Session Three

REVIEWUse the Review sections found in the monthly leader guide for the lessons on:

e.    Will you pray for and seek to serve the people with energy, intelligence, imagination, and love?

f.      Will you be a faithful ruling elder, watching over the people, providing for their worship, nurture, and service? Will you share in government and discipline, serving in councils of the church, and in your ministry will you try to show the love and justice of Jesus Christ?

g.    Will you be a faithful deacon, teaching charity, urging concern, and directing the people’s help to the friendless and those in need, and in your ministry will you try to show the love and justice of Jesus Christ?

REFLECT

1.     Brainstorm the ways the leaders can engage in meaningful practices of prayer for the people of the congregation. Perhaps you could pray for several members at each meeting, divide up the congregation among the officers, pray for those with particular needs, pray for groups of people such as Sunday school teachers, food pantry volunteers, etc.

 Consider separating the group into the office to which they have been called—ruling elders and deacons.


2.     For ruling elders: In order to serve the people of God, session members need to be able to work and serve effectively together, knowing and trusting each other, and learning to appreciate the particular calling each one has, with their own gifts and skills, to serve in this council.

  • What are some ways the session can encourage community and trust-building among its members?
  • How can the session foster healthy relationships and safe, productive working environments?

Faithful leaders lead by example. They are called to model for the people of God a holistic approach to living the faith in which body, mind, and spirit are nurtured and replenished. Living a life of prayer and personal spiritual discipline is therefore of great importance in the ministry of discernment and governance.

  • How do you model self-care and spiritual care for yourself and others?

Ruling elders might also discuss more about the specific responsibilities of serving as a ruling elder in this particular congregation.


3.     For deacons:

  • Where do you experience the greatest joy and satisfaction in your ministry as a deacon? Where do you experience the greatest challenge?
  • How do you care for your own spiritual life and spiritual growth so that you can continue to care for others?
  • How might we work to avoid engaging in “toxic charity”?
  • How will you seek to fulfill the promise to show the love and justice of Jesus Christ in your personal life, as well as through your ministry as a deacon?

Deacons might also discuss more about the specific responsibilities of serving as a ruling elder in this particular congregation.

RESPOND

Invite the participants to divide into groups of two or three and share with one another about the reasons they answered the call to serve as a ruling elder or deacon.