What is Wrong?
Church Leadership • Sermon • Submitted
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· 39 viewsWhat is wrong when a local church does not have qualified pastors
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We are beginning a new series on the eldership that I believe is very important. I am happy to see that you take this seriously also, or I would not have been invited to speak on this subject. Consider a scenario where next Sunday morning you arrive here to see a pall of smoke and a burned-out shell. What would the church decide to do about it?
I) Jerusalem church
I) Jerusalem church
Since they were the first local church, and we know the most about them
For a while the apostles ruled over the church – ; ; ; ;
While he clung to Peter and John, all the people, utterly astounded, ran together to them in the portico called Solomon’s.
and laid it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to each as any had need.
None of the rest dared join them, but the people held them in high esteem.
Now in these days when the disciples were increasing in number, a complaint by the Hellenists arose against the Hebrews because their widows were being neglected in the daily distribution. And the twelve summoned the full number of the disciples and said, “It is not right that we should give up preaching the word of God to serve tables. Therefore, brothers, pick out from among you seven men of good repute, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we will appoint to this duty. But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.” And what they said pleased the whole gathering, and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolaus, a proselyte of Antioch. These they set before the apostles, and they prayed and laid their hands on them.
And when he had come to Jerusalem, he attempted to join the disciples. And they were all afraid of him, for they did not believe that he was a disciple. But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles and declared to them how on the road he had seen the Lord, who spoke to him, and how at Damascus he had preached boldly in the name of Jesus.
Later the elders were included in this leadership – ; , ,
And they did so, sending it to the elders by the hand of Barnabas and Saul.
But some men came down from Judea and were teaching the brothers, “Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved.” And after Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and debate with them, Paul and Barnabas and some of the others were appointed to go up to Jerusalem to the apostles and the elders about this question.
The apostles and the elders were gathered together to consider this matter.
Therefore my judgment is that we should not trouble those of the Gentiles who turn to God, but should write to them to abstain from the things polluted by idols, and from sexual immorality, and from what has been strangled, and from blood. For from ancient generations Moses has had in every city those who proclaim him, for he is read every Sabbath in the synagogues.”
Then it seemed good to the apostles and the elders, with the whole church, to choose men from among them and send them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas. They sent Judas called Barsabbas, and Silas, leading men among the brothers,
Still later the elders seemed to have the primary position – – perhaps some of the apostles have traveled away from Jerusalem or have been killed
On the following day Paul went in with us to James, and all the elders were present.
II) What about the other churches?
II) What about the other churches?
Asia Minor – – every church – – Peter seems to write as if there are elders among them all
And when they had appointed elders for them in every church, with prayer and fasting they committed them to the Lord in whom they had believed.
So I exhort the elders among you, as a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, as well as a partaker in the glory that is going to be revealed:
Ephesus –
Now from Miletus he sent to Ephesus and called the elders of the church to come to him.
Philippi –
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Crete – – every city
This is why I left you in Crete, so that you might put what remained into order, and appoint elders in every town as I directed you—
Some will argue the epistles that do not mention elders meant they didn’t have them, yet the church in Ephesus did, but Paul doesn’t mention them –
Notice how many NT churches had elders? Not a single church is identified as not having elders, except those who were appointing them
Some will argue the epistles that do not mention elders meant they didn’t have them, yet the church in Ephesus did, but Paul doesn’t mention them –
Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God,
To the saints who are in Ephesus, and are faithful in Christ Jesus:
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Yet many churches now do not have elders; is God pleased?
III) Never be satisfied
III) Never be satisfied
Many will say, “It’s better to not have elders than to have unqualified men,” to which I would readily agree, but that is like saying it is better to be out in freezing rain instead of inside a burning house. Neither condition is something I am willing to accept without making every effort to fix.
Too many are willing to accept having no elders as all right, “scripturally unorganized”; which is using man’s wisdom to set aside the will of God
Churches cannot be complete without pastors – – they are not replaced by men’s business meetings (unqualified men acting in an unscriptural manner) – , ; , ,
And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers,
And the twelve summoned the full number of the disciples and said, “It is not right that we should give up preaching the word of God to serve tables. Therefore, brothers, pick out from among you seven men of good repute, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we will appoint to this duty.
And what they said pleased the whole gathering, and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolaus, a proselyte of Antioch. These they set before the apostles, and they prayed and laid their hands on them.
The apostles and the elders were gathered together to consider this matter.
And all the assembly fell silent, and they listened to Barnabas and Paul as they related what signs and wonders God had done through them among the Gentiles.
Then it seemed good to the apostles and the elders, with the whole church, to choose men from among them and send them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas. They sent Judas called Barsabbas, and Silas, leading men among the brothers,
Nor can the preacher take the role of elders – despite the denominational idea of “pastors”; there is some overlap, but they are not the same role
If a church is lacking something God wants them to have, what is the recourse? Where do we look for a solution to the problem?
Concl: Next week we will discuss reasons why churches do not have elders, next week the role and work of elders, and the following lessons the qualifications. I hope that you will be uncomfortable with not having elders. Please make plans to hear all of these lessons.