Elder Ordination
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Ordination Questions
Ordination Questions
1) Revelation
1) Revelation
Topics: Knowledge of God, general revelation, scripture.
Reference: Membership Affirmations: 1. Scripture.
Questions:
a) How (i.e., in what ways, and to what extent) can God be known outside of scripture?
General Revelation: The ways in which God reveals aspects about himself to all people, whether through creation, the conscious, or by the perception of his influence on events throughout history. All people have therefore have received sufficient revelation to know that God exists, that he is the creator, and that we have sinned against him. While sufficient for condemnation, it is insufficient for salvation because it does not reveal a path for reconciliation. Rejecting part of God’s revelation is a rejection of the whole.
The heavens declare the glory of God,
and the sky above proclaims his handiwork.
For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse. For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened.
Special Revelation: the disclosure of God’s will, nature, and plan of reconciliation to all of humanity by His word, including that which is spoken through the prophets and apostles. Without special revelation, one cannot be saved.
Romans 16:25-27
Now to him who is able to strengthen you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery that was kept secret for long ages but has now been disclosed and through the prophetic writings has been made known to all nations, according to the command of the eternal God, to bring about the obedience of faith— to the only wise God be glory forevermore through Jesus Christ! Amen.
Hebrews 1 3
He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,
Deut. 29:29
“The secret things belong to the Lord our God, but the things that are revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law.
John 1:18
No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father’s side, he has made him known.
b) What does it mean to say that God is the author of scripture (inspiration)?
It means that while Scripture was written by human hands, the Holy Spirit directed the words they wrote in such a way that they are fully their own words and fully God’s words that are represented through each of the author’s unique personalities and vocabulary, and are therefore without error.
Heb. 1:1
Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets,
2 Peter 1:21
For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.
2 tim 3:16
All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness,
Deut. 18:18-20
I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their brothers. And I will put my words in his mouth, and he shall speak to them all that I command him. And whoever will not listen to my words that he shall speak in my name, I myself will require it of him. But the prophet who presumes to speak a word in my name that I have not commanded him to speak, or who speaks in the name of other gods, that same prophet shall die.’
c) On what basis do we argue that scripture is without error (inerrancy)? Or how would you go about making that case?
d) What does it mean to say that scripture is (1) clear (perspicuous), (2) sufficient, and (3) authoritative (cf. sola scriptura)?
2) God
2) God
Topics:
Nature: God’s attributes, the trinity.
Works: Decrees, creation, providence.
Reference:
Membership Affirmations: 2. The Triune God.
Church Affirmations: 1. God’s Eternal Decree.
Church Affirmations: 2. Creation & Human Origins.
Questions:
a) What does it mean to say that God is a triunity?
b) Be able to explain and describe the meaning of God’s various attributes.
c) Provide a Biblical explanation for the doctrines of God’s sovereignty and God’s providence.
d) How would you answer those who say that, if God is in control of all things, then human freedom can’t exist and God is responsible for evil?
e) What would you consider to be non-negotiables regarding the doctrine of creation? And why?
1) All things were created through Christ and for Christ Col. 1:16
f) How would you respond to current cultural critique of the Bible’s doctrine of creation?
3) Jesus Christ
3) Jesus Christ
Topics:
Person: incarnation; hypostatic union.
Work: Sinlessness, atonement, resurrection, intercession, etc.
Reference: Membership Affirmations: 2. Jesus Christ.
Questions:
a) Provide a Biblical case for the description of Christ as “truly God and truly man,” and distinguish this orthodox understanding of Christ from some its more common errors.
b) Why was the incarnation necessary? In other words, why did God become human?
c) What is your understanding of the atonement? What did Jesus’ death accomplish?
d) What is the significance of Jesus’ resurrection?
e) For whom did Christ die? (cf. Church Affirmations: 6. God’s Sovereign Purpose Of Grace.)
I believe that Christ did not die for an indiscriminate group of people, but came to die for his sheep who the Father has given him. If Christ’s paid for the sins of all people, then there is no penalty left for anyone to pay, and all people would be saved. God could not condemn to eternal punishment anyone whose sins are already paid for. This does not contradict the gospel as a free offer, as we do not know who God has called. Therefore, we can confidently tell all people that if they repent and put their trust in Christ his atonement is sufficient for them.
John 6 37-40
All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out. For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will but the will of him who sent me. And this is the will of him who sent me, that I should lose nothing of all that he has given me, but raise it up on the last day. For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.”
John 10:11
I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.
Romans 8 32
He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?
f) How would you respond to someone who denies that Jesus is the only way of salvation, and instead argues that the various religions represent multiple legitimate paths to God (religious pluralism)?
4) The Holy Spirit
4) The Holy Spirit
Topics:
Nature: personhood, divinity.
Works: ministry, spiritual gifts.
Reference:
Membership Affirmations: 4. The Holy Spirit.
Church Affirmations: 7. Spirit-Baptism.
Questions:
a) Provide an account for both the personhood and divinity of the Spirit.
b) What are the various ministries of the Holy Spirit in the Christian life according to scripture? And what do they mean?
c) How would you respond to someone claiming that after conversion believers are still to seek an additional “baptism of the Spirit” resulting in an elevated spiritual experience?
d) Describe your understanding of spiritual gifts (i.e. what they are, their purpose, etc.)? And, in particular, your position on whether the miraculous gifts (e.g., healing, tongues) continue today?
5) Humanity & Its Fall
5) Humanity & Its Fall
Topics:
Humanity: Human nature, image of God, gender.
Sin: Original sin, total depravity.
Reference:
Membership Affirmations: 5. Humanity & Its Fall.
Church Affirmations: 3. Gender Complementarity.
Church Affirmations: 5. Total Depravity.
Questions:
a) What does it mean to be human and made in the image of God?
b) How would you articulate the Bible’s account on the difference between men and women?
c) How should we assess transgenderism pastorally and theologically?
d) What is sin? How would you define it Biblically?
e) What is the doctrine of original sin? And explain the relation of Adam’s sin to the human race.
f) Distinguish a Biblical framework of sin and sinfulness from popular contemporary sensibilities regarding human nature.
g) Provide a Biblical case for the doctrine of total depravity as well as explaining what it means.
7) Salvation
7) Salvation
Topics: Election (predestination), calling, regeneration, conversion (faith & repentance), justification, adoption, sanctification, perseverance (eternal security), glorification.
Reference:
Membership Affirmations: 6. Salvation
Church Affirmations: 6. God’s Sovereign Purpose Of Grace
Church Affirmation: 8. Progressive Sanctification.
Questions:
a) What is the Bible’s teaching on election and predestination? And how would you answer those who charge it with being unfair?
b) What is regeneration or the new birth?
c) What are faith and repentance?
d) If you were conducting a membership interview, what things would you be looking for in their answers to discern that they're a genuine believer?
e) Using scripture, how would you explain “irresistible grace” (as it’s referred to in the so-called “five points of Calvinism”) to someone?
f) What is justification and how does it happen? What is its basis?
g) What is the role of good works in salvation and the saved life?
h) What is your view of sanctification — in other words, what does Christian growth look like, how does it happen, how can it be pursued, etc.?
i) How is sanctification different from justification, and how does it relate to justification?
j) What is union with Christ, and what role or place does it serve in our salvation?
k) Can someone lose their salvation? If not, how should we think about those who abandon their profession of faith? Or likewise, is perseverance in the faith necessary for final salvation?
l) What is the Bible’s teaching on assurance of salvation, and how would you pastorally apply it?
8) The Church, Pt. 1
8) The Church, Pt. 1
Topics: Nature of the church, church government (polity), membership, officers, women in ministry, discipline, ordinances (or sacraments).
Reference:
Membership Affirmations: 7. The Church.
Church Affirmations: 3. Gender Complementarity.
Church Affirmations: 10. Church Organization.
Church Affirmations: 11. Baptism & the Lord’s Supper.
Constitution and ByLaws.
Questions:
a) How is the church to be governed? And by whom? What is the Biblical model for church government (e.g., congregationalism, elder-ruled, etc.)?
b) How would you articulate your position on a Biblical case for church membership? How important is the practice of church membership? How would you handle a “regular attender” of CrossWay who was resistant to becoming a member?
c) What are the basic principles of the Bible’s teaching on church discipline and its importance in the life of a church? How would you handle someone in the church objecting to the church practicing discipline on one of its members?
d) Biblically speaking, how do gender distinctions play out in the church? Are their roles particularly reserved for men? What is the place of women in the church’s ministry?
e) What is the meaning and purpose of baptism? Who is baptism for (its recipients) and how is it to be done (mode)?
f) Why is baptism a requirement for church membership?
g) How would you help someone (a believer) who was resistant to baptism or did not see the need to be baptized?
h) What is the meaning and purpose of the Lord’s Supper? How would you explain its benefits and meaning to someone in the church?
9) The Church, Pt. 2
9) The Church, Pt. 2
Topics: Philosophy of ministry, mission, corporate worship, preaching, …
Reference:
Philosophy of Ministry (and Purpose & Pursuits).
Church Covenant.
Policies.
Questions:
a) What is the mission of the church? Interact with competing viewpoints: e.g., (a) concern primarily with individual transformation, (b) seeking society-wide renewal, etc.
b) What is (or isn’t) the church’s responsibility with respect to addressing ills of society? Is this a part of the church’s mission?
c) What are the most important characteristics of a healthy church? In other words, according to scripture, what are the key marks of a healthy church? (See “Vision” in Philosophy of Ministry.)
d) And what ministries and core convictions (or values) are important for the cultivation of a healthy church? In other words, what are the most important / best ways to cultivate that church health? (See “Cultivation” in Philosophy of Ministry.)
e) What are your primary convictions regarding how a church should conduct its preaching ministry?
f) What are your convictions regarding preaching the Old Testament as Christian scripture? Should this be done? If so, how? What should this look like?
g) What things do you believe are valuable for a church to be practicing in its corporate worship? What are the primary guiding principles for a church in orchestrating corporate worship?
h) Where is your persuasion regarding song selection for corporate worship (i.e., the sort of songs sung)?
i) Is it important for a church to pursue diversity (e.g., ethnic, age, socio-economic, etc.)? Why or why not? Is it a bad thing for a church to be demographically homogeneous?
j) How would you engage the political realm and politically charged subjects as a pastor? Please list the main principles or convictions that would guide and inform your approach.
10) Redemptive History
10) Redemptive History
Topics:
Redemptive history: covenants, law, church-Israel, kingdom of God.
Eschatology (“last things”): Second coming, resurrection, judgment, new creation, eternal punishment.
Reference:
Membership Affirmations: 10. Last Things.
Church Affirmations: 9. Redemptive-Historical Unity.
Questions:
a) How would you briefly summarize the storyline of the Bible (e.g., tracing the covenants)?
b) What does it look like for God’s purposes begun in the garden and expressed in God’s history with Israel (i.e., God’s people, God’s place, God’s presence, God’s rule, etc.) to reach their final fulfillment? Trace their ultimate fulfillment across the full storyline of scripture.
c) What is the relationship between the church and Israel? Namely, how does the church relate to the OT promises made to Israel, and conversely, how do we think about the nation of Israel today in relation to those promises?
d) What is the role of the law in God’s plan of redemption? Life of the believer?
e) Describe the major convictions regarding eschatology (“last things”). How strongly do you hold your views about the end times?
f) Provide a biblical defense of the eternal punishment of unbelievers.
11) Christian Conduct
11) Christian Conduct
Topics: Ethics, sexuality, marriage, counseling, evangelism, worldview.
Reference:
Membership Affirmations: 8. Christian Conduct.
Church Affirmations: 4. Sexuality & Marriage
Questions:
a) Provide a Biblical definition of marriage.
b) Describe your position on divorce and remarriage (i.e. what is permissible?).
c) Provide an account of the Bible’s sexual ethic, particular in contrast to what you see as deviations in our contemporary setting.
e) How would you want to encourage congregants to navigate issues where the culture is particularly hostile to the Christian lifestyle and ethics (e.g., sexuality)? How should we interact with culture on these sorts of things?
f) How might you counsel someone if they asked how to discern God’s will for a specific area of life?
g) How would you articulate the difference between a moralistic vs. gospel-motivated pursuit of obedience in the Christian life?
h) What is the Bible’s view of money (basic, generally)? How should Christians view money and possessions?
i)How should a Christian navigate their relationship to their country?
j) Some view psychology as in conflict with a Biblical view of counseling. Others see them as compatible and complementary. What is your position?
12) Personal
12) Personal
Topics: growth, personality, gifting, ministry aspiration.
Questions:
a) Describe your sense of a calling to serve as a pastor/elder.
b) Describe how you pursue to “grow in the grade and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” (2 Pet. 3:18) during this season of life.
c) Describe your personality and the pros and cons of it for serving as a pastor/elder.
d) What excites you most about the idea of serving as a pastor/elder?
e) What stirs up hesitation (or trepidation) about the idea of serving as a pastor/elder?