How congregations and pastor's work together...

Pastors Provide an Example

We have already seen that modeling the way of the cross is a crucial component of discipling generally. Remember that Paul said, “Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ” ().

The elders are men given by the Spirit and recognized by the congregation as exemplary models. They are not perfect, but they are above reproach. This is why Paul emphasizes the importance of character when describing their qualities to Timothy and Titus (; ). The author of Hebrews also counsels, “Remember your leaders, those who spoke to you the word of God. Consider the outcome of their way of life, and imitate their faith” (13:7). Notice he doesn’t exhort his readers to follow the example of just any leaders; he tells them to follow “your” leaders.

a crucial component of discipling generally. Remember that

Paul said, “Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ” ().

the congregation as exemplary models. They are not perfect,

but they are above reproach. This is why Paul emphasizes the

importance of character when describing their qualities to

Timothy and Titus (; ). The author of

Hebrews also counsels, “Remember your leaders, those who

spoke to you the word of God. Consider the outcome of their

way of life, and imitate their faith” (13:7). Notice he doesn’t

exhort his readers to follow the example of just any leaders; he

tells them to follow “your” leaders.

It’s all well and good for you to learn through the books of pastors who are dead and gone. It’s fine for you to enjoy the sermons of other preachers on the Internet. But Scripture calls you to imitate the faith of the pastors who spoke to you the Word of God. These are the men who will give an account for you (). The stakes are higher for them. So watch their lives as part of your discipleship, and from them learn how to disciple others. The local church is the natural arena for discipling relationships, because that’s where the pastors are!

of pastors who are dead and gone. It’s fine for you to enjoy

the sermons of other preachers on the Internet. But Scripture

calls you to imitate the faith of the pastors who spoke to you

the Word of God. These are the men who will give an account

for you (). The stakes are higher for them. So watch

their lives as part of your discipleship, and from them learn

how to disciple others.

The local church is the natural arena for discipling relationships,

because that’s where the pastors are!

Th e Congregation Receives and Supports the Pastors’ Ministry

Supports the Pastors’ Ministry

But now let’s consider how the congregation helps to make the local church a natural arena for discipling relationships, starting with how they receive and support the elders’ ministry. You realize, don’t you, that the congregation’s reception and support of the elders as gifts from Christ makes their ministry possible? They need the congregation’s love and prayers as well as their cheerful support. A church “works” when the members honor and submit to their pastors. Too easily do Christians overlook this dynamic.

honor and submit to their pastors. Too easily do Christians

local church a natural arena for discipling relationships, starting

overlook this dynamic.

with how they receive and support the elders’ ministry.

You realize, don’t you, that the congregation’s reception and

Consider how Paul exhorts the Thessalonians: “We ask you, brothers, to respect those who labor among you and are over you in the Lord and admonish you, and to esteem them very highly in love because of their work” (). Those who rule well and teach, he says, are worthy of “double honor” (), which is a financial term. To the Galatians he says, “Let the one who is taught the word share all good things with the one who teaches” (6:6). If a brother is gifted by God and called to teach his Word, a church will benefit by helping him to arrange his life so that he can concentrate on teaching. His ability to equip them depends upon their receiving him.

you, brothers, to respect those who labor among you and are

support of the elders as gifts from Christ makes their ministry

possible? They need the congregation’s love and prayers as well

over you in the Lord and admonish you, and to esteem them

very highly in love because of their work” ().

Those who rule well and teach, he says, are worthy of “double

honor” (), which is a financial term. To the Galatians

he says, “Let the one who is taught the word share all

good things with the one who teaches” (6:6). If a brother is

gifted by God and called to teach his Word, a church will benefit

by helping him to arrange his life so that he can concentrate

on teaching. His ability to equip them depends upon their

receiving him.

Th e Congregation Must Sometimes Reject the Pastors’ Ministry

Reject the Pastors’ Ministry

At the same time, a congregation also helps to foster a culture of discipling by being ready to reject the elders whenever the elders reject God’s Word. If discipling means helping others follow Jesus, congregations that tolerate bad teachers are not helping others follow Jesus. Sadly, too many pastors have rejected God’s Word, and too many churches have not recognized their responsibility in this matter. The New Testament teaches that a congregation will share responsibility for the serious false teaching that it endures. Paul blames not just false teachers, but the members who have itching ears and accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions ().

The Bible recognizes the responsibility of the congregation to reject false teachers. Paul even tells the churches in Galatia they can pull rank on him if he departs from the gospel: “But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed” ().

of discipling by being ready to reject the elders whenever the

to reject false teachers. Paul even tells the churches in

elders reject God’s Word. If discipling means helping others

follow Jesus, congregations that tolerate bad teachers are not

Galatia they can pull rank on him if he departs from the gospel:

“But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you

helping others follow Jesus. Sadly, too many pastors have rejected

God’s Word, and too many churches have not recognized

a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed”

their responsibility in this matter. The New Testament teaches

(). I therefore regularly tell my church to “fire

that a congregation will share responsibility for the serious

me” if I compromise Scripture.

false teaching that it endures. Paul blames not just false teachers,

Knowing that you as a church member possess this responsibility should increase your sense of the seriousness of membership. It requires you to know the gospel, study the gospel, and generally give careful attention to God’s Word! In short, it makes you a better discipler.

should increase your sense of the seriousness of

but the members who have itching ears and accumulate for

membership. It requires you to know the gospel, study the

themselves teachers to suit their own passions ().

gospel, and generally give careful attention to God’s Word! In

short, it makes you a better discipler.

Members Are Responsible for One Another

The members of a church are also responsible for one another. The whole congregation is responsible to make sure that each member—Bonnie and Regina, Steve and Ken—are loved and spurred on to love (e.g., ; ). We are one body: “For the body does not consist of one member but of many. If the foot should say, ‘Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,’ that would not make it any less a part of the body” ().

The whole congregation is responsible to make sure that each

member—Sarah and Stephanie, Nick and Joe—are loved and

spurred on to love (e.g., ; ). We are

one body: “For the body does not consist of one member but

of many. If the foot should say, ‘Because I am not a hand, I do

not belong to the body,’ that would not make it any less a part

of the body” ().

This responsibility takes a lot of forms. Just count up the “one anothers” in one short passage from Paul: “Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. . . . Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality. . . . Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with one another” (). This is a community that takes responsibility for its own members.

its own members.

“one anothers” in one short passage from Paul: “Love one another

with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing

Yet what I want you to see here is that these “one another” responsibilities, many of which will be fulfilled individually, occur within the context of the congregation’s corporate responsibility for itself. I mentioned above the elders’ leadership role in accountability and discipline. But the New Testament ultimately charges the gathered congregation with responsibility for ensuring that members live up to their professions of faith and covenants with each other.

responsibilities, many of which will be fulfilled individually,

honor. . . . Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to

occur within the context of the congregation’s corporate responsibility

show hospitality. . . . Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with

for itself. I mentioned above the elders’ leadership

Jesus does this in .

those who weep. Live in harmony with one another” (Rom.

role in accountability and discipline. But the New Testament

ultimately charges the gathered congregation with responsibility

for ensuring that members live up to their professions

Paul, too, exhorts not the pastors but the congregation to exclude an unrepentant man from membership ().

of faith and covenants with each other. Jesus does this in

. Paul, too, exhorts not the pastors but the congregation

And he exhorts the congregation to restore someone who proves repentant ().

to exclude an unrepentant man from membership

(). And he exhorts the congregation to restore

This corporate congregational responsibility is both a part of discipling and itself an aid to the work of one-on-one discipling.

someone who proves repentant (). This corporate

congregational responsibility is both a part of discipling and

itself an aid to the work of one-on-one discipling.

Let me illustrate very specifically so you can picture this. I have two Christian friends, Shane who is a member of my church and my cousin Donny who is not, and I am trying to disciple both of them.

one who is a member of my church and one who is not, and I

With Shane who is a member of my church,

am trying to disciple both of them. With the brother who is a

member of my church, I can appeal to Sunday’s sermon. I can

I can appeal to Sunday’s sermon.

appeal to the example set by our elders. I can appeal, if I must,

I can appeal to the example set by our elders.

I can appeal, if I must, to the threat of discipline for unrepentant sin.

to the threat of discipline for unrepentant sin. Plus, I know I’m

Plus, I know I’m personally responsible, as a part of my corporate responsibility, for pursuing Shane in all of these ways.

personally responsible, as a part of my corporate responsibility,

And the fact that our discipling relationship occurs within this accountability context invigorates my sense of ownership and care.

for pursuing the brother in all of these ways. And the fact that

our discipling relationship occurs within this accountability

I’m responsible for him, just like I’m more responsible for my wife than for other women, or more responsible for my children than for other children.

context invigorates my sense of ownership and care. I’m responsible

Now with my cousin Donny who is not a member of my church, I am responsible, for Christ’s sake, to love and encourage and warn him of the consequences of unrepentant sin. But I’m not the one tasked by Jesus with providing the final accountability structure in his life. The members of his church are. I wouldn’t want to say that that fact will make me more complacent in my care for him. But it does lower the stakes and lessen my responsibility for him, again, just as I am less responsible for your children than I am for my own.

for him, just like I’m more responsible for my wife

I am responsible, for Christ’s sake, to love and encourage and

than for other women, or more responsible for my children

warn him of the consequences of unrepentant sin. But I’m not

than for other children.

the one tasked by Jesus with providing the final accountability

structure in his life. The members of his church are. I wouldn’t

Do you see how the church’s responsibility for itself aids the work of discipling? Do you see how the skeleton of the body and the body’s flesh and muscle hang together?

want to say that that fact will make me more complacent in

my care for him. But it does lower the stakes and lessen my

responsibility for him, again, just as I am less responsible

for your children than I am for my own. Do you see how the

Formalizing our obligations to one another as a congregation helps us to commit to each person who joins the church. It aids our sense of ownership and responsibility. It gives form and shape to our discipling relationships.

church’s responsibility for itself aids the work of discipling?

A Culture of Discipling

Do you see how the skeleton of the body and the body’s flesh

Ultimately, our corporate responsibilities and our individual responsibilities blend together in a culture of discipling. We read and speak the Word to each other. We spend time with each other. We pray for the elders and one another. We love. We give. We attend the weekly gathering prayerfully and with anticipation. We come prepared. We plow up our hearts beforehand, ready to receive God’s Word. We follow the example of our leaders who show us how to follow Christ ourselves.

and muscle hang together?

responsibilities blend together in a culture of discipling. We

Formalizing our obligations to one another as a congregation

read and speak the Word to each other. We spend time with

helps us to commit to each person who joins the church.

each other. We pray for the elders and one another. We love.

It aids our sense of ownership and responsibility. It gives form

We give. We attend the weekly gathering prayerfully and with

and shape to our discipling relationships.

anticipation. We come prepared. We plow up our hearts beforehand,

ready to receive God’s Word. We follow the example

of our leaders who show us how to follow Christ ourselves.

We submit to the wise leadership of the elders unless they are leading us in an unbiblical direction. We respect the stewardship the congregation has of us. We counsel and encourage and warn one another. “Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear” ().

mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the

leading us in the wrong direction. We respect the stewardship

occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear” ().

the congregation has of us. We counsel and encourage and

In the life of a church, spiritual growth and health should be the norm. It should be normal to see people growing and maturing spiritually. In fact, spiritual growth is not optional for the Christian; it indicates life. Things that are truly alive grow. Dead things don’t. God has gifted a church with elders for the purposes of growth, and he has given us one another.

be the norm. It should be normal to see people growing and

maturing spiritually. In fact, spiritual growth is not optional

for the Christian; it indicates life. Things that are truly alive

grow. Dead things don’t. God has gifted a church with elders

for the purposes of growth, and he has given us one another.

It’s within the context of all these relationships with members and pastors alike, all covenanted together, that we find the richest soil (along with the Christian family) for disciplingrelationships to (super)naturally grow. Our doctrine and life attain their shape within the doctrine and life of the community. This is a culture of discipling.

and pastors alike, all covenanted together, that we find

the richest soil (along with the Christian family) for discipling

relationships to (super)naturally grow. Our doctrine and life

attain their shape within the doctrine and life of the community.

This is a culture of discipling.

Are you struggling in your personal evangelism? Then I hope you will listen for the help, and prayer, and testimonies of other members of your church.

hope you will listen for the help, and prayer, and testimonies

of other members of your church.

Are you enjoying your marriage right now or struggling in it? The local church is where to look for encouragement and counsel. It’s where we receive instruction and give it, as we disciple each other.

it? The local church is where to look for encouragement and

counsel. It’s where we receive instruction and give it, as we

disciple each other.

How can an older member persevere in following Christ after a difficult surgery? Partly through a church’s encouragement and love.

after a difficult surgery? Partly through a church’s encouragement

and love.

How can a younger Christian navigate his own discouragement and doubt when a friend walks away from the faith? Through the church’s support and counsel.

and doubt when a friend walks away from the faith?

Through the church’s support and counsel.

How are we to find a spouse and rear a family, to be a good employee and a faithful neighbor? Through the teaching of the local church, and the discipling that we find there.

local church, and the discipling that we find there.

How are other churches started and encouraged? How are Christian homes founded and nourished? How are ministries and opportunities for service shared?

are Christian homes founded and nourished? How are ministries

How are the weak strengthened, the straying sought, the evangelists stirred up? All through the local church!

and opportunities for service shared? How are the weak

strengthened, the straying sought, the evangelists stirred up?

All through the local church!

In these ways and more we help one another follow Jesus. We disciple one another. Churches don’t need programs so much as they need cultures of discipling, cultures where each member prioritizes the spiritual health of others. Each has been given a gift for the common good, and each should use whatever gift he or she has been given to build up the body:

We disciple one another. Churches don’t need programs so

much as they need cultures of discipling, cultures where each

member prioritizes the spiritual health of others. Each has

been given a gift for the common good, and each should use

whatever gift he or she has been given to build up the body:

“Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone. To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good” ().

are varieties of service, but the same Lord; and there are varieties

of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them

all in everyone. To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit

for the common good” ().

In my own congregation, I pray and work for such a culture. I pray that through my own teaching ministry, as well as through the ministry of every member, we are all encouraged to share the gospel with our neighbors, to bear each others’ burdens, to feel motivated to give financially to God’s work, to give serious attention to God’s Word, and to care and pray for the unity of those who have little in common apart from Christ.

I pray that through my own teaching ministry, as well as

through the ministry of every member, we are all encouraged

to share the gospel with our neighbors, to bear each others’

burdens, to feel motivated to give financially to God’s work, to

give serious attention to God’s Word, and to care and pray for

the unity of those who have little in common apart from Christ.

Th e Local Church Is Better

The local church—this Father-designed, Jesus-authorized, and Spirit-gifted body—is far better equipped to undertake the work of discipling believers than simply you and your one friend. Jesus does not promise that you and your one friend will defeat the gates of hell. He promises that the church will do this. You cannot recognize yourself as gifted and called to teach God’s Word, or to baptize and administer the Lord’s Supper, like a local church is so authorized.

and Spirit-gifted body—is far better equipped to undertake the work of discipling believers than simply you and your one

friend. Jesus does not promise that you and your one friend

will defeat the gates of hell. He promises that the church will

do this. You cannot recognize yourself as gifted and called to

teach God’s Word, or to baptize and administer the Lord’s Supper,

like a local church is so authorized.

Suppose that tomorrow a non-Christian friend of yours in another city for whom you’ve been praying for years becomes a Christian and starts attending an evangelical church in his city.

another city for whom you’ve been praying for years becomes a

Christian and starts attending an evangelical church in his city.

How would you want that church to receive your friend, whom you love? Presumably, you’d want the congregation as a whole to take responsibility for him. You’d want the elders to teach him. And you’d want a number of individuals in particular to reach out to him, to take him under their wing, to disciple him.

you love? Presumably, you’d want the congregation as a whole

to take responsibility for him. You’d want the elders to teach

him. And you’d want a number of individuals in particular to

reach out to him, to take him under their wing, to disciple him.

You’d want them to teach and model what it means to study the

You’d want them to teach and model what it means to study the Bible, to walk in righteousness, to evangelize, to be a Christian spouse and parent, to stand up to the world, and to disciple others in turn. And how you would rejoice if that church took responsibility for your friend like this, no?

Bible, to walk in righteousness, to evangelize, to be a Christian

spouse and parent, to stand up to the world, and to disciple

others in turn. And how you would rejoice if that church took

responsibility for your friend like this, no?

Now, do you receive and disciple the members of your church like this? Have you been helping others follow Jesus? Are you the answer to prayer of Christians in other cities? If not, don’t panic. I’m not going to ask you to start discipling dozens. Instead, I want you to think about one person in your church—just one.

church like this? Have you been helping others follow Jesus?

Are you the answer to prayer of Christians in other cities?

If not, don’t panic. I’m not going to ask you to start discipling

Think of one person whom you would love to see following Jesus more. Now, pray for that person . . . Did you pray? Next, how do you think you might go about discipling that person?

dozens. Instead, I want you to think about one person in

your church—just one. Think of one person whom you would

love to see following Jesus more. Now, pray for that person . . .

Did you pray? Next, how do you think you might go about

discipling that person?

Okay, maybe that word discipling still seems intimidating to you. Let me rephrase: how do you think you might go about helping that person follow Jesus? Or, how can you do deliberate spiritual good in his or her life? What are one or two small steps you can take?

helping that person follow Jesus? Or, how can you do deliberate

spiritual good in his or her life? What are one or two small

steps you can take?