Church Leadership: Puzzle Pieces - An Introduction
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1 The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed: 2 Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind; 3 Neither as being lords over God’s heritage, but being ensamples to the flock. 4 And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.
Presbyteros & Episkopeo
A Mature Overseer who is:
Changed after having had a personal encounter with Christ
Connect Groups are our priority at The Ark Christian Church please get signed up today. If you believe that God planted you in THIS HOUSE, He knew this was coming and is calling you to be a part of the vision.
willing to take a lead in being an example
Able to be a feeder of the flock
Portland Bible College is the teaching arm of The Ark Christian Church. If you just have preaching, healing, and relationships, you are still missing something vitally important.
Because we are expecting MUCH prayer to take place in the Connect Groups, we are suspending Saturday Night Corporate Prayer at this time. This doesn’t mean that prayer stops, it means it multiplies in every one of our daily lives!!!
Not after money in a greedy way
Corporate Prayer is still on EVERY Sunday morning from 9:30-9:50am.
Puzzle Pieces
Puzzle Pieces
18 But now God has set the members, each one of them, in the body just as He pleased.
1 Now in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplying, there arose a complaint against the Hebrews by the Hellenists, because their widows were neglected in the daily distribution. 2 Then the twelve summoned the multitude of the disciples and said, “It is not desirable that we should leave the word of God and serve tables. 3 Therefore, brethren, seek out from among you seven men of good reputation, full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business; 4 but we will give ourselves continually to prayer and to the ministry of the word.” 5 And the saying pleased the whole multitude. And they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit, and Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas, a proselyte from Antioch, 6 whom they set before the apostles; and when they had prayed, they laid hands on them. 7 Then the word of God spread, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests were obedient to the faith.
The structure of the Holy Spirit causes His flock to be well cared for, for the Word of God to increase, & for disciples to be multiplied
3 Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business. 4 But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word. 5 And the saying pleased the whole multitude: and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Ghost, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolas a proselyte of Antioch: 6 Whom they set before the apostles: and when they had prayed, they laid their hands on them. 7 And the word of God increased; and the number of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem greatly; and a great company of the priests were obedient to the faith.
1 Now in the church that was at Antioch there were certain prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. 2 As they ministered to the Lord and fasted, the Holy Spirit said, “Now separate to Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” 3 Then, having fasted and prayed, and laid hands on them, they sent them away. 4 So, being sent out by the Holy Spirit, they went down to Seleucia, and from there they sailed to Cyprus.
The ministry of Paul and Barnabas changed the world & opened the door for salvation to many as a result of Presbytery.
17 So Moses’ father-in-law said to him, “The thing that you do is not good. 18 Both you and these people who are with you will surely wear yourselves out. For this thing is too much for you; you are not able to perform it by yourself. 19 Listen now to my voice; I will give you counsel, and God will be with you: Stand before God for the people, so that you may bring the difficulties to God. 20 And you shall teach them the statutes and the laws, and show them the way in which they must walk and the work they must do. 21 Moreover you shall select from all the people able men, such as fear God, men of truth, hating covetousness; and place such over them to be rulers of thousands, rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens. 22 And let them judge the people at all times. Then it will be that every great matter they shall bring to you, but every small matter they themselves shall judge. So it will be easier for you, for they will bear the burden with you. 23 If you do this thing, and God so commands you, then you will be able to endure, and all this people will also go to their place in peace.”
By “spreading out” the authority, responsibility, and activity of church “government” we believe the church will be better cared for and we, as the set leaders of this house, can function in our most important functions of being in the word and in prayer.
2 Examples:
2 Examples:
A Puzzle
When putting a puzzle together, the easiest way to do it is to start with the corners and the edges - then the middle comes together quickly.
A pre-school play yard
When there are solid boundaries and structures, there is much freedom within those boundaries.
By “spreading out” the authority, responsibility, and activity we believe the church will be better cared for and we, as the set leaders of this house can function in our most important functions of being in the word and in prayer.
15 But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: 16 From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.
2 Examples:
When we put a puzzle together, the easiest way to do it is to start with the corners and the edges, then the middle comes together quickly
When there are solid boundaries and structures, there is much freedom within those boundaries.
What is an Elder
What is an Elder
1 The elders who are among you I exhort, I who am a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that will be revealed: 2 Shepherd the flock of God which is among you, serving as overseers, not by compulsion but willingly, not for dishonest gain but eagerly; 3 nor as being lords over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock; 4 and when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that does not fade away.
1 This is a faithful saying: If a man desires the position of a bishop, he desires a good work. 2 A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, temperate, sober-minded, of good behavior, hospitable, able to teach; 3 not given to wine, not violent, not greedy for money, but gentle, not quarrelsome, not covetous; 4 one who rules his own house well, having his children in submission with all reverence 5 (for if a man does not know how to rule his own house, how will he take care of the church of God?); 6 not a novice, lest being puffed up with pride he fall into the same condemnation as the devil. 7 Moreover he must have a good testimony among those who are outside, lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.
17 Let the elders who rule well be counted worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in the word and doctrine.
14 Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord.
2 Groups at the Start:
2 Groups at the Start:
We believe that the Lord has given us 2 groups to begin our “church government” puzzle with:
Elders that will help to labor in doctrine, counsel, & wisdom
Those that will help to care for the shepherding needs of the flock
14 Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord:
17 Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially they who labour in the word and doctrine.
Qualifications of an Elder
Qualifications of an Elder
Presbyteros & Episkopeo (Elder, Bishop, Pastor)
A Mature Overseer who is:
Changed after having had a personal encounter with Christ
Willing to take a lead in being an example
Able to be a feeder (teacher) of the flock - if in a teaching role
Not after money in a greedy way
Maintaining a good (blameless) report inside and outside of the church
Not a drunkard
Not a striker or brawler
Not
Patient
Not Covetous
Ruling their own house well
Having minor children who are in subjection to them
Not a novice
Have a good report outside of the church
Able to perform home/hospital visitations for healing
Laboring in the word and doctrine
Just One Thing:
Just One Thing:
Believe, fast, & pray with us this month for the Holy Spirit’s structure to be fully realized at The Ark Christian Church!
Questions:
Questions:
When did something start out badly for you but in the end, it was great?
What can you see as being the key benefit you will personally experience through the structural changes that The Ark is about to make?
Read & and share what you think the importance is of using God’s structure to build.
Why do you feel that having such stringent requirements for the office of an elder is important to the success of God’s body, The Church?