Another resulting problem is the ever-present confusion in the roles of preachers and elders. Local preachers in the organization often supplant the elders and their role! This is not an indictment of intent as only God can measure personal motivation. The point is that we can predict problems where God has not authored an arrangement….
Unquestionably, numerous ideas are abroad about the actual work of elders. We have noticed that their work is in the area of warning, protecting, feeding through teaching, and supplying an example to follow. Because we are trying to apply the first-century arrangement to twenty-first-century people, we must establish an institution through which God’s people work…
Many have become so lackadaisical, indifferent, and lazy in their personal growth and service because they have convinced themselves that they neither have adequate knowledge of the word nor the ability to speak in public. When church leaders are chosen from among those with that rationale, the professional hireling who has the speaking ability is…
The concept of the body of Christ and the role of each part of that spiritual body of Christ is descriptive of a living organism with each member functioning for the spiritual health of the body daily. The Bible does not describe an organization that meets twice a week so each member can contribute some…
We have answered the unjustified use of the word “rule” and explained the meaning and use of the word “peitho.” Shepherds lead, give guidance and oversee souls. We are still searching for the scriptures that teach the elders are a ruling body of men who make decisions for a local church. Undoubtedly, decisions must be…
Applying the leadership of these shepherds to our time would be the same as applying apostles or prophets to our time. Neither were intended to be applied past that age. Their work was primarily to teach, protect, and care for the flock. These shepherds did not fulfill their role as shepherds only once or…
Hebrews 13:17 instructs Christians to “obey” (Gr. peitho) them that have the rule over you, and “submit” (Gr. Hupeiko) to them. While the Greek word hupeiko appears only in Hebrews 13:7, the Greek word peitho, translated to obey, has been used 55 times in the New Testament. This word has been translated “persuaded” (Acts 26:28),…
The phrase in Acts 14:23 translates, “When they had appointed elders for them in every church, having prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord in whom they had believed.” We have given much attention in other posts regarding the improper translation of the word “church” for the Greek “ekklesia.” We will not repeat,…
The Bible teaches that the shepherds were to oversee souls, not congregations. Hebrews 13:17 reads, 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…
Becoming “lords over people’s faith,” is a position that not even the apostle Paul exercised (2 Cor. 1:24, cf. 2 Cor. 10:8). Even though the apostles could speak on behalf of Christ as ambassadors (2 Cor. 5:20), they, still, were not lords. Our Lord, Jesus Christ, was clear about his disapproval of this kind of…