter talks.
36 Leading Prayer In Church
Our church has two main 'arms': small groups & ministry teams. This 'bible readings in church' paper relates to the ministry teams arm. It is designed to help us all think 'beyond the roster' about such ministry. When you lead us in prayer in church you are very much part of a ministry team in service of Christ and his people.
37 Management Comittee
The goal of the MINISTRY PAPERS is to help churches become ministry training churches. Ministry training churches are churches where all God's people are equipped for works of service (see Ephesians 4:11-12). For that to happen, pastor-teachers need to concentrate on that teaching and equipping ministry. For that to happen, others are needed to serve alongside pastor-teachers, as fellow-workers, freeing them up from all that might distract them from that teaching and equipping ministry...
