Church leadership structure #2

In: leadership

15 Dec 2008

…continued

6. What are the qualifications of an elder?

A wise, mature man who is self-controlled, hospitable, a skilled teacher, gentle not violent, not quarrelsome, not greedy for money, not a recent convert, has a good reputation with the community, not overbearing, not quick tempered, loves what is good, upright and holy, disciplined, above reproach, husband of only one wife, self-controlled, respectable, not given to wine, manages his family well, has children in submission, does not pursue dishonest gain, holds to the truth (1 Timothy 3:1-9, Titus 1:5-9).

A question of marital status as qualification often arises. My understanding is that the phrase “husband of only one wife” literally means “a one-wife man”, and it refers to the present marital stability and character of the elder. He must be fully devoted to his wife and not wander after other women either emotionally or sexually. It does not refer to commanded marriage for an elder (1 Corinthians 7), polygamy (although this is recognized for all saints as sin), or to a biblical divorce. The churches in which I have served have had a preference that the lead pastor should be an elder who has never experienced divorce.

7. Can a woman be an elder?

Evidently not with the whole church. There are no Old Testament or New Testament references to women holding this position of office. The qualifications for elder seem to preclude a woman. Although, godly older women did serve in an elder role to younger women in the church (Titus 2:3-5). This is a matter of debate among good Christians. My understanding in this is not based on a prejudice against woman, rather a simple reading of scripture.

8. How many elders are there to be?

There are no guidelines in scripture. Moses had 70, the 12 apostles functioned as elders, but there is no record of how many were in each church. There probably were, however, one or two elders who rose to the position of leading overseer above the others, the first among many, who focused on the preaching and teaching (1 Timothy 5:17).

9. In light of scripture, what should be the leadership structure of the church?
Scripture is silent on the actual structure. The roles are discussed, and we read examples of how they interacted with the church. But there is no prescribed structure. When I served at West Ridge Church, we took this approach: the elders were divided into two ministries:

  • Guiding elders – godly men who advise the pastors, oversee the discipline and doctrine of the church.
  • Leading elders – pastors who oversee the feeding and leading of the flock of the church.
  • Lead Pastor – there is one pastor who is the chief overseer, a servant leader who provides direction for the whole church.

10. How are the elders selected?

At WRC the guiding elders advise and hold the lead pastor accountable. They evaluate him and would lead the process of replacing him. The lead pastor and elder group select the leading elders and other pastors. The lead pastor evaluates them. The guiding elders are selected by the lead pastor and the elder group, and are affirmed by the congregation each January. They serve one year at a time, and may serve seven consecutive terms before taking a break.

to be continued

Church leadership structure #1

In: leadership

11 Dec 2008

When talking with church planters, I am often asked about the leadership structure of a church. Is there there a structure given by God? What is is? What are the leadership roles in the church? Much has been written about this. Following are some guidelines I have studied and practiced with other church leaders:

1. What are the biblical leadership offices for the church?

Though there are varying interpretations of passages, most Bible students agree that the offices of elder/overseer (commonly called “pastor” in Western culture) and deacon are to be used in the church. This was the understanding of the church beginning within the first 100 years after the writing of the New Testament (Ignatius, Clement of Rome).

Philippians 1:1 Paul and Timothy, bond-servants of Christ Jesus, To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are in Philippi, including the overseers and deacons:

2. Is the office of apostle in operation in the church today?

Evidently not. An apostle was a leader of the ministry established by Jesus, and one who helped transition this ministry to local church ministries. They were selected by Jesus (Matthew 10:1-4, Acts 9), who also guided the apostles in replacing vacant positions (Acts 1:24). An apostle must have been a witness to Jesus’ ministry from the baptism of John to the ascension (Acts 1:21-22). Paul established elders, not apostles, in churches (Acts 14:23) and he and Peter wrote to them (Philippians 1:1, 1 Peter 5:1). The emphasis seems to move from apostles to elders after the book of Acts.

3. What is an ‘elder’?

“Elder”, from the Greek word presbuteros refers to a spiritually mature person with wisdom who guides God’s people. They emerged in the Old Testament as leaders in cities (Judges 8:14), tribes (Judges 11:5), and in the nation of Israel (Exodus 3:16).

By the time of the New Testament they had become a part of the Sanhedrin, the ruling Jewish body in the Roman Empire. The Sanhedrin was comprised of the chief priest, scribes, and elders who were considered lay people (Mark 11:27, 14:43, 15:1).

As the first churches were Jewish in membership, it was natural for God to use this idea for church leadership. They begin appearing in Acts, where they received offerings in churches (11:30), were selected by Paul and Barnabas (14:23), were part of the decision makers with the apostles in the Gentile question (15:2,4,6,22,23), and Paul visited with them as the leaders of churches (20:17, 21:18).

4. What is the relationship between ‘elder’, ‘overseer’ (bishop), and ‘pastor’?

‘Elder’ and ‘overseer’ are often used interchangeably, and they overlap with the idea of ‘pastor’ (Acts 20:17, 28, Titus 1:5, 7).

‘Overseer’ (translated as ‘bishop’ in the KJV) comes from the Greek word episkopos which means guardian or superintendent. ‘Pastor’ is from the Greek word poimen, which means to shepherd.

‘Elder’ is the spiritual state of the person, ‘overseer’ is the office or job they hold, and ‘pastor’ is one of their main tasks and the gift they have (Ephesians 4:11)

5. What is the job of the elder?

  • To feed and lead the flock of God as a shepherd overseer. Specifically, to
  • Receive the offerings (Acts 11:30)
  • Make doctrinal and ministry decisions (Acts 15)
  • Help the saints mature so the ministry work gets done (Ephesians 4:11-13)
  • Preach and teach (1 Timothy 5:17)
  • Pray for the sick (James 5:14)
  • Oversee the ministry and be examples to the flock (1 Peter 5:2-3)
  • Protect the flock (Acts 20:28-30)

to be continued…

The great christmas gift exchange.

In: discipleship| salvation| theology

9 Dec 2008

Each December holiday season a competitive, calculating sport plays out in homes, neighborhoods, schools, and office parties across America.

The great Christmas gift exchange.

This is the game of trading up gifts you have received.

The short version of this is played at a party, usually called “White Elephant Gifts” or “Dirty Santa”, where you must pick a wrapped gift from a pile or steal a gift someone else in the circle has already unwrapped.

The longer version happens after Christmas, when you take an unworthy, unwanted gift back to the store from whence it came, and fight crowds of ninja-shoppers to exchange it for something you really want. You trade up.

Or, you re-wrap the present and re-gift it next year!

This may seem shallow, even childish. Why not be happy with what your friends and family gave you? Aren’t you ever satisfied? Actually, this game mimics the true Story of Christmas. Since time began, humans have been playing this game with the first Giver:

  1. In the Garden of Eden we exchanged God’s creation for our own self-centered desires. [genesis 3]
  2. In Bethlehem Jesus exchanged His glory for an earthly existence. [luke 2]
  3. On the cross Jesus exchanged His innocence for our sin conviction and penalty. [luke 23]
  4. In our moment of conversion Jesus exchanged His righteousness for our rebellion. [romans 5]
  5. In our everyday existence Jesus exchanges His life for our daily life. [galatians 2]
  6. In heaven we will exchange our corruptible bodies for incorruptible [1 corinthians 15:51-53]

This great Christmas gift exchange continues throughout our lives. In Ephesians, Paul offers these daily examples of how we are to continually give up the junk we have clung to, and receive Christ’s gifts of new life. We exchange:

  • Dead in sin for life in grace and mercy [2:1-7]
  • Separated, hostile alienation for citizenship with God [2:11-19]
  • Hostility for peaceful reconciliation [2:14]
  • Confused immaturity for Christ-like maturity [4:14-15]
  • Futile, ignorant thinking for loving, truthful thinking [4:15-18]
  • Corrupt, lustful, uncontrolled self for God-like, righteous, holy self [4:19-24]
  • Lying for truth-telling [4:25]
  • Stealing for work and sharing [4:28]
  • Unwholesome talk for helpful, constructive, beneficial talk [4:29]
  • Bitter anger for kind, compassionate forgiveness [4:31-32]
  • Sexual immorality for loving, sacrificial imitation of Christ [5:1-3]
  • Obscene, foolish, coarse joking for thanksgiving [5:4]
  • Darkness for light-filled life in the Lord [5:8-14]
  • Unwise foolishness for wisdom [5:15-17]
  • Drunkenness for Spirit-filling [5:18]

You see, Jesus actually ENJOYS playing this game of gift exchanging! He wants us to bring Him our tattered, broken gifts, so he can present us with abundant-life gifts from the Father.

This Christmas, trade-up!

Savior and/or Lord? Passover and weddings.

In: discipleship| salvation

4 Dec 2008

Two other pictures of the relationship between conversion and discipleship.

passover.

6 Take care of them until the fourteenth day of the month, when all the people of the community of Israel must slaughter them at twilight. 7 Then they are to take some of the blood and put it on the sides and tops of the doorframes of the houses where they eat the lambs. 8 That same night they are to eat the meat roasted over the fire, along with bitter herbs, and bread made without yeast. 9 Do not eat the meat raw or cooked in water, but roast it over the fire—head, legs and inner parts. 10 Do not leave any of it till morning; if some is left till morning, you must burn it. 11 This is how you are to eat it: with your cloak tucked into your belt, your sandals on your feet and your staff in your hand. Eat it in haste; it is the LORD’s Passover. Exodus 12

Israel killed the lamb, painted the doorpost with its blood, ate its meat with their sandals on and their bags packed.

This is another picture of the journey with God. Conversion and discipleship. The command from God was 2-part: blood on the doorpost gives you salvation, and then be ready to travel.

I experienced conversion and then i started into discipleship. That was God’s intent. He doesn’t want Israel painting the doorpost with His blood, and then going back to bed. He has ordered us to take the step of faith in His blood, and then walk with Him out of Egypt.

The plan is accept His salvation and His discipleship.

wedding.

On December 18, 1987 I walked onto a stage at my home church with my closest friends. My future wife walked down the aisle of the church to meet me, and we we entered a very meaningful service, a time where we pledged our lives to each other in the presence of God, family, and friends.

We said “I Do”, and gave each other rings.

It was a very simple matter to wed each other.

But what if, at the end of the ceremony, I had said, “Chris, it was such a joy marrying you today! Thanks for the honor! I’m going to head on out now, I have some plans. I hope you have a great life. Let’s keep in touch. And I tell you what, let’s meet back together in about 50 years, and I’ll arrange a quaint little nursing home for us to retire in.”

You - and she - would think I was crazy.

Marrying someone implies there is a “marriage” to follow. The wedding simply begins the life-long journey together.

It is a very simple matter to wed each other - but it takes a lifetime to live out the commitment that has been made.

And so it is with salvation. Conversion begins the process, discipleship carries it out.

Savior and/or Lord? The Cross.

In: discipleship| salvation

2 Dec 2008

[continued]

What does the “cross” mean to you?

What were the first references to “cross” by Jesus?

Anyone who loves his father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves his son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me; and anyone who does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. Matthew 10:37-39

Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it.” Matthew 16:24-25

Interesting that the first reference to “cross” by Jesus refers to discipleship, not conversion, would you agree?

Context - Who did Jesus spend his time teaching? Almost exclusively Jews and religious people. Yes, wayward Jews, Samaritans, even devout Romans. But the point was he was usually talking to people who had grown up around the teachings of rabbis, people who understood what it meant to take on a “yoke“. Would you agree?

Jesus had discipleship implicit in all of his teaching, even his conversion teaching.

Before the cross of Matthew 27 - conversion - there was the cross of discipleship, or, lordship - Matthew 10, Matthew 16.

If you were following Jesus before Matthew 27 and I asked you, “What does the cross mean in Jesus teaching?“, what would you say?

You would say the cross is a symbol of lordship. You would not yet understand its meaning for salvation.

So, here is your question about salvation and lordship:

Are there 2 different crosses in Jesus teaching? Is there one for those who want to be saved and another one for those who want him as Lord?

Or - maybe there is one cross - with two sides. As I walk up to the front of the cross I lay my sin down and the blood covers me. As I walk past it the backside points me down the road of lordship.

How rich ARE you?

In: discipleship

27 Nov 2008

In case you’re having trouble being thankful in this economy - and not to say wealth alone is the indicator of God’s blessing - try this out:

rich

Try out your own annual income in this form:

http://www.globalrichlist.com/

Thanks.

In: Uncategorized

27 Nov 2008

Bless the LORD, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name.

Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits:

Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases;

Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies;

Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle’s.

The LORD executeth righteousness and judgment for all that are oppressed.

He made known his ways unto Moses, his acts unto the children of Israel.

The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy.

He will not always chide: neither will he keep his anger for ever.

He hath not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities.

For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him.

As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us.

Like as a father pitieth his children, so the LORD pitieth them that fear him.

For he knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we are dust.

As for man, his days are as grass: as a flower of the field, so he flourisheth.

For the wind passeth over it, and it is gone; and the place thereof shall know it no more.

But the mercy of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear him, and his righteousness unto children’s children;

To such as keep his covenant, and to those that remember his commandments to do them.

The LORD hath prepared his throne in the heavens; and his kingdom ruleth over all.

Bless the LORD, ye his angels, that excel in strength, that do his commandments, hearkening unto the voice of his word.

Bless ye the LORD, all ye his hosts; ye ministers of his, that do his pleasure.

Bless the LORD, all his works in all places of his dominion: bless the LORD, O my soul.

Psalms 103

Savior and/or Lord?

In: discipleship| salvation

24 Nov 2008

I love teaching our new member’s class at church because people come from all different religious backgrounds and stages of spiritual growth.

I start the class by talking about salvation. We play a little game called I’m Dying In 15 Minutes:

I’m dying in the next few minutes - tell me what must I do, believe, feel, have, say, be in order to enter heaven, gain salvation, become a Christian, or whatever you want to call it. Remember, I don’t have much time, so don’t load me up with opinions or extra steps - just give me the straight antidote for sin.

Do I HAVE to know and believe that Jesus was virgin born? That all 66 books are the inspired Word of God? That God created the earth?

Needless to say, the answers get interesting. Several “right” answers start emerging from the class - “Repent of sin”, “Believe Jesus died on the cross for you”, etc. And the last two classes someone has raised their hand and said “And you have to make Jesus the Lord of your life.” Silence. Puzzled looks from other class members.

Do I have to make Jesus my Lord in order to have Him as my Savior? It’s an old debate, one I remember dusting up during my college years in the 1980s. We were debating “Lordship Salvation” versus “Easy Believism.”

So what do you say? Look at these four models. Which one identifies your belief?

lordship-salvation

a = conversion and discipleship don’t have to be related at all. You can have salvation without having to follow Jesus.

b = you must know about discipleship and be ready to follow Christ as you are taking the step of conversion. They cannot be separated.

c = you must learn and work in discipleship before you are ready to truly accept Jesus as Savior

d = accepting Christ as Savior is the first step to God’s intended plan of discipleship for you.

[polldaddy poll=1136299]

The hymnal of my life.

In: discipleship

13 Nov 2008

As I sit here working in my office a holiday playlist from my iTunes library is putting me in the seasonal mood.

I love music. I am a melancholy with an artistic spirit [just no artistic talent!]. Music is a soundtrack for my life. In fact, I can trace milestones on my spiritual journey through the albums and songs that I was listening to at that point.

Awhile back I began collecting these songs into my iTunes library so I could remember God’s story in my life. Some of these selections will make you laugh when you think of the style, others will mystify you as to why they would be important to me. But each one witnessed God to me at an important stretch of road.

This is my life’s hymnal - my musical life journal - my psalter.

CHILDHOOD - 1960s-70s

  • WMBI 90.1 FM, Chicago
  • Ralph Carmichael
  • Andre Crouch - “Take Me Back”, “Keep On Singing”
  • Doug Oldham - “The King Is Coming”, “A Rich Man Am I”
  • LBC Chorale - “I Want The World To Know”

JUNIOR HIGH - 1970s

  • Gaithers – “Because He Lives”, “Get All Excited”, “I Am A Promise”

HIGH SCHOOL - 1970s

  • Dallas Holm & Praise - “Hey I’m A Believer”
  • Keith Green - “For Him Who Has Ears to Hear”, “No Compromise”, “So You Wanna Go Back to Egypt”, “The Keith Green Collection”
  • TRUTH - “Would You Believe In Me”, “Songs That Answer Questions”, “Second To None”
  • Imperials - “No Shortage”, “Just Because”

COLLEGE/GRADUATE - 1980s

  • Glad – “Captured In Time”, “No Less Than All”
  • Michael W. Smith – “MWS Project”, MWS 2”

ADULT/LYNCHBURG - 1990s

  • Michael Card – “Sleep Sound In Jesus”
  • Steven Curtis Chapman - “Real Life Conversations”, “More To This Life”, “Signs Of Life”
  • Michael W. Smith - “Exodus”
  • Ron Kenoly - “Majesty”
  • Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir
  • “Smithton Outpouring”
  • Christ Fellowship Choir – “For Such A Time”
  • Jars of Clay – “Jars Of Clay”
  • LIGHT – “Carry The Light” [Portugese]

ADULT/GEORGIA - 2000s

  • City on a Hill – “Songs of Worship and Praise”, “Sing Alleluia”, “The Gathering”
  • Caedmon’s Call – “In Company Of Angels”
  • Passion – “Live From The 268 Generation”, “Better Is One Day”, “How Great Is Our God”, “The Road To One Day”, “Our Love Is Loud” “Sacred Revolution”, “Everything Glorious”, “God Of This City”
  • Chris Tomlin – “The Noise We Make”, “Not To Us”, “Arriving”
  • Third Day – “Offerings”, “Come Together”, “Wherever You Are”
  • Philips, Craig, and Dean – “Let My Words Be Few”
  • Matt Redman – “Face Down”
  • Hillsong United – “Look To You”
  • Fee – “We Shine”
  • Praise 97.5 Atlanta

CHRISTMAS

  • Amy Grant – “A Christmas Album”, “Home For Christmas”
  • Michael W. Smith – “Christmastime”
  • City On A Hill – “Its Christmas Time”

LIFE

  • Handel’s Messiah

George Handel wrote his oratario in 24 days and first performed it in 1742 in Dublin. Interestingly, when it was first performed in London the next year it was not well received. It was performed there in Covent Garden, a theater! Handel had called it a “musical entertainment”. I wonder that people of that time would think if they knew there were church plants meeting in and performing God-focused music in movie theaters today! This musical journey through the birth, suffering, and reign of Jesus Christ has been the most enduring and encouraging music throughout my life.

What are the next selections that will be added? I don’t know. But I know that songs will be added to the list because God will continue to speak to me through new music. He’ll play just the right new tune to walk me through the next peak or valley.

What is in your life’s hymnal?

Confession of a worship snob.

In: discipleship

10 Nov 2008

crowd

I love worship.

And that’s a problem.

I should love God through worship, but at times my love stops at the music. From time to time I stray over the line of loving God, and I begin to love worship. A worship worshipper, a snob of worship that is not m`y style.

I am wired experientially, and I love all kinds of music. It is a powerful language for my soul to express itself to God. It is a potent therapy that lifts me through times of depression. God created music, and gifted it to us from the beginning. I assume that God enjoys music.

But it’s amazing how music, especially in worship, is so often a spiritual battlefield. Churches fight over styles of music, like the worship wars I remember from the 70s and 80s. Once Christians stop fighting about the style of music suitable in the church, it seems Satan’s next weapon is to focus the whole congregation on the worship experience, instead of the Object of worship. A subtle shift, but Satan is wise in his use of music – consider his original job description! He tricks us into loving the concert, instead of the Creator.

Changing churches in the last few months has thrown some different music styles at my family. We were used to worshipping through a band, with loud celebration, through modern rock, the songs of Passion, Third Day, and Hillsong United. Steve Veale shepherded our church maturely into God’s presence each week, Stephen Parris’ artistic genius helped us see God, gifted guitarists like Brad Avery and Jake Collier pointed us to God.

Now we worship through choirs, vocals, and a variety of styles. Charles Billingsley’s vocals lift our people to the heights; Adam Lancaster lays down the B3 sound with a love for God. Yesterday was a powerful experience of worship – a gospel choir sound that made me want to jump on stage!

And yet here, like in my last church, I hear Christ-followers assessing the music according to their appetites. “I don’t like the music, its not my style, I can only worship if the music is…

  • Loud
  • Contemplative
  • Modern rock
  • Southern gospel
  • Keyboard driven
  • Guitar driven
  • In the hymnbook
  • On the screen
  • Written yesterday
  • Written 200 years ago

I’m being reminded that I am to love God, and enjoy the music, not the other way around. Yes, I have a style, culture, personality that will shape my worship experience. But music is not to become my god.

Daniel 3 told in reverse is the lesson. When the world’s music plays Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego are not to bow down before Nebuchadnezzar’s god, right? Yes, but the church must guard itself against the opposite temptation. For me the lesson is this:

Too often the worship for the True God starts, but I don’t bow because I am waiting for the music that I like. Meanwhile, the True God stands there, towering over me in splendor, waiting for me to bend the knee.

I am learning, WHENEVER the music for the True God strikes up – WHATEVER style it may be – if it is purely pointed at Him – I must bow down.

Matt Redman has penned it best:

When the music fades
All is stripped away
And I simply come
Longing just to bring
Something that’s of worth
That will bless your heart

I’ll bring You more than a song
For a song in itself
Is not what You have required
You search much deeper within
Through the way things appear
You’re looking into my heart

I’m coming back to the heart of worhip
And it’s all about You
It’s all about You, Jesus
I’m sorry, Lord, for the thing I’ve made it
When it’s all about You
It’s all about You, Jesus

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