Gary Henry has recently made available a new online study of elders and deacons and their role of leadership and service in New Testament congregations.
From his site:
Elders (also known as bishops or pastors) and deacons are a subject that is both important and controversial. These two offices constitute the simple “organization” of congregations in the New Testament period, as reflected in Paul’s address to the church in Philippi: “To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are in Philippi, with the bishops and deacons” (Philippians 1:1). If we desire to be what Christians were in the first century, and do the Lord’s work as they did, we will have to investigate what the Scriptures teach on this topic.
For your study, this web site contains thirteen lessons on elders and deacons in the New Testament, with applications and suggestions regarding our situation today.
In our age, there is a renewed interest in “primitive Christianity,” the pattern of life and work and worship that characterized the earliest Christians from Pentecost in Acts 2 to the death of the last of the apostles toward the end of the first century. The study of elders and deacons is an important part of the study of early Christianity.
Great benefits would flow from a return to the simple, but powerful, form of church leadership and service that was followed in the earliest days, when the churches were directly under the influence of Christ’s apostles. We encourage you to study this material carefully.
The entire content of the Elders and Deacons web site is also available as a PDF e-book (42 pages).
In particular, I explore the question of what the church is there for. The point of following Jesus isn’t simply so that we can be sure of going to a better place than this after we die. Our future beyond death is enormously important, but the nature of the Christian hope is such that it plays back into the present life. We’re called, here and now, to be instruments of God’s new creation, the world-put-to-rights which has already been launched in Jesus and of which Jesus’s followers are supposed to be not simply beneficiaries but also agents.
- N. T. Wright, Simply Christian
We become beautiful people when we give whatever we can give: a smile, a handshake, a kiss, an embrace, a word of love, a present, a part of our life…all of our life. It is sad that, in our highly competitive and greedy world, we have lost touch with the joy of giving. We often live as if our happiness depended on having. But I don’t know anyone who is really happy because of what he or she has. True joy, happiness and inner peace come from giving of ourselves to others. A happy life is a life for others.
- Henri Nouwen, Life of the Beloved: Spiritual Living in a Secular World
Quick question.
How many political e-mail forwards have you received in the last two weeks? If you’re like most of us, at least a few. E-rumors and cyber-allegations are constantly swirling from one Inbox to another. The tales continue to get taller as the closeted skeletons grow to mythical proportions.
And what fuels the growth of this digital “grapevine”? People–young and old, Democrats and Republicans, Christians and non-Christians alike–who use each contact in their Address Books to fertilize the spread of the character assassination.
Very few (if any) of the recent political forwards that have made their way to my Inbox are completely true. Most often they are full of spoken or written words taken completely out of context and twisted to further an agenda. Some have been outright lies. Odds are, you know exactly the kind of slander I’m talking about, so rather than give further mileage to the rumors, I’ll avoid listing examples here.
But I would like to encourage you to be careful. Realize that the vast amount of forwarded fodder is false. Recognize that you can help to curb its spread by avoiding the temptation to keep passing it around. If you do decide that the forwarded material is worthy of the attention of others, could I encourage the asking of three questions:
- Is it true? Not sure? Surf on over to Snopes.com and check it out for yourself.
- Does it meet the Philippians 4:8 test? Honorable. Just. Pure. Lovely. Commendable. Excellent. Worthy of praise. May I suggest that talk of “clueless conservatives” and “stupid liberals” (and those are the mild epithets) falls short of the Spirit’s expectation?
- Does it harmonize with the “golden rule” (Matthew 7:12)? Does forwarding this material coincide with the Spirit of Christ? As a Christian, I’ve been instructed to put away “anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk” from my mouth. “Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator” (Colossians 3:8-10). By carelessly punching the forward button, am I helping to spread lies about a fellow image-bearer? How would I feel if I were the subject of the slander? How would I like random statements I had written or spoken pulled completely out of context and spread to millions with the singular goal of smearing my name?
Believe me. I’ve been there. I’ve had to learn these lessons the hard way (usually more than once). I’ve made the mistakes. I’ve regretted what I’ve passed along. But I want to do better. Maybe we can do better together. Perhaps we can set the right kind of shining example in a very dark world.
Above all, let’s remember where our true allegiance lies. We may vehemently disagree with a public figure’s politics or actions, but we must still be careful about our attitudes. Before we are Americans, we are citizens of the kingdom of heaven. Beyond the talk of donkeys and elephants, let’s march in step with the Lamb of God.
Long live King Jesus!
Check out Proverbs 16:3.
Each one of us may do something a little different in the name of “work” today. Some of us will work in summer school. Others will work in an office. Some will labor in a factory while others will work around their own house. We may not have a great deal in common when it comes to our respective responsibilities.
But the wise man has given us a principle to which we have all been called, regardless of the setting. “Commit your work to the LORD.” Much later, the apostle Paul encouraged Christians to labor
“with a sincere heart, as you would [for] Christ, not by the way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but as servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart, rendering service with a good will as to the Lord and not to man, knowing that whatever good anyone does, this he will receive back from the Lord, whether he is a slave or free” (Ephesians 6:5-8).
Whatever role you fill throughout the day, let me challenge you to perform it diligently, “as to the Lord.” Few, if any, may appreciate your hard work. But keep in mind who you’re really serving, and you’ll be able to lay your head on your pillow tonight knowing that your reward in heaven is great.
The sneak peaks of the upcoming ESV Study Bible just keep coming. Click here for the Introduction to the Psalms, along with the notes for Psalm 1. From the promotional e-mail:
This pre-release PDF provides you a glimpse of what the ESV Study Bible is designed to deliver-namely, tools and information to help you understand God’s Word more deeply. In this pre-release PDF you’ll find the following sections related to the Psalter:
- Title
- Theme
- Authorship, Occasion, and Date
- Key Themes
- History of Salvation Summary
- Musical Terms
- Curses in the Psalms
- The Psalms as Scripture
- Literary Features
- Structure
Three charts are also included, helping you to see (1) how certain Psalms relate to the historical narrative of 1-2 Samuel; (2) some of the literary features of the Psalter; and (3) how each of the five “books” of the Psalms fit together.
Our hope is that resources like this will provide you with a concise and informative overview of the Psalms (the hymnbook for God’s people at worship), enabling you to understand God’s Word in a deeper way.
The ESV Study Bible is set for release this October.
Earth’s crammed with heaven,
And every common bush afire with God,
But only he who sees takes off his shoes;
The rest sit round it and pluck blackberries.
- Elizabeth Barrett Browning
Make a special effort to recognize the power and glory of God this week, even in the most common of things (Romans 1:20).
You’re invited!
Sunday, July 13:
* 9:45 a.m. - Joseph: The Power Of One
* 10:30 a.m. - “But Jesus Went To The Mount Of Olives”
* 6:00 p.m. - Confident Expectations
Monday - Friday, July 14-18 (7:00 p.m. each evening):
* Monday - Put God First
* Tuesday - Take His Word To Heart
* Wednesday - Save Your Friends
* Thursday - Keep The Son In Your Eyes
* Friday - Be Chosen Vessels
…with Bible lessons for children of all ages and corresponding lessons for adults presented by Brian Anderson of Indianapolis, Indiana.
Bring a Bible, bring your family, and join us in this special Summer Bible Series!
A mercenary fights to make money for his own benefit; his life is basically devoted to himself. Picture the businessman who works eighty hours a week looking for the next big deal and financial payoff. He says he’s doing it for his family, but they don’t buy it.
The warrior, on the other hand, fights for a purpose greater than himself - a higher calling. He’s the guy who balances job and home life. He works to provide for his family and those less fortunate than himself.
So, are you a mercenary or a warrior? There’s a world of difference.
I’ve been blessed with three beautiful daughters. Chloe is seven, Jadyn is two, and Emma is approaching four months of age. Our life is nearly always noisy, typically chaotic, but tremendously blessed. And as odd as it may sound, I think one of my favorite memories will always be of crying from the backseat.
Chloe has always been an amazing helper with her little sisters and seems naturally to possess a special motherly instinct. It truly bothers her when one of her sisters is upset. From the days that Jadyn was an infant, Chloe had a tough time leaving Jadyn in a car seat while she was crying. And so, she picked up on her mother’s habit of singing “Jesus Loves Me” to Jadyn during distressing car rides.
Now Emma is the infant who doesn’t always agree with road trips. She really doesn’t like her car seat. And I can assure you that there’s absolutely nothing wrong with her lungs or tear ducts.
But what a special moment it was a few weeks ago when Jadyn, completely out of nowhere and all on her own, began singing “Jesus Loves Me” to Emma in her distinctive two-year-old voice. The comforted had grown to reach out as a comforter.
I couldn’t help but think of Paul’s encouragement in 2 Corinthians 1:3-4.
As one of the Father’s comforted, let me encourage you also to be a comforted comforter. Remember that the “God of all comfort” has reached out to relieve your afflictions as only he can. Now he asks you to be his ambassador of solace and hope to others in a dark and distressing world. In light of what the Father has done for you, can you make a small difference in the life of someone else today?
