“But the chief priests and elders persuaded the multitude that they should ask Barabbas and destroy Jesus.”–Matthew 27:20 As I was reading the account of Christ’s passion this morning, I was burdened by this phrase. What a contrast in persons! Barabbas had stolen from their tables, he was a thief. Jesus had fed them with bread and fish, he was…
Category: <span>Spiritual Meandering</span>
I had the great opportunity to be in Ely, NV, last Saturday, Monday and Tuesday to be some assistance in our beloved Wally Higgins’ efforts to hold evangelistic meetings in that small town. The current population of Ely is about 4000 people. The demographic of Ely is mostly Caucasian (about 89%) with some Native Americans, Pacific Islanders and Hispanics rounding…
Responsibilities of Pastors to the Church
God’s organized organism is the local church. The local church is made up of sinners who have placed their trust in Christ alone for forgiveness and restoration of relational worship with God having become saints. God has placed leadership over his church to guide her and protect her, not to lord and control the church’s saints (I Pet. 5:1-4). God gave the church two categories of gifted leaders both to form the structure and to facilitate growth and expansion of the church (Eph. 4:11-13). God’s ultimate intent is glory in and through the church (Eph. 3:21). God’s glory in building his church is accomplished when God’s leadership and God’s people function in harmony with each other. There is a Biblical pattern for how this is accomplished.
Formative Gifts (Eph. 4:11)
Originally, God gave Apostles to form the structure of the church, this was the job of the twelve, Paul calls himself one born out of due time, and the least of the Apostles. In other words, he recognized that the original twelve were apostles, and he was the exception to the rule. God used the Apostles to give Spirit led structure and teaching to the church. As the Apostles died off, so did their gift, but their teaching remains in the NT which really is God’s teaching as he led each one specifically in his writing (II Tim. 3:16; II Pet. 1:20-21). Prophets were other individuals God used along with the Apostles to form doctrine and correct understanding of God’s Word—Mark, James, Jude, Luke, were examples of Prophets. As the Word of God was completed and the Apostolic age came to a conclusion, the prophetic gifts also ceased to be necessary for the church. The Apostles and Prophets were used of God to form his church, and God used the next two gifted leaders to expand and lead his church.
Expansive Gifts (Eph. 4:11)
Evangelists or literally, gospelizers, were those individuals who were led by God to expand the ministry of the church by preaching the Gospel and organizing together those who accept the Gospel into local churches. I believe many have misunderstood the gift of evangelists and have characterized them as itinerate preachers who travel in RV’s doing week long revival meetings. I hardly believe that is what Paul had in mind when he told Timothy, the young pastor, to do the work of an evangelist. The fourth tier of leadership God gave is called Pastor/Teacher.
My heart is full this morning. My purpose in life is see God grow bigger in the eyes of his created humanity, and yet how can we do that in American Christianity when our focus on God and his glory and plan is so dim. We are so inundated with Christianity and have been so blessed in this country that…
As I continue to grow in God’s amazing grace, I am overcome with a sense of my own unworthiness to teach and preach the Word of God. I am also amazed at my unworthiness to lead God’s people. God’s sheep are so precious and I take them for granted so often. Pastors, beware not just the wolves that might hurt…
I would encourage you to read John Stott’s book The Cross of Christ. This is one of Stott’s classic works and its thorough substantive handling of the atonement by Christ is worthy of perusing on a regular basis. One chapter that challenged my thinking (which I thoroughly enjoy when an argument is thoughtfully and fully laid out) is chapter six…
Ever felt like this? The Psalmist says it best. Save me, O God; for the waters are come in unto my soul. I sink in deep mire, where there is no standing: I am come into deep waters, where the floods overflow me. I am weary of my crying: my throat is dried: mine eyes fail while I wait for…
The late S.M. Lockridge’s sermon entitled “That’s My King” has been circulating through the internet for some time. Pastor Lockridge was the Pastor of Calvary Baptist Church in San Diego and a well-known speaker around the world. I do not know much about Pastor Lockridge’s ministry, but I do know that it is impossible to listen his sermon without my…
“God becoming flesh;” that is the meaning of the incarnation. Most people are willing to celebrate the incarnation of a baby born in a manger. Countless families who never crack a Bible normally may even read Luke 2 this time of year, and with smiles of pity remember a baby born in a manger who is “Savior,” although that word…
This past Sunday, God allowed me to communicate His Word to His people concerning thankfulness from Romans 1:18-32. (You can listen to the sermon here). I was greatly challenged by the Word of God concerning the dangers of being ungrateful. As I studied Romans 1, I came to the conclusion that the root cause of natural man’s descent into further…