9marks of a Healthy Church: Leadership
15/5/22
Preach
Scripture
Questions
“Now if your brother sins against you, go correct him between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother. But if he does not listen, take with you in addition one or two others, so that by the testimony⌋ of two or three witnesses every matter may be established. And if he refuses to listen to them, tell it* to the church. But if he refuses to listen to the church also, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector.” Matthew 18:15–17.
In the first instance, what do you do if someone in the church sins against you? Finally, who is responsible if you cannot be reconciled [Hint: the answer is not “the elders”]? How do you interpret Paul’s instructions in 1 Corinthians 5:4–5 in the light of Matthew 18:17? See also 2 Corinthians 2:6.
“And the wall of the city has twelve foundations, and on them are twelve names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.” Revelation 21:14.
In the early church there were elders/overseers and apostles. What was the function of the apostles? Do we have apostles today? How about prophets and evangelists [Ephesians 4:11]? We will not all have the same answers!
10th-century Armenian church in Kars, Turkey. Notice the figures around the top of the tower. They represent the twelve apostles. Similar symbolism occurs in the iconography and murals of Greek Orthodox churches.
“I [Paul] am astonished that you are turning away so quickly from the one who called you by the grace of Christ to a different gospel, not that there is a different gospel, except there are some who are disturbing you and wanting to distort the gospel of Christ. But even if we or an angel from heaven should proclaim a gospel to you contrary to what we proclaimed to you, let him be accursed! As we said before, and now I say again, if anyone is proclaiming a gospel to you contrary to what you have received, let him be accursed! Galatians 1:6–9.
Are you responsible for what the church is teaching? What should you do if you do not agree with something that is being taught? Here Paul is talking about the gospel. At LCC we are happy to embrace some diversity in our beliefs and backgrounds. What doctrines, do you think, are non-negotiable? Be alert [2 Timothy 4:3]!
"Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they keep watch over your souls as those who will give an account, so that they can do this with joy and not with groaning, for this would be unprofitable for you." Hebrews 13:17
In our contemporary culture, we tend to reject authority. Does obeying and submitting to your leaders in LCC sound a bit anachronistic? Can we seriously expect this of members? What does it look like? Ephesians 5:21 may be helpful to see what it does not mean and never did.
Why do you think the qualifications for elders [1 Timothy 3:1-7] is so strict? What is at stake in who we appoint as elders? Who is responsible for choosing elders and keeping them accountable?
"For just as in one body we have many members, but all the members do not have the same function, in the same way we who are many are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another, but having different gifts [χαρίσματα, charismata] according to the grace [χάρις, charis] given to us: if it is prophecy, according to the proportion of his faith; if it is service, by service; if it is one who teaches, by teaching; if it is one who exhorts, by exhortation; one who gives, with sincerity; one who leads, with diligence; one who shows mercy, with cheerfulness." Romans 12:3–8
We all need to be charismatics! Charismatic has tended to be used of the “supernatural gifts”. What other gifts are there? What are your gifts? How are you using them in LCC? Are you being given opportunities to use your gifts? See also Romans 1:11-12 and 1 Peter 4:10.
Did you find the series helpful? You can review the whole series 9 marks of a healthy church or find the services on Pastor Dave’s YouTube channel or go back through the Bereans.
