WEBVTT

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 This morning we have before us the great occasion to install Clayton Elder to serve as an elder for our church.

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!

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 And I'll do my very best this morning to answer each of these questions with a summary statement,

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 followed by some form of explanation, however brief, for the sake of our time together.

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 However, before we dive into these questions, I want to help each of you recognize that a study of the office of elder,

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 an office that God has given to the church, should not be a boring academic.

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 Pursuit.

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 This should not be a study reserved for those who may someday go into vocational ministry.

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 You see, Christ Jesus is the builder and sustainer of the church.

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 So it matters that we understand how it is that He does this.

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 If we love Christ, we will love His church.

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 And we will be concerned about how He has ordered the church to function.

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 We should appreciate the way that He is building us together into a body for the praise of His name.

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 And the appointing of elders is a part of that process.

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 So in order to do so, we're going to need to look at a number of texts this morning.

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 But I'd like to begin with Ephesians chapter 4, verses 4 through 16.

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 Before I read this, I remind you, beloved, that this is God's word to us.

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 It was written for His glory and our good.

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 And as such, we would all do well to listen to it in order to believe its promises and to obey its commands.

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 Beginning in verse 4 of Ephesians chapter 4.

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 There is one body and one spirit, just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call.

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 One Lord, one faith, one baptism.

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 One God and Father of all who is over all and through all and in all.

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 But grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ's gift.

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 Therefore, it says, when He ascended on high, He led a host of captives and He gave gifts to men.

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 In saying He ascended, what does it mean but that He had also descended into the lower regions, the earth?

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 He who descended is the one who also ascended far above all the heavens that He might fill all things.

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 And He gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers to equip the saints for the work of ministry,

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 for building up the body of Christ.

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 Until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God,

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 to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ.

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 So that we may no longer be children tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine,

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 by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes.

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 Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into Him who is the head,

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 into Christ, from whom the whole body joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped,

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 when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.

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 This is a very classic ecclesiological text.

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 That we have this Christ, right, who came and dwelt amongst us, who has now ascended,

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 and in His ascension, He has gifted people in the church.

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 That the church might minister to itself, to one another.

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 That we might not be immature, but rather mature.

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 And it's a beautiful text to this end.

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 That we not be tossed to and fro by every wind of doctrine.

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 That we not be deceived by those who will work to deceive the church.

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 But that we would speak the truth to one another in love.

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 That we would properly exemplify Christ in the places which we live

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 because we're doing this work of ministry together.

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 And Paul says he gives gifts to this end.

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 Draw your attention back to verse 11.

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 Paul says that Jesus gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds, and teachers.

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 And why did He give them?

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 To equip the saints for the work of ministry.

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 For the building up of the body of Christ.

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 That these gifted people would be passing along equipping that we would be built up in this way.

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 There is a lot of understandings about what is meant by apostles and prophets of angels.

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 I don't want to get into any of that.

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 But I just want to draw your attention simply to this idea of shepherds and teachers.

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 And in the Greek, the and is not there.

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 And so I think more properly it should be understood as pastor-teachers.

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 Both the title and the description of what it is that this particular gifting does.

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 Jesus has given to the church pastor-teachers to do this work of equipping

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 so that the church can build itself up in love.

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 That we would be more like Christ.

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 That's why it matters that we consider this topic.

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 Why do we care?

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 Because we want to look like Christ.

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 Because we want Christ to be honored.

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 We want Christ to be glorified in this place.

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 So we need to care about the questions I have posed to you this morning.

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 And we most certainly need to care about the answers.

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 So let's look at them, I hope, in brief.

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 We'll see.

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 Number one.

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 I'm going to move pretty quick this morning.

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 Number one.

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 Who are elders?

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 Who are elders?

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 Very short summary statement.

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 Elders are men qualified and appointed.

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 Elders are men qualified and appointed.

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 Come with me, Will, if you will, please, to 1 Timothy chapter 3.

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 1 Timothy chapter 3.

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 Here Paul writes to Timothy, who's in Ephesus.

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 The saying is trustworthy.

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 If anyone aspires to the office of overseer, he desires a noble task.

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 Therefore, an overseer must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, sober-minded, self-controlled,

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 respectable, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not a drunkard, not violent, but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money.

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 He must manage his own household well with all dignity, keeping his children submissive.

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 For if someone does not know how to manage his own household, how will he care for God's church?

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 He must not be a recent convert, or he may become puffed up with conceit and fall into the condemnation of the devil.

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 Moreover, he must be well thought of by outsiders so that he may not fall into disgrace, into a snare of the devil.

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 So, you'll find, if you're being astute in this text, that we don't see the word elder anywhere in it,

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 but we see rather the office of overseer.

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 And without belaboring the point this morning, put forth to you that these terms are interchangeable.

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 The idea of overseer, elder, pastor, bishop.

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 All of these are words used to describe the very same office.

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 So, we note in this text, first off, that these overseers or elders, which is speaking to a spiritual maturity, are men.

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 Note in almost every verse, the male pronouns.

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 I think it's in all of them except verse 3, if I'm not mistaken.

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 Verse 1, he desires a noble task.

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 Verse 2, he's the husband of one wife.

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 Verse 4, he must manage keeping his children.

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 Verse 5, how will he care for God's church?

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 Verse 6, he must not be a recent convert, or he may become.

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 Verse 7, he must be so that he.

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 Beloved, this text is only seven verses, and yet it contains eight pronouns, plus the title of husband.

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 Should we have any doubt that Paul meant for elders to be men?

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 Many do.

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 So, let's make the point just a bit further.

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 In the same letter, 1 Timothy 2, verse 8-13, Paul writes to Timothy,

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 Let a woman work quietly with all submissiveness.

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 I do not permit a woman to teach or to exercise authority over a man.

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 Rather, she is to remain quiet.

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 For Adam was born first, then Eve.

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 We will not unpack all that this text means this morning.

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 I want to draw us specifically to, though, the authority that Paul mentions.

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 He says that he does not permit a woman to teach or to exercise authority over a man.

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 We understand this to be spiritual authority.

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 He's talking in the context of the church.

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 And I will admit that there is some, maybe much, ambiguity here.

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 This is a bit of a gray area.

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 What exactly is spiritual authority?

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 For example, can I read a book authored by a woman?

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 Many conferences will have women come and speak at them.

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 Passion, for example, each year typically has Beth Moore,

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 who really faithfully teaches the Bible.

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 Is it okay for us to go to such a thing?

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 I'm not going to answer those questions for you this morning.

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 I have answers for them.

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 You're welcome to come ask me later.

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 But we can be sure that in the case of elders, there is no ambiguity.

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 That in the context of the local church, that it would be considered authority for a woman to be in such a position.

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 Our text uses this word overseer, episkopon.

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 Episcopon, right?

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 Where do we get the title from elder from?

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 In the parallel text in Titus chapter 1.

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 Presbyteros, to oversee or to protect or to guard.

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 Right?

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 This is a spiritual authority given to this office.

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 And ladies, I will let you know that I do not stand before you with any pride about that at all.

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 I stand before you with trembling.

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 In God's good order, he has determined that men would serve as elders.

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 And men who serve well in that position do so with a great deal of humility.

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 Why me?

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 Why, oh, me?

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 These are men.

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 These are men who are also qualified.

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 Not just any man, but a qualified man.

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 And we have in this text, in 1 Timothy, a list of qualifications.

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 We also can see a very similar list in Titus chapter 1, verse 5 through 9.

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 A parallel text.

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 But are these the only qualifications?

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 Certainly we want men giving leadership to read their Bibles and pray.

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 We want these men to be characterized by a personal holiness that we can observe in this way.

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 So what I think that Paul is doing here is he's speaking specifically to these qualifications that are, in fact, observable.

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 The recognized quality of this man.

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 How is it then, right, that we as a church are meant to look and see if a man is qualified?

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 By these observable qualities.

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 These things that are coming out of who he is.

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 That express his very character.

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 And there's a concern, not just about the church's observation,

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 but how it is that this qualified man interacts with those outside of the church as well.

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 Beginning of verse 7.

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 Paul says, moreover, he must be well thought of by outsiders.

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 So when the lost world looks at the church and see who gives leadership to that church,

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 they respect these people.

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 These are good qualities, right?

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 This is a man worth respecting.

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 And Paul gives us both some positive and some negative.

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 So he states things in the pot of must be this, should be this,

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 and some things that he should not be.

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 So notice verse 2.

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 These are all positive.

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 Above reproach.

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 The husband of one wife, so he's not a womanizer.

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 Sober-minded, controlled in his thinking.

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 Self-controlled, controlled in his actions.

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 Respectable, hospitable, welcoming to people, and able to teach.

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 Verse 3, we see some in the negative.

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 Positive, not a drunkard.

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 Not violent, but then the positive, gentle.

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 Not quarrelsome, always stirring up controversy.

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 Not a lover of money.

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 And then back to verse 4.

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 In the positive again, he must manage his household well.

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 As an example for how he would manage a greater house.

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 A house of faith.

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 He must keep his children, if he has children, submissive.

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 And then back to the negative again in verse 6.

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 He must not be a recent convert.

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 He could become puffed up if he's a recent convert.

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 He must have learned the lesson of humility.

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 And these are, of course, qualities that we would want to be true of any Christian person,

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 with one possible exception, the being a husband.

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 And an elder must be a model of holiness.

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 We don't say, this is for an elder.

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 An elder should be qualified in this way, but other people don't need to obtain to these qualities.

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 Well, of course we want all Christians everywhere to be above reproach.

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 To be sober-minded.

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 To be self-controlled.

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 To be respectable.

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 To be hospitable.

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 We want these things to be true of all Christian people.

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 And I believe what he's trying to communicate here, Paul, is that these men are supposed to lead in this.

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 Elders are supposed to be models of holiness.

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 Not perfect, but excelling in that pursuit of perfection.

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 Getting out ahead of others in this pursuit of growing up into Christ's likeness.

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 This means, for Clay, that he has to press in.

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 And when others wonder what it looks like to follow Jesus, they must find an example in him.

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 In the way that he picks himself back up when he does sin, repents, and follows once again Christ.

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 That he's out ahead.

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 That he's pressing on in holiness and helping us do the very same.

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 There's an additional exception in our 1 Timothy 3 text.

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 And that is this idea of being able to teach.

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 Paul expounds upon this in Titus 1 and verse 9 where he writes,

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 He, this elder, must hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught.

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 So that he may be able to give instruction in sound doctrine and also to rebuke those who contradict it.

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 An elder is to know the word of God and be able to communicate in the affirmative and in the negative.

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 They must be able to say, yes, this, as well as have the boldness to say, no, not that.

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 We want all people to be growing up in this type of maturity.

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 Elders particularly must lead in this way.

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 Knowing the word of God and being able to communicate it.

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 This means for Clay.

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 That he needs to continue to be a faithful student of the Bible.

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 We need to give him space and time to be able to do such a thing.

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 That he would be ready in season and out of season to instruct us in the truth as he's done well in the past.

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 So these are men qualified and appointed.

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 There are two instances of elders being appointed in the Bible.

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 We see this in Titus 1, verse 5.

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 Paul writes to Titus,

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 This is why I left you in Crete that you might put what remained into order.

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 The things that had yet to be finished in establishing these churches.

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 We see it also in Acts chapter 14, verse 23.

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 It says,

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 Now, some will argue from these two texts that only apostles could appoint elders.

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 And therefore, elders should no longer be appointed in the church.

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 This case is made fairly broadly.

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 However, we don't believe that Titus or Barnabas were apostles.

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 Barnabas is called an apostle in Acts 14, verse 14.

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 But this is likely the more general use of the term which means messenger.

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 One who is sent with a message.

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 Further, Paul does not command Timothy to appoint elders.

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 But simply instructs him how to recognize men that should be appointed.

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 And the understanding is that they were appointed by the churches in which they served.

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 And finally, 1 Timothy chapter 3, verses 1 through 7.

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 And Titus chapter 1, verses 5 through 9.

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 1 Timothy chapter 1, verse 1.

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 Would have no relevance to us today if we were not to have leaders in our churches.

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 Consider that.

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 If we're not supposed to have leaders in our churches, these have no relevance to us at all.

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 But are we supposed to have leaders in our churches?

00:20:52.079 --> 00:20:53.720
 Let's suggest to you, yes.

00:20:53.720 --> 00:20:57.980
 Hebrews chapter 13 and verse 17 says,

00:20:58.500 --> 00:21:09.380
 Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls as those who have to give an account.

00:21:09.819 --> 00:21:11.400
 Given as gifts.

00:21:11.839 --> 00:21:14.740
 Those who are going to keep watch over you.

00:21:15.140 --> 00:21:21.559
 Who are going to care for your souls and give an account for your souls as a result.

00:21:21.559 --> 00:21:30.259
 And so the church should recognize and appoint elders for every congregation.

00:21:30.859 --> 00:21:36.720
 With much care and concern, observation and consideration.

00:21:37.359 --> 00:21:43.960
 We should be both recognizing and raising up men who will lead in our fellowships.

00:21:44.079 --> 00:21:47.460
 That we might grow into Christ's likeness.

00:21:48.059 --> 00:21:51.379
 This is good for us to the glory of God.

00:21:51.559 --> 00:21:52.799
 So who are elders?

00:21:52.919 --> 00:21:56.339
 Elders are men qualified and appointed.

00:21:57.399 --> 00:21:59.039
 What do elders do?

00:21:59.419 --> 00:22:00.480
 That's the next question.

00:22:00.879 --> 00:22:02.799
 What do elders do?

00:22:03.399 --> 00:22:07.119
 You'll find much of that answer in the previous answer.

00:22:07.879 --> 00:22:10.059
 But let me expand now a little bit.

00:22:11.519 --> 00:22:13.359
 Summary statement is,

00:22:13.359 --> 00:22:14.599
 Elders labor.

00:22:14.599 --> 00:22:31.719
 If you're taking notes, I'll do it one more time.

00:22:31.720 --> 00:22:34.660
 Elders labor in prayer.

00:22:34.660 --> 00:22:48.339
 Let's go through each of these quickly.

00:22:48.339 --> 00:22:50.639
 First, they pray.

00:22:50.639 --> 00:22:52.079
 Elders pray.

00:22:53.119 --> 00:22:55.039
 1 Timothy chapter 2 in verse 1.

00:22:56.099 --> 00:22:57.559
 We read already this verse.

00:22:57.699 --> 00:23:05.899
 First of all, then I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people.

00:23:05.900 --> 00:23:12.259
 Elders recognize that without prayer, nothing happens.

00:23:13.380 --> 00:23:22.860
 Elders recognize that apart from the power of God at work in our church, we can do no beneficial thing.

00:23:22.859 --> 00:23:29.199
 And so elders pray and we lead out in prayer.

00:23:31.000 --> 00:23:32.799
 Acts chapter 6 and verse 4.

00:23:33.619 --> 00:23:36.099
 Just after the first deacons are appointed,

00:23:36.279 --> 00:23:40.000
 because the apostles were being troubled by this issue of feud distribution,

00:23:40.119 --> 00:23:41.240
 which was an important issue.

00:23:41.439 --> 00:23:42.879
 It needed to be addressed.

00:23:42.880 --> 00:23:46.580
 But rather than getting mixed up with that administration,

00:23:46.960 --> 00:23:49.720
 they appointed men to do that work.

00:23:49.920 --> 00:23:53.900
 And then they, here we see in verse 4 of Acts 6,

00:23:54.500 --> 00:23:54.800
 said,

00:23:54.940 --> 00:24:01.440
 But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the Word.

00:24:02.640 --> 00:24:08.420
 We also see prayer to be a particular ministry of elders in James chapter 5 and verse 14,

00:24:09.100 --> 00:24:09.840
 where James writes,

00:24:09.840 --> 00:24:10.960
 Is anyone among you sick?

00:24:10.960 --> 00:24:16.680
 Let him call for the elders of the church and let them pray over him.

00:24:17.279 --> 00:24:22.360
 It's an activity because we know we need God's power in the other ministry,

00:24:22.500 --> 00:24:23.539
 the preaching of the Word,

00:24:23.880 --> 00:24:30.860
 but also because it is a ministry itself that we would pray for those who need help in our congregations.

00:24:31.299 --> 00:24:32.420
 So elders pray.

00:24:33.620 --> 00:24:35.240
 Second, elders pursue holiness.

00:24:35.799 --> 00:24:39.680
 I've said already they lead out in this activity.

00:24:39.680 --> 00:24:42.220
 In Acts chapter 20 and verse 28,

00:24:42.360 --> 00:24:48.320
 Paul instructs the Ephesian elders to pay careful attention to yourselves.

00:24:48.840 --> 00:24:49.480
 He goes on to say,

00:24:49.840 --> 00:24:51.799
 And the rest of the flock.

00:24:51.880 --> 00:24:53.039
 But he begins by saying,

00:24:53.180 --> 00:24:56.720
 Pay careful attention to yourselves.

00:24:57.460 --> 00:25:00.480
 Elders set an example in holiness.

00:25:00.480 --> 00:25:06.339
 What a weighty thing that we would lead out in this way.

00:25:07.079 --> 00:25:08.860
 In 1 Peter chapter 5 and verse 3,

00:25:08.960 --> 00:25:13.440
 Peter explains that elders should be examples to the flock.

00:25:14.539 --> 00:25:17.680
 And those qualifications particularly are a help to us.

00:25:17.880 --> 00:25:20.380
 1 Timothy 3 and Titus 1.

00:25:20.380 --> 00:25:22.800
 Elders should be able to say with Paul,

00:25:22.920 --> 00:25:25.800
 as he says in 1 Corinthians chapter 11 verse 1,

00:25:26.240 --> 00:25:31.080
 Be imitators of me as I am of Christ.

00:25:32.340 --> 00:25:36.420
 Ultimately what Paul is communicating there is that you should look like Christ.

00:25:36.720 --> 00:25:38.160
 This is what he's aiming you at.

00:25:38.400 --> 00:25:40.780
 But he's giving you something tangible.

00:25:41.220 --> 00:25:42.800
 Something incarnate.

00:25:42.799 --> 00:25:48.460
 Here is a man filled with the Spirit who's following Christ well.

00:25:48.799 --> 00:25:50.720
 And I can see what that looks like.

00:25:50.859 --> 00:25:52.779
 I have some example before me.

00:25:53.139 --> 00:25:58.940
 That I might get in with him and be like Christ as well.

00:26:01.019 --> 00:26:02.759
 Hebrews chapter 13 and verse 7.

00:26:02.839 --> 00:26:03.759
 The writer of Hebrews says,

00:26:04.259 --> 00:26:05.359
 Remember your leaders.

00:26:06.059 --> 00:26:08.180
 Those who spoke to you the word of God.

00:26:08.180 --> 00:26:11.600
 Consider the outcome of their way of life.

00:26:11.880 --> 00:26:14.360
 And imitate their faith.

00:26:15.640 --> 00:26:17.000
 So elders pursue holiness.

00:26:17.180 --> 00:26:20.299
 Third, elders pastor their families.

00:26:22.320 --> 00:26:23.620
 Elders pastor their families.

00:26:23.700 --> 00:26:24.900
 I remind you of 1 Timothy 3.

00:26:25.400 --> 00:26:28.660
 He must manage his own household well.

00:26:28.799 --> 00:26:29.519
 With all dignity.

00:26:29.660 --> 00:26:31.580
 Keeping his children submissive.

00:26:31.799 --> 00:26:32.019
 Why?

00:26:32.140 --> 00:26:35.100
 Because it serves as an example for how he will manage.

00:26:35.099 --> 00:26:38.959
 How he will pastor a larger flock.

00:26:39.799 --> 00:26:42.879
 So we see the family then as this smaller flock.

00:26:42.959 --> 00:26:44.980
 And he must do this well.

00:26:46.019 --> 00:26:50.059
 Now I do not believe that this means that an elder must have a family.

00:26:50.459 --> 00:26:52.639
 That he must have children.

00:26:53.740 --> 00:26:56.259
 Clay and Kathleen have yet to hold their baby.

00:26:56.799 --> 00:26:59.199
 The one's cooking up right there right now.

00:26:59.200 --> 00:27:07.519
 But if he does, he must first pastor his family.

00:27:08.799 --> 00:27:10.360
 And all Christians should be doing this work.

00:27:10.440 --> 00:27:11.600
 Ephesians chapter 6 verse 4.

00:27:11.720 --> 00:27:13.319
 Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger.

00:27:13.720 --> 00:27:19.080
 But bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.

00:27:19.420 --> 00:27:22.299
 This is the place that we begin discipleship.

00:27:22.400 --> 00:27:23.480
 In the home.

00:27:23.840 --> 00:27:28.519
 Leading our wives and leading our children to the truth of Christ.

00:27:28.519 --> 00:27:32.200
 The contemporary pastor Votie Bauckham said this.

00:27:32.980 --> 00:27:36.019
 There are many worthwhile pursuits in the world.

00:27:36.379 --> 00:27:36.920
 He's a pastor.

00:27:37.700 --> 00:27:38.079
 Note that.

00:27:38.460 --> 00:27:44.000
 But few of them rise to the level of training our children to follow the Lord and keep his commandments.

00:27:44.759 --> 00:27:48.759
 I desperately want my sons and daughters to walk with God.

00:27:48.819 --> 00:27:50.379
 And I am willing to do whatever it takes.

00:27:50.480 --> 00:27:53.099
 Whatever the Bible says I must do.

00:27:53.099 --> 00:27:57.939
 In order to be used by God as a means to that end.

00:27:59.639 --> 00:28:03.819
 So, elders pastor their families.

00:28:04.439 --> 00:28:11.719
 If an elder is not good for his family, then he is not good for the church.

00:28:11.720 --> 00:28:20.640
 And as such, as a church, we should be careful not to require too much of our elders.

00:28:21.779 --> 00:28:31.299
 We should be careful that we give space, time, that they might also serve and love their families.

00:28:31.299 --> 00:28:36.079
 Many years ago, I just decided I was going to put my foot down and say no sometimes.

00:28:36.200 --> 00:28:38.299
 Which is so hard to do because I love you guys.

00:28:39.339 --> 00:28:43.220
 But if I'm no good for my family, then I'm no good for you.

00:28:44.579 --> 00:28:49.399
 So, Clay's going to work on pastoring Kathleen and pastoring their new baby.

00:28:50.240 --> 00:28:51.919
 We need to give him space for that.

00:28:52.339 --> 00:28:54.720
 Time for that to be possible.

00:28:54.720 --> 00:28:59.380
 Fourth, elders prepare future leaders.

00:29:02.039 --> 00:29:07.440
 It is an indictment on many leaders' ministries that they do not duplicate themselves.

00:29:08.559 --> 00:29:11.120
 And we see this happen in our culture all the time.

00:29:11.460 --> 00:29:14.500
 A pastor leaves the church for whatever reason that may be.

00:29:14.880 --> 00:29:19.019
 And he has not raised up a single man that could step into his role.

00:29:19.279 --> 00:29:21.360
 Or he has and the church just hasn't recognized it.

00:29:21.400 --> 00:29:23.000
 This happens from time to time as well.

00:29:23.000 --> 00:29:28.720
 But more often than not, he himself is not a disciple maker.

00:29:29.180 --> 00:29:37.420
 He's not identified leadership quality within the church and worked within the church to see men raised up.

00:29:38.420 --> 00:29:40.759
 2 Timothy chapter 2 and verse 2 says,

00:29:41.299 --> 00:29:44.019
 What you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses,

00:29:44.960 --> 00:29:49.059
 entrust to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.

00:29:49.059 --> 00:29:53.019
 It's a good command that Paul gives to Timothy.

00:29:53.480 --> 00:29:55.480
 Pass along leadership.

00:29:55.980 --> 00:29:57.700
 That more people will be raised up.

00:29:57.759 --> 00:30:01.059
 That the church would continue to grow in holiness.

00:30:03.059 --> 00:30:05.799
 Elders prepare future leaders.

00:30:05.980 --> 00:30:09.440
 Invest themselves heavily in future leaders.

00:30:09.440 --> 00:30:15.620
 We have had the joy of watching Clay do this so well for so long.

00:30:16.400 --> 00:30:16.880
 Decades.

00:30:17.320 --> 00:30:17.920
 Investing.

00:30:18.640 --> 00:30:25.120
 I was so moved at Clay's wedding by the row of men who were standing in his wedding party.

00:30:26.240 --> 00:30:29.420
 It was like 50 men in your wedding party, I think.

00:30:30.279 --> 00:30:31.019
 A dozen.

00:30:31.180 --> 00:30:31.880
 Something like that.

00:30:31.880 --> 00:30:41.980
 It was moving to see this investment across many different generations of young guys that had come through the school and come through our church.

00:30:42.580 --> 00:30:44.700
 And Clay's faithful investment in them.

00:30:44.760 --> 00:30:47.660
 And I'm confident he'll continue to do the same.

00:30:48.680 --> 00:30:50.060
 This happens in a broad way.

00:30:50.160 --> 00:30:52.280
 It happens in preaching type settings.

00:30:52.520 --> 00:30:54.720
 Big teaching settings.

00:30:54.720 --> 00:30:59.299
 But I am also convinced that it must happen in a specific way.

00:30:59.579 --> 00:31:04.860
 The one-to-one kind of relationship where we give time for people to see our lives.

00:31:04.860 --> 00:31:07.420
 Not just broadcast the truth.

00:31:07.519 --> 00:31:09.539
 But also to take that and then draw it in.

00:31:09.600 --> 00:31:12.579
 That we're in relationship with one another.

00:31:12.819 --> 00:31:18.319
 It's a good relational work that needs to be happening between elders and the congregation.

00:31:18.319 --> 00:31:26.700
 It is a wonderful goal to work towards always providing for the leadership of our churches from within.

00:31:27.279 --> 00:31:28.599
 This may not always happen.

00:31:29.359 --> 00:31:33.919
 But it is a wonderful goal that we would really work at seeing who has God brought us.

00:31:34.179 --> 00:31:39.379
 And who does God intend to raise up that they would give good leadership in our fellowship.

00:31:40.099 --> 00:31:42.720
 So, elders prepare future leaders.

00:31:43.700 --> 00:31:46.079
 Fifth, elders protect the church.

00:31:47.039 --> 00:31:48.000
 Protect the church.

00:31:48.799 --> 00:31:51.200
 Again, 1 Timothy chapter 3, verse 1 and 2.

00:31:52.079 --> 00:31:54.559
 Here, elders are called overseers.

00:31:55.480 --> 00:31:56.079
 Guardians.

00:31:56.679 --> 00:31:56.839
 Right?

00:31:57.039 --> 00:31:58.679
 They're giving oversight.

00:31:59.919 --> 00:32:02.279
 And this is a really important work.

00:32:02.399 --> 00:32:05.500
 And I praise God that it's a work that often you don't see happening.

00:32:06.240 --> 00:32:11.159
 There are lots of side conversations that happen in the life of our fellowship.

00:32:11.579 --> 00:32:16.899
 There are people who have come here who would have poisoned the water.

00:32:16.900 --> 00:32:21.720
 They likely were wolves in sheep's clothing.

00:32:21.720 --> 00:32:27.240
 And because we stood our ground on the truth, they didn't remain here any longer.

00:32:27.480 --> 00:32:31.799
 This is a work of elders that we would protect the church.

00:32:31.799 --> 00:32:35.079
 Elders are heavily involved in our membership process.

00:32:35.079 --> 00:32:41.899
 Because when somebody comes into membership of our church, we as a church are saying with the kind of confidence we can,

00:32:41.900 --> 00:32:46.920
 Christian, yes, we can see the fruit of the Spirit in your lives.

00:32:46.920 --> 00:32:57.920
 And in a sense, elders hold that gate and help that work of bringing in people who are truly regenerate and very carefully keeping out those who are not.

00:32:58.000 --> 00:32:58.160
 Right?

00:32:58.640 --> 00:33:00.060
 Sharing the gospel with them all along.

00:33:00.059 --> 00:33:03.679
 Hoping that they will, in fact, come to faith in Christ.

00:33:05.039 --> 00:33:06.639
 Remember Acts 20, verse 28.

00:33:06.759 --> 00:33:07.819
 I read the first part of it to you.

00:33:08.200 --> 00:33:14.480
 Pay careful attention to yourselves, as Paul to the Ephesian elders, and to all the flock,

00:33:14.480 --> 00:33:19.380
 in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers to care for the church of God,

00:33:19.740 --> 00:33:22.940
 which he obtained with his own blood.

00:33:23.620 --> 00:33:26.000
 The church is a precious thing.

00:33:26.700 --> 00:33:29.059
 Bought by the blood of Christ.

00:33:29.620 --> 00:33:34.160
 And elders do the work of protecting this precious thing.

00:33:34.640 --> 00:33:36.700
 We do so spiritually.

00:33:37.360 --> 00:33:38.860
 We care for.

00:33:39.120 --> 00:33:40.019
 We shepherd.

00:33:40.740 --> 00:33:40.860
 Right?

00:33:41.019 --> 00:33:42.559
 We guide.

00:33:42.559 --> 00:33:45.200
 Titus chapter 1, verse 9.

00:33:46.339 --> 00:33:51.359
 He, this elder, must hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught.

00:33:51.679 --> 00:33:51.879
 Right?

00:33:51.899 --> 00:33:54.759
 This is the text that we have before us today.

00:33:55.200 --> 00:33:58.339
 So that he may be able to give instruction in sound doctrine.

00:33:58.579 --> 00:33:59.599
 We're building up.

00:33:59.819 --> 00:34:03.960
 And also to rebuke those who contradict it.

00:34:04.339 --> 00:34:04.480
 Right?

00:34:04.480 --> 00:34:05.460
 To say no.

00:34:05.619 --> 00:34:07.940
 Sometimes this is not the truth.

00:34:08.500 --> 00:34:11.579
 And to draw people to the truth.

00:34:12.559 --> 00:34:17.159
 I want to share with you a quotation that Clay shared with me.

00:34:18.019 --> 00:34:20.059
 He had said, maybe you could work one of these in.

00:34:20.400 --> 00:34:21.059
 And he gave me a couple.

00:34:21.159 --> 00:34:23.820
 And I want to share this one with you from John Calvin.

00:34:23.820 --> 00:34:25.820
 who wrote,

00:34:25.820 --> 00:34:33.300
 let the pastors boldly dare all things by the word of God.

00:34:33.940 --> 00:34:44.180
 Let them constrain all the power, glory, and excellence of the world to give place to and to obey the divine majesty of this word.

00:34:44.179 --> 00:34:47.779
 Let them enjoin everyone by it.

00:34:47.779 --> 00:34:49.460
 From the highest to the lowest.

00:34:49.639 --> 00:34:52.539
 Let them edify the body of Christ.

00:34:52.779 --> 00:34:56.099
 Let them devastate Satan's reign.

00:34:56.559 --> 00:34:58.519
 Let them pasture the sheep.

00:34:59.039 --> 00:35:00.259
 Kill the wolves.

00:35:00.779 --> 00:35:03.259
 Instruct and exhort the rebellious.

00:35:03.859 --> 00:35:08.659
 Let them bind and loose thunder and lightning if necessary.

00:35:08.659 --> 00:35:12.739
 But let them do all according to the word of God.

00:35:13.539 --> 00:35:16.659
 So this is this work of protecting the church.

00:35:17.039 --> 00:35:23.960
 Protecting the truth of God that we would continue to grow in Christ's likeness.

00:35:25.079 --> 00:35:26.000
 So elders protect the church.

00:35:27.079 --> 00:35:29.379
 Sixth, elders preach.

00:35:29.380 --> 00:35:36.059
 The word of God is to take a central place in the ministry of an elder.

00:35:36.260 --> 00:35:37.740
 This follows from our previous point.

00:35:38.740 --> 00:35:42.920
 And it should take a central place in the worship of the church.

00:35:44.119 --> 00:35:47.420
 It should be primary in the worship of the church.

00:35:47.900 --> 00:35:52.820
 The gathering of the church should be absolutely saturated with God's word.

00:35:52.820 --> 00:36:01.620
 If you're not very familiar with God's word, you may not recognize that our songs are scripture rich songs.

00:36:02.039 --> 00:36:07.360
 I hope that if you're a part of this fellowship and as you sing songs, you'll begin to see song lyrics in the Bible.

00:36:07.800 --> 00:36:08.600
 Wait a second.

00:36:09.039 --> 00:36:09.860
 What's happening?

00:36:10.620 --> 00:36:14.700
 They're borrowing it from the text to give us such beautiful songs.

00:36:14.699 --> 00:36:21.199
 So we pray the word and we sing the word and we preach the word and we hear the word.

00:36:22.419 --> 00:36:31.839
 Preaching, this work of opening the text and giving it careful explanation, is central to the ministry of an elder.

00:36:32.899 --> 00:36:36.819
 Elders, after all, are to be able to teach.

00:36:37.779 --> 00:36:43.299
 Now that does not mean, I don't believe, that every elder preaches in this way.

00:36:43.300 --> 00:36:47.160
 Like what we're talking about, this type of setting.

00:36:47.240 --> 00:36:54.160
 But that every elder does, in fact, teach this preaching ministry of proclaiming God's word is happening.

00:36:54.760 --> 00:36:58.320
 And it's evidently happening in the life of an elder.

00:36:59.500 --> 00:37:01.560
 Paul writes in 2 Timothy 2, verse 15.

00:37:02.440 --> 00:37:06.000
 Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved.

00:37:06.000 --> 00:37:14.480
 A worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.

00:37:15.739 --> 00:37:22.960
 And then Paul, later on in this letter to Timothy, gives this charge to him in chapter 4, verses 1-4.

00:37:23.460 --> 00:37:24.000
 He says,

00:37:24.000 --> 00:37:44.980
 So preach the word.

00:37:44.980 --> 00:37:47.059
 And here's some ways in which you're going to be doing that.

00:37:47.139 --> 00:37:53.179
 You're going to be taking this word and you're going to be giving it application in the life of the church in all these varied ways.

00:37:53.280 --> 00:37:55.719
 And you're to do this with patience and teaching.

00:37:56.639 --> 00:37:56.880
 Why?

00:37:58.340 --> 00:38:03.300
 For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching,

00:38:03.300 --> 00:38:10.580
 but having itching ears, they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions

00:38:10.580 --> 00:38:16.340
 and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths.

00:38:17.539 --> 00:38:19.760
 The time is coming and is now here.

00:38:21.240 --> 00:38:23.539
 People won't want to hear what the word of God says,

00:38:23.700 --> 00:38:25.680
 but they'll want to hear what they want to hear.

00:38:25.679 --> 00:38:32.059
 And it seems to me that what Paul is saying is that God's going to give it to them as a judgment for them.

00:38:32.719 --> 00:38:33.279
 You go, okay.

00:38:34.440 --> 00:38:37.859
 Someone will come along and will scratch your ear for you.

00:38:38.179 --> 00:38:41.239
 Will tell you exactly what you want to hear.

00:38:42.859 --> 00:38:49.839
 A faithful elder wants to simply open up God's word and speak from this text.

00:38:50.980 --> 00:38:54.779
 A faithful elder only has anything worth saying if the word of God says it.

00:38:54.780 --> 00:38:58.840
 Let me simply tell you what God has said, right?

00:38:59.240 --> 00:39:01.100
 Because elders love the church.

00:39:01.920 --> 00:39:04.840
 And they know that God's word is what the church needs.

00:39:05.460 --> 00:39:06.820
 It's their real need.

00:39:07.920 --> 00:39:12.600
 Elders are less concerned about felt needs and more concerned about real needs.

00:39:13.120 --> 00:39:17.800
 Ultimately, primarily concerned about real needs.

00:39:18.420 --> 00:39:23.400
 It is not the job of an elder to make the truth relevant to you,

00:39:23.400 --> 00:39:27.460
 but rather to show you its relevancy.

00:39:28.099 --> 00:39:29.660
 It is relevant.

00:39:30.019 --> 00:39:32.539
 To merely show you that it's relevant.

00:39:33.019 --> 00:39:37.860
 To do the hard work of taking an ancient text and helping you understand it.

00:39:38.180 --> 00:39:38.280
 Right?

00:39:38.480 --> 00:39:43.280
 To go to the Old Testament, not to disregard it because it seems to be some obstacle to people coming to faith,

00:39:43.420 --> 00:39:45.420
 but to explain it to you.

00:39:45.420 --> 00:39:53.180
 To help you take this ancient thing and pull it here to the present and tell you what it means and why it matters.

00:39:54.380 --> 00:39:56.800
 Beloved, God wrote us a book.

00:39:58.260 --> 00:40:02.300
 The job of an elder is to fix your gaze on the truth.

00:40:02.680 --> 00:40:02.760
 Right?

00:40:02.960 --> 00:40:05.579
 To put your nose in the Bible.

00:40:05.579 --> 00:40:09.519
 That's why we love, typically, to do verse-by-verse exposition.

00:40:10.599 --> 00:40:12.139
 Thus saith the Lord.

00:40:15.119 --> 00:40:18.420
 Secondly here, preaching is central in the worship of the church.

00:40:18.619 --> 00:40:18.719
 Right?

00:40:18.719 --> 00:40:23.659
 We need to note together the centrality of preaching in the early church.

00:40:23.659 --> 00:40:26.940
 In Acts chapter 2, verse 42,

00:40:27.099 --> 00:40:30.139
 They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching.

00:40:30.480 --> 00:40:30.599
 Right?

00:40:30.879 --> 00:40:31.559
 Preaching that was happening.

00:40:31.599 --> 00:40:35.059
 Not exclusively amongst the apostles, but it was, in fact, happening.

00:40:35.139 --> 00:40:36.139
 Acts 4.31,

00:40:36.659 --> 00:40:39.399
 When they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken,

00:40:39.579 --> 00:40:41.039
 and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit.

00:40:41.159 --> 00:40:42.119
 And what did they do?

00:40:42.299 --> 00:40:43.960
 When they were filled with the Spirit, what did they do?

00:40:44.119 --> 00:40:46.619
 They didn't do weird things on stage.

00:40:47.559 --> 00:40:51.960
 They continued to speak the Word of God with boldness.

00:40:51.960 --> 00:40:55.199
 This is what the Spirit of God did for them.

00:40:55.639 --> 00:40:55.720
 Right?

00:40:55.800 --> 00:40:57.380
 They weren't making people fall on the floor.

00:40:57.579 --> 00:40:58.400
 They were preaching.

00:40:59.760 --> 00:41:02.480
 Acts chapter 6, verse 1 and 2,

00:41:02.539 --> 00:41:04.480
 Now in these days when the disciples were increasing in number,

00:41:04.900 --> 00:41:06.139
 a complaint by the Hellenists arose.

00:41:06.220 --> 00:41:06.980
 Oh, I read this to you already.

00:41:07.199 --> 00:41:07.340
 Right?

00:41:07.920 --> 00:41:08.740
 They gathered together.

00:41:08.840 --> 00:41:10.539
 They had deacons so that they could do what?

00:41:10.780 --> 00:41:10.980
 Right?

00:41:11.019 --> 00:41:11.460
 They said,

00:41:11.539 --> 00:41:16.720
 It is not right that we should give up preaching the Word of God to serve tables.

00:41:17.780 --> 00:41:19.220
 Acts chapter 8, in verse 4,

00:41:19.300 --> 00:41:21.659
 After Stephen is stoned, it says,

00:41:21.659 --> 00:41:26.859
 Now those who were scattered went about preaching the Word.

00:41:27.679 --> 00:41:30.279
 So we see the centrality of preaching.

00:41:30.739 --> 00:41:30.779
 Right?

00:41:31.039 --> 00:41:34.500
 It's why our services are centered around preaching.

00:41:34.619 --> 00:41:37.739
 It's why we spend the most time on preaching.

00:41:38.399 --> 00:41:41.159
 Because the Scripture gives it to us as this example.

00:41:41.359 --> 00:41:43.239
 Elders preach.

00:41:43.239 --> 00:41:48.179
 When we gather, we need the truth in large measure.

00:41:48.979 --> 00:41:50.399
 Beloved, it's once a week.

00:41:51.359 --> 00:41:52.779
 It's the Lord's Day.

00:41:53.319 --> 00:41:57.059
 We gather this time that we would be fed.

00:41:57.699 --> 00:42:00.579
 We need a meal, not a snack.

00:42:01.139 --> 00:42:04.799
 We need to be fed the truth of God's Word.

00:42:04.800 --> 00:42:06.780
 Spurgeon once said,

00:42:06.780 --> 00:42:09.760
 Surely, if men's hearts were right,

00:42:10.600 --> 00:42:12.600
 short sermons would not be enough.

00:42:12.599 --> 00:42:19.440
 When we gather, we need the truth,

00:42:20.079 --> 00:42:22.980
 and we need the truth with reverence.

00:42:24.219 --> 00:42:27.980
 We need men to open God's Word to us,

00:42:28.119 --> 00:42:30.360
 who love God's Word,

00:42:30.599 --> 00:42:32.779
 who respect God's Word,

00:42:33.019 --> 00:42:36.299
 who aren't concerned about entertaining you.

00:42:36.300 --> 00:42:40.360
 Dr. Morton, Louis Jones, great preacher,

00:42:40.860 --> 00:42:42.260
 writes in Preaching and Preachers

00:42:42.260 --> 00:42:44.120
 this distinction between the preacher

00:42:44.120 --> 00:42:46.160
 and the pulpiteer,

00:42:46.480 --> 00:42:48.440
 one who gets up and puts on a show

00:42:48.440 --> 00:42:50.840
 for people's entertainment.

00:42:52.120 --> 00:42:53.840
 He, like Paul,

00:42:53.960 --> 00:42:55.600
 who writes in 1 Corinthians 2.2,

00:42:56.500 --> 00:42:57.120
 would say,

00:42:57.320 --> 00:42:59.860
 For I decided to know nothing among you

00:42:59.860 --> 00:43:03.660
 except Jesus Christ and Him crucified.

00:43:03.659 --> 00:43:07.519
 Richard Baxter, the Puritan pastor,

00:43:08.359 --> 00:43:09.679
 wrote in his great work,

00:43:09.759 --> 00:43:10.659
 the Reformed pastor,

00:43:11.199 --> 00:43:13.500
 Of all preaching in the world

00:43:13.500 --> 00:43:15.899
 that speaks not stark lies,

00:43:16.359 --> 00:43:17.679
 I hate that preaching

00:43:17.679 --> 00:43:20.819
 which tendeth to make the hearers laugh

00:43:20.819 --> 00:43:24.159
 or to move their mind with tickling levity

00:43:24.159 --> 00:43:28.420
 and affect them as stage players used to do

00:43:28.420 --> 00:43:30.179
 instead of affecting them

00:43:30.179 --> 00:43:31.779
 with the holy reverence

00:43:31.780 --> 00:43:33.900
 of the name of God.

00:43:35.140 --> 00:43:37.420
 You ought to want a man, right?

00:43:37.480 --> 00:43:39.120
 And I know there's some guests with us this morning

00:43:39.120 --> 00:43:40.480
 who will go back to churches.

00:43:41.360 --> 00:43:43.300
 You want to want a man

00:43:43.300 --> 00:43:45.300
 who will reach back

00:43:45.300 --> 00:43:48.260
 and take hold of these ancient truths

00:43:48.260 --> 00:43:49.560
 with one hand

00:43:49.560 --> 00:43:50.940
 and with the other

00:43:50.940 --> 00:43:53.640
 reach forward into your life

00:43:53.640 --> 00:43:55.720
 in order to bring the two together.

00:43:56.820 --> 00:43:58.300
 This is the work of preaching.

00:43:58.980 --> 00:44:01.100
 Ancient truths applied for you

00:44:01.099 --> 00:44:03.019
 today.

00:44:04.659 --> 00:44:05.599
 On your bulletin,

00:44:05.920 --> 00:44:06.639
 final quotation,

00:44:06.880 --> 00:44:07.759
 I think, for this morning.

00:44:08.900 --> 00:44:09.420
 Spurgeon wrote,

00:44:09.759 --> 00:44:11.239
 The true teacher should not seek

00:44:11.239 --> 00:44:13.799
 to soar on the gaudy wings

00:44:13.799 --> 00:44:15.519
 of brilliant oratory,

00:44:16.119 --> 00:44:17.759
 pouring forth sonorous,

00:44:17.960 --> 00:44:18.759
 polished sentences

00:44:18.759 --> 00:44:21.039
 in rhythmic harmony.

00:44:21.199 --> 00:44:21.799
 And that's saying a lot

00:44:21.799 --> 00:44:22.759
 because Spurgeon was brilliant.

00:44:23.360 --> 00:44:25.059
 His language just burst out of him.

00:44:25.119 --> 00:44:25.699
 It was beautiful.

00:44:25.699 --> 00:44:28.659
 But should endeavor to speak

00:44:28.659 --> 00:44:30.739
 pointed truths of God,

00:44:31.079 --> 00:44:33.299
 things that will strike and stick,

00:44:33.759 --> 00:44:34.939
 thoughts that will be remembered

00:44:34.939 --> 00:44:36.759
 and recalled again and again

00:44:36.759 --> 00:44:38.439
 when the hearer is far away

00:44:38.439 --> 00:44:39.819
 from the place of worship

00:44:39.819 --> 00:44:40.699
 where he listened

00:44:40.699 --> 00:44:42.919
 to the preacher's words.

00:44:42.920 --> 00:44:47.119
 elders preach.

00:44:48.400 --> 00:44:48.740
 So,

00:44:49.500 --> 00:44:50.240
 who are elders?

00:44:50.340 --> 00:44:51.139
 Elders are men qualified

00:44:51.139 --> 00:44:51.619
 and appointed.

00:44:51.760 --> 00:44:52.539
 What do elders do?

00:44:52.840 --> 00:44:53.700
 They labor in prayer,

00:44:53.800 --> 00:44:54.500
 pursuing holiness,

00:44:54.659 --> 00:44:55.440
 pastoring their families,

00:44:55.559 --> 00:44:56.360
 preparing future leaders,

00:44:56.480 --> 00:44:57.180
 protecting the church,

00:44:57.420 --> 00:44:58.360
 and preaching.

00:44:58.480 --> 00:45:00.360
 They are a gift to us.

00:45:00.920 --> 00:45:02.059
 How should we relate

00:45:02.059 --> 00:45:03.059
 to our elders

00:45:03.059 --> 00:45:04.300
 really quickly?

00:45:04.300 --> 00:45:07.620
 I'm sorry this is going long.

00:45:09.460 --> 00:45:10.280
 This is three sermons

00:45:10.280 --> 00:45:10.940
 pulled into one,

00:45:11.160 --> 00:45:13.100
 just as a side note.

00:45:14.380 --> 00:45:14.980
 The church,

00:45:15.100 --> 00:45:15.820
 this is your summary statement,

00:45:15.920 --> 00:45:16.780
 the church should honor

00:45:16.780 --> 00:45:18.280
 and obey its elders.

00:45:19.580 --> 00:45:20.660
 The church should honor

00:45:20.660 --> 00:45:22.960
 and obey its elders.

00:45:23.640 --> 00:45:24.760
 I'll give you a quick text

00:45:24.760 --> 00:45:25.360
 for each of those.

00:45:25.820 --> 00:45:26.180
 Honor,

00:45:26.300 --> 00:45:27.280
 1 Timothy 5, 17,

00:45:27.400 --> 00:45:28.420
 let the elders who rule

00:45:28.420 --> 00:45:29.940
 be considered worthy

00:45:29.940 --> 00:45:31.700
 of double honor,

00:45:31.820 --> 00:45:32.960
 especially those who labor

00:45:32.960 --> 00:45:34.059
 in preaching

00:45:34.059 --> 00:45:35.360
 and in teaching.

00:45:35.780 --> 00:45:36.780
 Paul goes on to talk about

00:45:36.780 --> 00:45:38.280
 the ox

00:45:38.280 --> 00:45:39.059
 being,

00:45:39.619 --> 00:45:40.300
 treading out grain

00:45:40.300 --> 00:45:40.920
 and the worker

00:45:40.920 --> 00:45:41.920
 being worth his wages.

00:45:42.079 --> 00:45:42.679
 So, I do think,

00:45:42.800 --> 00:45:43.559
 in some sense here,

00:45:44.159 --> 00:45:45.099
 Paul is talking to Timothy

00:45:45.099 --> 00:45:45.940
 about the pay

00:45:45.940 --> 00:45:47.039
 that elders receive

00:45:47.039 --> 00:45:48.220
 for what they're doing.

00:45:48.380 --> 00:45:49.260
 But that's not the point

00:45:49.260 --> 00:45:50.240
 I'm trying to make this morning.

00:45:50.559 --> 00:45:51.340
 The point is

00:45:51.340 --> 00:45:52.119
 that you should want

00:45:52.119 --> 00:45:53.300
 to love and serve

00:45:53.300 --> 00:45:53.880
 your elders.

00:45:54.039 --> 00:45:54.760
 Show them honor.

00:45:54.920 --> 00:45:56.500
 Show them respect.

00:45:56.760 --> 00:45:58.000
 And I am very pleased

00:45:58.000 --> 00:45:58.920
 to say, church,

00:45:58.980 --> 00:46:00.159
 you do this well.

00:46:00.360 --> 00:46:02.300
 You do this in heaps.

00:46:02.960 --> 00:46:03.800
 Keep doing it.

00:46:04.099 --> 00:46:05.960
 Do this for clay.

00:46:07.340 --> 00:46:07.740
 Also,

00:46:08.740 --> 00:46:09.380
 you should obey

00:46:09.380 --> 00:46:10.179
 your elders.

00:46:11.099 --> 00:46:12.039
 Hebrews 13, 17

00:46:12.039 --> 00:46:12.800
 says,

00:46:12.900 --> 00:46:13.539
 Obey your leaders

00:46:13.539 --> 00:46:14.440
 and submit to them.

00:46:14.880 --> 00:46:16.280
 For they are keeping watch

00:46:16.280 --> 00:46:17.000
 over your souls

00:46:17.000 --> 00:46:18.460
 as those who have to give

00:46:18.460 --> 00:46:19.539
 an account.

00:46:19.679 --> 00:46:20.220
 Let them do this

00:46:20.220 --> 00:46:20.740
 with joy

00:46:20.740 --> 00:46:21.440
 and not with groaning,

00:46:21.639 --> 00:46:22.380
 for that would be

00:46:22.380 --> 00:46:23.360
 of no advantage

00:46:23.360 --> 00:46:24.679
 to you.

00:46:25.119 --> 00:46:26.639
 So there is an authority

00:46:26.639 --> 00:46:27.159
 granted

00:46:27.159 --> 00:46:28.480
 to elders.

00:46:28.780 --> 00:46:29.900
 What kind of authority

00:46:29.900 --> 00:46:30.460
 is it though?

00:46:30.579 --> 00:46:32.039
 What sort of authority

00:46:32.039 --> 00:46:33.099
 is it?

00:46:33.920 --> 00:46:34.860
 Elders have the authority

00:46:34.860 --> 00:46:35.320
 of scripture

00:46:35.320 --> 00:46:36.400
 as we all do.

00:46:36.780 --> 00:46:38.400
 We're a congregational church.

00:46:38.559 --> 00:46:39.740
 Elders don't rule

00:46:39.740 --> 00:46:40.760
 in the sense of

00:46:40.760 --> 00:46:41.420
 Lord

00:46:41.420 --> 00:46:42.680
 over the church.

00:46:43.139 --> 00:46:44.139
 We have the authority

00:46:44.139 --> 00:46:44.920
 of the scripture

00:46:44.920 --> 00:46:46.360
 and

00:46:46.360 --> 00:46:48.039
 we have relational

00:46:48.039 --> 00:46:48.900
 authority.

00:46:49.900 --> 00:46:51.220
 Elders in our church

00:46:51.220 --> 00:46:52.039
 have served

00:46:52.039 --> 00:46:53.059
 amongst us.

00:46:53.460 --> 00:46:54.740
 Have laid down

00:46:54.740 --> 00:46:55.660
 their lives

00:46:55.660 --> 00:46:56.280
 for the lives

00:46:56.280 --> 00:46:57.540
 of others.

00:46:58.240 --> 00:46:59.100
 Are seeking

00:46:59.100 --> 00:46:59.880
 to do this.

00:47:00.000 --> 00:47:00.840
 To rightly

00:47:00.840 --> 00:47:01.580
 keep watch

00:47:01.580 --> 00:47:03.220
 over your souls.

00:47:03.720 --> 00:47:05.280
 To really care

00:47:05.280 --> 00:47:05.940
 about you

00:47:05.940 --> 00:47:07.140
 and how

00:47:07.140 --> 00:47:08.380
 you're doing.

00:47:09.500 --> 00:47:09.960
 Paul writes

00:47:09.960 --> 00:47:11.080
 in 1 Thessalonians 5,

00:47:11.180 --> 00:47:11.700
 We ask you,

00:47:11.800 --> 00:47:11.980
 brothers,

00:47:12.080 --> 00:47:13.280
 to respect those

00:47:13.280 --> 00:47:14.780
 who labor among you

00:47:14.780 --> 00:47:15.660
 and are over you

00:47:15.660 --> 00:47:16.140
 in the Lord

00:47:16.140 --> 00:47:17.280
 and admonish you

00:47:17.280 --> 00:47:18.720
 and to esteem them

00:47:18.720 --> 00:47:20.260
 very highly in love

00:47:20.260 --> 00:47:21.260
 because of their work.

00:47:21.700 --> 00:47:22.460
 Be at peace

00:47:22.460 --> 00:47:23.940
 among yourselves.

00:47:24.840 --> 00:47:25.800
 So here Paul instructs

00:47:25.800 --> 00:47:26.600
 that you respect

00:47:26.600 --> 00:47:27.460
 your elders.

00:47:28.380 --> 00:47:29.440
 You could also

00:47:29.440 --> 00:47:30.400
 translate that word

00:47:30.400 --> 00:47:31.580
 know intimately

00:47:31.580 --> 00:47:33.060
 your elders

00:47:33.060 --> 00:47:35.160
 because they're men

00:47:35.160 --> 00:47:37.240
 who do work for you.

00:47:37.519 --> 00:47:38.519
 Because they are

00:47:38.519 --> 00:47:40.080
 serving you well.

00:47:40.180 --> 00:47:41.420
 They're in relationship

00:47:41.420 --> 00:47:43.800
 with you.

00:47:44.900 --> 00:47:46.300
 So the respect

00:47:46.300 --> 00:47:47.060
 and therefore

00:47:47.060 --> 00:47:47.760
 the authority

00:47:47.760 --> 00:47:48.260
 of an elder

00:47:48.260 --> 00:47:49.640
 that they possess

00:47:49.640 --> 00:47:50.539
 is primarily

00:47:50.539 --> 00:47:51.940
 relational

00:47:51.940 --> 00:47:54.200
 and not primarily

00:47:54.200 --> 00:47:55.400
 positional.

00:47:55.800 --> 00:47:55.860
 people.

00:47:58.380 --> 00:47:58.940
 So honor

00:47:58.940 --> 00:48:00.300
 and obey

00:48:00.300 --> 00:48:01.360
 your elders

00:48:01.360 --> 00:48:02.880
 as your elders

00:48:02.880 --> 00:48:04.140
 lay their lives

00:48:04.140 --> 00:48:05.420
 down in service

00:48:05.420 --> 00:48:07.220
 to you.

00:48:08.480 --> 00:48:09.740
 Christ is building

00:48:09.740 --> 00:48:10.720
 his church

00:48:10.720 --> 00:48:12.060
 and he is

00:48:12.060 --> 00:48:12.860
 employing

00:48:12.860 --> 00:48:13.560
 means

00:48:13.560 --> 00:48:14.360
 to accomplish

00:48:14.360 --> 00:48:16.300
 this task.

00:48:17.160 --> 00:48:17.660
 Elders

00:48:17.660 --> 00:48:18.980
 are a means.

00:48:19.440 --> 00:48:19.940
 They're not

00:48:19.940 --> 00:48:20.760
 the only means

00:48:20.760 --> 00:48:22.120
 but they are

00:48:22.120 --> 00:48:22.740
 a means

00:48:22.739 --> 00:48:23.899
 and an important

00:48:23.899 --> 00:48:24.319
 one

00:48:24.319 --> 00:48:25.419
 and we should

00:48:25.419 --> 00:48:26.379
 be exceedingly

00:48:26.379 --> 00:48:27.139
 grateful for the

00:48:27.139 --> 00:48:27.899
 gift they are

00:48:27.899 --> 00:48:28.579
 to us

00:48:28.579 --> 00:48:29.399
 in Christ.

00:48:29.539 --> 00:48:30.299
 And I say that

00:48:30.299 --> 00:48:30.699
 with you

00:48:30.699 --> 00:48:31.399
 as an elder.

00:48:31.519 --> 00:48:32.139
 I am thankful

00:48:32.139 --> 00:48:33.059
 for elders

00:48:33.059 --> 00:48:34.119
 in our church.

00:48:34.319 --> 00:48:34.759
 I'm thankful

00:48:34.759 --> 00:48:35.619
 I'm not the only

00:48:35.619 --> 00:48:36.379
 one but I'm

00:48:36.379 --> 00:48:37.319
 serving amongst

00:48:37.319 --> 00:48:38.039
 men

00:48:38.039 --> 00:48:39.539
 who are serving

00:48:39.539 --> 00:48:40.319
 you.

00:48:41.359 --> 00:48:42.159
 May his kingdom

00:48:42.159 --> 00:48:42.779
 go forth

00:48:42.779 --> 00:48:43.379
 as we continue

00:48:43.379 --> 00:48:43.919
 to arrange

00:48:43.919 --> 00:48:44.419
 ourselves

00:48:44.419 --> 00:48:45.419
 as a church

00:48:45.419 --> 00:48:45.919
 according

00:48:45.919 --> 00:48:46.959
 to his good

00:48:46.960 --> 00:48:48.519
 and wise

00:48:48.519 --> 00:48:49.720
 instruction.

00:48:50.720 --> 00:48:51.260
 Let's pray

00:48:51.260 --> 00:48:51.619
 together

00:48:51.619 --> 00:48:52.099
 and then we're

00:48:52.099 --> 00:48:52.400
 going to turn

00:48:52.400 --> 00:48:52.840
 our attention

00:48:52.840 --> 00:48:54.059
 to installing

00:48:54.059 --> 00:48:54.360
 clay.

00:48:55.280 --> 00:48:55.820
 Father God

00:48:55.820 --> 00:48:56.440
 thank you very

00:48:56.440 --> 00:48:57.199
 much for your

00:48:57.199 --> 00:48:57.860
 word and for

00:48:57.860 --> 00:48:58.420
 what it has

00:48:58.420 --> 00:48:59.159
 to say to us

00:48:59.159 --> 00:48:59.699
 about how it

00:48:59.699 --> 00:49:00.159
 is that you've

00:49:00.159 --> 00:49:01.260
 ordered the

00:49:01.260 --> 00:49:01.639
 church.

00:49:02.400 --> 00:49:02.820
 Father help us

00:49:02.820 --> 00:49:03.440
 to be a people

00:49:03.440 --> 00:49:05.420
 who care about

00:49:05.420 --> 00:49:06.579
 ecclesiology

00:49:06.579 --> 00:49:07.920
 who want to

00:49:07.920 --> 00:49:08.740
 study how it is

00:49:08.740 --> 00:49:09.280
 you have meant

00:49:09.280 --> 00:49:10.559
 for us to be

00:49:10.559 --> 00:49:11.059
 your bride

00:49:11.059 --> 00:49:12.019
 and to grow

00:49:12.019 --> 00:49:12.880
 in holiness

00:49:12.880 --> 00:49:13.940
 for the praise

00:49:13.940 --> 00:49:15.059
 of your name.

00:49:16.099 --> 00:49:16.559
 I thank you

00:49:16.559 --> 00:49:17.199
 for this morning

00:49:17.199 --> 00:49:17.779
 and what it

00:49:17.779 --> 00:49:18.400
 means.

00:49:19.119 --> 00:49:19.519
 I thank you

00:49:19.519 --> 00:49:19.920
 Father for

00:49:19.920 --> 00:49:20.679
 working grace

00:49:20.679 --> 00:49:21.179
 in us to be

00:49:21.179 --> 00:49:22.360
 obedient to your

00:49:22.360 --> 00:49:22.940
 word and I pray

00:49:22.940 --> 00:49:23.719
 this in Christ's

00:49:23.719 --> 00:49:24.119
 name and for

00:49:24.119 --> 00:49:24.659
 his sake.

00:49:25.679 --> 00:49:26.019
 Amen.

00:49:28.679 --> 00:49:29.579
 I've been very

00:49:29.579 --> 00:49:30.380
 blessed to know

00:49:30.380 --> 00:49:31.380
 Clay Naylor for a

00:49:31.380 --> 00:49:32.599
 very long time.

00:49:34.039 --> 00:49:34.799
 Clay and I met

00:49:34.799 --> 00:49:36.420
 at a campus

00:49:36.420 --> 00:49:37.199
 ministry event.

00:49:37.400 --> 00:49:38.139
 He walked up to

00:49:38.139 --> 00:49:39.139
 me and as I tend

00:49:39.139 --> 00:49:39.619
 to do I was

00:49:39.619 --> 00:49:40.079
 standing at the

00:49:40.079 --> 00:49:40.440
 edge of the

00:49:40.440 --> 00:49:42.900
 crowd and Clay

00:49:42.900 --> 00:49:44.119
 beelined cut

00:49:44.119 --> 00:49:44.579
 across.

00:49:44.880 --> 00:49:45.340
 He didn't walk

00:49:45.340 --> 00:49:45.880
 on the sidewalk.

00:49:46.559 --> 00:49:47.139
 I don't think

00:49:47.139 --> 00:49:47.579
 Clay would do

00:49:47.579 --> 00:49:47.799
 that.

00:49:47.880 --> 00:49:48.360
 He beelined

00:49:48.360 --> 00:49:49.279
 across the grass

00:49:49.279 --> 00:49:50.219
 and walked

00:49:50.219 --> 00:49:50.739
 straight up to

00:49:50.739 --> 00:49:50.960
 me.

00:49:51.559 --> 00:49:52.000
 If I remember

00:49:52.000 --> 00:49:52.699
 right I was

00:49:52.699 --> 00:49:53.679
 probably in

00:49:53.679 --> 00:49:54.380
 river shorts

00:49:54.380 --> 00:49:55.299
 and sandals

00:49:55.299 --> 00:49:55.860
 and Clay was

00:49:55.860 --> 00:49:58.159
 wearing Levi's

00:49:58.159 --> 00:49:59.980
 Wranglers maybe

00:49:59.980 --> 00:50:03.019
 and a big belt

00:50:03.019 --> 00:50:03.840
 buckle and cowboy

00:50:03.840 --> 00:50:04.299
 boots.

00:50:06.360 --> 00:50:07.380
 God's providence

00:50:07.380 --> 00:50:07.920
 brought us

00:50:07.920 --> 00:50:08.320
 together.

00:50:08.820 --> 00:50:09.639
 We normally

00:50:09.639 --> 00:50:10.320
 would have been

00:50:10.320 --> 00:50:10.759
 the kind of

00:50:10.759 --> 00:50:11.400
 people that were

00:50:11.400 --> 00:50:12.059
 drawn together

00:50:12.059 --> 00:50:13.039
 but we quickly

00:50:13.039 --> 00:50:13.920
 found that we

00:50:13.920 --> 00:50:15.380
 loved the same

00:50:15.380 --> 00:50:15.920
 Christ.

00:50:16.880 --> 00:50:17.860
 And we very

00:50:17.860 --> 00:50:18.960
 quickly formed

00:50:18.960 --> 00:50:19.900
 a friendship.

00:50:20.460 --> 00:50:21.019
 I think the next

00:50:21.019 --> 00:50:21.840
 time I saw Clay

00:50:21.840 --> 00:50:22.559
 he got drug

00:50:22.559 --> 00:50:23.240
 into a meeting

00:50:23.240 --> 00:50:24.380
 at that very

00:50:24.380 --> 00:50:26.079
 same campus

00:50:26.079 --> 00:50:27.220
 ministry where I

00:50:27.220 --> 00:50:27.800
 was a little bit

00:50:27.800 --> 00:50:28.420
 hot under the

00:50:28.420 --> 00:50:29.039
 collar about

00:50:29.039 --> 00:50:30.240
 something and

00:50:30.240 --> 00:50:30.920
 thankfully he

00:50:30.920 --> 00:50:31.579
 didn't flee from

00:50:31.579 --> 00:50:32.360
 me but he

00:50:32.360 --> 00:50:33.920
 liked the passion

00:50:33.920 --> 00:50:35.440
 that I had for

00:50:35.440 --> 00:50:36.320
 the truth in that

00:50:36.320 --> 00:50:37.099
 moment even though

00:50:37.099 --> 00:50:38.119
 maybe wasn't

00:50:38.119 --> 00:50:38.619
 appropriately

00:50:38.619 --> 00:50:39.280
 applied.

00:50:39.280 --> 00:50:42.580
 those of you

00:50:42.580 --> 00:50:43.019
 who don't know

00:50:43.019 --> 00:50:43.740
 Clay well

00:50:43.740 --> 00:50:45.180
 Clay has cystic

00:50:45.180 --> 00:50:47.080
 fibrosis and

00:50:47.080 --> 00:50:47.820
 coming out of

00:50:47.820 --> 00:50:49.300
 college we

00:50:49.300 --> 00:50:50.000
 started a college

00:50:50.000 --> 00:50:50.880
 Bible study just

00:50:50.880 --> 00:50:51.320
 kind of out of

00:50:51.320 --> 00:50:52.440
 necessity to be

00:50:52.440 --> 00:50:53.420
 together and study

00:50:53.420 --> 00:50:54.480
 God's word together

00:50:54.480 --> 00:50:55.220
 Clay and myself

00:50:55.220 --> 00:50:56.280
 and one of our

00:50:56.280 --> 00:50:57.340
 previous elders who

00:50:57.340 --> 00:50:58.019
 now lives in Utah

00:50:58.019 --> 00:51:00.340
 and Clay was the

00:51:00.340 --> 00:51:00.940
 one that said hey

00:51:00.940 --> 00:51:01.780
 we should invite

00:51:01.780 --> 00:51:02.900
 other people to

00:51:02.900 --> 00:51:03.620
 come and we

00:51:03.620 --> 00:51:06.120
 went okay and

00:51:06.120 --> 00:51:07.240
 in his apartment

00:51:07.239 --> 00:51:08.639
 in Dahlonega a

00:51:08.639 --> 00:51:09.119
 few more people

00:51:09.119 --> 00:51:09.639
 showed up and

00:51:09.639 --> 00:51:10.059
 then a few more

00:51:10.059 --> 00:51:10.559
 people showed up

00:51:10.559 --> 00:51:10.959
 and a few more

00:51:10.959 --> 00:51:12.299
 people showed up

00:51:12.299 --> 00:51:13.199
 much of what our

00:51:13.199 --> 00:51:14.219
 church is today

00:51:14.219 --> 00:51:15.799
 kind of came from

00:51:15.799 --> 00:51:16.879
 that college Bible

00:51:16.879 --> 00:51:18.199
 study and things

00:51:18.199 --> 00:51:18.859
 we were learning

00:51:18.859 --> 00:51:19.559
 and growing in

00:51:19.559 --> 00:51:20.279
 together during

00:51:20.279 --> 00:51:21.039
 that time.

00:51:22.000 --> 00:51:23.139
 During those days

00:51:23.139 --> 00:51:24.379
 my wife and I

00:51:24.379 --> 00:51:25.879
 got married and

00:51:25.879 --> 00:51:27.479
 Clay's lung

00:51:27.479 --> 00:51:28.639
 capacity was

00:51:28.639 --> 00:51:29.559
 diminishing and

00:51:29.559 --> 00:51:30.379
 diminishing and

00:51:30.379 --> 00:51:31.000
 diminishing.

00:51:32.459 --> 00:51:33.500
 We held that

00:51:33.500 --> 00:51:34.779
 college Bible study

00:51:34.779 --> 00:51:36.219
 in our town

00:51:36.219 --> 00:51:37.159
 home where we

00:51:37.159 --> 00:51:37.899
 would clear out

00:51:37.899 --> 00:51:38.440
 the living room

00:51:38.440 --> 00:51:38.980
 we'd take all

00:51:38.980 --> 00:51:39.559
 the furniture out

00:51:39.559 --> 00:51:39.819
 of the living

00:51:39.819 --> 00:51:40.879
 room and put it

00:51:40.879 --> 00:51:41.379
 on the back

00:51:41.379 --> 00:51:42.779
 deck and sit

00:51:42.779 --> 00:51:43.759
 college students

00:51:43.759 --> 00:51:44.599
 cross-legged on

00:51:44.599 --> 00:51:45.579
 the floor and

00:51:45.579 --> 00:51:46.179
 sitting on our

00:51:46.179 --> 00:51:46.559
 counter.

00:51:47.159 --> 00:51:48.000
 We had stools

00:51:48.000 --> 00:51:48.619
 behind that.

00:51:48.699 --> 00:51:49.119
 We joked it was

00:51:49.119 --> 00:51:49.599
 the balcony.

00:51:49.940 --> 00:51:51.539
 We would put 50

00:51:51.539 --> 00:51:52.759
 college students in

00:51:52.759 --> 00:51:54.599
 our town home and

00:51:54.599 --> 00:51:56.759
 Clay who had 20%

00:51:56.759 --> 00:51:58.299
 lung capacity would

00:51:58.299 --> 00:51:59.339
 open God's word

00:51:59.339 --> 00:52:00.399
 with oxygen tank

00:52:00.399 --> 00:52:01.039
 sitting next to

00:52:01.039 --> 00:52:01.239
 him.

00:52:02.839 --> 00:52:04.039
 We in those days

00:52:04.039 --> 00:52:05.500
 thought this is the

00:52:05.500 --> 00:52:06.219
 last day we'll see

00:52:06.219 --> 00:52:06.480
 Clay.

00:52:06.480 --> 00:52:07.440
 I think every time

00:52:07.440 --> 00:52:08.219
 we gathered together

00:52:08.219 --> 00:52:08.740
 on a Thursday

00:52:08.740 --> 00:52:10.219
 night we thought

00:52:10.219 --> 00:52:11.440
 okay this is the

00:52:11.440 --> 00:52:12.619
 last time and none

00:52:12.619 --> 00:52:14.059
 of us were saying

00:52:14.059 --> 00:52:14.860
 our goodbyes because

00:52:14.860 --> 00:52:15.519
 we didn't want to

00:52:15.519 --> 00:52:16.780
 talk in those terms

00:52:16.780 --> 00:52:18.699
 but there were many

00:52:18.699 --> 00:52:19.519
 visits that I

00:52:19.519 --> 00:52:20.139
 thought I just

00:52:20.139 --> 00:52:20.679
 don't know.

00:52:21.019 --> 00:52:22.039
 I don't know.

00:52:23.360 --> 00:52:24.619
 His 10 yard walk

00:52:24.619 --> 00:52:26.639
 from his truck into

00:52:26.639 --> 00:52:27.380
 our town home would

00:52:27.380 --> 00:52:28.639
 leave him extremely

00:52:28.639 --> 00:52:29.159
 winded.

00:52:29.619 --> 00:52:30.699
 Unable to talk

00:52:30.699 --> 00:52:32.699
 winded at that

00:52:32.699 --> 00:52:33.079
 time.

00:52:33.079 --> 00:52:35.719
 not long after

00:52:35.719 --> 00:52:37.019
 that Clay was put

00:52:37.019 --> 00:52:37.699
 on a transplant

00:52:37.699 --> 00:52:39.599
 list and received

00:52:39.599 --> 00:52:40.179
 a double lung

00:52:40.179 --> 00:52:41.299
 transplant which

00:52:41.299 --> 00:52:42.799
 is a phenomenal

00:52:42.799 --> 00:52:43.860
 miracle that these

00:52:43.860 --> 00:52:45.139
 things can even be

00:52:45.139 --> 00:52:47.440
 done 10 plus years

00:52:47.440 --> 00:52:48.239
 ago or about 10

00:52:48.239 --> 00:52:48.719
 years ago.

00:52:49.239 --> 00:52:49.279
 No.

00:52:51.019 --> 00:52:52.259
 Clay got very sick

00:52:52.259 --> 00:52:53.119
 after that double

00:52:53.119 --> 00:52:53.840
 lung transplant.

00:52:53.840 --> 00:52:56.360
 within an inch of

00:52:56.360 --> 00:52:57.840
 his life before

00:52:57.840 --> 00:52:58.519
 within an inch of

00:52:58.519 --> 00:52:59.420
 his life during the

00:52:59.420 --> 00:53:00.079
 transplant and then

00:53:00.079 --> 00:53:01.300
 afterward terrible

00:53:01.300 --> 00:53:02.200
 case of pneumonia

00:53:02.200 --> 00:53:03.660
 spent I don't have

00:53:03.660 --> 00:53:04.640
 the facts straight in

00:53:04.640 --> 00:53:05.360
 my head but in

00:53:05.360 --> 00:53:06.640
 Birmingham for a

00:53:06.640 --> 00:53:07.640
 month plus in the

00:53:07.640 --> 00:53:09.820
 hospital in a drug

00:53:09.820 --> 00:53:11.280
 induced coma just

00:53:11.280 --> 00:53:13.980
 not doing well.

00:53:13.980 --> 00:53:16.559
 God has preserved

00:53:16.559 --> 00:53:18.679
 his life and I

00:53:18.679 --> 00:53:19.360
 just want you guys

00:53:19.360 --> 00:53:20.159
 to understand God

00:53:20.159 --> 00:53:20.780
 has preserved his

00:53:20.780 --> 00:53:22.320
 life in part for

00:53:22.320 --> 00:53:22.840
 us.

00:53:23.619 --> 00:53:24.880
 How good that is.

00:53:25.380 --> 00:53:26.820
 God's providence is

00:53:26.820 --> 00:53:27.780
 good sovereignty.

00:53:28.940 --> 00:53:30.719
 He knew how much we

00:53:30.719 --> 00:53:31.639
 needed Clay.

00:53:32.380 --> 00:53:33.980
 His service and his

00:53:33.980 --> 00:53:35.820
 kindness toward us.

00:53:37.079 --> 00:53:37.659
 Clay has carried

00:53:37.659 --> 00:53:39.320
 around with him a

00:53:39.320 --> 00:53:40.000
 prayer journal that

00:53:40.000 --> 00:53:40.900
 gets retired and

00:53:40.900 --> 00:53:41.480
 then a new one gets

00:53:41.480 --> 00:53:42.480
 formed and a new one

00:53:42.480 --> 00:53:43.740
 gets retired and he

00:53:43.739 --> 00:53:44.539
 writes in the front

00:53:44.539 --> 00:53:45.119
 of that prayer

00:53:45.119 --> 00:53:46.059
 journal I think in

00:53:46.059 --> 00:53:47.679
 most cases Acts

00:53:47.679 --> 00:53:48.539
 chapter 20 and

00:53:48.539 --> 00:53:50.859
 verse 24 which

00:53:50.859 --> 00:53:51.579
 says but I do not

00:53:51.579 --> 00:53:52.659
 account my life of

00:53:52.659 --> 00:53:54.739
 any value nor as

00:53:54.739 --> 00:53:56.279
 precious to myself if

00:53:56.279 --> 00:53:57.659
 only I may finish my

00:53:57.659 --> 00:53:59.019
 course in the

00:53:59.019 --> 00:53:59.619
 ministry that I

00:53:59.619 --> 00:54:00.219
 receive from the

00:54:00.219 --> 00:54:00.959
 Lord Jesus to

00:54:00.959 --> 00:54:02.379
 testify to the

00:54:02.379 --> 00:54:03.579
 gospel of the

00:54:03.579 --> 00:54:04.239
 grace of God.

00:54:05.819 --> 00:54:06.939
 And Clay has

00:54:06.939 --> 00:54:07.919
 prayed this would

00:54:07.919 --> 00:54:09.039
 be true of him and

00:54:09.039 --> 00:54:09.959
 he has exemplified

00:54:09.959 --> 00:54:11.579
 this in so many

00:54:11.579 --> 00:54:12.219
 ways.

00:54:12.359 --> 00:54:12.439
 Right.

00:54:12.440 --> 00:54:13.559
 Thinking that his

00:54:13.559 --> 00:54:14.519
 course was almost

00:54:14.519 --> 00:54:15.099
 finished.

00:54:16.599 --> 00:54:17.800
 Pressing in being a

00:54:17.800 --> 00:54:19.119
 gospel proclaimer to

00:54:19.119 --> 00:54:19.980
 where he thought the

00:54:19.980 --> 00:54:21.500
 end would be and then

00:54:21.500 --> 00:54:22.179
 God would extend his

00:54:22.179 --> 00:54:22.440
 life.

00:54:23.440 --> 00:54:23.900
 And then he would do

00:54:23.900 --> 00:54:24.519
 it again and then God

00:54:24.519 --> 00:54:26.400
 would extend his life.

00:54:27.579 --> 00:54:29.880
 And it's just astounding

00:54:29.880 --> 00:54:30.980
 to me to think back

00:54:30.980 --> 00:54:32.760
 across a decade and a

00:54:32.760 --> 00:54:33.780
 half and to go Clay

00:54:33.780 --> 00:54:35.340
 Naylor is still alive.

00:54:35.780 --> 00:54:37.400
 That is incredible.

00:54:38.400 --> 00:54:38.539
 Right.

00:54:38.840 --> 00:54:39.820
 And he gets in the mix

00:54:39.820 --> 00:54:40.960
 with us and he presses

00:54:40.960 --> 00:54:42.900
 us toward Christ all

00:54:42.900 --> 00:54:43.240
 along.

00:54:44.240 --> 00:54:45.400
 He is married now.

00:54:46.080 --> 00:54:46.880
 Ever thought that

00:54:46.880 --> 00:54:47.380
 would happen?

00:54:49.559 --> 00:54:52.940
 He's a well because of

00:54:52.940 --> 00:54:53.980
 his cystic fibrosis.

00:54:56.480 --> 00:54:57.200
 Sorry brother.

00:54:59.980 --> 00:55:01.620
 His wife is currently

00:55:01.620 --> 00:55:02.200
 pregnant.

00:55:02.860 --> 00:55:03.900
 How incredible.

00:55:04.000 --> 00:55:04.559
 Clay Naylor is going to

00:55:04.559 --> 00:55:05.279
 hold a baby.

00:55:07.679 --> 00:55:09.420
 It's astounding how good

00:55:09.420 --> 00:55:09.960
 God is.

00:55:11.539 --> 00:55:12.659
 And joy upon joy.

00:55:12.980 --> 00:55:13.119
 Right.

00:55:13.139 --> 00:55:14.019
 Not to make this better

00:55:14.019 --> 00:55:15.179
 than any of those things.

00:55:15.500 --> 00:55:16.699
 But just joy upon joy.

00:55:16.900 --> 00:55:18.679
 He's God heaping up joy

00:55:18.679 --> 00:55:19.440
 on us this morning.

00:55:19.539 --> 00:55:20.179
 He's now becoming an

00:55:20.179 --> 00:55:20.920
 elder of our church.

00:55:22.299 --> 00:55:23.320
 What a cool thing.

00:55:24.980 --> 00:55:26.279
 Clay, the task ahead is a

00:55:26.279 --> 00:55:27.059
 weighty task.

00:55:27.519 --> 00:55:28.559
 I don't know in many ways

00:55:28.559 --> 00:55:29.799
 you've already bore that

00:55:29.799 --> 00:55:30.099
 burden.

00:55:31.420 --> 00:55:32.659
 But it's a glorious one.

00:55:33.639 --> 00:55:34.840
 You have elders who love

00:55:34.840 --> 00:55:35.039
 you.

00:55:35.219 --> 00:55:36.179
 You have a church who

00:55:36.179 --> 00:55:36.940
 loves you.

00:55:38.139 --> 00:55:39.099
 Don't forget that as you

00:55:39.099 --> 00:55:40.299
 take up the task of

00:55:40.299 --> 00:55:41.739
 under shepherding that

00:55:41.739 --> 00:55:42.679
 you're still a sheep.

00:55:43.559 --> 00:55:44.799
 Christ is our great

00:55:44.799 --> 00:55:45.320
 shepherd.

00:55:46.519 --> 00:55:47.779
 Flee to him at all

00:55:47.779 --> 00:55:48.199
 times.

00:55:49.900 --> 00:55:50.539
 Kathleen, it's

00:55:50.539 --> 00:55:51.699
 appropriate just to say

00:55:51.699 --> 00:55:52.480
 a word of encouragement

00:55:52.480 --> 00:55:53.079
 to you.

00:55:53.980 --> 00:55:55.579
 You're joining Clay in

00:55:55.579 --> 00:55:57.340
 this task as his wife.

00:55:57.340 --> 00:55:59.700
 But this church does not

00:55:59.700 --> 00:56:00.420
 expect you to be a

00:56:00.420 --> 00:56:01.360
 female version of him.

00:56:02.640 --> 00:56:04.079
 If you start to think

00:56:04.079 --> 00:56:05.019
 they are, you let me

00:56:05.019 --> 00:56:05.780
 know and I'll set them

00:56:05.780 --> 00:56:06.220
 straight.

00:56:06.519 --> 00:56:08.980
 We don't expect you to

00:56:08.980 --> 00:56:10.000
 pastor the church.

00:56:10.920 --> 00:56:12.400
 But you are expected to

00:56:12.400 --> 00:56:13.780
 love and serve alongside

00:56:13.780 --> 00:56:14.600
 Clay.

00:56:16.559 --> 00:56:18.059
 Know that your marriage

00:56:18.059 --> 00:56:20.140
 will be troubled by

00:56:20.140 --> 00:56:21.360
 attacks as Clay

00:56:21.360 --> 00:56:22.920
 faithfully serves in the

00:56:22.920 --> 00:56:23.280
 church.

00:56:24.820 --> 00:56:27.220
 I think who could know

00:56:27.219 --> 00:56:28.179
 the mind of the enemy

00:56:28.179 --> 00:56:29.279
 but Satan certainly

00:56:29.279 --> 00:56:30.519
 loves to get after the

00:56:30.519 --> 00:56:32.399
 homes of those who lead

00:56:32.399 --> 00:56:33.079
 in the church.

00:56:33.959 --> 00:56:35.179
 But know that you have

00:56:35.179 --> 00:56:36.159
 a church that loves you

00:56:36.159 --> 00:56:37.539
 and that Christ has

00:56:37.539 --> 00:56:38.619
 defeated Satan and has

00:56:38.619 --> 00:56:40.199
 overcome this world to

00:56:40.199 --> 00:56:41.679
 flee to him at all

00:56:41.679 --> 00:56:43.059
 times.

00:56:43.619 --> 00:56:45.119
 You together have this

00:56:45.119 --> 00:56:46.759
 weighty work ahead of

00:56:46.759 --> 00:56:47.939
 you but it is glorious.

00:56:48.179 --> 00:56:48.919
 It is good.

00:56:49.079 --> 00:56:50.639
 It is worth taking up

00:56:50.639 --> 00:56:52.319
 and reveling in and

00:56:52.319 --> 00:56:52.819
 enjoying.

00:56:53.459 --> 00:56:54.619
 And I'm thankful for you

00:56:54.619 --> 00:56:55.699
 church that you've made

00:56:55.699 --> 00:56:56.299
 it a joy.

00:56:56.619 --> 00:56:57.939
 It is not a burden to

00:56:57.939 --> 00:56:58.319
 serve you.

00:56:58.379 --> 00:57:00.599
 It is certainly a joy to

00:57:00.599 --> 00:57:01.000
 serve you.

00:57:02.279 --> 00:57:04.379
 And so this morning we

00:57:04.379 --> 00:57:06.079
 are pleased to install

00:57:06.079 --> 00:57:07.779
 Clay Naylor as an elder.

00:57:08.359 --> 00:57:09.339
 Having been nominated and

00:57:09.339 --> 00:57:10.259
 voted upon according to

00:57:10.259 --> 00:57:13.239
 our bylaws, the elders of

00:57:13.239 --> 00:57:14.359
 our church are to be

00:57:14.359 --> 00:57:15.759
 qualified faithful men

00:57:15.759 --> 00:57:16.500
 according to 1st

00:57:16.500 --> 00:57:17.739
 Timothy 3 and Titus 1

00:57:17.739 --> 00:57:18.839
 who will stand before God

00:57:18.839 --> 00:57:20.619
 and give an account for

00:57:20.619 --> 00:57:21.699
 the people of Christ's

00:57:22.379 --> 00:57:23.619
 family church according to

00:57:23.619 --> 00:57:25.219
 Hebrews chapter 13.

00:57:25.980 --> 00:57:28.019
 This is both a solemn

00:57:28.019 --> 00:57:30.619
 and a joyful occasion.

00:57:31.779 --> 00:57:32.759
 Now attach the back of

00:57:32.759 --> 00:57:34.400
 your bulletin.

00:57:34.500 --> 00:57:35.719
 Again, I apologize if you

00:57:35.719 --> 00:57:36.359
 don't have one in your

00:57:36.359 --> 00:57:36.639
 hands.

00:57:36.739 --> 00:57:37.940
 Just participate as you

00:57:37.940 --> 00:57:38.259
 can.

00:57:38.900 --> 00:57:40.400
 It's a document for a

00:57:40.400 --> 00:57:41.880
 responsive reading.

00:57:42.099 --> 00:57:43.900
 So if you will for me

00:57:43.900 --> 00:57:44.759
 church, if you'll stand

00:57:44.759 --> 00:57:47.079
 and join me in this

00:57:47.079 --> 00:57:47.799
 responsive reading.

00:57:47.800 --> 00:57:59.220
 In case it's unclear,

00:57:59.320 --> 00:57:59.940
 you're the congregation.

00:58:02.940 --> 00:58:05.680
 There is but one good

00:58:05.680 --> 00:58:06.039
 shepherd.

00:58:06.760 --> 00:58:08.680
 Our Lord Jesus Christ.

00:58:09.480 --> 00:58:10.900
 The sheep hear his voice

00:58:10.900 --> 00:58:12.200
 and he calls his own

00:58:12.200 --> 00:58:13.940
 sheep by name and leads

00:58:13.940 --> 00:58:14.440
 them out.

00:58:14.440 --> 00:58:44.380
 The Lord Jesus who so

00:58:44.380 --> 00:58:45.900
 loves his bride that he

00:58:45.900 --> 00:58:47.160
 gave himself up for her

00:58:47.160 --> 00:58:49.140
 and still now washes her

00:58:49.140 --> 00:58:50.559
 with the water of his

00:58:50.559 --> 00:58:50.980
 grace.

00:58:51.460 --> 00:58:52.579
 As the head of the church,

00:58:52.900 --> 00:58:54.860
 her chief shepherd gives

00:58:54.860 --> 00:58:56.599
 to her under shepherds,

00:58:57.059 --> 00:58:58.740
 pastors to care for the

00:58:58.740 --> 00:59:00.420
 sheep even as they are

00:59:00.420 --> 00:59:01.440
 sheep themselves.

00:59:02.200 --> 00:59:03.360
 Thanks be to God.

00:59:04.420 --> 00:59:05.380
 You can be seated.

00:59:07.380 --> 00:59:08.820
 Your job's not done yet,

00:59:08.920 --> 00:59:09.599
 but please be seated.

00:59:10.800 --> 00:59:12.079
 Let me ask Clay to go

00:59:12.079 --> 00:59:13.180
 ahead and join me on stage.

00:59:13.179 --> 00:59:21.519
 I'm going to let you

00:59:21.519 --> 00:59:22.339
 stand where the mic is.

00:59:25.460 --> 00:59:27.619
 Clay, will you teach us

00:59:27.619 --> 00:59:29.619
 whether many or one to

00:59:29.619 --> 00:59:31.739
 one in sermons and prayers

00:59:31.739 --> 00:59:33.980
 and counsel the gospel of

00:59:33.980 --> 00:59:34.619
 Jesus Christ?

00:59:34.980 --> 00:59:36.480
 I will by God's grace.

00:59:37.460 --> 00:59:38.899
 Will you shepherd us not

00:59:38.899 --> 00:59:40.960
 for shameful gain, but eagerly,

00:59:40.960 --> 00:59:42.599
 not domineeringly, but gently

00:59:42.599 --> 00:59:44.320
 being an example to the

00:59:44.320 --> 00:59:44.599
 flock?

00:59:45.079 --> 00:59:46.420
 I will by God's grace.

00:59:47.240 --> 00:59:48.720
 Will you pray for us

00:59:48.720 --> 00:59:50.440
 interceding on our behalf

00:59:50.440 --> 00:59:51.599
 that we might comprehend

00:59:51.599 --> 00:59:53.280
 with all the saints the love

00:59:53.280 --> 00:59:54.940
 of Christ that surpasses

00:59:54.940 --> 00:59:56.260
 knowledge, that we may be

00:59:56.260 --> 00:59:57.480
 filled with all the fullness

00:59:57.480 --> 00:59:58.059
 of God?

00:59:58.420 --> 00:59:59.880
 I will by God's grace.

01:00:00.880 --> 01:00:03.179
 Church, will you be subject to

01:00:03.179 --> 01:00:04.340
 him, clothing yourselves in

01:00:04.340 --> 01:00:06.340
 humility even to one another,

01:00:06.880 --> 01:00:07.780
 obeying your leaders,

01:00:07.780 --> 01:00:09.820
 letting them serve you with joy

01:00:09.820 --> 01:00:10.680
 and not with groaning,

01:00:10.820 --> 01:00:12.260
 since this would not be of

01:00:12.260 --> 01:00:13.680
 advantage to you?

01:00:14.500 --> 01:00:16.360
 We will by God's grace.

01:00:16.980 --> 01:00:17.400
 All right.

01:00:18.240 --> 01:00:20.160
 Can I ask Doug, who is our

01:00:20.160 --> 01:00:23.019
 current other elder, Kathleen,

01:00:23.400 --> 01:00:25.920
 Clay's wife, as well as his

01:00:25.920 --> 01:00:28.740
 parents, to join us on stage?

01:00:28.980 --> 01:00:29.880
 You've got plenty of time.

01:00:30.000 --> 01:00:30.620
 Just take your time.

01:00:30.620 --> 01:00:30.620


01:00:30.620 --> 01:00:30.620


01:00:30.620 --> 01:00:30.620


01:00:30.620 --> 01:00:30.620


01:00:30.620 --> 01:00:30.620


01:00:30.620 --> 01:00:31.620
 Thank you.

01:00:31.620 --> 01:00:32.620
 Thank you.

01:00:32.620 --> 01:00:32.620


01:00:32.620 --> 01:00:34.620
 Thank you.

01:00:34.620 --> 01:00:34.620


01:00:34.620 --> 01:00:34.620


01:00:34.620 --> 01:00:34.620


01:00:37.780 --> 01:00:57.400
 All right.

01:01:04.740 --> 01:01:05.660
 Let's pray together.

01:01:07.780 --> 01:01:10.940
 Father God, we thank you

01:01:10.940 --> 01:01:12.460
 that you have given the church

01:01:12.460 --> 01:01:14.700
 to Christ and Christ to the

01:01:14.700 --> 01:01:15.040
 church.

01:01:15.880 --> 01:01:17.700
 We humbly recognize that we

01:01:17.700 --> 01:01:19.380
 have our very being because

01:01:19.380 --> 01:01:21.120
 of Jesus' sacrificial work

01:01:21.120 --> 01:01:22.460
 on our behalf.

01:01:23.280 --> 01:01:24.860
 We thank you that you have

01:01:24.860 --> 01:01:26.340
 placed him as the head of the

01:01:26.340 --> 01:01:28.140
 church, that he lovingly

01:01:28.140 --> 01:01:29.920
 leads us, working holiness

01:01:29.920 --> 01:01:32.120
 into us and out of us for the

01:01:32.120 --> 01:01:32.700
 sake of his name.

01:01:33.460 --> 01:01:34.700
 And we thank you that you have

01:01:34.700 --> 01:01:35.800
 given to the church under

01:01:35.800 --> 01:01:37.760
 shepherds for the same good.

01:01:37.780 --> 01:01:41.040
 Father God, thank you for Clay.

01:01:41.820 --> 01:01:43.180
 Thank you for leaving him with

01:01:43.180 --> 01:01:45.680
 us for so long, for his

01:01:45.680 --> 01:01:47.940
 constant faithfulness, for his

01:01:47.940 --> 01:01:50.080
 care and concern for your

01:01:50.080 --> 01:01:52.060
 people, for his patient

01:01:52.060 --> 01:01:54.480
 teaching of your will and your

01:01:54.480 --> 01:01:54.900
 ways.

01:01:55.220 --> 01:01:57.980
 He is truly a gift to our

01:01:57.980 --> 01:01:58.320
 church.

01:01:59.660 --> 01:02:01.600
 Bless him and Kathleen and

01:02:01.600 --> 01:02:03.600
 their baby, that their home

01:02:03.600 --> 01:02:06.240
 would be a place of rest and

01:02:06.239 --> 01:02:06.539
 joy.

01:02:07.539 --> 01:02:09.719
 Grant that the work ahead would

01:02:09.719 --> 01:02:11.579
 bind them together in loving

01:02:11.579 --> 01:02:14.039
 service to others and to each

01:02:14.039 --> 01:02:14.299
 other.

01:02:15.639 --> 01:02:19.279
 Grant Clay wisdom, we pray, as he

01:02:19.279 --> 01:02:20.239
 gives leadership in our

01:02:20.239 --> 01:02:20.579
 fellowship.

01:02:21.599 --> 01:02:24.000
 Grant him humility and affection

01:02:24.000 --> 01:02:26.639
 for us, that he may pay

01:02:26.639 --> 01:02:29.079
 careful attention to himself and

01:02:29.079 --> 01:02:31.039
 to all the flock, that the body

01:02:31.039 --> 01:02:34.539
 might grow being built up in love.

01:02:35.420 --> 01:02:39.239
 God, we want to honor Christ as a

01:02:39.239 --> 01:02:39.599
 church.

01:02:39.739 --> 01:02:42.159
 And so we pray this in his name.

01:02:43.259 --> 01:02:43.739
 Amen.

01:02:45.300 --> 01:02:46.900
 In the name of the Lord Jesus, the

01:02:46.900 --> 01:02:48.900
 chief shepherd of the church,

01:02:49.340 --> 01:02:51.739
 Christ Family Church installs Clay

01:02:51.739 --> 01:02:52.919
 Naylor as an elder.

01:02:53.579 --> 01:02:55.219
 Church, welcome your new ending.

01:02:55.219 --> 01:02:55.559
 Thank you.

01:02:55.559 --> 01:02:56.659
 Thank you.

01:02:56.659 --> 01:02:56.659


01:02:56.659 --> 01:02:56.659


01:02:56.659 --> 01:02:56.659


01:02:56.659 --> 01:02:56.659


01:02:56.659 --> 01:02:56.659


01:02:56.659 --> 01:02:56.659


01:02:56.659 --> 01:02:56.659


01:02:56.659 --> 01:02:56.659


01:02:56.659 --> 01:02:56.659


01:02:56.659 --> 01:02:56.659


01:02:56.659 --> 01:02:56.659


01:02:56.659 --> 01:02:56.659


01:02:56.659 --> 01:02:56.659


01:02:56.659 --> 01:02:56.659


01:02:56.659 --> 01:02:56.659


01:02:56.659 --> 01:02:56.659


01:02:56.659 --> 01:02:56.659


01:02:56.659 --> 01:02:56.659


01:02:56.659 --> 01:02:56.659


01:02:56.659 --> 01:02:56.659


01:02:56.659 --> 01:02:56.659


01:02:56.659 --> 01:02:56.659


01:02:56.659 --> 01:02:56.659


01:02:56.659 --> 01:02:56.659


01:02:56.659 --> 01:02:56.659


01:02:56.659 --> 01:02:56.659


01:02:56.659 --> 01:02:56.659


01:02:56.659 --> 01:02:56.659


01:02:56.659 --> 01:02:56.659


01:02:56.659 --> 01:02:56.659


01:02:56.659 --> 01:02:56.659


01:02:56.659 --> 01:02:56.659


01:02:56.659 --> 01:02:56.659


01:02:56.659 --> 01:02:56.659


01:02:56.659 --> 01:02:56.659


01:02:56.659 --> 01:02:56.659


01:02:56.659 --> 01:02:56.659


01:02:56.659 --> 01:02:56.659


01:02:56.659 --> 01:02:56.659


01:02:56.659 --> 01:03:26.639
 Thank you.