Duties of Christian Fellowship Rules 1-7

Introduction

Talk about the book and who wrote it. Whats the purpose of walking through the book together? There will be a lot of scripture to tie with each “rule” but will not be able to walk through them all. Additional scriptures can be found next to “for further study” at the end of each rule.

As we go through the rules keep in mind our belief in a plurality of elders, found in Chapter 26 of the 1689 2LBCF.

Rule 1: Believers are to attend regularly, and to submit to, the preaching of the word and administering of the ordinances committed to the pastor by virtue of his ministerial office. They are to do this with a willing obedience in the Lord.

Scripture reading is Hebrews 13:7-18

Hebrews 13:7–18 ESV

Remember your leaders, those who spoke to you the word of God. Consider the outcome of their way of life, and imitate their faith. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. Do not be led away by diverse and strange teachings, for it is good for the heart to be strengthened by grace, not by foods, which have not benefited those devoted to them. We have an altar from which those who serve the tent have no right to eat. For the bodies of those animals whose blood is brought into the holy places by the high priest as a sacrifice for sin are burned outside the camp. So Jesus also suffered outside the gate in order to sanctify the people through his own blood. Therefore let us go to him outside the camp and bear the reproach he endured. For here we have no lasting city, but we seek the city that is to come. Through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name. Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God. Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you. Pray for us, for we are sure that we have a clear conscience, desiring to act honorably in all things.

This passage in Hebrews is going to sum up the majority of the rules we will be covering tonight.

In the beginning of the passage we see a distinction between godly leaders and false teachers. We are to submit to the pastors when they are godly pastors. We are not commanded by scripture to blindly submit to pastors.

Rule 1 is to attend church regularly, submit to the preaching and ordinances, and to do it in obedience to the Lord.

Rule 2: The pastor’s way of life is to be observed and carefully followed, to the extent that he walks in the ways of Jesus Christ.

Scripture reading is 1 Timothy 4:11-16

1 Timothy 4:11–16 ESV

Command and teach these things. Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity. Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation, to teaching. Do not neglect the gift you have, which was given you by prophecy when the council of elders laid their hands on you. Practice these things, immerse yourself in them, so that all may see your progress. Keep a close watch on yourself and on the teaching. Persist in this, for by so doing you will save both yourself and your hearers.

Note all the ways Paul tells Timothy to be an example to the believers.

-Speech

-Conduct

-Love

-Faith

-Purity

Again, we are to look to our pastors example as long as they are walking in the ways of Christ. There’s several times throughout scripture Paul says to “Imitate” him.

Matthew Henry’s commentary says “Those who teach by their doctrine, must teach by their lives. The doctrine of a minister of Christ must be scriptural.”

As long as your pastor or pastors are walking in the ways of Christ, watch them and learn from their examples.

Rule 3: Prayer and supplications are to be made continually on the pastor’s behalf that he might receive help and success in the work that has been given to him.

Lay background for the upcoming passage. During this time, Herod was persecuting the church.

Scripture reading is Acts 12:1-11 STOP WHEN THE PARAGRAPH ENDS

Acts 12:1–11 ESV

About that time Herod the king laid violent hands on some who belonged to the church. He killed James the brother of John with the sword, and when he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded to arrest Peter also. This was during the days of Unleavened Bread. And when he had seized him, he put him in prison, delivering him over to four squads of soldiers to guard him, intending after the Passover to bring him out to the people. So Peter was kept in prison, but earnest prayer for him was made to God by the church. Now when Herod was about to bring him out, on that very night, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, and sentries before the door were guarding the prison. And behold, an angel of the Lord stood next to him, and a light shone in the cell. He struck Peter on the side and woke him, saying, “Get up quickly.” And the chains fell off his hands. And the angel said to him, “Dress yourself and put on your sandals.” And he did so. And he said to him, “Wrap your cloak around you and follow me.” And he went out and followed him. He did not know that what was being done by the angel was real, but thought he was seeing a vision. When they had passed the first and the second guard, they came to the iron gate leading into the city. It opened for them of its own accord, and they went out and went along one street, and immediately the angel left him. When Peter came to himself, he said, “Now I am sure that the Lord has sent his angel and rescued me from the hand of Herod and from all that the Jewish people were expecting.”

Breakdown the passage. Verses 1-5 presents an issue and a prayer for the problem. Verses 6-11 give an answer for the problem.

Matthew Henry’s Commentary says “We that live in a cold, prayer less generation, can hardly form an idea of the earnestness of these holy men of old. But if the Lord should bring on the church an awful persecution like this of Herod, the faithful in Christ would learn what soul felt prayer is”.

We ALL must be in constant prayer for our pastors and leaders in the church. You may never know what kind of trials they are facing.

Rule 4: Believers are to hold the pastor in the greatest respect and to submit to him, for the work’s sake.

Again, this is if your pastor or pastors are godly men and ministers that are faithful to Christ.

Scripture reading is 1 Peter 5:5

1 Peter 5:5 ESV

Likewise, you who are younger, be subject to the elders. Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”

Second scripture reading is Hebrews 13:17

Hebrews 13:17 ESV

Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you.

The scripture is plain we as a congregation are to submit to and obey our pastors. We are to submit and obey them because of their office and their calling. We are to submit for their works sake.

The work of a pastor carries a lot of responsibility. We will cover some of these at the end.

Read the excerpt from the book.

“The esteem that is required by this rule is that of a civil, respectful esteem, but the motive for it is sacred. That a pastor is honored reveals the grace of a church, and to be respectful of him is a gospel duty, acceptable to God in Christ, 1 Timothy 5:17. Honor and reverence is due wherever there is imminence and distinction. This is given to pastors by their office and proved by their titles. They are called ‘angels’, Revelation 1:20; Hebrews 12:22; ‘bishops’, or ‘overseers’, Ezekiel 3:17; Acts 2:28; Titus 1:7; ‘ambassadors’, 2 Corinthians 5:20; ‘stewards’, 1 Corinthians 4:1; ‘men of God’, 1 Samuel 2:27; 1 Timothy 6:11; ‘leaders’, Hebrews 13:7,17; ‘lights’, Matthew 5:14; ‘salt’, Matthew 5:13; ‘fathers’, 1 Corinthians 4:15; and many other similar titles. If, according to these names, they honour God as they ought, God will also honor them as He promised, and God’s people, in all conscience, are to esteem them highly for their works’ sake. But if any of them are fallen angels, falling stars, negligent bishops, treacherous ambassadors, lordly revelling stewards, tyrannical or foolish leaders, blind guilds or unsavoury salt, the Lord and his people will abhor them.” -Duties of Christian Fellowship by John Owen

To abhor someone means to regard them with disgust.

If our pastors are godly men, submit to them. If they aren't, Abhor them and send them on their way.

Rule 5: The church is required to support the pastor and his family by supplying all their earthly needs, to the degree that is appropriate to the state and condition of the church.

Scripture reading is 1 Timothy 5:17-18

1 Timothy 5:17–18 ESV

Let the elders who rule well be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in preaching and teaching. For the Scripture says, “You shall not muzzle an ox when it treads out the grain,” and, “The laborer deserves his wages.”

Simply the church is to care for its pastors.

Faithful, godly, dedicated pastors and ministers are blessings to the church. The church ought to do its best within reason to care for and maintain its ministers.

Again, this is to be to the appropriate state and condition of the church. This is not saying we should pay our pastors $500,000 a year. But as long as the church can help it, they should not be going without the essentials.

Rule 6: The church is to remain loyal to the pastor and to stay at his side in all the trials and persecutions that may arise because of the word.

Scripture reading is 2 Timothy 4:14-16

2 Timothy 4:14–16 ESV

Alexander the coppersmith did me great harm; the Lord will repay him according to his deeds. Beware of him yourself, for he strongly opposed our message. At my first defense no one came to stand by me, but all deserted me. May it not be charged against them!

TURN IN YOUR BIBLE TO THIS PASSAGE. START IN VERSE 6. PAUL HAS ACKNOWLEDGED HIS DEATH. HE IS DESERTED.

There is obviously something wrong with this behavior. Paul says in verse 16, may it not be charged against them. They have sinned in deserting Paul when faced with persecution. Every commentary I read also calls this desertion a sin.

In Matthew Jesus says He will deny those before the Father who deny him before men. As hard as it maybe, we must stand firm in the faith. That means standing firm with our pastors when persecution and trials arise.

Pastoral Responsibilities

1. Teaching/preaching the word faithfully and applying it well: On average I spend 15-20hrs on the Sunday sermon alone. 5 Wednesday night confession teaching.

2. Praying for the congregation: This isn't usually thought of as a large part of the pastor's responsibility, but it is central. I pray daily for the members of the church plant, divided into days, and I pray as specifically as I can.

3. Counseling/Exhortation: Whether this is official (as far as a set aside hour or so in the office for counsel) or through regular conversation. This includes preparation for times of counseling as well.

4. Ordering liturgy/selecting hymns: This should be a responsibility of a pastor though hasn’t been in broad evangelicalism. I'll not only seek solid hymns and songs but also seek to select those that in-line close to the text being preached upon. This responsibility includes Scripture readings as well.

5. Further reading/education: This has grown more important to me as years have gone on. Whether that involves theological reading, political, historical, or cultural issues, a shepherd should read broadly to not only grasp the truths of Scriptures better but to understand how they have been applied in history and how they should be applied now.

CLOSING PRAYER