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Offices of the Church: Elders · Providence Baptist Church - Sermons

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This week and next, we'll be taking a break from our normal verse-by-verse exposition of John's Gospel.
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I do promise we will get back to it eventually.
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We believe that normatively, this is the best course of action, verse-by-verse, through a book of the Bible, and it is normally what we do.
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However, from time to time, and for a specific purpose, it can be helpful to take a beat, summarize, at least in some measure, what the Bible teaches on a given topic.
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And so, we're going to take two weeks to think together about the offices of the church.
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Two weeks, because there are two offices.
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Two weeks, particularly because we really need to think about the office of deacon.
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This office has been neglected in the life of our church, and I want you to hear that I will be the very first to admit that this is to my shame.
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We should be doing better at this, and I have led the charge in not doing well at raising up and installing deacons.
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However, before we get there next week, this morning, I want you to lead you to think about the office of elder,
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and how the office of elder works alongside the congregation.
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That's going to help us next week as we think about how deacons then assist in all of that work.
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The church of Jesus Christ is precious because it is purchased by his blood.
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His universal church finds its expression in local churches.
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We exist because of his redeeming life, death, and resurrection.
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He loves us so much that he lived and died, was raised and ascended for us.
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He loves us so much that he has not left us alone.
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He sends his helper, the Holy Spirit.
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He has given us his word, and he has given us the church.
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He loves local churches.
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I'm so glad that Jesus is the head of the church, that he loves us far beyond our comprehension.
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He certainly loves you more than I could possibly love you.
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Amen.
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My love will falter and fail.
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His never does.
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He loves local churches such that he has given us instruction for how we are to govern the local church.
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The Bible says things about this, and because of his great love for us, we should pay attention to what it says.
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We call this polity.
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Every church has a polity.
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This word is from the Greek word for city.
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It means simply governance.
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How are we arranged, and how are we to operate together?
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There are all sorts of polities out there, the Episcopalians, the Presbyterians.
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We are congregationalists, which also breaks out in all different types of polities.
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Some churches will function congregationally.
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The congregation is a sort of democracy.
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Everything is brought to a vote, which tends to mean that nothing much happens at all.
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Some congregational churches are governed by kind of a corporate board type of model.
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Some have a single pastor, and then they have a deacon board, kind of quasi-elders,
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and they're either over that deacon board, or they're integrated within that deacon board.
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We don't think any of these models are biblical.
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We think the Bible model is elder-led congregationalism.
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Elder-led congregationalism.
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I think that the people who hold to these polities are Christ's, and I'm not throwing too much shade at them.
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But it's sometimes important to know that there's some things out there that may not be as biblically faithful as they ought to be
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to try to drive us to, well, then what does the Bible say?
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Does it have something to say about this?
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And we think that the Bible teaches elder-led congregationalism.
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And I want to add, as I think it may help us in these two weeks, we probably won't use this terminology very often,
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but I think it may be helpful to us to say elder-led, deacon-assisted congregationalism.
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Right?
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So, we're going to go to a number of texts today.
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We're going to start in Hebrews chapter 13.
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I'm going to read verse 7, and then ask you to flip to verse 17 and 18.
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But before I read those, let's pray for God's blessing on our time.
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Father, we recognize humbly that you have saved us into a local church.
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And we are glad that we belong here if we are in Christ and we are members of this church
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and that you've given us instruction for how we are to govern for our good and for your glory.
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We also recognize that we need your help if we're to rightly understand this at all.
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So, help it to be important to everybody here,
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not just those who are given charge and have to lead,
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but also the entirety of the congregation,
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that they would see that they have a part to play in how we're meant to function together.
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And we pray all of this in the name of Christ.
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Amen.
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Alright, so Hebrews 13 and verse 7.
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There the author of Hebrews writes,
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Remember your leaders, those who spoke to you the word of God,
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consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith.
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And then jump to verse 17 and 18.
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Obey your leaders and submit to them,
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for they are keeping watch over your souls,
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as those who will have to give an account.
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Let them do this with joy and not with groaning,
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for that would be of no advantage to you.
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Pray for us, for we are sure that we have a clear conscience
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desiring to act honorably in all things.
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Our church, as I've said,
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believes that the most biblically faithful form of polity
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is what is called elder-led,
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and I'll insert deacon-assisted,
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congregationalism.
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I will unpack that deacon-assisted part next week,
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but you see from the title of this position,
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and more importantly from today's text,
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that God intends for there to be
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some measure of leadership in the church,
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and we will do well to consider the leadership of elders
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alongside the responsibilities of the whole congregation.
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It brings it into focus to think about it all together at the same time.
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So we'll do our best to get through that
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in the time we have allotted this morning.
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These two passages in Hebrews give us six exhortations toward church leaders,
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right?
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Your leaders.
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Remember, consider, imitate, obey,
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submit to them, and pray for them.
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So who are your leaders?
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If you are a member of this church,
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then your leaders are those men that you have deemed qualified
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to inhabit the office of elder.
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If you are not a member of this church,
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I hope you are a member of a gospel-preaching church,
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and perhaps this will prod you to think about who your leaders are.
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Or, if you're not a member of a gospel-preaching church,
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perhaps you should be considering this.
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How are these commands relevant to you
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if you don't know who your leaders are?
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Gifts given to you for your good and for God's glory.
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Now, these exhortations are fairly self-explanatory,
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but two of them need special attention.
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And for today, this is what we'll spend a little bit of time on.
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The first is obey.
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Obey your leaders.
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This Greek verb carries the idea of being persuaded by them.
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Remember verse 7.
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Remember, your leaders, those who spoke to you the word of God,
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consider the outcome of their way of life
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and imitate their faith.
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We don't want to read verse 17 apart from verse 7,
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because the author of Hebrews is saying,
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these are men worth listening to.
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So not just any old thing that they say,
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but they're a type of person
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that we ought to be paying attention to.
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There's a type of authority called referent authority,
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and that is from every point of reference,
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every perspective,
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the person deserves your obedience.
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Paul writes in Titus chapter 1,
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verse 7 through 9,
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of this office of elder,
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they're here called overseer.
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An overseer, as God's steward,
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must be above reproach.
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He must be arrogant, or quick-tempered,
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or a drunkard, or violent, or greedy for gain,
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but hospitable,
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a lover of good,
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self-controlled, upright,
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holy, and disciplined.
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He must hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught,
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so that he may be able to give instruction
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in sound doctrine,
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and also to rebuke those who contradict it.
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Will an elder ever be a perfect man?
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Not this side of glory, right?
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But when we look at those qualifications,
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and Titus,
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this is a man worth listening to,
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being persuaded by,
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and that's what's carried in that word.
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The other exhortation we should note
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is to submit to them.
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This Greek verb is found
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only here,
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in the New Testament,
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but it's often used
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in extra-biblical Greek literature.
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It connotes obedience
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to a person in a position
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of authority,
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such as,
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in some extra-biblical Greek literature,
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a colonel taking orders
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from a general.
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So, in this case,
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here the author is referring to
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positional authority, right?
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They've been put into this place,
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so both are this referent authority,
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they have the quality worth following,
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but also,
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they hold the position,
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and have been placed in that position,
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and we believe that the Lord helps us
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put the right people
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into those spots.
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So why
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should you
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remember,
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consider,
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imitate,
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obey,
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and submit
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to your elders?
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Well, first,
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they should,
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they have,
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faithful lives
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worth imitating.
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Not
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perfect lives,
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as I've said.
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I think it is appropriate
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to think of elders
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as
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elder brothers
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who
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lead by example.
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Both in holiness,
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out ahead,
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right,
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taking up God's word
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and pursuing righteousness,
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and
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when they fail
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in repentance.
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Elders are at their very best
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when their lives
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display
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the gospel
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of Jesus Christ,
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which means there is no
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pretense
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for perfection,
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but a genuine,
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honest,
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earnest pursuit
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of righteousness,
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forgiveness,
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and then when there's
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failure,
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a modeling of what it looks
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like to ask for forgiveness.
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Pick up,
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dust ourselves on,
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and press on
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in Christ,
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right?
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Have a confidence
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even before you
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that because
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we're bought
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with such a great price,
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we can rest
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in Jesus'
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completed work.
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Secondly,
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why should you remember,
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consider,
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imitate,
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obey,
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submit
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to your elders?
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There in the text,
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they are keeping
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watch
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over your souls
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as those
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who have to give
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an account.
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Well,
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I can tell you
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that the men
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of our church
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that you've installed
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as elders,
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I can certainly
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speak for myself,
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take this
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very,
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very seriously.
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A weighty task,
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a grace-imbued
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task.
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Jesus is the
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great shepherd,
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we are merely
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under shepherds,
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but we all recognize
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that we will
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stand before God
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and give an
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account for
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your souls.
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So we want to
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do this
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with great care.
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Will we be
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perfect?
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We will not.
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But we really
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want to labor
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to do this,
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which is why
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you should
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remember,
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consider,
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imitate,
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obey,
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and submit
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to your elders.
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Paul,
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when he is
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saying goodbye
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to the Ephesian
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elders in Acts
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chapter 20
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and verse 28,
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says this,
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pay careful
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attention to
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yourselves
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and to all
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the flock
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in which the
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Holy Spirit
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has made you
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overseers,
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to care for
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the church
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of God
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which he
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obtained
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with his
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own blood.
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What a
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charge given
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to lead
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in a congregation.
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But to what
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extent is the
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author of Hebrews
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expecting his
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hearers to
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obey and submit
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to their
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leaders.
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Certainly not
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in everything.
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Certainly not
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outside the
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bounds of the
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Bible.
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But if he
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only intends
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to have them
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obey and
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submit to the
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Bible,
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why not just
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say that?
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I think
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because there
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are matters
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of application
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of the
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Bible,
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gray areas
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that require
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careful
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navigation
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and
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decisions
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that must
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be made.
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The Bible
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says nothing
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at all
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about our
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property.
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There's things
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that have to be
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carefully thought
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about.
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The Bible
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says nothing
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at all about
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what the
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appropriate set
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of programs
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might be for
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children at any
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given stage
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in the life
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of a church.
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There's decisions
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that need to be
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thought about
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and made.
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1 Timothy
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chapter 3
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verses 1
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through 5
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qualifications
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here.
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Paul gives
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to Timothy
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the saying
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is trustworthy.
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If anyone
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aspires to
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the office
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of overseer
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he desires
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a noble
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task.
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Therefore
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an overseer
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must be
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above reproach,
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the husband
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of one
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wife,
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sober-minded,
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self-controlled,
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respectable,
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hospitable,
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able to
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teach,
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not a
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drunkard,
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not violent
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but gentle,
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not quarrelsome,
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not a lover
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of money.
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He must
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manage his
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own household
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well with
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all dignity,
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keeping his
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children submissive
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for if someone
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does not know
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how to manage
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his own
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household,
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how will
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he care
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for God's
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church?
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There's lots
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of detailed
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decisions
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that need
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to be made.
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And so I've
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said to you
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before and I'll
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say again,
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I think that
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in matters
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of prudence,
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wisdom,
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like taking
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up biblical
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data and
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understanding
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what the
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scripture says
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to us,
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but then
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thinking about
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how do we
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put that
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into action
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in the life
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of our
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church,
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so matters
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of prudence,
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wisdom,
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and also
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in matters
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of preference.
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So we don't
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have a members
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meeting and
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ask and
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vote on
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what time
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a meeting
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might start.
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This would be
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a simple,
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fairly benign
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example.
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But your elders
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are thinking
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about what
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would be best
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for the
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congregation.
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How do we
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think and
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order us
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so that we
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can accomplish
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the goals
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that the
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Lord has
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put before
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us?
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So we
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might decide
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on one
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time over
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another because
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we think
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it best.
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Prudence,
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preference.
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So elders
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have authority,
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a kind of
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authority.
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They are to
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teach the
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Bible and
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they are to
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make judgments
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in matters
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of gray
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areas of
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application
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according
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to Bible
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principles.
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elders
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exercise
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an
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authority
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but it
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is not
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a
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coercive
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authority.
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It's a
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persuasive
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authority.
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Come along
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with us.
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We want
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you to go
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where we're
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going.
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We love
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you.
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We're looking
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out for
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your souls.
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Framed
17:52
that way,
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isn't it a
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wonderful thing
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to have
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leaders?
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Let's
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look now
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at another
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text.
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So turn
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with me,
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if you
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will,
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to Ephesians
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chapter
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four.
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I want
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you to
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see here
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leaders
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given to
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the church
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and the
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way that
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the church
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is a
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congregation
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is to
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function
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with
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leadership.
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I'll
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begin
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reading in
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verse
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11.
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Just
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before this,
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Paul talked
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about Jesus
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ascending,
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also though
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that he
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descended
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and that
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he gave
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gifts to
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men,
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where it
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leads us
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up to
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verse 11.
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And there
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Paul writes,
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and he,
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that's
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Jesus Christ,
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gave the
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apostles,
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the prophets,
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the evangelists,
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the shepherds,
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and teachers
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to equip the
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saints for
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the work of
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ministry,
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for building
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up the body
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of Christ
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until we
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all attain
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to the
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unity of
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the faith
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and of
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the knowledge
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of the
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Son of
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God,
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to mature
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manhood,
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to the
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measure of
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the stature
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of the
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fullness
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of Christ,
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so that
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we may
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no longer
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be children
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tossed to
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and fro
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by the
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waves and
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carried about
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by every
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wind of
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doctrine,
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by human
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cunning,
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by craftiness
19:08
in deceitful
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schemes.
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Rather,
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speaking the
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truth in
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love,
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we have
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to grow
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up in
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every way
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into him
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who is
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the head,
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into Christ,
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from whom
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the whole
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body,
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joined and
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held together
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by every
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joint with
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which it
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is equipped,
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when each
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part is
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working properly,
19:24
makes the
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body grow
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so that it
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builds itself
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up in
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love.
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A beautiful
19:31
picture of
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the church
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in action.
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Now this
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text begins
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with Jesus
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Christ giving
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gifts to
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the church.
19:40
You see
19:40
these in
19:40
verse 11,
19:41
the apostles,
19:43
the prophets,
19:45
a brief aside
19:46
at this point,
19:47
there's a lot
19:47
of disagreement
19:48
about these
19:49
gifts in
19:51
Christendom.
19:52
I don't
19:53
intend for
19:54
this to be
19:54
an exhaustive
19:54
exposition
19:55
of this
19:55
passage,
19:56
but an
19:56
aside I
19:57
think is
19:57
helpful here.
19:58
I believe
19:59
that the
19:59
apostles and
20:00
prophets that
20:00
Paul is
20:01
referring to
20:01
were modern
20:02
apostles and
20:03
prophets who
20:04
were in the
20:04
process of
20:05
writing the
20:06
New Testament
20:06
and the
20:07
Old Testament
20:08
prophets as
20:09
the books of
20:10
the Old
20:10
Testament were
20:11
referred to
20:12
as the
20:13
prophets.
20:15
I think that's
20:16
what he's
20:16
talking about.
20:17
He's talking
20:17
about those
20:18
who were
20:18
writing the
20:19
canon at
20:20
his time
20:20
as well as
20:21
those who
20:21
had already
20:22
written.
20:24
If you
20:25
look back
20:25
a bit at
20:26
Ephesians
20:26
chapter 2
20:27
verse 19
20:28
and 20,
20:29
there he
20:30
says,
20:30
so then you
20:30
are no
20:30
longer
20:31
strangers and
20:31
aliens,
20:32
but your
20:32
fellow citizens
20:33
with the
20:33
saints and
20:34
members of
20:34
the household
20:35
of God,
20:37
built on
20:37
the foundation
20:38
of the
20:39
apostles and
20:41
prophets,
20:42
Christ Jesus
20:43
himself being
20:45
the cornerstone.
20:46
so I
20:47
believe that
20:49
the apostles
20:49
and the
20:50
prophets of
20:50
Ephesians
20:51
4 and
20:51
verse 11
20:52
for us
20:53
are the
20:54
Old and
20:55
New Testaments,
20:56
our 66
20:57
books of
20:58
our canon,
20:59
which we
21:00
ought not
21:01
belittle,
21:02
but as I
21:02
believe Paul
21:03
is doing,
21:04
magnify as
21:05
a gift to
21:06
the church.
21:07
I think this
21:08
is what he's
21:08
communicating in
21:08
verse 11.
21:09
As he starts
21:09
out, he
21:10
gave the
21:11
apostles, the
21:13
prophets.
21:13
We have the
21:14
scripture.
21:14
And then he
21:16
goes on, the
21:17
evangelists, the
21:18
shepherds, and
21:20
teachers.
21:21
Many of you
21:22
are using the
21:23
same translation
21:24
that I am
21:25
this morning,
21:25
the English
21:26
Standard Version,
21:27
and you may
21:28
note that each
21:30
of these roles
21:30
are separated
21:31
by a comma,
21:34
but not
21:35
shepherds, or
21:36
you could insert
21:37
pastors there,
21:38
and teachers.
21:39
You notice the
21:40
commas?
21:41
We know that
21:42
ancient Greek
21:43
did not have
21:43
equivalent punctuation
21:44
to our
21:45
English, so
21:46
this was a
21:47
translative
21:48
decision.
21:49
The translators
21:50
decided where to
21:51
put the commas
21:52
in, and they
21:53
did not put a
21:53
comma between
21:54
shepherds and
21:56
teachers.
21:57
Now, I am very
21:58
happy to say that
21:59
the ESV
22:00
translators are
22:01
not anti-Oxford
22:03
comma.
22:04
If you know
22:05
what I'm talking
22:06
about, and you
22:07
disagree with me,
22:08
we can debate
22:09
later.
22:10
Oxford comma is
22:11
a good comma,
22:12
and it should
22:13
remain in the
22:14
English language.
22:14
If you don't
22:16
know what I'm
22:16
talking about,
22:16
that's fine, but
22:17
this is a
22:18
translative
22:19
decision because
22:20
the Greek word
22:21
translated and
22:23
can also be
22:25
translated that
22:26
is, or in
22:28
particular.
22:29
It can be
22:30
translated various
22:31
ways.
22:31
So, it could
22:33
read shepherds
22:34
that is teachers,
22:36
or shepherds in
22:37
particular teachers,
22:40
which is a little
22:41
clunky, but does
22:42
give us a better
22:42
idea of who
22:44
these men are,
22:45
these gifts
22:46
given.
22:48
Many simply
22:48
say of this
22:49
role that they
22:50
are shepherd
22:51
teachers, shepherd
22:52
dash teachers, or
22:53
pastor dash
22:54
teachers, and we
22:55
have further
22:56
evidence that this
22:57
is Paul's meaning
22:58
in 1 Timothy
22:59
chapter 5 and
23:00
verse 17.
23:01
There he says,
23:02
let the elders
23:03
who rule well be
23:04
considered worthy
23:05
of double honor.
23:06
I think in this
23:07
case he's talking
23:08
about both the
23:08
honor of respect
23:10
and position, but
23:10
also income for
23:12
their living,
23:13
especially those
23:15
who labor in
23:16
preaching and
23:17
teaching.
23:18
Elders,
23:20
teachers.
23:21
So, evangelists
23:23
and elders are
23:24
gifts given to
23:25
the church by
23:26
Christ, but for
23:28
what reason?
23:30
Why?
23:31
Why are they
23:31
given?
23:32
Verse 12, to
23:34
equip the saints
23:36
for the work of
23:37
ministry, for
23:38
building up the
23:40
body of Christ.
23:42
Now, notice, once
23:44
again, a
23:45
translator decision
23:45
to not put a
23:47
comma after the
23:49
word saints.
23:51
If you were to
23:52
look at that part
23:53
of verse 12,
23:54
that I just read,
23:55
to equip the
23:55
saints, what if
23:56
it said to
23:56
equip the saints,
23:57
comma, for the
23:59
work of ministry,
24:00
comma, for
24:01
building up the
24:02
body of Christ.
24:05
If they were to
24:06
punctuate it that
24:07
way, one of the
24:08
tasks given to
24:09
these evangelists
24:10
and these pastor
24:11
teachers would be
24:12
the work of
24:13
ministry.
24:16
So, why, why
24:18
can we know, why
24:20
did they make the
24:21
translative decision
24:21
to not put a
24:22
comma after saints,
24:24
and then we read,
24:26
to equip the
24:26
saints for the
24:27
work of ministry,
24:29
right?
24:29
And then, for
24:30
building up the
24:31
body of Christ
24:31
modifies that.
24:33
What is the
24:33
work of ministry?
24:34
It's the building
24:35
up the body of
24:36
Christ.
24:38
How can we know
24:39
this just looking
24:40
at it?
24:40
Are they just
24:41
arbitrarily putting
24:41
commas where
24:42
commas feel good?
24:44
No.
24:45
No, because
24:46
Paul keeps
24:47
writing.
24:48
We've got to
24:49
look at the
24:49
context of
24:51
what's happening
24:52
here.
24:52
What happens
24:53
beyond this
24:54
in the text,
24:56
right?
24:56
There's this
24:57
aim, verse 13,
24:58
of attaining
24:59
the unity of
25:00
the faith and
25:01
knowledge of
25:02
the Son of
25:02
God to
25:03
mature manhood,
25:04
to the measure
25:05
of the stature
25:06
of the fullness
25:07
of Christ.
25:09
That we would
25:10
grow into
25:10
maturity.
25:11
That we would
25:12
be people who
25:13
are not
25:13
children,
25:15
tossed about
25:16
by waves
25:17
and carried
25:18
about by
25:18
every doctrine,
25:19
human cunning,
25:20
craftiness,
25:21
and deceitful
25:22
schemes.
25:25
Beloved,
25:25
do we not
25:25
see a world
25:27
of professing
25:29
Christians
25:29
thrown about,
25:31
back and
25:33
forth,
25:34
by the waves,
25:36
carried about
25:37
by every
25:37
wind of
25:39
doctrine.
25:39
It's just
25:40
astounding to
25:41
me, the
25:42
things that
25:42
people believe
25:43
as they come
25:44
out of
25:45
Christian leaders'
25:46
mouths.
25:47
So anti-
25:48
Bible.
25:51
Are you
25:52
catching?
25:52
This is
25:53
congregational
25:54
work, right?
25:55
We're supposed
25:55
to be speaking
25:56
the truth to
25:56
one another.
25:57
I'm also a
25:58
congregant.
25:59
Speak the
25:59
truth to me.
26:01
I don't
26:01
want to be
26:01
a child.
26:02
I want to
26:02
grow up
26:03
into Christ-likeness.
26:05
I want to
26:05
be steady
26:06
in storms
26:07
because I
26:07
know the
26:08
truth.
26:09
And Paul's
26:09
saying, we
26:10
do that
26:10
with one
26:11
another.
26:12
Let's not
26:13
be this
26:13
immature
26:14
thing, but
26:14
verse 15
26:15
says,
26:15
rather,
26:16
speaking the
26:17
truth in
26:17
love,
26:19
we are to
26:19
grow up in
26:19
every way
26:20
into him
26:20
who is the
26:21
head,
26:21
into Christ,
26:22
from whom
26:23
the whole
26:23
body,
26:24
joined and
26:24
held together
26:24
by every
26:25
joint with
26:25
which it is
26:26
equipped,
26:27
when each
26:27
part is
26:27
working
26:27
properly,
26:28
makes the
26:29
body grow,
26:29
so that it
26:30
builds itself
26:31
up in
26:32
love.
26:33
That is the
26:35
essence of
26:36
congregationalism.
26:37
Us helping
26:38
every Christian,
26:39
helping every
26:40
Christian in
26:40
the local
26:41
church grow
26:42
in Christ-likeness.
26:44
What a
26:44
compelling picture
26:45
that should be
26:46
for all of
26:47
us.
26:48
And I want to
26:49
commend you as a
26:50
church.
26:50
You do this
26:52
well.
26:54
Just before we
26:55
met, I had a
26:55
conversation with
26:56
a brother who's
26:57
grieving, another
26:58
brother in
26:58
unrepentant sin,
26:59
and he's asking
27:00
the question,
27:01
is it time for
27:02
me to take a
27:03
next step with
27:04
him, to press
27:05
upon him?
27:06
He said with
27:08
tears welling,
27:10
I'm not sure
27:11
that he's in
27:11
Christ.
27:12
I'm concerned
27:12
for his soul.
27:13
What a
27:14
conversation to
27:14
have with a
27:15
congregant.
27:16
A wonderful
27:17
thing to think
27:18
and talk and
27:19
pray about next
27:20
steps to happen.
27:22
So this is
27:23
the work.
27:24
This is the
27:25
work that's
27:25
going on.
27:26
It's equipping
27:26
the saints for
27:27
the work of
27:27
ministry, for
27:28
building up
27:29
the body of
27:30
Christ.
27:33
Elders lead by
27:33
teaching, in
27:35
word and in
27:36
deed, giving
27:37
theological
27:38
foundation and
27:39
example of
27:40
application so
27:41
that the church
27:41
as a whole does
27:43
this work of
27:44
ministry, this
27:45
building up of
27:46
the body of
27:46
Christ.
27:47
It bears
27:48
repeating.
27:50
Elders exercise
27:51
in authority, but
27:52
it is not a
27:52
coercive authority,
27:54
it is a
27:55
persuasive
27:56
authority.
27:57
It's an
27:58
authority of
27:58
counsel.
27:59
Come to the
28:00
word with us.
28:01
We want to
28:01
show you the
28:02
way of God,
28:03
how we should
28:04
pursue, what
28:06
we should say
28:06
to one another.
28:09
It also bears
28:10
saying that the
28:12
evangelists share
28:13
the gospel, that
28:13
the church would
28:14
increase through
28:14
conversion, and
28:15
that the church
28:16
as a whole would
28:17
share the gospel
28:18
for that very
28:18
same end.
28:19
The evangelists
28:20
help equip us
28:21
that we might
28:22
share the
28:24
gospel.
28:24
But while
28:25
evangelists are a
28:25
gift to the
28:26
church, we do
28:27
not hold that it
28:28
is an office of
28:29
the church, a
28:30
formal position
28:31
found here.
28:34
Evangelistic people
28:35
most certainly are a
28:36
gift to the
28:37
church.
28:39
Now I hope that I
28:40
have sufficiently
28:40
shown you the
28:41
authority of
28:42
counsel that an
28:43
elder holds,
28:44
right?
28:45
But what about the
28:46
authority of the
28:49
congregation?
28:49
congregation?
28:49
Does the
28:50
congregation hold
28:51
any authority?
28:53
Yes, it does.
28:54
The congregation
28:55
or the church as
28:57
a whole is doing
28:58
two things in this
29:00
text.
29:01
Number one, teaching
29:03
the truth, right?
29:05
Teaching the truth,
29:07
attaining the unity
29:07
of the faith, the
29:08
knowledge of the
29:09
Son of God, verse
29:10
13.
29:12
This is a pushback
29:14
against doctrine
29:15
blowing people
29:16
around.
29:17
So the congregation
29:18
is teaching the
29:20
truth and applying
29:23
the truth.
29:25
Verse 15, we're
29:26
growing up in every
29:28
way into him who
29:30
is the head.
29:31
Then you see all
29:32
this activity in
29:32
verse 16, these
29:33
joints held together
29:34
doing this work.
29:37
Right?
29:37
So teaching the
29:37
truth and applying
29:39
the truth.
29:41
So the congregation,
29:43
the local church
29:44
as a whole, is
29:45
responsible for
29:46
discipling,
29:49
helping people
29:50
grow in their
29:51
pursuit of
29:52
Christ, and
29:54
they're responsible
29:54
for doctrine.
29:57
What is that
29:58
truth?
29:59
Being led by the
30:00
elders of the
30:01
church to
30:03
disciple and to
30:04
hold sound
30:06
doctrine.
30:07
the congregation
30:09
has a different
30:10
authority from
30:12
the elders.
30:13
The local church
30:14
as a whole holds
30:15
the authority of
30:17
command or, if
30:21
you like,
30:22
coercion set
30:24
against persuasion.
30:24
I don't love it.
30:25
I like counsel and
30:26
command personally,
30:27
but persuasion and
30:28
coercion works.
30:29
God delegates
30:32
authority, and
30:34
it always has
30:35
limits, and
30:35
it is always
30:36
subservient to
30:38
the one who
30:39
delegated it.
30:42
Bad authority
30:43
is always bad.
30:45
Most of us
30:46
have had some
30:47
experience with
30:48
bad authority.
30:49
If you haven't,
30:51
live a little
30:51
longer.
30:53
You're going to
30:53
see authority
30:54
not exercised
30:56
properly, but
30:56
that doesn't mean
30:57
we should throw
30:58
away authority.
30:59
authority
31:00
submitted to
31:01
God is
31:02
always good.
31:05
Always good.
31:06
It's aimed at
31:07
blessing for
31:08
us.
31:10
So, I want
31:12
to take you to
31:13
some additional
31:13
text to show
31:14
you the two
31:15
areas that the
31:16
congregation holds
31:17
authority in,
31:18
our discipling
31:19
and doctrine.
31:20
We're going to
31:20
do this at a
31:21
clip, because
31:23
I'm really
31:23
supposed to be
31:23
talking about
31:24
elders, but I
31:24
want to show
31:25
you what are
31:25
elders leading
31:26
the congregation
31:26
to do together.
31:28
discipling.
31:31
Matthew chapter
31:32
28.
31:32
Go ahead and
31:32
join me there.
31:35
I'm going to
31:35
get water.
31:36
I've got to
31:36
get ready for
31:37
this fast
31:37
reading I'm
31:38
about to
31:38
do.
31:38
So,
31:38
Matthew 28.
31:55
This is the Great Commission.
31:57
Jesus came and said to them,
31:58
verse 18,
31:59
all authority in heaven and on earth
32:01
has been given to me.
32:02
There's that ultimate authority.
32:04
Go therefore
32:05
and make disciples of all nations,
32:07
baptizing them in the name of the Father
32:09
and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
32:11
teaching them to observe
32:12
all that I have commanded you
32:13
and behold, I'm with you always
32:15
to the end of the age.
32:16
On the heels of Ephesians chapter 4,
32:19
do you see the church's work
32:20
in the middle of that text?
32:21
I hope you do.
32:23
This is a commission given to the church
32:26
and how do we do that
32:27
in visible expression?
32:30
In local churches.
32:32
So we, as a church,
32:34
are meant to go,
32:36
make disciples,
32:36
baptize them,
32:38
welcoming them into the membership
32:39
of the church,
32:40
teaching them to observe
32:41
all that I have commanded you.
32:43
Right?
32:44
Grow up into Christ-likeness.
32:45
Don't be tossed to and fro
32:47
by every wind of doctrine.
32:50
Right?
32:51
Now, turn with me backwards
32:53
in the book of Matthew
32:54
to chapter 16.
33:02
I'll begin reading in verse 13
33:04
because the context
33:05
has some relevance.
33:08
Now, when Jesus came
33:09
into the district
33:09
of Caesarea Philippi,
33:10
he asked his disciples,
33:12
who do people say
33:13
that the Son of Man is?
33:15
And they said,
33:16
some say John the Baptist,
33:17
others say Elijah,
33:18
and others Jeremiah,
33:19
or one of the prophets.
33:20
He said to them,
33:21
but who do you say
33:22
that I am?
33:23
Simon Peter replied,
33:25
you are the Christ,
33:27
the Son of the living God.
33:29
Way to go, Peter.
33:31
Knocked it out of the park.
33:32
And Jesus answered him,
33:34
blessed are you,
33:35
Simon Barjona,
33:36
for flesh and blood
33:38
has not revealed this to you.
33:39
Right?
33:39
It's by grace
33:40
that he gets that answer right.
33:41
But my Father who is in heaven.
33:45
And I tell you,
33:45
you are Peter,
33:46
and on this rock,
33:47
that truth that he is the Christ,
33:49
I will build my church.
33:51
And the gates of hell
33:52
shall not prevail against it.
33:54
Right?
33:54
There's our confidence
33:55
for Matthew 28.
33:57
Jesus is with us
33:58
to the end of the age,
33:59
and he has all authority.
34:00
He's building his church,
34:02
and so go and do this work.
34:05
And then he says,
34:06
in verse 19,
34:08
I will give you the keys
34:10
of the kingdom of heaven.
34:12
And whatever you bind on earth
34:13
shall be bound in heaven,
34:14
and whatever you loose on earth
34:15
shall be loosed in heaven.
34:16
Right?
34:17
This is the symbol
34:17
of the authority
34:18
given to the church.
34:20
But we don't really fully comprehend
34:21
what he's talking about
34:23
at this point.
34:24
Okay?
34:25
We're given keys,
34:26
we're binding,
34:28
and we're loosing.
34:30
We don't have to go far
34:31
to understand.
34:32
Go to Matthew chapter.
34:35
This will feel disjointed
34:36
for just a moment,
34:38
but hear it out.
34:42
Beginning in verse 15.
34:44
If your brother sins against you,
34:47
go and tell him it's fault
34:48
between you and him alone.
34:50
If he listens to you,
34:52
you have gained your brother.
34:53
Do you see Ephesians 4 in this?
34:55
Speaking the truth
34:56
and love to one another.
34:57
Do you see it in there?
34:59
Your brother sins.
35:01
You go show him his sin.
35:03
We all need help doing this.
35:04
We all have blind spots.
35:06
Like, we're going to do things.
35:07
We're going to err.
35:08
We're going to realize it at times.
35:09
We're not going to realize it at times.
35:10
We need to be approached
35:11
that we might repent
35:12
and press on.
35:13
Right?
35:13
This is how we grow
35:14
in Christlikeness.
35:17
Verse 16.
35:19
But if he does not listen,
35:21
take one or two others
35:22
along with you
35:23
that every charge
35:24
may be established
35:25
by the evidence
35:26
of two or three witnesses.
35:28
You make it more serious.
35:30
Multiple people come
35:31
and they say,
35:31
no, no, we see this issue too.
35:34
Right?
35:34
We want to speak the truth
35:35
and love to you
35:36
that you may grow
35:37
in Christ.
35:39
And there's another opportunity
35:40
for repentance.
35:43
To listen.
35:46
In verse 17,
35:46
if he refuses to listen
35:48
to them,
35:50
tell it to the church.
35:52
And if he refuses
35:53
to listen even to the church,
35:55
right?
35:55
So there's a step here
35:56
where the church now
35:56
as a total
35:57
is speaking to this person
36:00
saying,
36:00
this is not the way
36:02
of a Christ follower.
36:05
Then the church
36:06
is to let him be to you
36:08
as a Gentile
36:09
and a tax collector.
36:10
That is to say,
36:11
to put them outside
36:13
of the church.
36:15
Right?
36:15
This is the process
36:16
we often call
36:17
church discipline.
36:18
Right?
36:19
But I think every step
36:20
in this is discipline.
36:22
It's discipling.
36:24
Right?
36:24
We are teaching the truth
36:25
that a person
36:26
might faithfully follow Jesus.
36:28
And if we find
36:29
that they're not in Christ,
36:31
then the loving thing
36:32
to say to them is,
36:33
we don't believe
36:34
you're in Christ.
36:38
Now how does this connect
36:39
back to Matthew chapter 16?
36:42
Verse 18 of chapter 18.
36:43
Truly I say to you,
36:47
whatever you bind on earth
36:48
shall be bound in heaven.
36:50
And whatever you loose on earth
36:52
shall be loosed in heaven.
36:54
The exact same phrase.
36:56
Keys of the kingdom.
36:58
Doing this careful work.
37:03
So if you didn't hear
37:05
Ephesians chapter 4
37:06
through that,
37:08
maybe you'll hear it
37:09
the other way around.
37:11
Right?
37:12
So back in Ephesians 4 verse 11,
37:14
he gave apostles,
37:14
prophets, evangelists,
37:15
shepherd teachers
37:16
to equip the saints
37:18
for the work of ministry
37:18
for building up
37:19
the body of Christ
37:20
until we all attain
37:22
to the unity of the faith
37:23
and of the knowledge
37:23
of the Son of God
37:24
to mature manhood
37:25
to the measure
37:26
of the stature
37:26
of the fullness
37:28
of Christ.
37:30
Right?
37:30
Working us
37:31
together,
37:33
verse 16,
37:35
the body would grow
37:36
so that it builds
37:37
itself up
37:38
in love.
37:41
Right?
37:41
This is the discipling work
37:44
given to the congregation,
37:46
all of us,
37:48
together.
37:50
William Gurnall,
37:51
a 17th century
37:52
Puritan minister,
37:54
once said this,
37:55
God would not rub so hard
37:57
if it were not
37:58
to fetch out the dirt
37:59
that is ingrained
38:00
in our natures.
38:02
God loves purity
38:03
so well
38:04
that he would rather
38:05
see a hole
38:06
than a spot
38:07
in his child's garments.
38:11
Secondly,
38:12
doctrine.
38:13
The church,
38:15
as a whole,
38:17
is meant to defend
38:17
doctrine.
38:19
Paul writes
38:20
in Galatians chapter 1
38:21
to the church
38:22
in Galatia,
38:24
but even if we
38:25
or an angel
38:25
from heaven
38:26
should preach to you
38:27
a gospel contrary
38:28
to the one we preached
38:29
to you,
38:30
let him be
38:30
accursed.
38:32
As we have said before,
38:33
so now I say again,
38:35
if anyone is preaching
38:36
to you a gospel
38:36
contrary to the one
38:38
you received,
38:39
let him be
38:41
accursed.
38:44
This would be
38:45
an exercise
38:46
of the keys.
38:48
The truth
38:49
must be
38:51
preserved
38:52
and
38:54
defended.
38:57
David Gibson
38:58
in an article
38:59
entitled
38:59
Assumed Evangelicalism,
39:02
some reflections
39:03
in route
39:04
to denying
39:05
the gospel.
39:07
Quote,
39:07
you may have heard
39:08
the story
39:09
of the Mennonite
39:10
Brethren movement.
39:12
One particular
39:13
analysis
39:13
goes like this.
39:15
The first generation
39:16
believed
39:17
and proclaimed
39:18
the gospel
39:19
and thought
39:20
that there were
39:20
certain social
39:22
entailments.
39:24
The next generation
39:25
assumed the gospel
39:27
and advocated
39:29
the entailments.
39:30
the third generation
39:33
denied the gospel
39:35
and all that were
39:37
left
39:37
were the entailments.
39:40
The practice
39:41
but not the gospel
39:43
itself.
39:45
The whole congregation
39:47
defends
39:49
doctrine.
39:52
Again,
39:52
back to Acts chapter 20,
39:54
Paul's farewell
39:54
to the Ephesian elders.
39:55
I read verse 28
39:58
already,
39:58
pay careful attention
39:59
to yourselves
40:00
and to all the flock
40:01
in which the Holy Spirit
40:02
has made you overseers
40:03
to care for the church
40:04
of God
40:04
which he obtained
40:05
with his own blood.
40:07
I know,
40:08
he goes on,
40:09
that after my departure
40:10
fierce wolves
40:12
will come in among you
40:13
not sparing
40:14
the flock.
40:17
And,
40:18
this will make you
40:19
shudder,
40:20
from among your
40:21
own selves
40:22
will arise
40:22
men speaking
40:24
twisted things
40:25
to draw away
40:27
the disciples
40:27
after them.
40:29
Why did he say
40:30
to pay careful
40:31
attention
40:31
to the flock?
40:33
Because there will be
40:34
people from outside
40:35
and people from
40:36
inside
40:37
that will lead
40:39
people
40:39
astray.
40:42
Jude writes
40:43
in verse 3 and 4,
40:44
Beloved,
40:44
although I was very eager
40:45
to write to you
40:46
about our common salvation,
40:47
I found it necessary
40:48
to write appealing
40:49
to you
40:50
to contend
40:50
for the faith
40:51
that was once
40:52
for all
40:53
delivered
40:54
to the saints.
40:56
For certain people
40:56
have crept in
40:57
unnoticed
40:58
who long ago
40:59
were designated
41:00
for this condemnation,
41:01
ungodly people
41:02
who pervert
41:03
the grace of our God
41:04
into sensuality
41:06
and deny
41:06
our only Master
41:08
and Lord,
41:09
Jesus Christ.
41:12
So we're
41:12
to defend
41:13
doctrine.
41:15
We've talked
41:16
long,
41:17
too much,
41:18
I'm going to skip it today,
41:19
I've got a whole bunch
41:20
of notes about it,
41:21
about theological triage,
41:23
but let me just sum it
41:25
by saying
41:25
we are confessional people,
41:27
it is important
41:27
for us to take up
41:28
the word,
41:29
understand what it says,
41:32
write documents,
41:33
decide those things
41:34
that are
41:35
worthy of dying for
41:38
and those things
41:39
that can be
41:40
debated.
41:41
We think it's important
41:42
to make truth claims
41:43
concerning what
41:44
the Bible teaches
41:45
on any particular
41:46
topic.
41:48
topic.
41:49
So elders
41:50
are given
41:50
as gifts
41:52
to the church
41:53
to lead
41:54
the congregation
41:55
in the important
41:56
work of discipling
41:58
and defending
41:59
doctrine.
42:02
But,
42:03
what does
42:03
elder-led
42:04
congregationalism
42:05
look like
42:06
in action?
42:08
If you're
42:08
totally unfamiliar
42:09
with this polity,
42:11
how might it be
42:12
observed
42:13
and this in closing?
42:17
You will notice
42:17
sermons preached
42:20
and classes taught,
42:22
discipling relationships
42:23
where the Bible
42:24
is read
42:25
and studied
42:26
and applied,
42:28
earnest prayer
42:29
for one another,
42:31
sin confronted
42:32
and corrected,
42:35
discipline processes
42:36
carried out
42:37
when necessary,
42:38
evangelism
42:40
and missions
42:42
to the end
42:43
of the earth
42:44
to all peoples,
42:46
welcoming
42:46
new members
42:47
through the
42:48
ordinance of
42:49
baptism,
42:51
celebrating
42:51
the Lord's
42:52
supper together
42:53
regularly
42:53
with joy,
42:56
confessionalism
42:57
and all
42:57
that is in
42:58
tales,
42:59
all this
42:59
careful work
43:00
of theological
43:01
triage,
43:03
I could go
43:04
on.
43:05
but note
43:06
that you,
43:07
the congregation,
43:08
the church
43:08
as a whole
43:09
have a profound
43:10
and precious
43:12
responsibility
43:13
and God
43:14
has given
43:15
to the church
43:16
elders
43:17
to help.
43:19
May we continue
43:20
by grace
43:21
under the authority
43:22
of the giver
43:23
of all good things
43:24
to govern ourselves
43:25
according to his word
43:26
for the good of his people
43:28
and for the witness
43:29
of the gospel
43:29
to the glory of Christ.
43:32
Let's pray.