However, a prideful church is not consumed with the interest of God or others. Psalms 6:2 - Have mercy upon me, O LORD; for I am weak: O LORD, heal me; for my bones are vexed. 1 Statistics in the Ministry. http://www.pastoralcareinc.com/statistics/ (accessed July 15, 2014). I get to be devoted to studying and teaching Gods Word. We see that every elder is handpicked by the Holy Spirit to oversee the flock. It was first communicated through the Lord and was confirmed to us by those who heard him, 4 while God confirmed their witness with signs and wonders and various miracles and gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his will (Hebrews 2:1-4). He must hold firmly to the trustworthy message as it has been taught, so that he can encourage others by sound doctrine and refute those who oppose it (Titus 1:9). The first church I served at as a youth pastor split a year after I had been there. Peter said the primary way the pastor must lead is not by exercising his power over people but by the power of his example. They seem to represent the redeemed of the church; these are elders who have been crowned and rewarded for faithfully shepherding the flock. 34 "A new command I give you: Love one another. Not greedy for money, but eager to serve., One of the potential vices of the position is a desire for gain or to make lot of money. Ill be honest, this is something Ive struggled with. Having other godly leaders around helps those in leadership stay humble. 1 Peter 5:1. This is not just human affection; this is genuine love. Around 1,700 pastors leave the ministry in the U.S. each month.1 Certainly, one of the primary reasons is burnout. The Scripture says Moses was the humblest man on the earth and that God spoke to him face-to-face (Num 12:38). Go away from me, you lawbreakers! (Matthew 7:21-23). Leadership in any organization can often be a place to hide and be lazy. What way is God calling you to humbly serve the church? How is the youth ministry? This is the spirit we want to see in all of our activities and in all of our gatherings. Our text gives us a snapshot of a healthy local church, the first church after the Day of Pentecost. Bible Verses About A Mans Reputation. Lord Jesus, We are grateful to you for helping us reach an important milestone in the life of our church. . That is why one should desire to be an elder for the opportunity to serve more (1 Tim 3:1). A New Testament church is a church in which God is present through His Spirit, and in which He is powerfully at work to glorify Himself by manifestations of His power and grace. Sell your possessions and give to the poor. And they were continually devoting themselves to the apostles teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer (Acts 2:42, NASB). They need a multitude of wise counselors. I believe that at this moment Luke wants us to focus on one aspect of the apostles teaching: their proclamation of the gospel was recognized as authoritative, due to the authentication of God through miraculous works: Reverential awe came over everyone, and many wonders and miraculous signs came about by the apostles (Acts 2:43). A pastor cannot just teach whatever he wants; there is accountability among other godly men of the church. Ajith Fernando, The NIV Application Commentary: Acts (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Zondervan Publishing House, 1998), p. 122, fn. The Chapel believes the material presented herein to be true to the teaching of Scripture, and desires to further, not restrict, its potential use as an aid in the study of Gods Word. A healthy church is one where its members are disciplined whenever necessary; that the sacraments are biblically administered on a regular basis, and that the Word of God is preached, hopefully verse by verse, so that the flock can grow and mature, moving toward the stature or nature of Christ. Its because the community is not a serving community, not a humble community. He also served as a U.S. Navy Reserve chaplain until his retirement in 2022. They are not lazy or serving out of compulsion. 1 Corinthians 15:33 33 Do not be misled: "Bad company corrupts good character." Read Chapter All Versions Colossians 3:13 13 Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Biblical Evangelism The word "church" comes from a Greek word that means "an assembly of called-out ones." It denotes that before a church can ever actually gather, the people must first hear the call to do so. The strength of the church in Acts and the marker of any healthy church is there must be a commitment to prayer. God gives strength when they are weak. Obviously, there are many elders because he is writing to many congregations that are scattered, but there is probably a plurality of elders in each local congregation as well. We have too many people volunteering for the driving ministry.. Right now, the church is not ready to embrace Gentiles. This must not be the motivation of a pastor; he must primarily serve because he cares for the sheep. Essentially, fellowship means joint participation or sharing something in common. It is thus a kind of partnership. in 1971. 1 Corinthians 10:31 - Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God. I am therefore inclined to think that Luke is telling us that in its very early days the saints in Jerusalem diligently persisted in the observance of the stipulated times of Jewish prayer at the temple. praising God and having the good will of all the people. Just a short while before, Peter had reminded his audience that the teaching of Jesus had been divinely accredited by the Father: 22 Men of Israel, listen to these words: Jesus the Nazarene, a man clearly attested to you by God with powerful deeds, wonders, and miraculous signs that God performed among you through him, just as you yourselves know 23 this man, who was handed over by the predetermined plan and foreknowledge of God, you executed by nailing him to a cross at the hands of Gentiles (Acts 2:22-23, emphasis mine). MacArthur New Testament Commentary (219). Peter says a healthy congregation has elders who are willing, meaning they want to serve. MacArthur New Testament Commentary (277). 1 Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are from the NET Bible. Read Chapter All Versions Proverbs 12:18 Look at what Paul says about this in referring to prophecy in the church in 1 Corinthians 14:29: Two or three prophets should speak, and the others should weigh carefully what is said (emphasis mine). The word can also be translated lowliness of mind. Scripturally, it means to think of ones self as lowly in view of God and others. The first three chapters of the Book of Ephesians deal with essential Bible doctrines. 36 Be like people waiting for their master to come back from the wedding celebration, so that when he comes and knocks they can immediately open the door for him. Peter says that we are to turn away from evil (3:11; the word "evil" is used 5 times in 3:8-12), which includes such sins as anger, violence, sexual immorality, greed, drunkenness, and drug abuse, which all hinder good communication. With short but powerful verses and a focused thought for each day, Growing a Healthy Church is a great boost for your daily prayer time. Of David. 11 Now look, the hand of the Lord is against you, and you will be blind, unable to see the sun for a time! Immediately mistiness and darkness came over him, and he went around seeking people to lead him by the hand. But it is not a perfect church. Application Question: What are your thoughts about the need to have a plurality of elders? I believe our text in Acts 2 greatly helps us discern the answer to these questions. He calls them both overseers (bishops) and shepherds (pastors) in the same text. Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. John Pipers books can be found for free and many others. An unhealthy church is one that imposes legalistic rules upon its congregants. From the very beginning, Community Bible Chapel has been known as a church that teaches the Word of God. Bible Verses About A Tenth. Peter next gives us vices or bad tendencies that are common in the leadership of our churches, as well as virtues that should be encouraged in elders. . The church that is described in Acts 2:41-47 is a Jewish church, worshipping as we would expect of a group of new Jewish converts. Worldliness had entered the church, and therefore, people were seeking power and position to lord over people. 1 Corinthians 3:16-17 - Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? To the elders among you, I appeal as a fellow elder, a witness of Christs sufferings and one who also will share in the glory to be revealed (emphasis mine).1 Peter 5:1. When Bill and Marilyn informed us that they get several feet of snow in the winter, I was almost ready to hear the Moosadonian Call.3 I told Bill and Marilyn I would love to spend the winter there. They knew that their Lord was still with them. He gives them and the congregants exhortations about how they should live as a community, especially in the backdrop of suffering. Instead of seeking to lord over people, they are examples of godliness. They all may have some measure of ability in each of these areas but typically each will have certain strengths. And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away. For who is greater, the one who is at the table or the one who serves? Who are these people that serve in the role of elder/pastor? Dont they come from your desires that battle within you? He saved us. Often when a pastor leaves a church, they must hire someone they dont know and who doesnt know the church. 1 Peter 3:7 7 Husbands, in the same way be considerate as you live with your wives, and treat them with respect as the weaker partner and as heirs with you of the gracious gift of life, so that nothing will hinder your prayers. I am an MK, a military kid, meaning as a child, we moved every three to four years. It represents the ability to serve God more. He says, But you, man of God, flee from all this, flee this growing trend in the church to pursue money and instead of pursuing righteousness and godliness. Statistics say that over 50 percent of pastors would find another job or profession if they could. What does it mean that God gives grace to the humble? One man cannot lead Gods house. When it says be submissive to those who are older, it should probably be translated elders instead of older. This is how it is translated in the ESV and other versions. There is honor with that title. God even hates the proud look. We see this throughout Scripture. To the elders among you, I appeal as a fellow elder, a witness of Christs sufferings and one who also will share in the glory to be revealed: Be shepherds of Gods flock that is under your care, serving as overseersnot because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not greedy for money, but eager to serve; not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock. He said the hired shepherd does not care for the flock. It wont be long before the church will be persecuted (Acts 7ff.). Bible Verses About A Man. 46 Every day they continued to gather together by common consent in the temple courts, breaking bread from house to house, sharing their food with glad and humble hearts, 47 praising God and having the good will of all the people. Bless the LORD, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name. The hired hand is not the shepherd who owns the sheep. The four activities of the earliest church are introduced to us as priorities of the church. It prioritizes seeking God. How could it? I often meet men who dont want to consider the role of an elder; they see the discord in the church, the extra work, and the lack of money. Solomon talks about this further. We may not understand fully what crowns and rewards in heaven represent, but we do know some things. 22 On that day, many will say to me, Lord, Lord, didnt we prophesy in your name, and in your name cast out demons and do many powerful deeds? 23 Then I will declare to them, I never knew you. Bob was born and raised in a Christian home i More, /seriespage/putting-pentecost-perspective-part-5-firstfruits-pentecost-acts-241-47. The verb form, koinoneo is also used in the New Testament. (Read More.) The activities named (teaching, fellowship, breaking bread, and prayers) were all corporate activities, things the church did together. Look at the reward given in the Parable of the Minas in Luke 19:16-17. In the first half of chapter four, Paul makes his appeal for unity and growth. When Peter writes to the leaders of these churches, he doesnt write to one elder or pastor. These were newly-saved Jewish believers who were just beginning to grasp the significance of the things they had done as Old Testament Jews, even though they were unbelievers at the time: 16 Therefore do not let anyone judge you with respect to food or drink, or in the matter of a feast, new moon, or Sabbath days 17 these are only the shadow of the things to come, but the reality is Christ! Healthy church members are not lazy but willingly serve as ushers, small-group leaders, mentors, or any other needs the church has. 42 They were devoting themselves to the apostles teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Now Peter and John were going up to the temple at the time for prayer, at three oclock in the afternoon (Acts 3:1, emphasis mine). This includes intimacy, strength, and empowerment to do Gods work. Young men, in the same way be submissive to those who are older. Why or why not? This is a characteristic of healthy church members. Anyone anywhere in the world with an Internet connection will be able to use and print out the NET Bible without cost for personal study. Certainly, we often see this motivation for money in the prosperity gospels: Send us one hundred dollars, and you will receive a tenfold blessing in your bank account. In fact, Paul warned Timothy about this growing trend to use faith or ministry in order to feed ones love for money. Every part has something vital to contribute. We see evidence of this in the Gospel of Mark: They were all amazed so that they asked each other, What is this? He talks about three things that should be in the life of all his disciples: (1) when you fast, (2) when you pray, and (3) when you give, dont be like the Pharisees so you will not lose you reward. . They were dressed in white and had crowns of gold on their heads (emphasis mine). In the same way that many today do not understand what a healthy family or home looks like because of bad experiences or models, many also dont know what a healthy church looks like. The most ideal setup is raising leadership up from within the church among the elders in order to have a stable congregation. Read Chapter All Versions Proverbs 17:22 2 For if the message spoken through angels proved to be so firm that every violation or disobedience received its just penalty, 3 how will we escape if we neglect such a great salvation? Instead, the greatest among you should be like the youngest, and the one who rules like the one who serves. He says, In humility, consider others better than yourselves. In the rest of the chapter, he describes Christ who left heaven and took the form of a servant (Phil 2:7) and how the church must have this mind as well. The church in Jerusalem was a Jewish church. Healthy churches humbly serve one another and receive Gods blessing. We saw a faction of over 250 people, led by Korah, rise up against Moses and Aaron in Numbers 16. 35 Then they told what had happened on the road, and how they recognized him when he broke the bread (Luke 24:30, 35). Gentiles would be added after the death of Stephen, when the gospel was taken to Samaria (Acts 8). Commitment to God's Word "But Jesus answered, 'It is written, man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God'" ( Matthew 4:4 ). All rights reserved. Psalms 139:13 - 127:16 - For thou hast possessed my reins: thou hast covered me in my mother's womb. Healthy churches have faithful leaders. Healthy churches have members who submit to their leadership. Proverbs 16:24 - Pleasant words are as an honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and health to the bones. Bible Verses About A New Creation. The church is not perfect, but it does exist, and it is moving in the right direction. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be your slave, even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many." Read More When I became a pastor, I started getting an itch around my second year serving. He is intimate with them. Though this is promised only to elders, it is certainly true of all the redeemed. In a plurality of elders, you may find one elder that has a special gifting with finances, one elder has particular gifts in counseling, one excels in hospitality, one in teaching. Later on, we will see elders and deacons and a diversity of spiritually gifted people functioning as a body. Two clarifications help us identify that to which Luke is referring in Acts 2:42: . Beyond this, there is a deep sense of awe, inspired to some degree by the evidences of Gods power and presence through the many signs and wonders He was performing through the apostles (Acts 2:43). When the wolf comes, the hireling flees, but the good shepherd gives his life for the flock. Only 120 members of this church of 3,000 have trusted in Jesus for a longer period of time. 1:1: "Paul and Silvanus and Timothy, To the church of the Thessalonians ." A little over a year before, there had not been a church of any kind in Thessalonica. This pride can lead to lust, greed, being power hungry, or many other hazards. 1. The expression may simply refer to the eating of a meal: After he said this, Paul took bread and gave thanks to God in front of them all, broke it, and began to eat (Acts 27:35).
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