Elder Recognition

In the seven months that we’ve been here...

I can assure you that you have godly Elders.

I’ve had a good amount of time with them.

I’ve gained a lot of respect for them.

They’re wise and they are greatly concerned with the souls they’ve been entrusted with as your Elders.

I want to highlight some passages that speak to my feelings about the calling upon my life as an Elder & Pastor.

I’ve been in the ministry for 21 years now.

The Seriousness of the Calling

2 Peter 2:3-10 His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, 4 by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire. 5 For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, 6 and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, 7 and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. 8 For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 For whoever lacks these qualities is so nearsighted that he is blind, having forgotten that he was cleansed from his former sins. 10 Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to confirm your calling and election, for if you practice these qualities you will never fall.

This passage is specifically speaking to our calling as Christians...

But, the reality is that every Christian has been gifted to carry out the ministry(ies) that God has for them to fulfill.

And, we are responsible to use the gifts that God has given us...

And, we are responsible to pursue these virtues listed in the passage...

So that, we will grow in our effectiveness and fruitfulness...

In our Christian life and the ministries that God allows us to participate.

Romans 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.

The Purpose of the Calling

Ephesians 4:11-14 And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, 12 to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, 13 until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, 14 so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes.

Fighting against one while building the other.

The Means of the Calling

2 Timothy 3:16-17 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.

2 Timothy 4:1-2 I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom: 2 preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching.

The Demeanor of the Calling

1 Peter 5:1-4 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: 2 shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you; not for shameful gain, but eagerly; 3 not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock. 4 And when the chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory.

The Humbling Nature of the Calling

James 3:1 Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness.

2 Corinthians 2:15-17 For we are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing, 16 to one a fragrance from death to death, to the other a fragrance from life to life. Who is sufficient for these things? 17 For we are not, like so many, peddlers of God’s word, but as men of sincerity, as commissioned by God, in the sight of God we speak in Christ.

When Charles Spurgeon was asked why he believed his ministry was so effective...

Without hesitation, he replied, “My people pray for me.”

As your Elders, we need your prayers.

And, as your Elders, we are committed to pray for you.