Who's in Charge (Part 6)

First of all, remind me to NEVER do a series of blog posts again, okay??!!  Almost every time I thought I would be able to do something, it didn't work out, and I had to change something!  It just was a good reminder that I'm really not in charge of my own life....God is!

We left off with looking at "Who's in Charge?" of the local church. We learned extensively about elders - appointed men (plural) who are to shepherd the flock - the church of Jesus Christ.

So, what about others?  What about preachers?  What about deacons?  As with everything, let's go to The Word. They are 'in charge' of the local church, but all Christians have work to do in the church for God.

Various works for children of God:

So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. 

Ephesians 4:11-13

Preachers proclaim the Good News:

How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?

And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!

Romans 10:14-15

Timothy's instructions for preachers (inspired by God): 

In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I give you this charge:  Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction. For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. 2 Timothy 4:1-3

Deacons are servants of God:

Early on in the New Testament church,  the "Twelve" (meaning the 12 apostles) realized that they could not do all of the Lord's work by themselves.  The widows were being neglected, so they gathered all of the disciples (followers of God - still what Christians are today...followers of God) and chose seven men from among them who would take care of this responsibility.  

In those days when the number of disciples was increasing, the Hellenistic Jews among them complained against the Hebraic Jews because their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food. So the Twelve gathered all the disciples together and said, “It would not be right for us to neglect the ministry of the word of God in order to wait on tables.  Brothers and sisters, choose seven men from among you who are known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will turn this responsibility over to them  and will give our attention to prayer and the ministry of the word.” Acts 6:1-4

Deacons must meet the following requirements:

In the same way, deacons  are to be worthy of respect, sincere, not indulging in much wine, and not pursuing dishonest gain. They must keep hold of the deep truths of the faith with a clear conscience. They must first be tested; and then if there is nothing against them, let them serve as deacons.

A deacon must be faithful to his wife and must manage his children and his household well. Those who have served well gain an excellent standing and great assurance in their faith in Christ Jesus.

1 Timothy 3:8-1-10, 12-13

The New Testament church:

As scriptures have pointed out, the organization of the church patterned after the New Testament church is very clear. Christ is the head.  Men who serve as elders are the shepherds of the flock and are responsible for the "sheep" and the "Who's in Charge?" of the local church - the followers of Christ that meet together.  There is no one elder that is above the other, rather all are equal and unified.  Deacons are selected to help with the work of the church.  In the Bible, all of these different roles are listed only for men - not women.  God loves women.  Jesus loves women.  But women are not to be in those positions in the church.

What about Phoebe?

In Romans 16:1, Phoebe is called a deacon in some versions and a servant in others.  As Christians, we are ALL servants of God.  However, it is obvious that only men were selected to fill the specific duties of a deacon because of the scriptures I've listed above.  I did a lot of study about the Phoebe verse, but I'll let you research that yourself.  I don't need to repeat what they have gathered and gleaned! :)  

As a woman, I can be and am a servant of God, a teacher of His Word.  I do what I can to share the Good News.  But, as a woman, there are limitations on my role in the church according to God's Word and His Will.  That's fine with me!  In fact, as I said before in an earlier post - I'm thankful to be a woman!!  My responsibilities as homemaker, wife and mother - plus the every-important Bible teacher and spreader of the Good News is more than enough to keep me fulfilled spiritually and emotionally and physically.  

All followers of God/Jesus have a job to do!

Not everyone is cut out to teach a Bible class, but we all must teach.  It's a commandment of God.  You may not feel like you can teach a classroom full of little babies (YES!!  Baby class is awesome! Don't neglect to teach the babies!!!), but maybe you can teach a 10 year old one on one about Noah.  Maybe you wouldn't be able to teach Bible class to 2 & 3's almost 47 years like my mother-in-law (at the same place!!! And she's taught even more counting the other places.) has, but maybe you could teach VBS for a day or three or five.  You can teach!  You can teach your children, your neighbors, your grandchildren, someone at the grocery store.  And you know what, God NEEDS you to teach!  He commands you and I, as followers of Jesus, to "go and tell".  (Matthew 28:19-20

I hope you've enjoyed this study of "Who's in Charge?".  I've enjoyed writing, though as I mentioned, these kinds of posts are a lot harder and require more of my time and study (a good thing, but a time-consuming thing).  If you have any questions, comments, or thoughts about any of the subjects I've addressed, please let me know. 

There's No "I" in TEAM, But There is "U" in CHURCH

One of the best things to see when it comes to team sports, is when individual players learn and decide to play as a team, instead of trying to do things all on their own.  Sometimes it happens naturally.  Sometimes it must be stressed by a coach.  Sometimes it comes quickly.  Sometimes it takes months or even years.

Teammates who learn to work together as a team have much, much greater success in their respective sports' seasons.  They also may find that their records become greater in the win column as they begin to work together to achieve a common.  Success comes from working together.  That's a fact.

Each individual player is important in a team, of course, but there is no way that one individual can do everything on their own.  They must have teammates to help them accomplish their goals as individuals and also as a team.  There is no other way to accomplish those goals, than by working together to accomplish the task.  No other way.

The team also needs a coach.  Someone has to be in charge.   There has to be someone to make the plays, call the plays, and someone who can guide/teach when needed. They coach must also encourage and inspire his or her players.  A coach without encouragement won't get a lot out of his/her players.

Now let's look at this whole "team" thing in a spiritual sense.  All of us, both Christians and non-Christians are going to be judged individually by God on judgement day.  Our parent's faith will not be a ticket into heaven.  Our spouses faith will not be your ticket into heaven.  Our friends' faith won't. Our children's faith won't.  No one elses faith but YOUR own and MY own will matter on that day.

There is a common misconception throughout the world today that the church is not important to God.  Sadly, many in the world, and even many who claim to be Christians, believe that the church is not important to God.  They want to take "U" (YOU) out of church and say it doesn't matter.  If that is so, why would God have sent His Son on the cross for His church???

Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless.

Ephesians 5:25-27

The problem is not the church.  Not at all.  People are rejecting organized religion because people have gotten in the way of the relationship Christians are supposed to have with their Lord and Savior!  The problem is that men and women have taken their thoughts and ideas of what they believe the church should be and turned it (in many cases) into something that doesn't resemble the church of the New Testament at all.  That is the church Jesus died for.  He didn't die for a man-made religion!  Christ died for His church, and when God's people turn away from His church and make some sort of man-made religion, then God's will is certainly not being done. 

So, just what did the New Testament church look like?  What did that first "team" look like over 2,000 years ago?? Well, first of all, if you read all of the book of Acts in the New Testament part of the Holy Bible, you will see that the word church is never talking about the building.  It is always the people.  A group of people.  The believers.  The followers.  There wasn't just one single person.  It was PEOPLE.  The church is plural every time it is used in the Bible.

And, those people...the church...work together to be the body of Christ.  Each person within the body is important, just as each player on a team is important.  Without the "U" in church, something is missing:  CH_RCH.  See!!??

The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body. So it is with Christ. For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body—whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink.

Now the body is not made up of one part but of many.

1 Corinthians 12:12-14

Jesus is the head of the church.  He's the coach of a team!  And, He wants U on His team.  What do you say?  Are you ready to suit up?  Are you ready to be a part of the team?

And he is the head of the body, the church....

Colossians 1:18

There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to one hope when you were called— one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. Ephesians 4:4-6

BACK IN THE DAY

If I could go back in time to visit, I would choose to go back to when the church first began. I think it would be a great time to visit and help us appreciate all we have, but also make us realize what is really important for us to do as Christians. Jesus died for the church - not a building, but the people who have become children of God. He died for the church, but also left instructions for what the church is to do and how the church is to live.

Twice a year our congregation here at Tipton does something that I feel is similar to how the early church lived. I believe it's the closest we come to living how the 1st Century church may have lived during that time - except for modern conveniences (which we are all thankful for!).

We have just finished a gospel meeting/revival. It began on Sunday morning with Bible class, then worship, followed by a noon potluck dinner. That evening we had services again. Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday we had morning worship at 10:00 a.m. and a noon luncheon every day, then nightly worship services each of those nights. Every day we met together, sang together, prayed together, studied God's Word together, worshipped God together, and ate the noon meal together.

A special part of this week is having the Sojourners with us. I mentioned a few weeks ago that they were working at our Bible camp, QMCC. For these two weeks they are working at Tipton Home. They are a joy to have in our midst! The couples are from Oklahoma, Texas, Louisiana, and Kansas. They agreed to having their picture taken for this post.

Another neat thing about the noon luncheons is that the whole Tipton Junior High and High School is invited to the meal. Every day between 40 and 60 students came to the luncheon. It is one of the benefits of small town living, I'm sure, and the school is just down the street from the fellowship building.


Of course, the best part of the week was hearing God's Word preached every day. It was a spiritual feast! The visiting minister did a great job delivering his messages as a servant of God. He inspired each of us to be great servants and our congregation to be a great church.

Look at this passage from Acts 2:40-47:

"And with many other words he testified and exhorted them, saying, “Be saved from this perverse generation.” Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them. And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers. Then fear came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles. Now all who believed were together, and had all things in common, and sold their possessions and goods, and divided them among all, as anyone had need.

So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved." (emphasis mine)

I know I've used these verses before, but they really are some of my favorites. Can you see why I feel like I'm back in the 1st Century each time we do this? It's the daily meetings, the continued fellowship, and the continued teaching the early church did. I would like to be able to go back there, would you?

By the end of our four days, we're all exhausted, but spiritually uplifted. And to think - the early church did it daily! I hope you enjoy the pictures. If you ever think of visiting Tipton, Oklahoma, the third week in September and the third week in April is a great time to visit!

Soap Box Saturday

Note: Part 2 of "GO - It's a BIG Word!" is posted below or here.

For today's Soap Box Saturday, I want to talk about Easter. Tomorrow morning millions and millions of people will worship God and many of those will be celebrating the resurrection of Jesus. Of course, that is WONDERFUL! It is GREAT! It is what SHOULD BE DONE! But, here's my "Soapbox": On Sunday, April 19, many of those same people who were so excited about the risen Savior on Easter Sunday, will have put Him out of their minds until Christmas. Many feel obligated to get all dressed up and "go to church" on special holidays, but I can't find any scripture in the Bible that tells us that is what God wants.

In fact, we see just the opposite is true in the following passage:

Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching. Hebrews 10:19-25

It seems from this scripture that the early church had the same kind of problems the church does today. There was, is, and always will be, those who choose to not assemble or meet together with other brothers and sisters in Christ to worship Him.

But, consider this question: Is Jesus your mascot or your Master? Answer it truthfully. Is Jesus something you just use to fulfill a duty or an obligation or his He the Lord of your life? The definition of mascot is: A person, animal, or object believed to bring good luck, especially one kept as the symbol of an organization, such as a sports team.

Jesus wants to be your Savior. But He wants to be recognized as being so every day...not just on special holidays.

Have a wonderful Easter Sunday!

Sweet Fellowship, Precious Memories

For the past 6 years I've hosted the ladies from our congregation in my home for a spring salad supper. Everyone brings their favorite salad and we enjoy the meal together. After the meal, we do some kind of activity to get the ladies talking about themselves. This is always the highlight of the evening.

This year I announced for everyone to bring one or two things that were special to them. They all mentioned how hard it was to narrow it down to one or two! Several brought pieces of jewelry and knick knacks that were given to them by their children or passed down from their parents or grandparents. One Christian sister brought a silver dollar that her husband had as a teenager. He was going to use that silver dollar to take her to the movies, but she had some money and "bought" the silver dollar from him. She didn't want him to use it. She has had that silver dollar in her billfold for over 50 years now!

Several women brought Bibles that were their own when they were younger or had belonged to their parents or grandparents who are now deceased. It was interesting seeing how they were written and marked in. Our preacher's wife brought two letters that had been written to her by her dad and her son many years ago. The one from her son was written the night before he left for Japan. He wrote it not knowing for sure that he would ever see his parents again. She read the letter to the group. Very heartwarming! Thankfully her son did return home and is doing fine, but what a special letter she now has.

Another Christian sister brought an old 7up bottle. This bottle is used when she bakes angel food cakes. It holds the pan upside down while the cake cools. But, what is special about this bottle is that it was given to her when she and her husband were houseparents at Tipton Home. A teenage girl in their cottage became very sick with a rare type of pneumonia and later passed away from complications of the illness. That bottle has a sticker with the name of the young girl on it and is a reminder of her memory each time the angel food cake is made.

We know that all of these earthly "treasures" will some day be gone and that our real treasure is in heaven, but it's the special memories of the people associated with the "things" that make them special.

Christian fellowship was one of the main goals of the early church. Acts 2:42 tells us, "They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer." Hmmmm. They "devoted themselves....to the fellowship". What does that mean? What is fellowship? A potluck dinner? No. It may include a potluck dinner, but that is not what defines Christian fellowship. Fellowship in the Greek means "to share together, take part together". Christian fellowship is being together. It is sharing together. It is having a relationship with one another as brothers and sisters in Christ.

Precious memories are made when Christians come together and share sweet fellowship with one another. Is Christian fellowship important to you? Are you "devoted" to the fellowship as the early Christians were?