SUN AM JAN 14 2024
Sermon • Submitted • Presented • 49:52
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Paul, an apostle, (not of men, neither by man, but by Jesus Christ, and God the Father, who raised him from the dead;)
And all the brethren which are with me, unto the churches of Galatia:
Grace be to you and peace from God the Father, and from our Lord Jesus Christ,
Who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father:
To whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel:
Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ.
But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.
As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.
In times past the issue of church polity has caused great contention among churches, families, and even countries.
The is not silent on this issue. Quite the opposite, it has much to say about the leadership of the church.
When it comes to authority most Americans are suspicious and even down right rebellious. This could be due to the fact that America was born out of a revolt against an overbearing tyrant. But it seems to have penetrated those who claim to be saved into the Kingdom of God.
What kind of political structure is the Local Church designed to be?
Congregation
Congregation
In response to Karl Marx’s Communist Party, George Orwell wrote a book entitled “Animal Farm.” The book chronicles the effort of the farm animals who revolt and overthrow farmer Joneses. Eventually the pigs become the dominating group and in order maintain power they post signs all over that say “All animals are equal, but some are more equal than others.”
This sometimes plagues churches.
And if the ear shall say, Because I am not the eye, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body?
So does that make the church a democracy?
The Twelve summoned the whole company of the disciples and said, “It would not be right for us to give up preaching the word of God to wait on tables.
Brothers and sisters, select from among you seven men of good reputation, full of the Spirit and wisdom, whom we can appoint to this duty.
But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.”
This proposal pleased the whole company. So they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit, and Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolaus, a convert from Antioch.
Yes the congregation is Biblically suppose to have some democratic properties. It is ment to be overwhelmingly involved with the work of Christ in the lives of each other and the unsaved.
Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother.
But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.
And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican.
The church is granted authority to give the final say if someone is to be removed from the congregation due to an unwillingness to be reconciled.
But the final authority does not abide upon the congregation.
Two Offices
Two Offices
God gives each congregation men who are qualified to lead them to be godly and upright. To serve in a way that strives for unification in the church. These men fit the qualifications for the two offices given in the New Testament.
Deacon
And let these also first be proved; then let them use the office of a deacon, being found blameless.
Even so must their wives be grave, not slanderers, sober, faithful in all things.
Let the deacons be the husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well.
The Lexham Bible Dictionary Deacon
(διάκονος, diakonos, “servant”). One who serves in an official capacity in the church as a deacon (compare Phil 1:1; 1 Tim 3:8–13; possibly Rom 16:1). The office of deacon may parallel the role of the assistant (חַזָּן, chazzan) of the synagogue (Burtchaell, From Synagogue to Church, 317–21; compare m. Sukkah 4:4; Sotah 7:7).
There are two primary classes of church leadership offices in the New Testament: that of the overseer and elder, and that of the deacon (Phil 1:1; 1 Tim 3:1–13). Deacons do not hold teaching or ruling authority in the church but exercise responsibility for the physical needs of the congregation. The complementary service of overseers and deacons is analogous to that of the apostles and the Seven in Acts 6:1–6.
Pastor
There are two terms in the New Testament that are most used to identify the office we most often refer to today as the “Pastor” Overseer (ἐπίσκοπος, episkopos). A leader of the church.
Robert C. Kashow, “Overseer,” ed. John D. Barry et al., The Lexham Bible Dictionary (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2016).
This is a true saying, If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work.
A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach;
Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous;
One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity;
(For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?)
πρεσβύτερος prĕsbutĕrŏs, pres-boo´-ter-os; compar. of πρέσβυς prĕsbus (elderly); older; as noun, a senior; spec. an Isr. Sanhedrist (also fig. member of the celestial council) or Chr. “presbyter”:—elder (-est), old.
The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed:
Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind;
Neither as being lords over God’s heritage, but being ensamples to the flock.
And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.
Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.
A third term can be linked to the pastor as well but it is rightfully used for the Chief Shepherd. Poimen, one who is responsible for leading, feeding, protecting, and procuring rest for their flock.
And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.
The pastors have a joyous but heavy burden
Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you.
But the deacons or pastors are not the final authority in the church. So we can rule out autocratic as a mode of polity.
Jesus
Jesus
Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord.
For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body.
Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing.
Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;
That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,
That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.
The church has some semblance to a republic democracy but in truth it is a Monarchy and Jesus is King.