| Introduction When we gathered together to ordain an officer in the church, we are in effect getting together to celebrate God's gracious gifts to us. Christ promised that he himself will build his Church. He does that, In part, by giving officers to her as gracious gifts. Eph. 4:7-12 – But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ's gift. Therefore He says: "When He ascended on high, He led captivity captive, and gave gifts to men." (Now this, "He ascended"—what does it mean but that He also first descended into the lower parts of the earth? He who descended is also the One who ascended far above all the heavens, that He might fill all things.) And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ… We tend to associate the word pastor with the guy who preaches most of the time, who may work full time for the church. But the Bible uses that word to describe the job of all and every elder. When Peter instructs the elders in Asia Minor, he tells them to shepherd (pastor) the flock. 1 Pt. 5:1-4 – The elders who are among you I exhort, I who am a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that will be revealed: Shepherd the flock of God which is among you, serving as overseers, not by compulsion but willingly, not for dishonest gain but eagerly; nor as being lords over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock; and when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that does not fade away. As we recognize this morning God's calling on Nick's life by the laying on of hands, we are also celebrating and rejoicing in Christ's gracious gift to us as he gives us officers to lead us on his behalf. I. The Relevance of the Passage A. One of the things we must do when we are drawing conclusions from a particular passage in the Bible is that the passage actually speaks of the thing we want it to speak. B. As you noticed, our passage in Hebrews does not use the words elders or officers. C. But we can be confident that it does speak of them, even though the words are not used. II. A Charge to the Man A. You must rule over your congregation. B. You must speak the Word of God to your congregation C. You must live a life worth imitating before your congregation – notice how most of the qualifications for the office of elder are moral qualifications D. You must watch over your congregation. E. You must fulfill your duty as an elder to your congregation in joy or in grief. III. A Charge to the Congregation A. You must remember your elder. B. You must imitate your elder. C. You must obey your elder. D. You must be submissive to your elder. E. You must make his service to you a service of joy by your attitude toward your elder. Conclusion Elders serve the church as undershepherds of the Great Shepherd of the sheep, the Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ has given leaders to his church in the past, is giving us leaders now, and will continue to give us leaders in the future till the day he comes again to receive his church. Praise the Lord for his gracious and good gift of an elder to us. | |||
| | |||
| | |||
|
Friday, January 25, 2013
A Charge to the Man and to the Congregation - Heb. 13:7, 17
