Church & S.S. Administration                                   KL Paulson 
Preacher Silcox                                                 12-4-1997

The
Hyles Church Manual

Author: Dr. Jack Hyles

[Note: In this book report a minimum of 50 words per chapter was required.]

I. CHURCH BUSINESS

1. The Church Business Meeting

    Romans 12:11 admonishes us to be "Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord[.]"   Periodic business meetings provide an opportunity for the people to be more informed.   The best time for the meeting is after the people have been placed into a spiritual frame of mind.   Begin the meeting with simple prayer.   1st consider any old business.   The Pastor should moderate the business meeting.

2. A Business Meeting

    Brief business meeting held at the conclusion of a Wednesday night service.   The Pastor announces the meeting & a reading of the minutes is accomplished.   The minutes are corrected if need be.   New church memberships were addressed next.   Then followed recommendations from the deacons, discussion & voice votes.   A financial statement was issued at the close of the business meeting.

3. The Church Budget

    They have deacons of a budget committee.   A reasonable amount of time & thought must be put into preparing the church budget.   The treasurer and/or Pastor need to carefully examine the budget items individually.   Prediction of future money needs must be considered.   An outline of administrative, building, office, missions, program, etc. expenses is given in this chapter.   The proposed budget is presented to the church for approval.

4. A Building Program

    Buildings are only tools to reach & teach people about Jesus Christ.   Plan for adequate facilities, if at all possible.   Keep planning ahead.   Build in steps.   Acquaint yourself with the church architecture of the day.   Get the counsel & help of a Christian architect.   Build only if the people of the church are ready to build.   Find out where money can be raised up.   When contracting things out use only reputable builders.   Hold a ground breaking day after letting the contract.

5. A Dedication Service for a New Building

    Opening hymns were sung.   Prayer followed by a hard-working member of the church.   Next they had a special guest, musical number, & later some personal recognition of guests present.   A somewhat formal presentation of the building should be accomplished with words of thanks to all those who had a major part.   Preaching, more prayer, etc. follow.

6. The Deacon Board

    A Deacon is a Bible office.   Unspiritual deacons have a bad reputation of being 'demons'.   Deacons are to lift up & help the Pastor.   Deacons should serve sacrificially the Lord & His church.   Candidates are nominated for this office at First Baptist Church.   The Pastor reviews the qualifications & duties to any accepted candidates.   Their church votes to fill vacancies.   I Timothy 3:8- 11 is mentioned for the qualifications.

7. A Dedication Service for New Deacons

    New deacons were formally inducted into office.   One special Wednesday night service annually is set aside to consecrate, dedicate & ordain.   Acts Chapter 6 is reviewed.   Exhortation & thanks are given to those who served the previous year.   Each new Deacon is introduced.   A laying on of hands is accomplished.   "[D]eacon" means servant.   The Pastor personally welcomes the Deacon into office.

8. The Church Records

    It is very important to keep a record system of the church membership & visitors.   A visitor's card can be used at public services.   A follow up letter is sent out to each new visitor.   Within the same week visitation of the new person is attempted.   Form letters, card, name plates are some suggestions for good record-keeping.
    Periodically a reception is held to honor all new members to the church.   This reception acquaints new members with the church & establishes fellowship.   Offering envelopes, Baptismal certificates, Articles of Faith and a Worker's survey are distributed at this time.

9. An Ordination Service for Preachers

    The Pastor opens the service.   The candidates for ordination are presented one by one.   A mention of the particular candidate's call to preach is typical.   His past experiences working in the church are recalled.   The candidate's close relatives are recognized (Christian parents, wife, etc.)   Public & private questioning are had.   Public testimony of conversion is asked.   Next, the church staff makes formal recommendation of the candidates, and the church votes.   Ordination prayer & laying on of hands is also done.   Finally, presentation of Bibles, certificates, and a charge is given.

II. CHURCH PROGRAM

10. The Sunday School

    There needs to be the Word of God and consistent teaching in the Sunday School.   The workers for the Sunday School must be chosen carefully.   They must be faithful in church attendance.   They must be active, born again, and loyal also.   Be sure the S.S. workers are doctrinally sound and that they live a separated life.   The size of the class should be determined by the number of qualified workers.   Classes should be departmentalized.   An annual training course for the teachers is suggested.   Here, preparation & presentation of lessons are taught.   Every teacher is encouraged to go soul winning.   A church must advertise or no one will know it exists.

11. A Teachers' & Officers' Meeting

    Teachers & officers of the Sunday School meet each Wednesday evening.   Goals, planning & promises are some of the events that take place.   The Pastor teaches the lesson to the Junior-age & up teachers.   An outline is presented to these teachers.   It contains such things as an Introduction, Body, Questions & Answers, Memory Verse, etc.   An emphasis on application is noteworthy.   Very brief review of the past lesson is done also.

12. The Bus Ministry

    Operation of a bus ministry is a great way to increase Sunday School attendance.   Ideas about choosing an area to minister in are given.   For example, housing projects, apartments & trailer courts are good places to start a bus route.   Bus captains normally should spend 2 to 4 hours a week encouraging people to ride the bus.   A good way to enlist bus workers is preaching from the pulpit.   Each person in the bus ministry attempts to come up with promotional ideas.

13. The Sick & Shut-ins

    This section open with James 5:13-15.   Jesus Christ spent much time ministering to the sick.   A card file should be updated with each new visit of the sick & the shut-in people.   Get-well cards should be used.   The Pastor should encourage the church members to call on him when they are sick.   Hospital visits should be brief, cheerful and optimistic.   Share preaching tapes with the shut-ins.   A giving of a gift is also something worth considering.

14. The Youth Program

    Much time, planning & direction are to be given to the youth of the local church.   Dedicated, faithful, loyal persons should be involved in the youth ministry.   Youth should be encouraged to attend church social activities.   Teen-agers should be soul winners.   The young people of the community need to be reached.   The Pastor should seek to counsel high school graduates about the future.   Have special, weekly activities for the college-age people.   Each youth activity should have a spiritual emphasis.

15. The Church Nursery

    The nursery needs to be well-organized & well-operated.   A competent, spiritual & hard-working director should be chosen for the nursery.   Use a tile floor.   Working in the nursery is a service for the Lord.   The workers should be assigned.   Children should be divided up by age.   All babies should be card enrolled.   Appreciation for the nursery workers should be shown.

16. The Music

    Music effects our emotions.   Music can either be an asset or a liability.   The church must have the right kind of music.   It must be properly used.   Music played an important role in the Bible.   The music should not hinder the preaching.   The music program should have the continual approval of the Pastor.   A well-planned Prelude should be started 10 minutes before the
    service.   Use gospel songs.   There should be a weekly practice for each singing group.

17. The Women's Missionary Society

    All lady church members are encouraged to attend.   Missionaries are written and asked what their needs are.   On birthdays & other special occasions cards are sent by the ladies.   Baskets of fruit and other gifts are sent at Christmas, Thanksgiving, etc.   A book with names of the church's missionaries and their addresses is kept & updated.   Clothing and reading material were also mentioned.

18. The Baptismal Service

    Baptism is necessary to be obedient.   Act 2:41.   On Pentecost the converts were baptized immediately.   Acts 8:37-38.   Paul was baptized soon after his conversion.   Acts 9:17-18.   Baptists should have a baptistry.   Actual immersion step-by-step is presented.   Matthew 28:19-20: Go, Teach all nations, Baptize and then Train them to be soul winners.   Try to remove any fear or obstacles to baptism.   We need to preach about baptism (not being for salvation but its real purpose).

19. A Soul-Winning Experience

    Doug Hiles is led to believe that he can know for sure that Heaven is his future home.   Hyles
    discovers the background of the religious person.   The Bible is brought up.   Faith is mentioned.
    A few verses in Romans are explained.   Hiles admits he is a sinner.   Death for sin is
    emphasized.   Adam, Eve & Hell are mentioned by name.   Christ paid the price of sin; He can be
    our Substitute.   They say a sinner's prayer.
    Note: Repentance (turning from sin), the Lordship of Christ, and some important
    Misunderstandings are not even dealt with.

III. THE PASTOR

20. The Wedding

    Hebrews 13:4.   Presents the plans & preparation for an impressive wedding ceremony.   The couple should contact the Pastor about permission to have a marriage date.   The wedding rehearsal should include all members of the wedding party.
    Marriage plans should be talked about.   An instruction sheet is advised.   This sheet can be given to the couple.   It contains some suggestions and rules that are to be followed.   16 pointers are given as far as an actual wedding ceremony.

21. A Wedding Ceremony

    The ceremony begins with organ playing while guests are being seated.   The opening wedding song is accomplished.   Pastor then enters.   Respectively, groom, best man, groomsmens, bridesmaids, maid of honor, and bride position themselves.   Soloists sings 2nd song.   The Pastor prays & makes some personal, Christian comments about the couple.   Vows are said.   Rings exchanged.   Pronouncing of the couple as husband and wife.   Finally, a closing prayer by the Pastor.

22. The Funeral

    A funeral service needs to be dignified, appropriate & comforting.   The Pastor should get ready personally for the service.   He should picture himself in the bereaved family's position.   The beginning order of the service may vary according to the area's custom.   Try to grant the family's song requests.   Obituary may be read.   Appropriate Scripture should be read.   Unkind & unwise remarks during the preacher's message are to be avoided.   A graveside service should be brief.   The church should be very helpful to the bereaved.

23. A Funeral Service

    First song was a familiar tune about Heaven.   The Pastor then comments for a while about the memory of the passed away one.   I Corinthians 15:12-26; I Thessalonians 4:13-18; & I Peter 1:3-8 are read.   Loved ones next are mentioned in prayer.   Another song follows honouring Jesus the King.   Finally, a sermon message entitle 'The Will of Mr. Fay Ault' is preached.

24. The Pastoral Counseling

    We live in a very confused world of nervous breakdowns, divorce, juvenile frustrations, drug abuse, etc.   All counselors need plain wisdom.   See James 1:5.   The Pastor should counsel in his office.   Set up appointments at least 1 day in advance.   If about marriage have both husband &
    wife present.   Listen carefully to the people you counsel.   Get the person counseled to feel comfortable and at ease.   Ask questions after listening.   List suggestions that my help.   Be kind & understanding as you advise.   Use Scripture & be confidential.

25. The Relationship of the Pastor and His People

    The Pastor should have love & devotion for his people.   Both should share credit & defeat.   Don't scold about absenteeism to those who already faithfully attend.   We need to compliment spiritual success and performance.   The Pastor should welcome suggestions from his people.   A Pastor must not show partiality or favortism.   Keep the people informed about church business.   Don't make your wife your problem bearer.   Both, Pastor & people, should be friendly.

26. The Relationship of the Pastor and His Staff

    The staff's heart should beat with the Pastor's heart.   They both should be of the same mind.   The first staff member carefully chosen should be an efficient & faithful secretary.   All staff members should be loyal to the Pastor.   12 rules are listed with commentary for handling the staff.   Outline a staff member's duties & responsibilities.   Staff members need adequate office space.   The Pastor should oversee the entire work of the church.

27. The Invitation Time

    Gospel messages can be rendered ineffective by a weak invitation.   Sample words to begin an invitation are given.   An emphasis on public profession is mentioned.   If an invitation hymn is used it should not be dragged.   The Pastor should be in charge of the invitation.   Have trained personal workers available for counseling.

28. An Invitation

    An invitation is given every Sunday morning after the message.   This particular invitation seems to be quite lengthy.   Head are bowed & eyes are closed.   Hands are raised when certain spiritual questions are asked by the Pastor.   The invitation is not rushed.   Each section of the
    auditorium is gone over.   Prayer should be an important part of the invitation.

29. The Public Services

    There are 3 types of services needed: evangelistic, exhorting & instructing the saints, and
    Bible teaching.   A typical order of service is given.   Visitors at services should feel honoured &
    welcomed.   The message should be Scriptural & interesting.   Avoid liturgical-type singing in
    the church.   Announcement cards can be used & placed on the pulpit before the service.

30. A Sunday Morning Sermon

    Title--"So You've Sinned."   Sermon outline: 1) What happened? 2) What can I expect now? 3)
    What should I do? 4) How could it have been avoided?   On page 300 Pastor Hyles mentions
    'Christians who stick' will be those who get baptized.   It almost seems to imply that baptism
    has a power to do something.   The author on page 294 teaches that a saved man may return to
    his old life.

31. A Sunday Evening Sermon

    This sermon typically will be a little longer because of the time factor.   Appreciation for
    serving is done.   A more Christian oriented message is usually preached.   Title--'Praise the
    Lord.'
      Sermon points: 1) Who should praise the Lord 2) Why should we praise the Lord 3)
    How should we praise the Lord.

32. A Wednesday Evening Bible Study

    Selected parts of letters from missionaries, college students & servicemen are read.   Special
    prayer for a missionary family is offered.   Responsive audience participation may help
    learning.   The 'verse by verse' approach is used.   Specific words are studied.   Several
    illustrations & repetition facilitate remembrance.