The Minister and Accountability

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The Minister and Accountability
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1 Guiding Principle of Leadership Is to Be
Worthy of Trust.

• Accountability is when we initiate proof that
  all is well.
• We give an accountpreferably voluntarily.

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Lest We Should Offend Them.

• And when they were come to Capernaum, they that
  received tribute money came to Peter, and said,
  Doth not your master pay tribute?
• He saith, Yes. And when he was come into the
  house, Jesus prevented him, saying, What thinkest
  thou, Simon? of whom do the kings of the earth
  take custom or tribute? of their own children, or
  of strangers? Mat. 1724, 25

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Lest We Should Offend Them.

• Peter saith unto him, Of strangers. Jesus saith
  unto him, Then are the children free.
• Notwithstanding, lest we should offend them, go
  thou to the sea, and cast an hook, and take up
  the fish that first cometh up and when thou hast
  opened his mouth, thou shalt find a piece of
  money that take, and give unto them for me and
  thee. Mat. 1726, 27

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Lest We Should Offend Them.

• Peter saith unto him, Of strangers. Jesus saith
  unto him, Then are the children free.
• Notwithstanding, lest we should offend them, go
  thou to the sea, and cast an hook, and take up
  the fish that first cometh up and when thou hast
  opened his mouth, thou shalt find a piece of
  money that take, and give unto them for me and
  thee. Mat. 1726, 27

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Lest We Should Offend Them.

• Peter saith unto him, Of strangers. Jesus saith
  unto him, Then are the children free.
• Notwithstanding, lest we should offend them, go
  thou to the sea, and cast an hook, and take up
  the fish that first cometh up and when thou hast
  opened his mouth, thou shalt find a piece of
  money that take, and give unto them for me and
  thee. Mat. 1726, 27

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Leaders Lead.

• Being an example is not a liability.
• It is a viability between you and God.
• People need to know that you live with faith in
  Godunshakeable faith in God.

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• Our lives as spiritual leaders are about
  authority, responsibility, management, and
  accountability.
• Holding the mystery of the faith in a pure
  conscience.
• 1 Timothy 39
• With a clear conscience they must follow the
  secret of the faith that God made known to us.
• NCV

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• A bishop (leader) then must be blameless, the
  husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good
  behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach
• Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of
  filthy lucre but patient, not a brawler, not
  covetous
• One that ruleth well his own house, having his
  children in subjection with all gravity
  1 Timothy 324

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Absolute Honesty

• A FALSE balance is abomination to the Lord but a
  just weight is his delight. Proverbs
  111
• He that sweareth to his own hurt, and changeth
  not.
  Psalm 154
• Who shall ascend into the hill of the LORD? or
  who shall stand in his holy place? He that hath
  clean hands, and a pure heart who hath not
  lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn
  deceitfully.
  Psalms 243, 4

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• With our brother.
• That no man go beyond and defraud his brother in
  any matter because that the Lord is the avenger
  of all such, as we also have forewarned you and
  testified.
• With the world.
• That ye may walk honestly toward them that are
  without, and that ye may have lack of nothing.
• 1 Thessalonians 46, 12

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Live by Biblical PrinciplesBusiness by the
Book.

• Owe no man anything.
• Romans 138
• Dont run up debts.
• Messenger
• thou shalt not borrow.
• Deuteronomy 2812
• You wont have to take out a loan.
• Messenger

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What Does Scripture Say?

• Borrowing money is not a sin.
• But not repaying is a sin.
• The wicked borroweth, and payeth not again but
  the righteous showeth mercy, and giveth.
• Psalm 3721
• by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil
  spoken of. 2
  Peter 22b.

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Clean Up Your Credit.

• Check free credit report sponsored by three major
  bureausTransUnion, Experian, Equifax.
• (Actual credit score will cost approximately
  12.)
• E-mail www.annualcreditreport.com
• Call 1.877.322.8228
• Write Annual Credit Report Request Svc.
• P.O. Box 105281
• Atlanta, GA 30348-5281

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• Leviticus 2730
• And all the tithe of the land, whether of the
  seed of the land, or of the fruit of the tree, is
  the Lords it is holy unto the Lord.
• Because the tithe is holy, it has the power to
  sanctify our finances.
• The tithe is the Lords.
• The tithe is holy.
• Romans 1116
• For if the firstfruit be holy, the lump is also
  holy.

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Ministers Must Model Stewardship.

• Thus speak unto the Levites, and say unto them,
  When ye take of the children of Israel the tithes
  which I have given you from them for your
  inheritance, then ye shall offer up an heave
  offering of it for the LORD, even a tenth part of
  the tithe.
• Out of all your gifts ye shall offer every heave
  offering of the LORD, of all the best thereof,
  even the hallowed part thereof out of it.
• Therefore thou shalt say unto them, When ye have
  heaved the best thereof from it, then it shall be
  counted unto the Levites as the increase of the
  threshingfloor, and as the increase of the
  winepress.
• Numbers 1826, 29, 30

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Financial Structure Built on Biblical
Principle/Pattern

• Tithethe minimumat all levels
• Member Local Church Ministry
• Local Church Intl Office
  Ministry
• Pastor State Office Ministry

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Present Financial StructureLocal Church

• Authority is Gods way of keeping order.
• 10 percent of tithe to Intl Hdqtrs. monthly
• Based on Scriptural model of the tithe
• Giving outside of yourself to ministry
• Choosing to be accountable
• Partnering to accomplish greater ministry
• ConnectivityBuying InCommunity
• A giving church is a church of givers.

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Develop and Use a FS Committee.

• We recommend that the former Finance and
  Appropriation Committee be renamed the Finance
  Stewardship Committee. The pastor, in
  cooperation with the local church conference,
  should appoint or select the members of the
  committee.

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Responsibilities of the Committee

1. Development of a detailed financial
   planbudgetthat ensures the local churchs
   operational expenses and income are balanced and
   presented to the local church conference for
   approval. The committee should work closely with
   the pastor and church treasurer to ensure the
   effectiveness of the financial plan.

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Accountability Reminders

• Two signatures on checks
• (Dont just use a signature stamp.)
• Two people see and understand the check.
• Two people see the bank statement.
• (The number one way treasurers embezzle is by
  simply writing a check to themselves.)
• Deposits should reflect offering amount from
  Counters Form.
• Report timelycheck periodically to see if
  treasurer is reporting.

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We need 15,000 big ones. No questions asked.
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Three Foundation Stones of a Giving Church

• 1. People are experiencing a deeper commitment
  to Christ in day-to-day living.
• 2. There is a clear and compelling vision of
  what God is calling the church to be and to do.
• 3. There is a high level of trust that
  leadership is handling the finances in a
  God-honoring way.

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Shepherds Are Accountable.

• So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon
  Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more
  than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord thou
  knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed
  my lambs.
• He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son
  of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea,
  Lord thou knowest that I love thee. He saith
  unto him, Feed my sheep.
• He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of
  Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because
  he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me?
  And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all
  things thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus
  saith unto him, Feed my sheep.
• John 211517

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A ShepherdNot a Hireling.

• Focus on loving Jesus.
• Focus on serving others.
• Focus on staying focused on loving Jesus.
• 1st time Feed my lambstake to pasture.
• 2nd time Feed my sheepStay with and care for
  them.
• 3rd time Feed my sheepStay in the game. Its
  hard, but victorious.
• Dont leave them without a shepherd.

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Jan Couch

• P.O. Box 2910
• Cleveland, TN 373202910
• 423.559.5222
• Fax [phone]
• KJCOUCH_at_aol.com
• Jan_at_cogop.org