Church - Part 3
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Welcome...
Introduction…
Continuing our series on what is the church
Every week I’m more compelled for the need to cover this topic, because the church as God designed it is largely under attack.
I’ve said it each week so far and will continue to argue that...
Understanding church (ecclesiology) is foundational for understanding life as a disciple/follower of Jesus
[[SLIDE]]
Without a correct view of the church, a person will not have a correct view of what it means to follow Jesus.
[[SLIDE]]
At Abide Church, we believe that
(1) the Bible is our final authority in all matters,
(2) the nature of the church is a theological issue, and
(3) that both the Universal Church and the Local Church are divinely instituted.
Universal Church: All true Christians everywhere throughout all time.
Local Church: Local gatherings of Christians at a specific time and place.
We are going to use Retro-Christianity’s essential “marks” and “works” framework.
These essential “marks” and “works” are both
Biblical (supported by scripture)
Historical (largely recognized throughout church history)
[[SLIDE]]
Framework:
Marks
Ordinances
Order
Orthodoxy
Works
Exaltation
Edification
Evangelism
The term order points to properly trained, trusted, and tested pastors, teachers, and leaders, to whom the orthodox faith has been entrusted for defending and passing on to the next generation.
(Retro Christianity)
There is so much to say today that I must fully rely on the Spirit to lead me in what I can say today.
[[PRAY]]
There are different denominations of Christians...
Different groups of Christians think differently about the precious structure of church leadership (polity)
But there must be some form of Order in a church to be a true church.
We believe that the New Testament talks about pastors, elders, and overseers and that in all those cases the New Testament is talking about the same men...
A sample of what the Bible teaches about Elders:
(1) Eldership is God’s Directive
(1) Eldership is God’s Directive
Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood. I know that after my departure fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; and from among your own selves will arise men speaking twisted things, to draw away the disciples after them.
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,
(2) Eldership is an Office
(2) Eldership is an Office
The saying is trustworthy: If anyone aspires to the office of overseer, he desires a noble task.
It’s official, not informal
(3) Elders Must Be Qualified
(3) Elders Must Be Qualified
The saying is trustworthy: If anyone aspires to the office of overseer, he desires a noble task. Therefore an overseer must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, sober-minded, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not a drunkard, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. He must manage his own household well, with all dignity keeping his children submissive, for if someone does not know how to manage his own household, how will he care for God’s church? He must not be a recent convert, or he may become puffed up with conceit and fall into the condemnation of the devil. Moreover, he must be well thought of by outsiders, so that he may not fall into disgrace, into a snare of the devil.
Great harm comes to churches because of unqualified men leading them
An entire sermon series could easily be preached on this text alone...
A similar list can be found in Titus:
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— if anyone is above reproach, the husband of one wife, and his children are believers and not open to the charge of debauchery or insubordination. For an overseer, as God’s steward, must be above reproach. He must not be arrogant or quick-tempered or a drunkard or violent or greedy for gain, but hospitable, a lover of good, self-controlled, upright, holy, and disciplined. He must hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught, so that he may be able to give instruction in sound doctrine and also to rebuke those who contradict it.
If there are not elders, there is no order
(4) Elders Must be an Example to the Church
(4) Elders Must be an Example to the Church
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: 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; not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock.
(5) Elders Can be Young
(5) Elders Can be Young
Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity.
(6) Elders are Called to Feed, Lead, Care for, and Protect the Church
(6) Elders are Called to Feed, Lead, Care for, and Protect the Church
and what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also.
Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity. Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation, to teaching.
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: 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; not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock.
Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood. I know that after my departure fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; and from among your own selves will arise men speaking twisted things, to draw away the disciples after them.
[[Spurgeon Slide]]
These essential “marks” and “works” are both
Biblical (supported by scripture)
Historical (largely recognized throughout church history)
Framework:
Marks
Ordinances
Order
Orthodoxy
Works
Exaltation
Edification
Evangelism
I want to primarily address the idea of order as it is one of the MARKS of a church.
That plays itself out in at least 2 distinct ways:
(This may be offensive to some in this room, if not, it would certainly be offensive to people you know).
[[SLIDE]]
(1)
If a group of Christians does not have
qualified & ordained
pastors/elders/overseers
they are NOT a church.
[[SLIDE]]
(2)
If a Christian is not submitted to
qualified & ordained
pastors/elders/overseers
they are in sin.
Where do you get that? It’s explicit here, and implicit all through the new testament...
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.
Likewise, you who are younger, be subject to the elders. Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”
What does it mean to submit?
Primarily it means this: [[SLIDE]]
I will trust these men to lead me to Jesus.
Remember your leaders, those who spoke to you the word of God. Consider the outcome of their way of life, and imitate their faith.
“Eric and I are a couple of young fools running after Jesus the best we know how and telling people to come with us...”
[[SLIDE]]
Four Reasons Someone Might Disobey Hebrews 13:
I don’t need leaders
I’m better off without leaders
I’m too busy to submit to leaders
I don’t trust any leaders
(1) I’m good, I’m better, or I only submit to God
(2) Free soul, lone wolf, dance to the beat of my own drum
(3) Everyone everywhere is busy… It sounds good, but doesn’t fit my lifestyle
(4) It is so very important that you find pastors who you trust and can submit to. And if it’s not us, me and Eric and Matt, it’s important that you find qualified and ordained men that you can submit to. Being your pastor is not something Eric and I take lightly. We believe it is an extremely weighty matter...
This is for our good...
Last week and this week
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,
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, 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.
Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.
Jesus is the Chief Shepherd
Jesus is the Chief Shepherd
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: 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; not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock. And when the chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory.
We follow Jesus at this church, we worship Jesus at this church, we submit to each other, we are all members of the body of Christ.
This is a Jesus church!
He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.