A great quarterback should risk it all to jump on a fumbled ball. But some would rather wait for someone else to do it. Too often this is the way we lead in church, in the community and at home.

A better way is Servant Leadership. Instead of roosting on the top of the pyramid, the servant leader is beneath supporting and sacrificing for his/her team.

Churches are stunted or even destroyed when they are led by an individual who has called shared leadership.

Is there not a better way to do church? There is! It is unchecked power in making decisions, with little to no participation by others or any accountability to others.

At FBC we believe that children are important. Historically, however, children have not been considered in the ministry of the local church until the Protestant Reformation. Kids were not valued for the first 1,600 years of church history.

Why should we value children?

CertainlytheChurchoughttobeaproponentofstrongfamilies.However,it seems that quite often the Church is one of the greatest perpetrators in the weakening of the family. Consider the fictitious Jerusalem Bible Church, who expects their congregation to be at church on Sunday morning and evening, then expects mom at church on Monday for the Ladies’ Missionary Group, and dad for committee meeting on Tuesday; the family for prayer meeting on Wednesday, mom and dad for visitation on Thursday; teens for youth group on Friday; and dad for the men’s fellowship on Saturday.

o FBCwantstobuildhealthyfamilies.Consequently,wehaveoneworshipservicea week which folks are expected to support. We try to be sensitive to families when we plan our schedules. We give folks the freedom to not participate if it means neglecting their families. We give folks the freedom to be flexible with our programs so that if someone wishes to have their child in the worship service with them on Sunday instead of in Learning Center, they have the freedom to do it. We are also committed to training our folks as husbands, wives, and parents.

In some parts of the country they do church differently. The preacher reads a verse of Scripture and then spend the rest of his time telling the congregation how to cut their hair of what style clothes to wear. The net result is a congregation that is shallow and immature because they have never learned to think for themselves. There is a better way to do church. It is called the Freedom to Bear Fruit.

There are basically three steps to fruitful bible study.

The church (universal) has a history of dividing over issues that should not divide us. Issues range from music styles, dress for worship, entertainment options and so on. These issues become moral convictions for some and yet they vary greatly according to era of time and culture. One thinks we should not use instruments when we worship while another has the conviction that that any instrument can be used. The best way to reduce this kind of confusion and conflict is to use Biblical Foundations with Relevant Forms. This kind of church is built upon the clearly revealed truth of God, but also has the freedom to adapt when the Scripture does not speak definitively to an issue.