CP's Quarry: Some Things About Church Growth

CP's Quarry: Some Things About Church Growth: Here is a lesson our adult Sunday class went through on November 11th. We've been exploring the biblical and sociological reasons for why...

Some Things About Church Growth

Here is a lesson our adult Sunday class went through on November 11th. We've been exploring the biblical and sociological reasons for why and how a church grows numerically.  These are some of the reasons:

A.  Scriptures regarding the growth of Christ’s New Covenant church

Acts 2:41 –    So those who received his word were baptized, and there were 
                      added that day about three thousand souls.

Acts 2:47 -     ...praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord 
                      added to their number day by day those who were being saved.

Acts 5:14 -     And more than ever believers were added to the Lord, multitudes 
                      of both men and women

Acts 6:7         And the word of God continued to increase, and the number of the 
                      disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the 
                      priests became obedient to the faith. 

Acts 9:31       So the church throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria had 
                      peace and was being built up. And walking in the fear of the Lord 
                      and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, it multiplied. 

Acts 11:21-    And the hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number who 
                      believed turned to the Lord.

Acts 12:24 -   But the word of God increased and multiplied. 

1 Corinthians 3:6-7   I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth. So 

                     neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God 

                     who gives the growth.

 

Colossians 2:19  …and not holding fast to the Head, from whom the whole body,

                     nourished and knit together through its joints and ligaments, grows 

                     with a growth that is from God. 

From these verses, what can we conclude about the source for true 

church growth?

B.   Some historical observations and notes

           

"It’s clear from the New Testament story that numbers and quantitative 

growth never became a means for measuring success for New Testament 

churches, even in those that were relatively large.  Though “numerical growth” 

and “spiritual growth” were certainly not mutually exclusive, there was a major foundational criteria for discerning spiritual growth in these churches that clearly emerges from the biblical record.  This is what this study is all about.  From these measurements, we’ll look at the supracultural principles that can guide us today 

in both evaluating our churches spiritually – regardless of size – and helping us 

produce communities of faith that reflect the life of the Lord Jesus Christ.   

(Gene Getz; The Measure of a Healthy Church; pp. 15-16)  

      Rodney Stark (of Baylor University) in The Rise of Christianity studies the growth 

      of Christianity from a sociological perspective.  Some things that he highlights 

      which are worthy of consideration:

1.    For many centuries, the vast majority of church growth happened in the 

       larger cities.  In fact, there were so few Christians in rural areas that the 

      “term paganus or ‘countryman’ came to refer to non-Christians (pagans).” 

      (p. 10)

2.    He points out that the mathematical probability based on data collected 

      from various sources, the probable rate of growth of the church was 3.42 

       percent per year or 40 percent per decade.

a.   By 100 AD, the church was only .0023 percent of the total Roman 

      Empire’s population; and by 250 AD, it was 1.9 percent or only 1,171,356 

      million.  Even in the large city of Rome, by 200 AD there were only 7,000 Christians or 1 percent of the total population.

b.   Something remarkable occurred between 250 and 300 AD – the population 

      of professing Christians in then Roman Empire increased to 10.5 percent, 

      and then to 56.5 percent by 350 AD!

c.   Most of the growth happened in cities of the Eastern portion of the Empire, 

     such as Asia Minor (Turkey), Egypt and North Africa. 

d.  The growth in Egypt is also intriguing.  By 239 AD the percentage of 

     Christians was immeasurable (no records or evidence available). By 274 

     AD the church was 2.4% of the population.  By 315 AD, it was 18 percent 

     of Egypt’s population (concentrated mainly in the large cities).

     3.  Stark’s studies reveal several things:

          a. That the growth of the church in the first four centuries was very slow and 

              small, but steady.  That flies in the face of the typical claims that we should 

              be like the early church and grow large and fast.

                       

          b. The Church grows at various rates in certain populations and during 

               particular times. In other words, there is a mysterious ebb and flow, or as 

               Stark calls it “bumps and lumps in the growth curve.”  The early church grew 

              more rapidly during the first generation in Jerusalem and Antioch, but then in 

              Rome thereafter.  As the above statistics show, the tiny church in Egypt was 

              insignificant for four generations.  Imagine the level of frustration over the lack 

              of growth we would have experienced had we lived in Egypt at that time and 

              compared the church growth in our home country to other places?

          c. Stark has also compiled historical and archaeological facts regarding the 

              Church since its inception. In general, the church grows within a culture to a 

              saturation point, after which it typically reaches a numerical ceiling. In most 

              cases, the growth of the church in a particular place at a particular time will 

              level off and remain relatively unchanged for a generation or two. At that point 

              the church may experience a burst of growth for about ten years, but then level 

   off again; or it may begin to decline. 

d.    It should also be noted that over the centuries the birth, growth and then 

     decline of the church has repeated itself over and over again.  It started in Jerusalem, spread west to Turkey, then Rome, down to Egypt, then up to 

     Europe. Some progress was made into Russia and northern India. Afterward,

     it spread to the north American continent.  From there it has spread to Korea 

     and China.  At the same time, and pretty much for the first time, the church is 

     rapidly growing in Africa and South America.  For the past hundred years 

     Church population levels have remained low and are deteriorating in what 

     was once the region of the Roman Empire, and Europe. 

C. Philosophical and methodological ideas

             

     Biblical church growth views discipleship as the process of finding and winning 

     the lost, folding them into a local church, and building them up in the faith. 

     (Biblical Church Growth by McIntosh; p.68)

     Growing people demonstrate a ministry mind-set, which is seen in the light of the

     Great Commission. Thus the sixth principle for biblical church growth is that a 

     church must have the right people: effective ministers. Simply stated, life-giving   

     churches are empowered by worshipers who willingly invest their lives in life-      

     giving ministry. (McIntosh, p.110)

      People win people. Programs do not reach people; people reach people. 

     (McIntosh, p. 111)

     If a church has fewer than 27 percent of its people serving in ministry roles, the    

     result is a large numbers of consumers who absorb a significant amount of energy

     from the small number of volunteers. A church in this situation usually finds itself in 

     decline with limited potential for growth. (McIntosh, p. 113)

     When you think about it, it is possible for the church universal to reach everyone, 

     but impossible for a local church to reach everyone. That is why there can be no 

     one model for ministry and no one method for evangelism. It takes a multitude of 

     models and methods because there are multitudes of different people who need 

     to be reached. (McIntosh, p.148)

     Church, he stressed, comes out of mission, not the other way around. "We

     need to plant the Gospel and let church come out of that."  (Alan Hirsch)

  

Most of the churches in the U.S. that are numerically growing have these things in common:

1.    A contemporary web site with a special section for members and a blog.

2.    Church conveys the story, vision and mission regularly through various means.

3.    Intentionally structure multiple ways for people to interact in the church and to 

       form social ties.

4.    Assumes people in our society do not know each other nor will they make the 

      effort if left on their own, so there is a strong intentionality to encourage people 

      to get involved and connect, especially through community groups.

5.    Music is upbeat, joyous, exciting, inspirational.

6.    Music includes drums and an electric guitar with other modern instruments.

7.    Worship is inspirational, thought-provoking and filled with the sense of God’s

      presence.

8.    There are designated people who greet and extend a welcome to all.

 

9.    There are designated people who greet and make sure new people are accommodated and welcomed.

10. There are designated people who offer hospitality to visitors and guests.

11.  People are strongly urged to invite others, and more than 50% of the people 

      do invite others. Note:  75-90% of those who are in churches are there because 

           a friend or family member invited them.

12. Sermons are biblical, filled with personal or firsthand experiences, have illustrations from contemporary media, and always call for commitment.

13. There are viable, coordinated ministries to the local community in which people can be involved.

How Our Church Might Grow Numerically

1.    If God wills it

2.    Members must have a sincere desire to grow numerically, invite and incorporate 

      new people.

3.    Our church must diligently and consistently pray for witness, outreach,

       discipleship and growth.

4.    Members must be intentional and proactively network within their own spheres 

      of influence: engaging, serving and/or inviting people to appropriate church-

      related events or ministries.

5.    Develop and utilize multiple entrance points within our church for new people.

     6.    Designate specific funds to local outreach.

  

The mission of the church is to go into the world and make disciples by 

declaring the gospel of Jesus Christ in the power of the Spirit and gathering 

these disciples into churches, that they might worship the Lord and obey his commands now and in eternity to the glory of God the Father. We believe this 

is the mission Jesus gave the disciples prior to his ascension, the mission 

we see in the New Testament, and the mission of the church today.  

 - Kevin DeYoung

Some Characteristics of Christless or Dying Churches

On Sunday mornings our adults have been studying church life and growth. This Sunday (November 18, 2012) we will be answering a question posed last week:  "What causes churches to decline or die?"   Here's a partial answer: 

 

Some Characteristics of Christless or Dying Churches

Based on the Lessons

from the Seven Churches in Revelation here are characteristics of 

churches where Christ is not central and/or where the churches are 

dying:

1. Lack of truth

            a.   Little orthodoxy

            b.   Distorting or perverting truth

            c.   Unwilling to guard or keep Christ’s truth (through discipline)

            d.   Examples:

        Revelation 2:12-17 - The church of __________________________

        Revelation 2:18-29 -  The church of _________________________

       Revelation 3:14-22 -  The church of __________________________

2.  Lack of love (but they had truth and works)

     Example:  Revelation 2:1-7 - The church of _________________________

3.  Lack of holiness

            a.  Unwilling to address sin, to discipline

            b.  Example: Revelation 2:18-29 

4.  Lack of faithfulness

     Examples:      

          Revelation 3:1-6      The church of ____________________________

          Revelation 3:14-22  The church of ____________________________

           

5.  Lack of unity (no truth or love)

            Examples:     Revelation 2-3 and the Corinthians

6.  Lack of Christ

            a.  This is the heart of it:

                 Neither Theocentric nor Christocentric!

            b.  It is man-centered (anthropocentric)

 Root:  pride, setting up and worshipping the idols of our sinful hearts

                  The idols of their collective heart was they had a 

                  self-sufficient apathy.

            c.  Example: Revelation 3:14-22  The church of ___________________

Note:  The subtle manifestation of pride and way to kill a church are observed in

a lack or absence of truth, love, holiness and faithfulness.

Some Core Problems:

1.    Core problems in the church are idols of the heart. Idols are the thoughts, 

     desires, longings, and expectations that I/we worship (we believe we cannot 

     live or be happy  without) in the place of the true God. Things that become 

     the primary source of my/our inmost joy more than God himself.

2.    Anything that stands in the way of my/our idols will meet my proud wrath 

     (as revealed in my anger, frustration, depression, bitterness, temper tantrums, 

     gossip, slander, false accusations, judging, fighting, leaving, etc.

3.    List the things do I believe that I must have in my/our church in order for it 

     to be meaningful, make me happy, be satisfying, etc.? 

                               

          

           

What Are Some Results of these Negative Characteristics and Idols?

           

1.   The church becoming something other than a biblical church that has the 

      biblical marks (faithful to Word, sacraments, biblical discipline, prayer, love, 

      God’s Spirit at work, etc.)

2.   God removing His lamp stand from the church

3.   Division and dissolution

4.   A Call to repentance, revival and reformation

5.   Other:

                        

What is a Pastor or Elder's Job Description?

Keep watch over yourselves,
Keep watch over the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you guardians;
To feed the Church of the Lord which he won for himself by his own blood.
Savage wolves will come in among you, therefore be alert.

                                                                                 Acts 20:28-31

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

There are three primary divisions of the elder’s (ruling and teaching elder) responsibilities and duties. Listed in order of priority, they first to God, secondly to himself, and finally 
toward others. All too often members in a church reverse the order, only to the detriment 
of their personal and corporate well-being in Christ.

A.   The elder is responsible to serve the Lord first.

1.    The elder must exercise a saving faith in Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord 
     (1 Thess. 1:9; Heb. 9:11-14).

2.    The elder’s first priority is to serve the Lord first and foremost, before he 
     serves people. (Acts 20:19; Gal. 1:10; 1 Thess. 2:4; Eph. 6:6-7; Col. 3:22-24).   
     He serves God’s people by serving and answering to the Lord first and doing so 
     for the glory of God (Deut. 10:12; Josh. 24:14, 15; 1 Cor. 10:31; 15:58; Eph. 6:7; 
     Heb. 12:28; 1 Pet. 4:10-11).

a.   This was clearly the pattern of God’s true prophets, priests and kings

            (1 Chron. 28:9; 2 Chron. 12:8; 34:33).

b.  This was also the pattern of Jesus Christ who always did His Father’s will  

      (Matt. 4:10; Luke 4:8; John 8:26-28).

c.   This was the pattern of the New Testament Apostles

      (Acts 4:5-21; 27:23; 1 Cor. 15:58; Col. 3:23; 1 Thess. 1:9; 2 Tim. 1:3; 
      Heb. 12:28).

3.   He is to live for Christ

a.         Never to be ashamed of Jesus Christ (2 Tim 1:8-11; 2:11-13)

b.        His focus is to always be upon Christ (Gal. 2:20; Phil. 1:21; 2 Tim 2:8-13)

c.         He will suffer for Christ (Lk. 21:19; 2 Tim. 2:3-7; 3:10-12).

B.  The elder is responsible to keep his life right in relationship to the Lord.

     1.   All believers are called upon to keep their lives right before God (Rom. 12:1-2; 
          2 Cor. 4:16;   Gal. 5:17-25; Eph. 4:23-24; Col. 3:10; Phil. 2:12-13; 1 Thess. 
          4:1-12; 2 Tim. 2:19-21; 2 Pet. 3:1-11).  They are to be faithful stewards of Christ 
          and are accountable to Him through a biblically balanced life (1 Cor. 4:1-2; 9:17; 
          Col. 1:25f).

2.   This is all the more true for pastors, elders, and deacons too.  The admonition 
     to Timothy is applicable to those who take on the yoke of ministry, that the elder 
     must guard and maintain his life, piety and gifts (Acts 20:28; 1 Tim. 4:14-16; 2 Tim. 2:19-21) so that he might have the proper capacity to serve others through Christ 
     (2 Tim. 2:1, 6, 15; 3:16-17). And he should practice and devote himself to godliness 
     in Christ so that others will see progress in his walk (1 Tim. 4:15). This is what 
     Thomas Murphy means when he says that “The conversion of souls and the 
     prosperity of the Church depend on the degree of the pastor’s piety” (Murphy, 
     1877/1996, p. 47).

                  The purpose of taking care of his life in Christ is not for self-actualization 
     or other self-serving goals but rather so that he may be of greater service to others.
     While this might seem odd, a properly oriented life that is saturated with God 
     through Christ is a far better blessing to others. This is because the greater, more 
     expansive capacity one has for God the greater his capacity for a fruitful ministry.

                  Jesus is a model of one who, though sinless, maintained and nurtured 
     his relationship with the Father, to understand God’s will and to be strengthened 
     from on high in order to accomplish all that God set for him to do. He always made 
     it a priority to spend time with the Father before serving others. 

3.   The elder is called to train and discipline himself for godliness (1 Tim. 4:7-11) 
      so as to become more and more like Jesus Christ (2 Cor. 3:18; 1 Tim. 4:14-16; 
      6:11; Ti. 2:12; 2 Pet. 1:4). After all, the elder is to “incarnate” and model the life 
     of Jesus Christ (2 Cor. 12:18; 1 Thess. 2:10-12; 1 Tim. 4:12; 1 Pet. 5:3); and this 
     is very profitable (1 Tim. 6:6).  At minimum this would include the nurture and 
     improvement of the godly character required of him according to 1 Timothy 3:1-9 
     and Titus 1:5-9;  but he should also cultivate and strengthen other qualities God 
     desires of him as Christ’s under-shepherd such as, but not limited to:

      a.  Humility (Acts 20:19; 1 Cor. 10:12).

      b.  Being free of or fleeing the love of money (1 Tim. 3:3; 6:7-11).

c.   Being a vessel of honor that is set apart from sin (2 Tim. 2:20-21)

(1) Actively pursuing biblical righteousness, godliness, faith, love, 
     perseverance and gentleness (1 Tim. 6:11).

(2) Fleeing youthful lusts, pursuing righteousness, faith, love 
     (2 Tim 2:22).

d.   Fearing no one or nothing except God (Deut. 10:12; Eccles. 12:13; 
      Psa. 118:6; Isa. 12:2; 2 Tim. 1:7; 1 Pet. 1:17; 2:17).

e.   Being sober-minded about everything (2 Tim. 4:5).

f.    Maintaining a clear conscience before the Lord (2 Cor 11:31).

4.   He is to put to use the good gift(s) God has placed upon him.  In fact, he is 
      called upon to fan the flame or rekindle the gift(s) of God in his life 
     (1 Tim. 4:14; 2 Tim. 1:6).

5.   The elder is to saturate his life with and properly handle God’s Word 
     (1 Tim. 5:17; 2 Tim. 3:14-16).

      a.  Always growing in grace and truth (2 Pet. 3:18).  

b.  Holding fast to and be nourished on the Word of God 
     (1 Tim 4:6; 2 Tim. 1:13; 3:14-17; Ti. 1:9).

      c.  Rightly handling God’s Word so as to be approved (2 Tim. 2:15).

      d   Contending for the truth of God’s Word (1 Tim. 1:18-19).

      e.  Guarding the truth (1 Tim. 6:20; 2 Tim. 1:12-14).

6.   He should bear fruit (Jn 15:8; Gal. 5:22-23; Eph. 2:8-10; Col. 1:10; 
      Ti. 2:7; 3:8, 14)

7.   He is to take care of his physical life (1 Tim 5:23).

8.   He should not be concerned about the judgments of others (1 Cor. 4:1-5), 
     neither should he compare himself with others (1 Cor. 3; 2 Cor. 10:12-16). 
     At the same time he should defend a biblical and righteous ministry in the cause 
     of Christ against false accusations (1 Cor. 1:6-23; 2:4, 17; 3:6, 12; 4:1-8; 
     5:14, 21; 1 Tim. 4:12)

9.   He must keep his family life in order (1 Tim. 3:4-5; Ti. 1:6)

10. Finally, he and others must understand that his life and ministry is a living 
     sacrifice to God (Phil. 2:17; 2 Tim. 4:6; 2 Sam. 24:24; Acts 20:24; 21:13; 
     Phil. 3:7-8).

    C. After serving God and attending to his life in Christ the pastor or elder then 
        serves others, particularly God’s people.

   1. The pastor or elder serves through self-sacrifice (Jn. 10:11, 15; cp. Lk 10:34,35) 
       as a faithful steward of God’s ministry (1 Cor. 4:1-2; Ti. 1:7), in a manner like 
      Jesus Christ (Matt. 20:25-28; 23:11-12; Mark 10:43,44; Luke 22:26-27; 
      John 13:1-20).

   2.   He prays for others (Acts 6:4; Col. 1:9)

      a. His priority is to pray, especially for God’s people (Acts 6:4; Col. 1:9)

      b. He prays for those who are not believers in Christ (1 Tim. 2:1-8)

   3.   As an undershepherd to the Great Shepherd he pastors through God’s Word     

         (Jn. 21:15ff; 1 Pet. 5:1ff); ministering the Word of God (Mk. 6:34b; Rev. 7:17; 
         1 Tim. 5:17; 1 Thess. 5:12; Col. 1:28; Jas. 3:1) in a variety of ways. In fact, the 
         bulk and thrust of his labors is in the power of God’s Spirit through the Word 
         of God.  This is the teaching pastor's main priority.

a.  The teaching elder is especially responsible for the publicly reading, 
     preaching, explaining and applying Scriptures. This is his
      (1 Cor. 1:17; 1 Tim. 4:13-14)

           b.  Preaches in season and out of season reproving, rebuking and 
                exhorting (2 Tim. 4:1-2).

c.  Teaches boldly the Word of God (Matt. 28:18-20; Mark 6:34; Acts 20:20; 
     1 Cor. 12:28, 31; Col. 1:28; 1 Tim. 1:3; 3:2, 16; 4:11-12; 6:2-5; James 3:1 
     Rev. 7:17) in these and other areas:

            (1) Teaching apostolic truth, particularly to faithful men who would 
                  teach others the same (2 Tim. 2:2)

            (2) Teaching godliness in Christ (1 Tim. 5:24-6:6)

            (3) Teaching older men to be sober, reverent, self-controlled, 
                  sound in faith, sound in love, and patient (Ti. 2:1-2)

      (4) Teaching the rich to be rich in good works and generosity 
            (1 Tim. 6:17-19)

d.         Feeds God’s people in the Truth (1 Pet. 5:2).

e.         Edifies or builds believers up in Christ (2 Cor. 13:10-11; Eph 4:12-16).

f.          Convicts the contrary (2 Tim. 2:25; Ti. 1:9).

g.        Brings comfort to hearers of the Word (1 Cor. 14:3, 31; 2 Cor. 1:4-6; 

           1 Thess. 4:18).

h.         Confronts Sin (1Tim 5:1-2; Gal. 6:1)

       (1) Warning of the consequences of sin (Acts 20:31).

            (2) Rebuking sin (2 Tim. 4:1-2; Ti 1:13; 2:15).

j.          Admonishes wayward believers to obey God’s Word (2 Thess. 3:15).

          k.         Exhorts or confronts the opposition with sound doctrine in love    

                                    (1 Cor. 13:1; Eph. 4:15; 2 Tim. 2:24-26).

   4.   The elder trains God's people in spiritual warfare, resisting Satan and calling 
        them to their role as godly warriors (2 Cor. 11:13-15; Eph. 6:10-18; Jas. 4:7; 
        1 Pet. 5:8-9).

   5.   He delegates administrative tasks of lesser priorities for his vocation to others, 
         such as the deacons in order to concentrate on the ministries of prayer and 
         the Word of God (Act 6:1-7).

    6. The minister’s godly office created by Christ (2 Cor. 3:9; 4:6). The minister is 
        responsible with other elders in the church to perpetuate the office with sound, 
        godly and faithful men who are gifted, called, and qualified 
        (1 Tim. 1:11; 3:1-7; 4:14). The office must be perpetuated through the laying 
        on of hands by ordained elders of the church (Acts 6:6; 13:3; 14:23; 19:6; 
       1 Tim. 1:5; 2 Tim. 1:6).

7.   He must always keep before him the goal(s) of his God-ordained ministry:

a.     To equip the saints to do the work of ministry (Eph. 4:11-12) in the 
      faithful exercise of their gifts (1 Cor. 12; Rom. 12).

b.    To form Jesus Christ in the community of God’s people through love 
     (Eph. 1:15-23; 3:14-21; 4:13; Col 1:224-29; 1 Thess. 3:11-13; 1 Tim. 1:5) 
     until that community is a like one mature man who lives:

(1) In the unity of the Faith (Eph. 4:13)

(2) In an intimate full-knowledge of the Son of God, deeply in love with 
     Christ and becoming more like him in every way (Eph. 4:13)

(3) In truth that is spoken and expressed through love (Eph. 4:15).

   D.  The pastor’s of elder’s duties are enumerated through the many roles 
         he has:

         1.   As a self-sacrificing servant (Matt. 20:27; John 10:11, 15; Lk. 10:34, 35; 
               1 Cor. 4:1)

            a.  First, of God (2 Cor. 6:4; Ti. 1:1, 7) and of Christ (Phil. 1:1; 2 Tim. 2:24)

            b.  Of God’s people (2 Cor. 4:5)

            c.  Who serves God and his church with diligence (Rom. 12:8; 1 Thess. 5:12; 

                         1 Tim. 5:17; 2 Tim. 2:15).

        2.   As a loving shepherd of the flock of God (Jer. 3:15; John 21:15ff; Acts 20:28; 
             1 Pet. 5:1-2)

            a. Who leads (Mark 6:34) and guides (Matt. 2:6; Acts 7:10, 14; Heb. 3:7, 17, 24)

            b. Who protects (Acts 20:28-30; Jn. 10:12; Ti. 1:9; 2:1; Eph. 4:14; 1 Pet. 5:8; 
                 1 Jn. 4:1-3)

(1)  From enemies within (2 Tim. 2:16-18; Jude 12f).

(2)  From enemies without (Mt. 13:24f; 2 Cor. 11:12-15).
 
 3.   As a priest, though a believer-priest like all other believers he:

a.  Intercedes and prays for God’s people  (e.g.: 1 Sam. 12:23; Acts 12:5-9, 12;

            Rom. 10:1; Eph. 1:18; Col. 4:12; 1 Tim. 2:1, 2; Jas. 5:16)

b. Serves as a leader in worship.

4.   As a peacemaker or reconciler (Matt. 5:9; 2 Cor. 5:18-19).

5.   As a preacher of the gracious Good News of Christ (Rom. 10:14; 2 Pet. 2:5).

6.   As a professor-teacher (see above)

7.   As a parent

a.   Like a father (Matt. 13:52; 1 Cor. 4:12-21; 1 Thess. 2:10-12; 1 Tim. 3:5; 
     Philem. 10).

(1) Who sees to it with fellow elders and the deacons that widows in 
     need are taken care of (Acts 6:1ff; 1 Tim. 3:5-16; James 1:27)

(2) Who also oversees with fellow elders and deacons the needs of 
     orphans (James 1:27).

(3) Who, with the elders through the service of the deacons, takes care 
     of the needy in the church (Luke 14:13; Acts 2:45; 4:35; Rom. 15:26; 
     Gal. 2:10; Eph. 4:28; James 2:2-6)

b.  And like a mother who gives birth (Isa. 66:7; 1 Thess. 5:3) and who 
     nurses (1 Thess. 2:7)

c.  A nurturer and disciplinarian (Matt. 18; 2 Cor. 7:8-13)

      

      8.  As a model of godliness   (Psa. 101:2; 1 Cor. 4:6; 11:1; Phil. 3:17; 
            1 Thess. 1:6; 2:10-11; 2 Thess. 3:7, 9; 1 Tim. 4:12; Ti. 2:7; Heb. 12:2; 13:7; 
            1 Pet. 2:11-25; 5:3; 1 Jn. 2:6; etc.).

      9.   As a ruler with fellow elders over Christ’s church (1 Thess. 5:12, 13; 1 Tim. 5:17;  
          Heb. 13:17), he is responsible for:

     a.   Overseeing the church of Christ (1 Tim. 3:4, 5, 12; Rom. 12:8)

     b.  Exercising judicial discipline (Matt. 18:15-19; Rom. 16:17; 1 Cor. 5; 
         1 Thess. 5:14; 2 Thess. 3:6-15; 1 Tim. 5:20; 6:3; Ti. 1:13; 2:15; 3:10; 
          Rev. 2:2, 14, 15, 20)
     c.  Ruling with Christ’s authority, but not lording it over God’s people 
          (Matt. 20:25-26; Mk. 10:42-43; 1 Pet. 5:3).
     d. The elder is to lead and guide (Rom. 12:8; Heb. 13:7, 17, 24) 
         (examples:  Matt. 2:6; Acts 7:10; 14:12).  Another sense of leading comes
         from the biblical Greek term proistemi, which means "to stand before"
         as a leader before his people.  To lead in this way means the elders
         (1) have charge over (1 Thess. 5:12)
         (2) manage (1 Tim. 3:4,5,12)
         (3) rule (1 Tim. 5:17)

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     10.  As an evangelist and disciple "maker" (Matt. 28:18-20; Acts 20:21; 21:8; 
            1 Tim. 5:22; 2 Tim. 4:5; Ti. 1:5)

a.     By faithful testimony of Christ in life and lip (Acts 20:21; 1 Thess. 2:2)

b.    By giving the Gospel of Christ (Rom. 3:21-28; 11:6; Gal. 3:1-9; 1 Pet. 4)

11. The elder is also described in roles as a messenger (2 Cor. 8:23), a good 
      worker (2 Cor. 6:1; Phil. 2:25), a soldier (Phil. 2:25; 2 Tim. 2:3-4), an athlete 
      (1 Cor. 9:24-25; Phil. 3:14; 2 Tim. 2:5; 4:7-8; Heb. 12:1) and a farmer 
      (2 Tim. 2:6).