Christianity 102Congregation Benim Avraham

Diocese of La Porte, TexasChristian Church, Synod of St.

Timothy

Part 7

Laity

Laity

• The people who are not ordained.

• The MOST important part of the congregation.

• The people who do the most in reaching the unreached, proclaiming the Gospel, and visiting the sick and in prison.

Liturgical Laity

• Subdeacon*:Reads the Epistle, helps distribute communion in absence of deacon.

• Reader: Read lessons.• Acolyte: Aid in preparing the table, and in

processions.• Usher: Helps people get to their seat.• Altar guild: Help maintain altar and furnishings.• Verger: In charge of all the above.

Non Liturgical Laity

• Leaders for Home Encouragement Groups.• Evangelists*: Proclaim the Gospel• Visiting sick and/or prisoners• Widows: Older women who assist younger women in

leading chaste Christians lives.• Marriage support counselors• Exorcists*: Those trained in exorcism• Healers: Those given special gifts in healing• Ship Visitors

* Licensed by Bishop

Laity may be involved in many other activities

• Hospitality: Taking care of guests

• Youth leaders

• Cooks

• Etc.

Remember

The Laity perform the true work of the church.

• To know Christ and to make him known through witnessing by word and example.

+ At work

+ At school

+ At recreational activities

+ In Church

All Members

• Are expected to study God’s word.

• To evangelise as God gives them opportunity.

• To receive communion regularly.

• To join in Friday, Advent, and Lenten fasting as is medically permitted.

• To sustain the church with time, treasure, talents and prayer.

Stewardship

• A steward takes care of property that is not his own.

• We are stewards of:

Our minds

Our bodies

Our material possessions

Our time

Our money

Our abilities

Our children

Our speech

Minds

• We should fill our minds with God’s word.

• Our minds should be subject to Christ.

• Scripture tells us to look and listen only to that which is good. There should be no mention of perversions.

• It is good to build up our minds with secular knowledge as well

Bodies

• Good physical and dental hygiene.• Exercise regularly, but don’t make it your goal.• Eat and drink in moderation (no fat Christians in

the first centuries)• Don’t contaminate our bodies with drugs, or by

overindulging in alcohol (your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit.

• Get enough sleep.• Take that day of rest.

Material Possessions

• Everything you have is God’s and should be used for his glory.

• We can use our possessions to help others• Ask ourselves, do we need that new ___ or are we

trying to impress the neighbours.• Take care of our possessions that they would last. • Remember the Amish, no cars so as not to try and outdo

their neighbours.• If an Amish loses his house, the community gets

together to build a new one. • A simple lifestyle is better for our health and witness.

Time

• Before 1940, most people slept 10 hours a day and got everything done.

• Today we sleep 4 and get little done.

• We should learn to use our time efficiently, and some time each day should be devoted to God.

• Make a time wheel and budget your time.

• Many people take care of private stuff at work. This is a form of theft.

Money

• In Malachi, we are told if we don’t tithe we are stealing.

• We often waste money on things we don’t need and won’t use.

• Make a budget, think before you spend.

• The tithe is the minimum standard of giving.

• Help others.

Abilities

• God has given us each abilities.

• We need to learn what they are.

• We need to use them for God’s service, as well as use them to sustain our families.

Children

• Our children are a gift from God.

• Our duty is to teach them to obey and love God, not to spoil them.

• At the appropriate age, they are to transfer their obedience from the parent to God.

• Self discipline is of great importance to teach a child.

Speech

• How do we use our mouths.

• To build up, or to tear down.

• To proclaim Christ, or ourselves.

• To solve problems, or to gossip.

• It is up to us, to use our speech to proclaim the kingdom, lead people to Christ and build up the church.