March 29, 2020 I Will Give you Shepherds after My Own Heart

I will give you shepherds after my own heart! March 29, 2020 – Acts 14:23 Acts 14:1–28 (ESV) Verses 21-23 21When they had preached the gospel to that city and had made many disciples, they returned to Lystra and to Iconium and to Antioch, At the end of their 1st Missionary Journey heading back to Antioch teaching the churches…and appointing elders! --- Revelation Demands Response --1. Recognize that Elders are a provision of Christ’s love for His churches! 22strengthening > Because God loved and cared for His people Israel, He gave them shepherds! Jeremiah 31:3, 15; 23:4 23And > Because Christ loves and cares for His Church He gives them shepherds! Acts 14:23; Acts 20:28–31; Ephesians 4:11–12; Philippians 4:19; Ephesians 5:25–27; John 17:15–17 the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to continue in the faith and saying that through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God. 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. 2. Elders care for His church on the practical, local level! > A hostile world toward Christ and His Church! Acts 20:28–31; Matthew 7:15 1. oversee, Acts 20:28; 1 Peter 5:2 2. shepherd, 1 Peter 5:1-4; Psalm 23; Ephesians 5:25-27 3. set in order, Titus 1:5; 1 Cor. 14:40; 7:35; Colossians 2:5 3. Elders can only care for the flock when their eyes are fully on Christ! John 21:15-17; 3 John 9–10 4. Elders can only be followed fully with your eyes fully on Christ! Hebrews 13:17; 1 Thessalonians 5:12–13; 1 Peter 5:4 Application questions on the back à Abide in the Word this week... I will build My Church! I will give you shepherds after My own heart! (Acts 14:23) For the following application questions, review your notes from the front 1. Recognize that Elders are a provision of Christ’s love for His churches! > Because God loved and cared for His people Israel, He gave them shepherds! > Because Christ loves and cares for His Church He gives them shepherds! Write out why and how you can see your elders as a love provision from Christ. 2. Christ gives elders to care for His church on the practical, local level! Write out why a hostile world towards Christ necessitates local church elders. Write out times when you have experienced your elders in their ministry of overseeing, shepherding, and setting/keeping things in order. Write out why the statement, “Biblical ecclesiology must be local” is true. 3. Elders can only care for the flock when their eyes are fully on Christ! Write out what obstacles might by faced by effective elders in a local church carrying out their work. Write out how “eyes fully on Christ” carries them in their ministry. 4. Elders can only be followed fully with your eyes fully on Christ! Write out what obstacles you might face in following your elders. Write out from our study how “eyes fully on Christ” helps and motivates you to follow your elders. From our study, write out a prayer to the Lord thanking Him for what you have learned. Our vision is to know…follow…and love Christ! Building passionate followers of Christ!