Overseeing The Flock: Part Three - When All Will Not Endure Sound Doctrine
God's elders are always saddened when problems arise in the congregation. Sometimes they will lose sleep and shed tears because things are not going well. An older preacher, while offering encouragement, said, "You will never be able to make everyone do right." This is something an elder must accept and keep in mind. Even so, an elder must be deeply concerned over each member. Paul was concerned about the problems in Corinth and shed tears over them (2nd Cor. 2:4).
Elders are to demand truth be taught and practiced. This is properly feeding the flock (1st Pet. 5:2). However, Paul warned Timothy that not all would be of this mind, "For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears."
We are living in a time that "saving the saved" has become a full time job. Many do not want to hear the truth about righteous living, and standing against error. I have heard it said, "I just want to hear sermons that make me feel comfortable."
There is the ever-present danger of false teachers, from without and within. This threatens the doctrinal purity of God's people (Acts 20:28-29; Matt. 7:15). It is also the elder's responsibility to see that the flock is informed and warned of the error and name those teaching such.
In Matthew 15 and 23 Jesus exposed and condemned the Pharisees for binding traditions. Paul was following Christ's example in Acts 13:8-10 when he exposed Elymas and condemned him. He exposed the error of Hymenaeus and Alexander and called their names (1st Tim. 1:20). If we are to be followers of Paul as he was Christ we must also expose those teaching error and condemn it.
Elders must never compromise or neglect to teach the whole council of God just to keep the numbers. Remember, it is not always bad when some leave.
Dickey Howard 1713 Jackson Road, Florence, AL 35630
Preacher Training Series
Preacher Training: The Preaching
Any program that does not focus on this area of a preacher's work is not worth supporting. Although I have tried to emphasize with every young man I've worked with that this is NOT the extent of your labor, it certainly IS the major area a preacher will be judged in when he interviews with a congregation for fully supported local work.
Church growth studies have determined clearly that the single most influential aspect in a visitor's returning is the quality of the worship service. The skills, knowledge, depth, and passion of a preacher can go a long way in encouraging folks to return and learn more.
Preachers who are being trained should be accountable to someone for their lesson organization, their outline and development of thought. If a man gets in the habit of just throwing thoughts out instead of making a rational, logical presentation, his confusion of thought will spread to others in the congregation.
Acts 17:2-3 explains Paul's preaching as "reasoning from the scriptures, explaining and giving evidence..." Reason, explanation, evidence, and persuasion is part of preaching. A man who can't organize his thoughts will not be able to use these tools.
A last point, that surprisingly needs to be mentioned. If you're going to train a preacher, you must let him preach. Speaking 12 times in a year will just not allow the young man to prepare himself. A church must encourage him to speak, give him great attention when he speaks, and let him speak often.
Carl McMurray 220 Swift Dr, Nashville, TN 37072
Passing the Sword Series
Passing The Sword: A Truly Dependable Servant
Timothy: A Truly Dependable Servant: Beginning with Paul from Lystra, on his second journey, about 50 A.D., being in his middle to upper 20's, Timothy seems to have become Paul's right hand man. He served in this capacity until Paul's execution in a Roman prison some 18 to 20 years later.
Timothy: A Courageous Servant: Even though Timothy might not have suffered as severely and as long as Paul (2 Cor. 11:24-28), nevertheless he suffered greatly (Heb. 13:23; 2 Tim. 1:8; 2:3). Tradition tells us that Timothy suffered martyrdom in Rome.
Timothy: A Servant For The Future Of The Church: Paul wrote three letters to two of his young servants. Two to Timothy, and one to Titus. These letters are highly recommended reading for any young man desiring to be a preacher, an elder, or a deacon in the congregation.
Lessons To Be Learned: The power of early training and preparation. The power of personal influence upon others. Parents upon children. Paul upon Timothy. The case of Eunice, and possibly Lois, not marrying believers (2 Cor. 6:14-18). Not allowing personal handicaps to keep us from serving God (1 Tim. 5:23; 2 Tim. 1:6,7). Are you a servant of God? What kind of servant are you? Are you dependable?
Jim Sasser 1722 W. Market St., Athens, AL 35611
Deacons Series
The Deacon's Work: Qualifications
In First Timothy 3 beginning in verse 8 we have the qualifications of a deacon. The apostle Paul gives this list to the young evangelist Timothy so he would be able to show the early churches what kind of men is needed to fill this position.
The first quality one must have is that he is to be grave or reverent. The NIV renders this as men worthy of respect. A man who fits this characteristic will be such an example. This does not mean that a deacon can never cut up or joke around, but he must know when it is time to get serious and fulfill his duties.
The second quality is one who is "not doubletongued". This is talking about a person who tells different stories to different people in an effort to deceive someone. A deacon needs to be trusted as someone who will give you the straight story every time.
The third quality that Paul gives to us is "not given to much wine". I believe a deacon should abstain from any alcohol based on the example he would set before others. A deacon should try to set the best example he can before others in the church as well as those in the world.
Kent Ward 8915 East County Road 400, North Brownsburg, IN 46112
Home Series
"Home": Involves A Scriptural Marriage
In the International Standard Bible Encyclopedia under the definition of "Family" in a section titled: MONOGAMY, THE IDEAL RELATION, is the following quote: "The race is introduced synthetically as a species in the incoming of life... The words of the charter hold the sexes to monogamy."
Indeed, this is what God intended and we keep emphasizing this principle: ONE man (who has never been married) and ONE woman (who has never been married) are united for life. This is a scriptural marriage.
Jesus was content to quote from Genesis 2:23, 24 when with His limitless ethical scrutiny He explained the marriage relation. The subsequent words make marriage life-lasting. "They twain shall be one flesh." A dualism becomes an individualism. So said Christ: "Wherefore they are no more twain but one flesh" (Mt 19:6). Nothing but death separates a man from his own flesh. Nothing but life-monogamy can find place in the language of this charter.
Jerry L. Henderson 202 15th Street, Trenton, TN 38382
Editorial
Obedience
Scriptures on Obedience
"Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men" (Acts 5:29).
"Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered; And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him..." (Heb. 5:8,9).
"Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently..." (I Pet. 1:22).
"But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you" (Rom. 6:17).
"Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city" (Rev. 22:14).