Last Three Obligations

Obligations Towards Church Leaders

Eph 4:11 And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ

In many ways we are equal

in need of salvation - in value before the Lord - serving one master - will all stand in judgement one day

all sheep

SOME are set aside to be UNDERSHEPHERDS

and it is through these UNDERSHEPHERDS that Jesus Shepherds

NOW WATCH OUT - any church that teaches the hierarchy of the Bible will get accusations “controlling” “backwards” “patriarchy” “oppressive” “gestapo”

BUT God has set in place hierarchies. It’s not us, it’s Jesus.

chasing BIBLE - chasing JESUS

God has set THREE in place. Family, Church, State.

The world is fine with one of them, but the other two raise issue.

IN FACT - if the mention of the word “hierarchy” sets you on edge, watch out. You’ve been manipulated away from what the Bible teaches. Someone IS controlling you, and it’s NOT for your good.

WHY DO WE NEED UNDERSHEPHERDS

equipping, edifying.

HOW DO WE GET THEM

through the tithes and offerings

BUT HOW DO WE KNOW WHOM GOD HAS GIVEN US

Guess - we look to THE BIBLE

Acts 6:3 Therefore, brothers,[a] pick out from among you seven men of good repute, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we will appoint to this duty.

How do we know who is of Good repute - who is right?- we look at the qualifications - 1 Tim, Titus, etc.

they are ordained, sent, emplowered by the congregation.

this is way of saying to everyone watching “WE RECOGNIZE THIS PERSON AS OUR PASTOR”

Once selected, recognized, ordained ...

Heb 13:17 Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you.

now - if you’re not a member you can’t do this. you are without authority - this is why we emphasize church membership so much.

but faithful members - we are called to obey

now this isn’t absolute obedience - Rom 13 says obey the Govt, but it’s not absollute eitehr. We are to obey our parents, but not absollutely.

All authority is ONLY legitimate when it is from God and in submission to God.

And this authority works in two categories

Biblical Matters - the job of the pastor is to make the Bible plain, the job of the church members to obey it

But there’s a reason the term in 1 Tim is “overseer”

there are admin matters that elders, pastors deal with as well. carpet color. service times.

you can disagree - you can tell me you disagree - that’s great. but when we’re moving, a decision is made, we move forward TOGETHER.

1 Thes 5:12 We ask you, brothers, to respect those who labor among you and are over you in the Lord and admonish you, 13 and to esteem them very highly in love because of their work. Be at peace among yourselves.

so not just obey - but we honor.

what a great place to be. peaceful, content. an exmple that flies in the face of the world around us.

1 Tim 5:19 Do not admit a charge against an elder except on the evidence of two or three witnesses.

watch out. The devil and his minions know how to tear down churches.

don’t receive a charge against a pastor or elder unless it is an actual charge. AND carries several witnesses.

NOTE this is not 2-3 people that agree about somethign vague and unmeasurable. We’re talking about sin here. Clear sin with 2-3 witnesses.

now this is difficult for a lot of reasons, part of it is our general american distrust of leaders, another part of related to church history in the west in general… regardless. This is what the Bible lays out for us, so we obey.

OBLIGATIONS TO NEEDY MEMBERS

1 John 3:16 By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers. 17 But if anyone has the world's goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God's love abide in him? 18 Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth.

if you see, and have, you have an obligation.

if you close your heart - instead of open - you’re demonstrating something else about yourself. That you don’t have the LOVE OF GOD within you.

NOW LETS BE CLEAR

if you don’t work you don’t eat - and NO ONE is to open their hands to someone who is simply idle.

and the church leadership is instructed to handle benevolence in certain ways - but don’t miss the main point.

if you see, and you have, then you help.

several diff ways of this playing out - offering a job? investing? interest free little loans? maybe a gift?

and we remember the economy of heaven!

Prov 19:17 Kindness to the poor is a loan to the LORD, and He will repay the lender.

OBLIGATIONS TO MEMBERS WITH CHRONIC DISORDERS

1 Thes 5:14 And we urge you, brothers, admonish the idle,[c] encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with them all. 15 See that no one repays anyone evil for evil, but always seek to do good to one another and to everyone.

Most sins are to be covered. Personalities excused.

and if you want that covered - then do it for others.

But serious sins must be dealt with publicly. And can lead to excommunication.

Sexual immorality, embezzlement, divisive behavior, false teaching

but here in 1 Thess we find a middle ground, a middle category.

folks who can’t seem to grow up. they lack maturity. slow walkers. And this passage gives us three types

FAINTHEARTED: a person governed by fear/anxiety. The situation is always a crisis. Their marraige is about to implode, they’re on the cusps of being fired/quitting their job, and they think the church is falling apart as well.

You know somebody like this? Encourage them. Don’t write them off. Don’t mock them. Encourage them. LIFT UP YOUR BROTHER

WEAK: The weak in the faith. Conscience is yet to be trained by the Bible. OR MAYBE they’re weak when it comes to sin, easily turned to sin OR MAYBE easily guilty (even in absense of sin?)

help them. bring them along. challenge them. encourage them. teach them. train them. Don’t give up on them.

but don’t let their weakness set the pace for the whole group, bible study, church. Bring them along. Build their trust.

IDLE: A better translation here is “out of step”

in other words, these are folks who can’t get along.

they always feel the need to go against what others are doing. Where the leadership is going. Or maybe they’re working to maintain a sense of autonomy.

They never really hear you rightly. or understand. or comply. They’re always working against the flow.

warn them, admonish them. in other words,you keep them in check.

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