Qualifications of Elders: Part VII

If you’ve lived in a small town you understand how quickly news spreads. We lived in a town of about 450 people for four years. As the only resident pastor, I was constantly told stories of my son’s activities. Some people seemed to get a twisted pleasure in asking the pastor: “Do you know what your son did?” He never seemed to understand how dad could know the things he had done, and know so fast. Now don’t get me wrong, he wasn’t doing bad, cruel or illegal things. Neither was he being disobedient since most were not the sort of thing you would think to tell a kid not to do. He and a friend were simply being mischievous. We had moved to this small town so that, among other things, he could have fun and experience childhood—a boy’s childhood. Read the rest of this entry »

Qualifications of Elders: Part II

Who leads any organization or group will depend on its purpose. The church is Christ’s representative on earth, reaching those he died for, teaching those he has saved, and equipping those he is calling and sending. Churches claiming to follow the commands of Christ, the writings of the apostles and the example of the early church, must also obey in selecting, qualifying and appointing leaders. Too often, the qualification of leaders other than the pastor is given little thought, so the average church committee spends more time bickering than leading. Officers are often chosen based on giving and length of membership. Largess and longevity are important but do not qualify one to lead Christ’s church. Read the rest of this entry »

Qualification of Elders Part I

Elders who handle the affairs of the church well are worthy of double honor—at least according to Paul. The apostles never imagined one man rule for any church, for any location, for any reason. Rather than mini-popes, commanding obedience and submission, they ordained a group of equal leaders for the body of Christ in each locale. The church badly needs to return to this biblical example of leadership. Read the rest of this entry »

If you described a what it meant to be a priest your description would depend on your past experiences. Some would imagine a clerical collar and a cross. Others may imagine a wizened old man ready with a word of encouragement and advise. A priest is a go-between—going between people and God. He deals with sin and filth, expounds scripture and brings fallen man before holy God. In the Old Covenant God set up a priesthood among his covenant people. In the New Covenant all of his covenant people are priests. Read the rest of this entry »

Creativity is an innate part of who Jesus is. Before his incarnation he created all things scripture assures us that without him nothing would exist (John 1:3; Col 1:16). When he came to earth he was born into a carpenter’s household—a home of building and creativity. As a child and young man he would have helped Joseph building everything from furniture to houses. Jesus is still actively building; building his temple; building his priesthood; building his people. Read the rest of this entry »