Praise Team – The Commitment

THE GUIDELINES

Praise Team members are not merely volunteers; we are models and examples to the people we lead and lives we influence.  Therefore, it is not something that should be taken or bestowed lightly.  As members, our lives are on display and our calling is to live like people who have truly encountered God.  We are not expected to be perfect; for we have all sinned (Romans 3:23).  But we are called to be different, to live upright, holy and disciplined.  We also want to model a willingness to confess our sin and turn from it once recognized.

Below, you’ll find the guidelines of Praise Team members.  By submitting a signature/date below, you are committing to abide by these standards of conduct.

• Jesus Christ is my Lord and Savior.  I have given my life to Him, and am committed to serving Him in all that I do.
• I feel called by God to serve Him for His glory (I Peter 5:2-4)
• I accept and will uphold Northside Christian Church’s vision, and statement of beliefs (reference the www.northsidechristianchurch.net for the statement of beliefs).
• I will order my life according to biblical priorities, which include:
  • cultivation of my personal relationship with God by spending time in His Word and in prayer (Colossians 3:16-17; Psalm 119:1-6)
  • showing love to fellow believers by serving them in prayer, time, effort, ability and resources (Matthew 20:26-28; John 15:12-13; Galatians 6:10; Philippians 2:3-8; Romans 15:1-7)
  • sharing the Good News of Jesus Christ with non-believers in both word and deed (Matthew 5:14-16; 28:18-20; I Peter 2:11-16)
  • participation in a small group (Acts:2:42).  We love that you serve, but we are more concerned about your spiritual well being.
  • practicing active giving (2 Corinthians 9:7)

• I will turn from sin and avoid immoral, unethical, unbiblical or questionable behavior, as defined in Galatians 5:19-21.  Such questionable behavior includes, but is not limited to:
  • willfully committing a crime (1 Peter 2:13-17)
  • use of illegal substances (e.g. drugs, marijuana)
  • abuse of addictive or mood altering drugs (e.g. alcohol, tranquilizers, pain killers, anti-depressants) whether medically prescribed or not
  • unethical, dishonest or deceptive behavior
  • gossip, or any slanderous, divisive conversation (Proverbs 26:18-28)
  • divorce: should this become a reality in my life I will seek restoration through accountability by first making the appropriate Northside Christian Church staff member aware of my situation (1 Corinthians 7:27).  Though divorce does not constitute a person being unable to serve, there may be a season where I am asked to take a break from serving so that I might focus my energies on the possible restoration of the marriage.
  • sexual immorality:  Northside Christian Church stands firmly on the biblical truth that sexuality is a gift from God given to mankind for the purposes of pleasure, procreation and the creation of intimacy within a marriage relationship between a man and a woman (Genesis 2:24).  Any expression of this gift outside of marriage covenant is clearly sinful.  Scripture clearly declares the following behaviors to be sinful:
    • Sexual activity outside of marriage (Proverbs 5:3-8; Colossians 3:5; 1 Corinthians 6:15-20; 1 Thessalonians 4:3-5)
    • Adultery – sexual activity, both physically and lustfully, with someone other than one’s spouse (Exodus 20:14; Matthew 5:27-30).
    • Homosexuality – sexual activity between members of the same sex (Leviticus 18:22; 1 Corinthians 6:9-11).
    • Engaging in inappropriate sexual behavior (e.g. pornography, strip clubs, x-rated movies, massage parlors, phone-sex lines, “sexting,” and internet sex chat rooms).

• I will avoid even the appearance of inappropriate relationships with members of the opposite sex.  For example, I will:
  • only show appropriate affection to a member of the opposite sex such that my behavior cannot be questioned.
  • not use any flirtatious or suggestive language, even in jest, which could be misinterpreted or could cause some offense.
  • use discretion in correspondence to members of the opposite sex.
  • avoid one on one appointments or travel with a member of the opposite sex.

• I recognize that, as a Praise Team member, my life is under scrutiny and my actions may strongly influence others.  Therefore, I will willingly limit my freedoms in order to refrain from causing someone else to stumble in sin (Romans 14).
• I will seek to be held accountable for my walk with God and commit to inviting others to assist me in this process.  I will also model a willingness to confess my sin and strive to turn from it when recognized.  This may mean participating in a restoration process or accountability/discipleship/support group and submitting to church discipline.
• I accept the responsibility to lovingly confront my brothers and sisters in Christ when there appears to be sinful behavior.  I recognize that my purpose is not to judge, but to gently and constructively bring God’s truth to those I have relationships with in order to strengthen both their walk and their witness (Matthew 18:15-17).  However, before doing so I will earnestly seek, through prayer, to evaluate myself and pursue confrontation with humility (Matthew 7:5).  I recognize that my purpose is to demonstrate Christ’s love by gently bringing God’s truth to those I have relationships with and encouraging their rebuilding.
• I Samuel 16:7 says that “man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”  We do not judge peoples’ value or quality based on the outward appearance, but we do look at the outward appearance.  In other words, our outward appearance does matter, especially to those who don’t yet have the Spirit of Christ within them.  Because of this; I will dress appropriately, and maintain a worshipful stage presence through the following directives:
  • Men:  Dress respectfully so that you do not distract (Slacks and Polo’s or button up shirts are acceptable; jeans are acceptable as long as they are not too frayed.  No shorts, sandals, etc.).
  • Women:  Dress modestly (Slacks are fine; please do not wear skirts that are too short because you are on a raised platform where the congregation is sitting at the level of your knees; please make sure that your blouse is not cut too low around the neck or too open around the shoulders.)
  • Please make sure that no article of clothing is too tight fitting.  The goal of your ministry is to draw the attention to God, not to yourself.  If you are at all concerned that your dress may distract others in worship, the rule of thumb is “better safe than sorry.”  In order to make sure you are still awake and alert at this point, please type“Jesus is Lord!” underneath where you sign your name, so that it is obvious you have truly read this document.
  • Facial Expressiveness.  Look as though you are enjoying your act of service to God.  You don’t have to paste a smile on your face, but pay attention to the fact that people will be looking at you and respond in a similar fashion to your interest level in what is going on.
  • When someone is speaking or singing as a solo, make sure that you are looking at them.  Don’t look around the room.
  • Let your face communicate your heart in such a way that you are encouraging the congregation to be drawn into God’s presence.  This can be communicated by expressions of joy or by a reflective expression/posture.
  • Posture.  Slouched over a music stand doesn’t facilitate energy.  Stand up straight and, as much as possible, don’t be glued to your music or to the words on the monitors.  Feel free to look people in the eyes.  This will take memorization of some of the music.  The work is worth it!

• I commit to regularly attend Northside Christian Church services as my church home even when I am not serving on the Praise Team.
• I hereby acknowledge my agreement with the statements contained in these guidelines, and covenant to strive, by the power of Christ’s Spirit, to live according to them.