This week and next, we'll be taking a break from our normal verse-by-verse exposition of John's Gospel.
I do promise we will get back to it eventually.
We believe that normatively, this is the best course of action, verse-by-verse, through a book of the Bible, and it is normally what we do.
However, from time to time, and for a specific purpose, it can be helpful to take a beat, summarize, at least in some measure, what the Bible teaches on a given topic.
And so, we're going to take two weeks to think together about the offices of the church.
Two weeks, because there are two offices.
Two weeks, particularly because we really need to think about the office of deacon.
This office has been neglected in the life of our church, and I want you to hear that I will be the very first to admit that this is to my shame.
We should be doing better at this, and I have led the charge in not doing well at raising up and installing deacons.
However, before we get there next week, this morning, I want you to lead you to think about the office of elder,
and how the office of elder works alongside the congregation.
That's going to help us next week as we think about how deacons then assist in all of that work.
The church of Jesus Christ is precious because it is purchased by his blood.
His universal church finds its expression in local churches.
We exist because of his redeeming life, death, and resurrection.
He loves us so much that he lived and died, was raised and ascended for us.
He loves us so much that he has not left us alone.
He sends his helper, the Holy Spirit.
He has given us his word, and he has given us the church.
He loves local churches.
I'm so glad that Jesus is the head of the church, that he loves us far beyond our comprehension.
He certainly loves you more than I could possibly love you.
Amen.
My love will falter and fail.
His never does.
He loves local churches such that he has given us instruction for how we are to govern the local church.
The Bible says things about this, and because of his great love for us, we should pay attention to what it says.
We call this polity.
Every church has a polity.
This word is from the Greek word for city.
It means simply governance.
How are we arranged, and how are we to operate together?
There are all sorts of polities out there, the Episcopalians, the Presbyterians.
We are congregationalists, which also breaks out in all different types of polities.
Some churches will function congregationally.
The congregation is a sort of democracy.
Everything is brought to a vote, which tends to mean that nothing much happens at all.
Some congregational churches are governed by kind of a corporate board type of model.
Some have a single pastor, and then they have a deacon board, kind of quasi-elders,
and they're either over that deacon board, or they're integrated within that deacon board.
We don't think any of these models are biblical.
We think the Bible model is elder-led congregationalism.
Elder-led congregationalism.
I think that the people who hold to these polities are Christ's, and I'm not throwing too much shade at them.
But it's sometimes important to know that there's some things out there that may not be as biblically faithful as they ought to be
to try to drive us to, well, then what does the Bible say?
Does it have something to say about this?
And we think that the Bible teaches elder-led congregationalism.
And I want to add, as I think it may help us in these two weeks, we probably won't use this terminology very often,
but I think it may be helpful to us to say elder-led, deacon-assisted congregationalism.
Right?
So, we're going to go to a number of texts today.
We're going to start in Hebrews chapter 13.
I'm going to read verse 7, and then ask you to flip to verse 17 and 18.
But before I read those, let's pray for God's blessing on our time.
Father, we recognize humbly that you have saved us into a local church.
And we are glad that we belong here if we are in Christ and we are members of this church
and that you've given us instruction for how we are to govern for our good and for your glory.
We also recognize that we need your help if we're to rightly understand this at all.
So, help it to be important to everybody here,
not just those who are given charge and have to lead,
but also the entirety of the congregation,
that they would see that they have a part to play in how we're meant to function together.
And we pray all of this in the name of Christ.
Amen.
Alright, so Hebrews 13 and verse 7.
There the author of Hebrews writes,
Remember your leaders, those who spoke to you the word of God,
consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith.
And then jump to verse 17 and 18.
Obey your leaders and submit to them,
for they are keeping watch over your souls,
as those who will have to give an account.
Let them do this with joy and not with groaning,
for that would be of no advantage to you.
Pray for us, for we are sure that we have a clear conscience
desiring to act honorably in all things.
Our church, as I've said,
believes that the most biblically faithful form of polity
is what is called elder-led,
and I'll insert deacon-assisted,
congregationalism.
I will unpack that deacon-assisted part next week,
but you see from the title of this position,
and more importantly from today's text,
that God intends for there to be
some measure of leadership in the church,
and we will do well to consider the leadership of elders
alongside the responsibilities of the whole congregation.
It brings it into focus to think about it all together at the same time.
So we'll do our best to get through that
in the time we have allotted this morning.
These two passages in Hebrews give us six exhortations toward church leaders,
right?
Your leaders.
Remember, consider, imitate, obey,
submit to them, and pray for them.
So who are your leaders?
If you are a member of this church,
then your leaders are those men that you have deemed qualified
to inhabit the office of elder.
If you are not a member of this church,
I hope you are a member of a gospel-preaching church,
and perhaps this will prod you to think about who your leaders are.
Or, if you're not a member of a gospel-preaching church,
perhaps you should be considering this.
How are these commands relevant to you
if you don't know who your leaders are?
Gifts given to you for your good and for God's glory.
Now, these exhortations are fairly self-explanatory,
but two of them need special attention.
And for today, this is what we'll spend a little bit of time on.
The first is obey.
Obey your leaders.
This Greek verb carries the idea of being persuaded by them.
Remember verse 7.
Remember, your leaders, those who spoke to you the word of God,
consider the outcome of their way of life
and imitate their faith.
We don't want to read verse 17 apart from verse 7,
because the author of Hebrews is saying,
these are men worth listening to.
So not just any old thing that they say,
but they're a type of person
that we ought to be paying attention to.
There's a type of authority called referent authority,
and that is from every point of reference,
every perspective,
the person deserves your obedience.
Paul writes in Titus chapter 1,
verse 7 through 9,
of this office of elder,
they're here called overseer.
An overseer, as God's steward,
must be above reproach.
He must be arrogant, or quick-tempered,
or a drunkard, or violent, or greedy for gain,
but hospitable,
a lover of good,
self-controlled, upright,
holy, and disciplined.
He must hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught,
so that he may be able to give instruction
in sound doctrine,
and also to rebuke those who contradict it.
Will an elder ever be a perfect man?
Not this side of glory, right?
But when we look at those qualifications,
and Titus,
this is a man worth listening to,
being persuaded by,
and that's what's carried in that word.
The other exhortation we should note
is to submit to them.
This Greek verb is found
only here,
in the New Testament,
but it's often used
in extra-biblical Greek literature.
It connotes obedience
to a person in a position
of authority,
such as,
in some extra-biblical Greek literature,
a colonel taking orders
from a general.
So, in this case,
here the author is referring to
positional authority, right?
They've been put into this place,
so both are this referent authority,
they have the quality worth following,
but also,
they hold the position,
and have been placed in that position,
and we believe that the Lord helps us
put the right people
into those spots.
So why
should you
remember,
consider,
imitate,
obey,
and submit
to your elders?
Well, first,
they should,
they have,
faithful lives
worth imitating.
Not
perfect lives,
as I've said.
I think it is appropriate
to think of elders
as
elder brothers
who
lead by example.
Both in holiness,
out ahead,
right,
taking up God's word
and pursuing righteousness,
and
when they fail
in repentance.
Elders are at their very best
when their lives
display
the gospel
of Jesus Christ,
which means there is no
pretense
for perfection,
but a genuine,
honest,
earnest pursuit
of righteousness,
forgiveness,
and then when there's
failure,
a modeling of what it looks
like to ask for forgiveness.
Pick up,
dust ourselves on,
and press on
in Christ,
right?
Have a confidence
even before you
that because
we're bought
with such a great price,
we can rest
in Jesus'
completed work.
Secondly,
why should you remember,
consider,
imitate,
obey,
submit
to your elders?
There in the text,
they are keeping
watch
over your souls
as those
who have to give
an account.
Well,
I can tell you
that the men
of our church
that you've installed
as elders,
I can certainly
speak for myself,
take this
very,
very seriously.
A weighty task,
a grace-imbued
task.
Jesus is the
great shepherd,
we are merely
under shepherds,
but we all recognize
that we will
stand before God
and give an
account for
your souls.
So we want to
do this
with great care.
Will we be
perfect?
We will not.
But we really
want to labor
to do this,
which is why
you should
remember,
consider,
imitate,
obey,
and submit
to your elders.
Paul,
when he is
saying goodbye
to the Ephesian
elders in Acts
chapter 20
and verse 28,
says this,
pay careful
attention to
yourselves
and to all
the flock
in which the
Holy Spirit
has made you
overseers,
to care for
the church
of God
which he
obtained
with his
own blood.
What a
charge given
to lead
in a congregation.
But to what
extent is the
author of Hebrews
expecting his
hearers to
obey and submit
to their
leaders.
Certainly not
in everything.
Certainly not
outside the
bounds of the
Bible.
But if he
only intends
to have them
obey and
submit to the
Bible,
why not just
say that?
I think
because there
are matters
of application
of the
Bible,
gray areas
that require
careful
navigation
and
decisions
that must
be made.
The Bible
says nothing
at all
about our
property.
There's things
that have to be
carefully thought
about.
The Bible
says nothing
at all about
what the
appropriate set
of programs
might be for
children at any
given stage
in the life
of a church.
There's decisions
that need to be
thought about
and made.
1 Timothy
chapter 3
verses 1
through 5
qualifications
here.
Paul gives
to Timothy
the saying
is trustworthy.
If anyone
aspires to
the office
of overseer
he desires
a noble
task.
Therefore
an overseer
must be
above reproach,
the husband
of one
wife,
sober-minded,
self-controlled,
respectable,
hospitable,
able to
teach,
not a
drunkard,
not violent
but gentle,
not quarrelsome,
not a lover
of money.
He must
manage his
own household
well with
all dignity,
keeping his
children submissive
for if someone
does not know
how to manage
his own
household,
how will
he care
for God's
church?
There's lots
of detailed
decisions
that need
to be made.
And so I've
said to you
before and I'll
say again,
I think that
in matters
of prudence,
wisdom,
like taking
up biblical
data and
understanding
what the
scripture says
to us,
but then
thinking about
how do we
put that
into action
in the life
of our
church,
so matters
of prudence,
wisdom,
and also
in matters
of preference.
So we don't
have a members
meeting and
ask and
vote on
what time
a meeting
might start.
This would be
a simple,
fairly benign
example.
But your elders
are thinking
about what
would be best
for the
congregation.
How do we
think and
order us
so that we
can accomplish
the goals
that the
Lord has
put before
us?
So we
might decide
on one
time over
another because
we think
it best.
Prudence,
preference.
So elders
have authority,
a kind of
authority.
They are to
teach the
Bible and
they are to
make judgments
in matters
of gray
areas of
application
according
to Bible
principles.
elders
exercise
an
authority
but it
is not
a
coercive
authority.
It's a
persuasive
authority.
Come along
with us.
We want
you to go
where we're
going.
We love
you.
We're looking
out for
your souls.
Framed
that way,
isn't it a
wonderful thing
to have
leaders?
Let's
look now
at another
text.
So turn
with me,
if you
will,
to Ephesians
chapter
four.
I want
you to
see here
leaders
given to
the church
and the
way that
the church
is a
congregation
is to
function
with
leadership.
I'll
begin
reading in
verse
11.
Just
before this,
Paul talked
about Jesus
ascending,
also though
that he
descended
and that
he gave
gifts to
men,
where it
leads us
up to
verse 11.
And there
Paul writes,
and he,
that's
Jesus Christ,
gave the
apostles,
the prophets,
the evangelists,
the shepherds,
and teachers
to equip the
saints for
the work of
ministry,
for building
up the body
of Christ
until we
all attain
to the
unity of
the faith
and of
the knowledge
of the
Son of
God,
to mature
manhood,
to the
measure of
the stature
of the
fullness
of Christ,
so that
we may
no longer
be children
tossed to
and fro
by the
waves and
carried about
by every
wind of
doctrine,
by human
cunning,
by craftiness
in deceitful
schemes.
Rather,
speaking the
truth in
love,
we have
to grow
up in
every way
into him
who is
the head,
into Christ,
from whom
the whole
body,
joined and
held together
by every
joint with
which it
is equipped,
when each
part is
working properly,
makes the
body grow
so that it
builds itself
up in
love.
A beautiful
picture of
the church
in action.
Now this
text begins
with Jesus
Christ giving
gifts to
the church.
You see
these in
verse 11,
the apostles,
the prophets,
a brief aside
at this point,
there's a lot
of disagreement
about these
gifts in
Christendom.
I don't
intend for
this to be
an exhaustive
exposition
of this
passage,
but an
aside I
think is
helpful here.
I believe
that the
apostles and
prophets that
Paul is
referring to
were modern
apostles and
prophets who
were in the
process of
writing the
New Testament
and the
Old Testament
prophets as
the books of
the Old
Testament were
referred to
as the
prophets.
I think that's
what he's
talking about.
He's talking
about those
who were
writing the
canon at
his time
as well as
those who
had already
written.
If you
look back
a bit at
Ephesians
chapter 2
verse 19
and 20,
there he
says,
so then you
are no
longer
strangers and
aliens,
but your
fellow citizens
with the
saints and
members of
the household
of God,
built on
the foundation
of the
apostles and
prophets,
Christ Jesus
himself being
the cornerstone.
so I
believe that
the apostles
and the
prophets of
Ephesians
4 and
verse 11
for us
are the
Old and
New Testaments,
our 66
books of
our canon,
which we
ought not
belittle,
but as I
believe Paul
is doing,
magnify as
a gift to
the church.
I think this
is what he's
communicating in
verse 11.
As he starts
out, he
gave the
apostles, the
prophets.
We have the
scripture.
And then he
goes on, the
evangelists, the
shepherds, and
teachers.
Many of you
are using the
same translation
that I am
this morning,
the English
Standard Version,
and you may
note that each
of these roles
are separated
by a comma,
but not
shepherds, or
you could insert
pastors there,
and teachers.
You notice the
commas?
We know that
ancient Greek
did not have
equivalent punctuation
to our
English, so
this was a
translative
decision.
The translators
decided where to
put the commas
in, and they
did not put a
comma between
shepherds and
teachers.
Now, I am very
happy to say that
the ESV
translators are
not anti-Oxford
comma.
If you know
what I'm talking
about, and you
disagree with me,
we can debate
later.
Oxford comma is
a good comma,
and it should
remain in the
English language.
If you don't
know what I'm
talking about,
that's fine, but
this is a
translative
decision because
the Greek word
translated and
can also be
translated that
is, or in
particular.
It can be
translated various
ways.
So, it could
read shepherds
that is teachers,
or shepherds in
particular teachers,
which is a little
clunky, but does
give us a better
idea of who
these men are,
these gifts
given.
Many simply
say of this
role that they
are shepherd
teachers, shepherd
dash teachers, or
pastor dash
teachers, and we
have further
evidence that this
is Paul's meaning
in 1 Timothy
chapter 5 and
verse 17.
There he says,
let the elders
who rule well be
considered worthy
of double honor.
I think in this
case he's talking
about both the
honor of respect
and position, but
also income for
their living,
especially those
who labor in
preaching and
teaching.
Elders,
teachers.
So, evangelists
and elders are
gifts given to
the church by
Christ, but for
what reason?
Why?
Why are they
given?
Verse 12, to
equip the saints
for the work of
ministry, for
building up the
body of Christ.
Now, notice, once
again, a
translator decision
to not put a
comma after the
word saints.
If you were to
look at that part
of verse 12,
that I just read,
to equip the
saints, what if
it said to
equip the saints,
comma, for the
work of ministry,
comma, for
building up the
body of Christ.
If they were to
punctuate it that
way, one of the
tasks given to
these evangelists
and these pastor
teachers would be
the work of
ministry.
So, why, why
can we know, why
did they make the
translative decision
to not put a
comma after saints,
and then we read,
to equip the
saints for the
work of ministry,
right?
And then, for
building up the
body of Christ
modifies that.
What is the
work of ministry?
It's the building
up the body of
Christ.
How can we know
this just looking
at it?
Are they just
arbitrarily putting
commas where
commas feel good?
No.
No, because
Paul keeps
writing.
We've got to
look at the
context of
what's happening
here.
What happens
beyond this
in the text,
right?
There's this
aim, verse 13,
of attaining
the unity of
the faith and
knowledge of
the Son of
God to
mature manhood,
to the measure
of the stature
of the fullness
of Christ.
That we would
grow into
maturity.
That we would
be people who
are not
children,
tossed about
by waves
and carried
about by
every doctrine,
human cunning,
craftiness,
and deceitful
schemes.
Beloved,
do we not
see a world
of professing
Christians
thrown about,
back and
forth,
by the waves,
carried about
by every
wind of
doctrine.
It's just
astounding to
me, the
things that
people believe
as they come
out of
Christian leaders'
mouths.
So anti-
Bible.
Are you
catching?
This is
congregational
work, right?
We're supposed
to be speaking
the truth to
one another.
I'm also a
congregant.
Speak the
truth to me.
I don't
want to be
a child.
I want to
grow up
into Christ-likeness.
I want to
be steady
in storms
because I
know the
truth.
And Paul's
saying, we
do that
with one
another.
Let's not
be this
immature
thing, but
verse 15
says,
rather,
speaking the
truth in
love,
we are to
grow up in
every way
into him
who is the
head,
into Christ,
from whom
the whole
body,
joined and
held together
by every
joint with
which it is
equipped,
when each
part is
working
properly,
makes the
body grow,
so that it
builds itself
up in
love.
That is the
essence of
congregationalism.
Us helping
every Christian,
helping every
Christian in
the local
church grow
in Christ-likeness.
What a
compelling picture
that should be
for all of
us.
And I want to
commend you as a
church.
You do this
well.
Just before we
met, I had a
conversation with
a brother who's
grieving, another
brother in
unrepentant sin,
and he's asking
the question,
is it time for
me to take a
next step with
him, to press
upon him?
He said with
tears welling,
I'm not sure
that he's in
Christ.
I'm concerned
for his soul.
What a
conversation to
have with a
congregant.
A wonderful
thing to think
and talk and
pray about next
steps to happen.
So this is
the work.
This is the
work that's
going on.
It's equipping
the saints for
the work of
ministry, for
building up
the body of
Christ.
Elders lead by
teaching, in
word and in
deed, giving
theological
foundation and
example of
application so
that the church
as a whole does
this work of
ministry, this
building up of
the body of
Christ.
It bears
repeating.
Elders exercise
in authority, but
it is not a
coercive authority,
it is a
persuasive
authority.
It's an
authority of
counsel.
Come to the
word with us.
We want to
show you the
way of God,
how we should
pursue, what
we should say
to one another.
It also bears
saying that the
evangelists share
the gospel, that
the church would
increase through
conversion, and
that the church
as a whole would
share the gospel
for that very
same end.
The evangelists
help equip us
that we might
share the
gospel.
But while
evangelists are a
gift to the
church, we do
not hold that it
is an office of
the church, a
formal position
found here.
Evangelistic people
most certainly are a
gift to the
church.
Now I hope that I
have sufficiently
shown you the
authority of
counsel that an
elder holds,
right?
But what about the
authority of the
congregation?
Does the
congregation hold
any authority?
Yes, it does.
The congregation
or the church as
a whole is doing
two things in this
text.
Number one, teaching
the truth, right?
Teaching the truth,
attaining the unity
of the faith, the
knowledge of the
Son of God, verse
13.
This is a pushback
against doctrine
blowing people
around.
So the congregation
is teaching the
truth and applying
the truth.
Verse 15, we're
growing up in every
way into him who
is the head.
Then you see all
this activity in
verse 16, these
joints held together
doing this work.
Right?
So teaching the
truth and applying
the truth.
So the congregation,
the local church
as a whole, is
responsible for
discipling,
helping people
grow in their
pursuit of
Christ, and
they're responsible
for doctrine.
What is that
truth?
Being led by the
elders of the
church to
disciple and to
hold sound
doctrine.
the congregation
has a different
authority from
the elders.
The local church
as a whole holds
the authority of
command or, if
you like,
coercion set
against persuasion.
I don't love it.
I like counsel and
command personally,
but persuasion and
coercion works.
God delegates
authority, and
it always has
limits, and
it is always
subservient to
the one who
delegated it.
Bad authority
is always bad.
Most of us
have had some
experience with
bad authority.
If you haven't,
live a little
longer.
You're going to
see authority
not exercised
properly, but
that doesn't mean
we should throw
away authority.
authority
submitted to
God is
always good.
Always good.
It's aimed at
blessing for
us.
So, I want
to take you to
some additional
text to show
you the two
areas that the
congregation holds
authority in,
our discipling
and doctrine.
We're going to
do this at a
clip, because
I'm really
supposed to be
talking about
elders, but I
want to show
you what are
elders leading
the congregation
to do together.
discipling.
Matthew chapter
28.
Go ahead and
join me there.
I'm going to
get water.
I've got to
get ready for
this fast
reading I'm
about to
do.
So,
Matthew 28.
This is the Great Commission.
Jesus came and said to them,
verse 18,
all authority in heaven and on earth
has been given to me.
There's that ultimate authority.
Go therefore
and make disciples of all nations,
baptizing them in the name of the Father
and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
teaching them to observe
all that I have commanded you
and behold, I'm with you always
to the end of the age.
On the heels of Ephesians chapter 4,
do you see the church's work
in the middle of that text?
I hope you do.
This is a commission given to the church
and how do we do that
in visible expression?
In local churches.
So we, as a church,
are meant to go,
make disciples,
baptize them,
welcoming them into the membership
of the church,
teaching them to observe
all that I have commanded you.
Right?
Grow up into Christ-likeness.
Don't be tossed to and fro
by every wind of doctrine.
Right?
Now, turn with me backwards
in the book of Matthew
to chapter 16.
I'll begin reading in verse 13
because the context
has some relevance.
Now, when Jesus came
into the district
of Caesarea Philippi,
he asked his disciples,
who do people say
that the Son of Man is?
And they said,
some say John the Baptist,
others say Elijah,
and others Jeremiah,
or one of the prophets.
He said to them,
but who do you say
that I am?
Simon Peter replied,
you are the Christ,
the Son of the living God.
Way to go, Peter.
Knocked it out of the park.
And Jesus answered him,
blessed are you,
Simon Barjona,
for flesh and blood
has not revealed this to you.
Right?
It's by grace
that he gets that answer right.
But my Father who is in heaven.
And I tell you,
you are Peter,
and on this rock,
that truth that he is the Christ,
I will build my church.
And the gates of hell
shall not prevail against it.
Right?
There's our confidence
for Matthew 28.
Jesus is with us
to the end of the age,
and he has all authority.
He's building his church,
and so go and do this work.
And then he says,
in verse 19,
I will give you the keys
of the kingdom of heaven.
And whatever you bind on earth
shall be bound in heaven,
and whatever you loose on earth
shall be loosed in heaven.
Right?
This is the symbol
of the authority
given to the church.
But we don't really fully comprehend
what he's talking about
at this point.
Okay?
We're given keys,
we're binding,
and we're loosing.
We don't have to go far
to understand.
Go to Matthew chapter.
This will feel disjointed
for just a moment,
but hear it out.
Beginning in verse 15.
If your brother sins against you,
go and tell him it's fault
between you and him alone.
If he listens to you,
you have gained your brother.
Do you see Ephesians 4 in this?
Speaking the truth
and love to one another.
Do you see it in there?
Your brother sins.
You go show him his sin.
We all need help doing this.
We all have blind spots.
Like, we're going to do things.
We're going to err.
We're going to realize it at times.
We're not going to realize it at times.
We need to be approached
that we might repent
and press on.
Right?
This is how we grow
in Christlikeness.
Verse 16.
But if he does not listen,
take one or two others
along with you
that every charge
may be established
by the evidence
of two or three witnesses.
You make it more serious.
Multiple people come
and they say,
no, no, we see this issue too.
Right?
We want to speak the truth
and love to you
that you may grow
in Christ.
And there's another opportunity
for repentance.
To listen.
In verse 17,
if he refuses to listen
to them,
tell it to the church.
And if he refuses
to listen even to the church,
right?
So there's a step here
where the church now
as a total
is speaking to this person
saying,
this is not the way
of a Christ follower.
Then the church
is to let him be to you
as a Gentile
and a tax collector.
That is to say,
to put them outside
of the church.
Right?
This is the process
we often call
church discipline.
Right?
But I think every step
in this is discipline.
It's discipling.
Right?
We are teaching the truth
that a person
might faithfully follow Jesus.
And if we find
that they're not in Christ,
then the loving thing
to say to them is,
we don't believe
you're in Christ.
Now how does this connect
back to Matthew chapter 16?
Verse 18 of chapter 18.
Truly I say to you,
whatever you bind on earth
shall be bound in heaven.
And whatever you loose on earth
shall be loosed in heaven.
The exact same phrase.
Keys of the kingdom.
Doing this careful work.
So if you didn't hear
Ephesians chapter 4
through that,
maybe you'll hear it
the other way around.
Right?
So back in Ephesians 4 verse 11,
he gave apostles,
prophets, evangelists,
shepherd teachers
to equip the saints
for the work of ministry
for building up
the body of Christ
until we all attain
to the unity of the faith
and of the knowledge
of the Son of God
to mature manhood
to the measure
of the stature
of the fullness
of Christ.
Right?
Working us
together,
verse 16,
the body would grow
so that it builds
itself up
in love.
Right?
This is the discipling work
given to the congregation,
all of us,
together.
William Gurnall,
a 17th century
Puritan minister,
once said this,
God would not rub so hard
if it were not
to fetch out the dirt
that is ingrained
in our natures.
God loves purity
so well
that he would rather
see a hole
than a spot
in his child's garments.
Secondly,
doctrine.
The church,
as a whole,
is meant to defend
doctrine.
Paul writes
in Galatians chapter 1
to the church
in Galatia,
but even if we
or an angel
from heaven
should preach to you
a gospel contrary
to the one we preached
to you,
let him be
accursed.
As we have said before,
so now I say again,
if anyone is preaching
to you a gospel
contrary to the one
you received,
let him be
accursed.
This would be
an exercise
of the keys.
The truth
must be
preserved
and
defended.
David Gibson
in an article
entitled
Assumed Evangelicalism,
some reflections
in route
to denying
the gospel.
Quote,
you may have heard
the story
of the Mennonite
Brethren movement.
One particular
analysis
goes like this.
The first generation
believed
and proclaimed
the gospel
and thought
that there were
certain social
entailments.
The next generation
assumed the gospel
and advocated
the entailments.
the third generation
denied the gospel
and all that were
left
were the entailments.
The practice
but not the gospel
itself.
The whole congregation
defends
doctrine.
Again,
back to Acts chapter 20,
Paul's farewell
to the Ephesian elders.
I read verse 28
already,
pay careful attention
to yourselves
and to all the flock
in which the Holy Spirit
has made you overseers
to care for the church
of God
which he obtained
with his own blood.
I know,
he goes on,
that after my departure
fierce wolves
will come in among you
not sparing
the flock.
And,
this will make you
shudder,
from among your
own selves
will arise
men speaking
twisted things
to draw away
the disciples
after them.
Why did he say
to pay careful
attention
to the flock?
Because there will be
people from outside
and people from
inside
that will lead
people
astray.
Jude writes
in verse 3 and 4,
Beloved,
although I was very eager
to write to you
about our common salvation,
I found it necessary
to write appealing
to you
to contend
for the faith
that was once
for all
delivered
to the saints.
For certain people
have crept in
unnoticed
who long ago
were designated
for this condemnation,
ungodly people
who pervert
the grace of our God
into sensuality
and deny
our only Master
and Lord,
Jesus Christ.
So we're
to defend
doctrine.
We've talked
long,
too much,
I'm going to skip it today,
I've got a whole bunch
of notes about it,
about theological triage,
but let me just sum it
by saying
we are confessional people,
it is important
for us to take up
the word,
understand what it says,
write documents,
decide those things
that are
worthy of dying for
and those things
that can be
debated.
We think it's important
to make truth claims
concerning what
the Bible teaches
on any particular
topic.
So elders
are given
as gifts
to the church
to lead
the congregation
in the important
work of discipling
and defending
doctrine.
But,
what does
elder-led
congregationalism
look like
in action?
If you're
totally unfamiliar
with this polity,
how might it be
observed
and this in closing?
You will notice
sermons preached
and classes taught,
discipling relationships
where the Bible
is read
and studied
and applied,
earnest prayer
for one another,
sin confronted
and corrected,
discipline processes
carried out
when necessary,
evangelism
and missions
to the end
of the earth
to all peoples,
welcoming
new members
through the
ordinance of
baptism,
celebrating
the Lord's
supper together
regularly
with joy,
confessionalism
and all
that is in
tales,
all this
careful work
of theological
triage,
I could go
on.
but note
that you,
the congregation,
the church
as a whole
have a profound
and precious
responsibility
and God
has given
to the church
elders
to help.
May we continue
by grace
under the authority
of the giver
of all good things
to govern ourselves
according to his word
for the good of his people
and for the witness
of the gospel
to the glory of Christ.
Let's pray.