Paul's Leadership Seminar for Pastors and Other Church Leaders
ACTS 20
While reading the Book of Acts this morning, once again the Holy Spirit revealed some more jewels of Truth regarding the Kingdom of God. In Acts 20:16, the apostle Paul was on his way back to Jerusalem to keep the feast of Pentecost.
While in Miletus, he called the "elders" who were the "overseers" of the church in Ephesus, to come have a little New Testament ministerial conference with him.
"And from Miletus he sent to Ephesus, and called to him the elders of the church.
It appears it may have been a simple affair with no bottles of Perrier, no floral bouquets, no opening night banquet, no rodeos or concerts, no classes on how to obtain government funding, no behind the scenes jockeying for favor amongst the ministers or lobbying for ones own ministry.
-Quite a contrast to the modern versions of the typical church conference.
Furthermore, Paul failed to emulate the modern version of church leadership, as there was no registration fees, no featured speaker list, and no sales of books and training materials. -at least none were mentioned.
Here's one you can sign up for, only $149, compare what you read about there with this from Acts 20:
31 Wherefore watch ye, remembering that by the space of three years I ceased not to admonish every one night and day with tears.
33 I coveted no man`s silver, or gold, or apparel.
34 Ye yourselves know that these hands ministered unto my necessities, and to them that were with me.
35 In all things I gave you an example, that so laboring ye ought to help the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that he himself said, It is more blessed to give than to receive.
-Can you imagine that? Paul could have gotten reimbursement expenses from the, ahem, "clergy" of his day for travel, lodging, meals, and cruise-ship fare if he had been on the ball. Maybe even a "Special Offernig", "Love Offering", "Bless-The-Speaker" gifts, maybe even a tithe or two from the "first-fruits" of the church at Ephesus....
No, he was not reminding them to feed the offering plate, he was reminding them to feed those in need.
Well, isn't that how they do it nowdays? Those nice buildings aren't cheap and even with donated labor, the electronics and lighting alone may cost a fortune!
Enough of me, let's pick up with Paul as he ministers the gospel.
Acts 20:17 And from Miletus he sent to Ephesus, and called to him the *elders of the church.
*G4245 πρεσβυìτερος presbuteros (elderly); older; as noun, Christian "presbyter": - elder.
Before we go on, later in vs. 28, we notice there is a second identifier of who and what the "elders" (presbyters) were back there:
28 Take heed unto yourselves, and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit hath made you *bishops, to feed the church of the Lord
*ASV. KJV renders it "overseers". *G1985ἐπιìσκοπος episkopos
a superintendent, that is, Christian officer in general charge of a (or the) church (literally or figuratively): - bishop, overseer.
So far, we have the "elders" also referred to as "bishops", and "overseers".
ALL of them (elders-overseers) are responsible to "feed the flock".
Before we continue, the "feeding" of the flock requires the evangelist, pastors, teachers, prophets, and apostles in order to hhave a "balanced" diet. Each of the 5-fold ministry is necessary or else you have ONE man conforming the assembly to himself.
Now hold on to your Reverential Titles, elevated platforms, Special Seats, Clerical robes, Salaries and Holy Tithes, folks.
Notice:
1. the word "pastor" is not mentioned or singled out, and not given preemminece over the other gifts of ministry such as teachers or prophets. see Mat. 23:8-11 at the bottom
2. the same elders are referred to as bishops and overseers. UN-captalized by the way.
3. No one is given pre-emminence, degree, or even a nice official sounding title.
4. These untitled, no-name elders (plural) were responsible to oversee and "feed the flock".
5. Paul never flaunted his position, office, or put a capitalized title in front of his own name.
6. Paul did not remind them to "be faithful in their tithes and offerings"
7. Nary a woman is included as an elder, overseer, or bishop.
8. The "elders" were not Board members, deacons, or subservient to some pastor.
9. There is no mention of "the House of God", i.e. a building, remodel, buying property, or church growth program even though Paul said he was with them for "the space of three years".
10. No mention of a Single's Ministry, Financial Stewardship Class, or Leadership Training meetings either.
11. Young converts, new members, and relatives are not included among the "elder"s".
12. No church staff or hint of a hierarchy is inferred, assumed, or mentioned. Period.
Can you ponder that? A big revival church like Ephesus still meeting in homes without a decent "Church" building and organizational flow chart?
What did Paul warn them about?
29 I know that after my departing grievous wolves shall enter in among you, not sparing the flock;
30 and from among your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after them.
Where were the "grievous wolves and men arise speaking perverse things" going to be found?
If you answered "right there in the CHURCH" you are 100% correct and win a free ticket to follow the Lamb. By the way, lambs make a good meal ticket for the wolves.
And Paul said WHAT in verse 35 below?
Now let's fast forward in time to the local church where Bishop Jones, Senior Pastor Bob and his wife Pastor Mary, Associate Pastor Fred, are occasionaly visited by Apostle Hugh Mongous who stops by to preach Sunday morning (and a $1,000 "love gift").
He is well paid for taking the church "to the next level", followed by lunch at a local, white tablecloth eatery. While preaching, he exhorts the folks "to be faithful in tithes and offerings, to not miss church, and to help your pastor and staff move the kingdom forward."
On Monday, he and Pastor Bob enjoy a rousing game of golf before catching his flight (all paid for by the good folks in the pew, and/ or a fundraiser or two). Ahhh, the blessings of the Lord....
Seriously, the last paragraph is not all fiction, we observed this very scenario lots of times as we were part of the leadership circle. Let's fast-back to what Paul was saying....
31 Wherefore watch ye, remembering that by the space of three years I ceased not to admonish every one night and day with tears.
33 I coveted no man`s silver, or gold, or apparel.
34 Ye yourselves know that these hands ministered unto my necessities, and to them that were with me.
35 In all things I gave you an example, that so laboring ye ought to help the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that he himself said, It is more blessed to give than to receive.
May I paraphrase for you Paul's Leadership Seminar to the five-fold ministers from the Ephesian Christian Church:
:31 I was with you for three years. That was 36 months or 156 weeks to impart to you the way it is supposed to be done in the Lord's church. Did you notice...
:33 I desired nothing from you, not even a a gift, tithe, offering, or a Pastor Appreciation Day?
:34 In fact, do you remember while I was with you, my own hands WORKED so I could support myself and the other Christians who came with me? Let me explain why.
:35 I worked with my hands so you elders-overseers-bishops would have a living example of what you should do in order to minister to the poor and weak among you. Rather than taking from them to support yourselves, you are to give to them like Jesus said to His disciples.
Then he warned them about the guys who would come along and do things different than what Paul said and lived. Rather than a plea for peace and unity he actually warned them about those "grievous wolves" and "men arisen speaking *perverse things..."? "from AMONG YOURSELVES"???
*perverse: to distort, that is, (figuratively) misinterpret, or (morally) corrupt: - perverse, turn away.
"Oh, They are always in the other guys church so we don't need be concerned here at Victory Springs." a female "elder" explains. "Now settle back in that nice pew, bring your tithes, and we will all meet later for the 40 Days of Purpose and study how to Have a Prosperous Life now. Our Pastors' Life Coach sign-up sheets ($30.00 @ month) registration is on the table next to the Starbucks stand in the lobby.
HELLO??! Reality check time there folks.
Let's visit elder/ apostle/ overseer/ bishop/ and epistle writer Paul's little reminder to the Colossian saints in chapter 2:4
"This I say, that no one may delude you with persuasiveness of speech."
-Unfortunately the average Joe Christian pays more attention to his hired pastor than he does the scripture so of course, we are "sheep-meat" for persuavise speeches!
-and what did Paul go on to mention a couple of verses later? -vs. 8:
Take heed lest there shall be any one that maketh spoil of you through his philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ:
That verse should cause a lot of titled Pastors/Bishops?D.D.'s to spit out a mouthful of sheep, but come Sunday they will be right back up there pulling for tithes and funds for their ministry.
"Take heed": does NOT mean drop your guard when you "go to church".
"Lest there be ANY ONE": there's a clue.
The most common form of church government puts ONE man in headship over the flock. Can you find an example of that in your New Testament Bible?
"spoil of you": spoil means From base of G4813 to lead away as booty, (figuratively) seduce. That's where the "one" leads YOU away as part of HIS flock. Your "booty" is his spoil, and support for his ministry. You are following him rather than the Word.
"through his philosophy" -which he got from the tradition of Bible college or his denomination.
G5386; "philosophy", that is, (specifically) Jewish sophistry: - philosophy.
Where do you think he got his tithe doctrine?
His role as "Moses" to a church group?
His wife as "co-pastor"?
The traditional church service format?
-When none of these have things have an example in the New Testament.
"after the tradition of men" tradition, tradition, tradition.... Jesus saved one of His most scathing rebukes for the religious leadership of His day in Mark 7:13
making void the word of God by your tradition, which ye have delivered: and many such like things ye do.
"and not after Christ" -who said "as you have done it to the LEAST of these, your brethren, you have done it unto me"
How does this play out in one example today? The typical church goer will pay the tithe and offering plate first before, and IF he gives to someone in need.
Now we even have the spectacle of ministers going to secular government asking for handouts for their ministry projects and 501c3 tax-status.
33 I coveted no man`s silver, or gold, or apparel.
34 Ye yourselves know that these hands ministered unto my necessities, and to them that were with me.
35 In all things I gave you an example, that so laboring ye ought to help the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that he himself said, It is more blessed to give than to receive.
And that is exactly what Paul role-modeled for those leaders in Ephesus for three years.
No Italian suits, no Rollex watches, no un-neccesary church buildings, and no extravagant leadership clergy lifestyle like what we see in the ministry today which has made "spoil" of the sheep.
Now you can call me troublemaker, murmurer, Lone Ranger Christian, un-covered by a ministry, disgruntled, rebellious, fallen away, or whatever other personal label you think fits.
But after doing so, would you PLEASE just go back and look at the verses that quote Paul to the elders, and then at the eye-witness account of the practices in the modern church and..... as uhh, "Life Coach" Paula White once wrote "deal with it".
Matthew 23: 8 But be not ye called Rabbi: for one is your Master, even Christ; and all ye are brethren.
9 And call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven.
Father
10 Neither be ye called masters (guide-teacher, i.e. leader) : for one is your Master, even Christ.
masters (James 3:1 )
11 But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant.
2008 Rory Moore www.preparehisway.com
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