ARTWORK (Painting) The sower and caretaker

Tristan Griffin, The sower and caretaker, acrylic on board, 2014

I had a discussion with my senior pastor this week about our roles within the church and spiritual growth. We have both been struggling over the past few years with our roles and direction within our service at church. For him he has been transitioning from youth pastor to the senior pastor. His previous role required micro management, his current role requires him to let go of much of the resposibilities he had, and take up new ones. But this left him with the question, "what is my role". For me I have been pushed more and more into an evangelistic role, as an artist/creative coder by profession and as doors have opened up within the community through various events and projects. So the question stands for both of us. What are the spiritual/physical roles for my pastor and I within the church and our spiritual life.

Paul talks about the role of the evangelist and pastor in corinthians:

"each one of us does the work which the Lord gave him to do: I sowed the seed, Apollos watered the plant, but it was God who made the plant grow. The one who sows and the one who waters really does not matter. It is God who matters, because he makes the plant grow. " 1 corinthians 3 GNB

For my pastor his role is to nurture the spiritual growth of those around him. A mammoth task and one he is suited for.

For me I have been struggling with my role as I seem to be doing small tasks all over the place, I serve as a deacon, my wife and I run a free monthly picnic/bbq at the church,I do general repair work, stage design and I am an artists and creative coder who uses traditional and modern digital technologies to create christian artworks. But all these tasks lead to an evangelistic approach to my spiritual walk, to go out and plant those seeds. My heart is for connections and sharing knowledge within my church and the community. And I do this through actions, as I believe that a person belief is seen/expressed through their actions. 

Now ill just leave you with a final word about service within the church in general. There are many roles. And not everyone is going to be a pastor, deacon or worship leader. Dont take for granted the impact that you will have within your church and community with what you do. 

Offer yourselves as a living sacrifice to God, dedicated to his service and pleasing to him. This is the true worship that you should offer. 2 Do not conform yourselves to the standards of this world, but let God transform you inwardly by a complete change of your mind. Then you will be able to know the will of God—what is good and is pleasing to him and is perfect.

3 And because of God's gracious gift to me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you should. Instead, be modest in your thinking, and judge yourself according to the amount of faith that God has given you. 4 We have many parts in the one body, and all these parts have different functions. 5 In the same way, though we are many, we are one body in union with Christ, and we are all joined to each other as different parts of one body. 6 So we are to use our different gifts in accordance with the grace that God has given us. If our gift is to speak God's message, we should do it according to the faith that we have; 7 if it is to serve, we should serve; if it is to teach, we should teach; 8 if it is to encourage others, we should do so. Whoever shares with others should do it generously; whoever has authority should work hard; whoever shows kindness to others should do it cheerfully.

9 Love must be completely sincere. Hate what is evil, hold on to what is good.10 Love one another warmly as Christians, and be eager to show respect for one another. 11 Work hard and do not be lazy. Serve the Lord with a heart full of devotion. 12 Let your hope keep you joyful, be patient in your troubles, and pray at all times. 13 Share your belongings with your needy fellow Christians, and open your homes to strangers. Romans 12 GNB