Offices of the Church: Elders

This week and next, we'll be taking a break from our normal verse-by-verse exposition of John's Gospel.

I do promise we will get back to it eventually.

We believe that normatively, this is the best course of action, verse-by-verse, through a book of the Bible, and it is normally what we do.

However, from time to time, and for a specific purpose, it can be helpful to take a beat, summarize, at least in some measure, what the Bible teaches on a given topic.

And so, we're going to take two weeks to think together about the offices of the church.

Two weeks, because there are two offices.

Two weeks, particularly because we really need to think about the office of deacon.

This office has been neglected in the life of our church, and I want you to hear that I will be the very first to admit that this is to my shame.

We should be doing better at this, and I have led the charge in not doing well at raising up and installing deacons.

However, before we get there next week, this morning, I want you to lead you to think about the office of elder,

and how the office of elder works alongside the congregation.

That's going to help us next week as we think about how deacons then assist in all of that work.

The church of Jesus Christ is precious because it is purchased by his blood.

His universal church finds its expression in local churches.

We exist because of his redeeming life, death, and resurrection.

He loves us so much that he lived and died, was raised and ascended for us.

He loves us so much that he has not left us alone.

He sends his helper, the Holy Spirit.

He has given us his word, and he has given us the church.

He loves local churches.

I'm so glad that Jesus is the head of the church, that he loves us far beyond our comprehension.

He certainly loves you more than I could possibly love you.

Amen.

My love will falter and fail.

His never does.

He loves local churches such that he has given us instruction for how we are to govern the local church.

The Bible says things about this, and because of his great love for us, we should pay attention to what it says.

We call this polity.

Every church has a polity.

This word is from the Greek word for city.

It means simply governance.

How are we arranged, and how are we to operate together?

There are all sorts of polities out there, the Episcopalians, the Presbyterians.

We are congregationalists, which also breaks out in all different types of polities.

Some churches will function congregationally.

The congregation is a sort of democracy.

Everything is brought to a vote, which tends to mean that nothing much happens at all.

Some congregational churches are governed by kind of a corporate board type of model.

Some have a single pastor, and then they have a deacon board, kind of quasi-elders,

and they're either over that deacon board, or they're integrated within that deacon board.

We don't think any of these models are biblical.

We think the Bible model is elder-led congregationalism.

Elder-led congregationalism.

I think that the people who hold to these polities are Christ's, and I'm not throwing too much shade at them.

But it's sometimes important to know that there's some things out there that may not be as biblically faithful as they ought to be

to try to drive us to, well, then what does the Bible say?

Does it have something to say about this?

And we think that the Bible teaches elder-led congregationalism.

And I want to add, as I think it may help us in these two weeks, we probably won't use this terminology very often,

but I think it may be helpful to us to say elder-led, deacon-assisted congregationalism.

Right?

So, we're going to go to a number of texts today.

We're going to start in Hebrews chapter 13.

Hebrews 13 · chapter mention

I'm going to read verse 7, and then ask you to flip to verse 17 and 18.

But before I read those, let's pray for God's blessing on our time.

Father, we recognize humbly that you have saved us into a local church.

And we are glad that we belong here if we are in Christ and we are members of this church

and that you've given us instruction for how we are to govern for our good and for your glory.

We also recognize that we need your help if we're to rightly understand this at all.

So, help it to be important to everybody here,

not just those who are given charge and have to lead,

but also the entirety of the congregation,

that they would see that they have a part to play in how we're meant to function together.

And we pray all of this in the name of Christ.

Amen.

Alright, so Hebrews 13 and verse 7.

There the author of Hebrews writes,

Remember your leaders, those who spoke to you the word of God,

consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith.

And then jump to verse 17 and 18.

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 advantage to you.

Pray for us, for we are sure that we have a clear conscience

desiring to act honorably in all things.

Our church, as I've said,

believes that the most biblically faithful form of polity

is what is called elder-led,

and I'll insert deacon-assisted,

congregationalism.

I will unpack that deacon-assisted part next week,

but you see from the title of this position,

and more importantly from today's text,

that God intends for there to be

some measure of leadership in the church,

and we will do well to consider the leadership of elders

alongside the responsibilities of the whole congregation.

It brings it into focus to think about it all together at the same time.

So we'll do our best to get through that

in the time we have allotted this morning.

These two passages in Hebrews give us six exhortations toward church leaders,

right?

Your leaders.

Remember, consider, imitate, obey,

submit to them, and pray for them.

So who are your leaders?

If you are a member of this church,

then your leaders are those men that you have deemed qualified

to inhabit the office of elder.

If you are not a member of this church,

I hope you are a member of a gospel-preaching church,

and perhaps this will prod you to think about who your leaders are.

Or, if you're not a member of a gospel-preaching church,

perhaps you should be considering this.

How are these commands relevant to you

if you don't know who your leaders are?

Gifts given to you for your good and for God's glory.

Now, these exhortations are fairly self-explanatory,

but two of them need special attention.

And for today, this is what we'll spend a little bit of time on.

The first is obey.

Obey your leaders.

This Greek verb carries the idea of being persuaded by them.

Remember verse 7.

Remember, your leaders, those who spoke to you the word of God,

consider the outcome of their way of life

and imitate their faith.

We don't want to read verse 17 apart from verse 7,

because the author of Hebrews is saying,

these are men worth listening to.

So not just any old thing that they say,

but they're a type of person

that we ought to be paying attention to.

There's a type of authority called referent authority,

and that is from every point of reference,

every perspective,

the person deserves your obedience.

Paul writes in Titus chapter 1,

Titus 1:7–9

verse 7 through 9,

of this office of elder,

they're here called overseer.

An overseer, as God's steward,

must be above reproach.

He must be arrogant, or quick-tempered,

or a drunkard, or violent, or greedy for gain,

but hospitable,

a lover of good,

self-controlled, upright,

holy, and disciplined.

He must hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught,

so that he may be able to give instruction

in sound doctrine,

and also to rebuke those who contradict it.

Will an elder ever be a perfect man?

Not this side of glory, right?

But when we look at those qualifications,

and Titus,

this is a man worth listening to,

being persuaded by,

and that's what's carried in that word.

The other exhortation we should note

is to submit to them.

This Greek verb is found

only here,

in the New Testament,

but it's often used

in extra-biblical Greek literature.

It connotes obedience

to a person in a position

of authority,

such as,

in some extra-biblical Greek literature,

a colonel taking orders

from a general.

So, in this case,

here the author is referring to

positional authority, right?

They've been put into this place,

so both are this referent authority,

they have the quality worth following,

but also,

they hold the position,

and have been placed in that position,

and we believe that the Lord helps us

put the right people

into those spots.

So why

should you

remember,

consider,

imitate,

obey,

and submit

to your elders?

Well, first,

they should,

they have,

faithful lives

worth imitating.

Not

perfect lives,

as I've said.

I think it is appropriate

to think of elders

as

elder brothers

who

lead by example.

Both in holiness,

out ahead,

right,

taking up God's word

and pursuing righteousness,

and

when they fail

in repentance.

Elders are at their very best

when their lives

display

the gospel

of Jesus Christ,

which means there is no

pretense

for perfection,

but a genuine,

honest,

earnest pursuit

of righteousness,

forgiveness,

and then when there's

failure,

a modeling of what it looks

like to ask for forgiveness.

Pick up,

dust ourselves on,

and press on

in Christ,

right?

Have a confidence

even before you

that because

we're bought

with such a great price,

we can rest

in Jesus'

completed work.

Secondly,

why should you remember,

consider,

imitate,

obey,

submit

to your elders?

There in the text,

they are keeping

watch

over your souls

as those

who have to give

an account.

Well,

I can tell you

that the men

of our church

that you've installed

as elders,

I can certainly

speak for myself,

take this

very,

very seriously.

A weighty task,

a grace-imbued

task.

Jesus is the

great shepherd,

we are merely

under shepherds,

but we all recognize

that we will

stand before God

and give an

account for

your souls.

So we want to

do this

with great care.

Will we be

perfect?

We will not.

But we really

want to labor

to do this,

which is why

you should

remember,

consider,

imitate,

obey,

and submit

to your elders.

Paul,

when he is

saying goodbye

to the Ephesian

elders in Acts

Acts 20 · chapter mention

chapter 20

and verse 28,

says this,

pay careful

attention to

yourselves

and to all

the flock

in which the

Holy Spirit

has made you

overseers,

to care for

the church

of God

which he

obtained

with his

own blood.

What a

charge given

to lead

in a congregation.

But to what

extent is the

author of Hebrews

expecting his

hearers to

obey and submit

to their

leaders.

Certainly not

in everything.

Certainly not

outside the

bounds of the

Bible.

But if he

only intends

to have them

obey and

submit to the

Bible,

why not just

say that?

I think

because there

are matters

of application

of the

Bible,

gray areas

that require

careful

navigation

and

decisions

that must

be made.

The Bible

says nothing

at all

about our

property.

There's things

that have to be

carefully thought

about.

The Bible

says nothing

at all about

what the

appropriate set

of programs

might be for

children at any

given stage

in the life

of a church.

There's decisions

that need to be

thought about

and made.

1 Timothy

1 Timothy 3:1–5

chapter 3

verses 1

through 5

qualifications

here.

Paul gives

to Timothy

the saying

is trustworthy.

If anyone

aspires to

the office

of overseer

he desires

a noble

task.

Therefore

an overseer

must be

above reproach,

the husband

of one

wife,

sober-minded,

self-controlled,

respectable,

hospitable,

able to

teach,

not a

drunkard,

not violent

but gentle,

not quarrelsome,

not a lover

of money.

He must

manage his

own household

well with

all dignity,

keeping his

children submissive

for if someone

does not know

how to manage

his own

household,

how will

he care

for God's

church?

There's lots

of detailed

decisions

that need

to be made.

And so I've

said to you

before and I'll

say again,

I think that

in matters

of prudence,

wisdom,

like taking

up biblical

data and

understanding

what the

scripture says

to us,

but then

thinking about

how do we

put that

into action

in the life

of our

church,

so matters

of prudence,

wisdom,

and also

in matters

of preference.

So we don't

have a members

meeting and

ask and

vote on

what time

a meeting

might start.

This would be

a simple,

fairly benign

example.

But your elders

are thinking

about what

would be best

for the

congregation.

How do we

think and

order us

so that we

can accomplish

the goals

that the

Lord has

put before

us?

So we

might decide

on one

time over

another because

we think

it best.

Prudence,

preference.

So elders

have authority,

a kind of

authority.

They are to

teach the

Bible and

they are to

make judgments

in matters

of gray

areas of

application

according

to Bible

principles.

elders

exercise

an

authority

but it

is not

a

coercive

authority.

It's a

persuasive

authority.

Come along

with us.

We want

you to go

where we're

going.

We love

you.

We're looking

out for

your souls.

Framed

that way,

isn't it a

wonderful thing

to have

leaders?

Let's

look now

at another

text.

So turn

with me,

if you

will,

to Ephesians

chapter

four.

I want

you to

see here

leaders

given to

the church

and the

way that

the church

is a

congregation

is to

function

with

leadership.

I'll

begin

reading in

verse

11.

Just

before this,

Paul talked

about Jesus

ascending,

also though

that he

descended

and that

he gave

gifts to

men,

where it

leads us

up to

verse 11.

And there

Paul writes,

and he,

that's

Jesus Christ,

gave the

apostles,

the prophets,

the evangelists,

the shepherds,

and teachers

to equip the

saints for

the work of

ministry,

for building

up the body

of Christ

until we

all attain

to the

unity of

the faith

and of

the knowledge

of the

Son of

God,

to mature

manhood,

to the

measure of

the stature

of the

fullness

of Christ,

so that

we may

no longer

be children

tossed to

and fro

by the

waves and

carried about

by every

wind of

doctrine,

by human

cunning,

by craftiness

in deceitful

schemes.

Rather,

speaking the

truth in

love,

we have

to grow

up in

every way

into him

who is

the head,

into Christ,

from whom

the whole

body,

joined and

held together

by every

joint with

which it

is equipped,

when each

part is

working properly,

makes the

body grow

so that it

builds itself

up in

love.

A beautiful

picture of

the church

in action.

Now this

text begins

with Jesus

Christ giving

gifts to

the church.

You see

these in

verse 11,

the apostles,

the prophets,

a brief aside

at this point,

there's a lot

of disagreement

about these

gifts in

Christendom.

I don't

intend for

this to be

an exhaustive

exposition

of this

passage,

but an

aside I

think is

helpful here.

I believe

that the

apostles and

prophets that

Paul is

referring to

were modern

apostles and

prophets who

were in the

process of

writing the

New Testament

and the

Old Testament

prophets as

the books of

the Old

Testament were

referred to

as the

prophets.

I think that's

what he's

talking about.

He's talking

about those

who were

writing the

canon at

his time

as well as

those who

had already

written.

If you

look back

a bit at

Ephesians

Ephesians 2:19

chapter 2

verse 19

and 20,

there he

says,

so then you

are no

longer

strangers and

aliens,

but your

fellow citizens

with the

saints and

members of

the household

of God,

built on

the foundation

of the

apostles and

prophets,

Christ Jesus

himself being

the cornerstone.

so I

believe that

the apostles

and the

prophets of

Ephesians

4 and

verse 11

for us

are the

Old and

New Testaments,

our 66

books of

our canon,

which we

ought not

belittle,

but as I

believe Paul

is doing,

magnify as

a gift to

the church.

I think this

is what he's

communicating in

verse 11.

As he starts

out, he

gave the

apostles, the

prophets.

We have the

scripture.

And then he

goes on, the

evangelists, the

shepherds, and

teachers.

Many of you

are using the

same translation

that I am

this morning,

the English

Standard Version,

and you may

note that each

of these roles

are separated

by a comma,

but not

shepherds, or

you could insert

pastors there,

and teachers.

You notice the

commas?

We know that

ancient Greek

did not have

equivalent punctuation

to our

English, so

this was a

translative

decision.

The translators

decided where to

put the commas

in, and they

did not put a

comma between

shepherds and

teachers.

Now, I am very

happy to say that

the ESV

translators are

not anti-Oxford

comma.

If you know

what I'm talking

about, and you

disagree with me,

we can debate

later.

Oxford comma is

a good comma,

and it should

remain in the

English language.

If you don't

know what I'm

talking about,

that's fine, but

this is a

translative

decision because

the Greek word

translated and

can also be

translated that

is, or in

particular.

It can be

translated various

ways.

So, it could

read shepherds

that is teachers,

or shepherds in

particular teachers,

which is a little

clunky, but does

give us a better

idea of who

these men are,

these gifts

given.

Many simply

say of this

role that they

are shepherd

teachers, shepherd

dash teachers, or

pastor dash

teachers, and we

have further

evidence that this

is Paul's meaning

in 1 Timothy

1 Timothy 5 · chapter mention

chapter 5 and

verse 17.

There he says,

let the elders

who rule well be

considered worthy

of double honor.

I think in this

case he's talking

about both the

honor of respect

and position, but

also income for

their living,

especially those

who labor in

preaching and

teaching.

Elders,

teachers.

So, evangelists

and elders are

gifts given to

the church by

Christ, but for

what reason?

Why?

Why are they

given?

Verse 12, to

equip the saints

for the work of

ministry, for

building up the

body of Christ.

Now, notice, once

again, a

translator decision

to not put a

comma after the

word saints.

If you were to

look at that part

of verse 12,

that I just read,

to equip the

saints, what if

it said to

equip the saints,

comma, for the

work of ministry,

comma, for

building up the

body of Christ.

If they were to

punctuate it that

way, one of the

tasks given to

these evangelists

and these pastor

teachers would be

the work of

ministry.

So, why, why

can we know, why

did they make the

translative decision

to not put a

comma after saints,

and then we read,

to equip the

saints for the

work of ministry,

right?

And then, for

building up the

body of Christ

modifies that.

What is the

work of ministry?

It's the building

up the body of

Christ.

How can we know

this just looking

at it?

Are they just

arbitrarily putting

commas where

commas feel good?

No.

No, because

Paul keeps

writing.

We've got to

look at the

context of

what's happening

here.

What happens

beyond this

in the text,

right?

There's this

aim, verse 13,

of attaining

the unity of

the faith and

knowledge of

the Son of

God to

mature manhood,

to the measure

of the stature

of the fullness

of Christ.

That we would

grow into

maturity.

That we would

be people who

are not

children,

tossed about

by waves

and carried

about by

every doctrine,

human cunning,

craftiness,

and deceitful

schemes.

Beloved,

do we not

see a world

of professing

Christians

thrown about,

back and

forth,

by the waves,

carried about

by every

wind of

doctrine.

It's just

astounding to

me, the

things that

people believe

as they come

out of

Christian leaders'

mouths.

So anti-

Bible.

Are you

catching?

This is

congregational

work, right?

We're supposed

to be speaking

the truth to

one another.

I'm also a

congregant.

Speak the

truth to me.

I don't

want to be

a child.

I want to

grow up

into Christ-likeness.

I want to

be steady

in storms

because I

know the

truth.

And Paul's

saying, we

do that

with one

another.

Let's not

be this

immature

thing, but

verse 15

says,

rather,

speaking the

truth in

love,

we are to

grow up in

every way

into him

who is the

head,

into Christ,

from whom

the whole

body,

joined and

held together

by every

joint with

which it is

equipped,

when each

part is

working

properly,

makes the

body grow,

so that it

builds itself

up in

love.

That is the

essence of

congregationalism.

Us helping

every Christian,

helping every

Christian in

the local

church grow

in Christ-likeness.

What a

compelling picture

that should be

for all of

us.

And I want to

commend you as a

church.

You do this

well.

Just before we

met, I had a

conversation with

a brother who's

grieving, another

brother in

unrepentant sin,

and he's asking

the question,

is it time for

me to take a

next step with

him, to press

upon him?

He said with

tears welling,

I'm not sure

that he's in

Christ.

I'm concerned

for his soul.

What a

conversation to

have with a

congregant.

A wonderful

thing to think

and talk and

pray about next

steps to happen.

So this is

the work.

This is the

work that's

going on.

It's equipping

the saints for

the work of

ministry, for

building up

the body of

Christ.

Elders lead by

teaching, in

word and in

deed, giving

theological

foundation and

example of

application so

that the church

as a whole does

this work of

ministry, this

building up of

the body of

Christ.

It bears

repeating.

Elders exercise

in authority, but

it is not a

coercive authority,

it is a

persuasive

authority.

It's an

authority of

counsel.

Come to the

word with us.

We want to

show you the

way of God,

how we should

pursue, what

we should say

to one another.

It also bears

saying that the

evangelists share

the gospel, that

the church would

increase through

conversion, and

that the church

as a whole would

share the gospel

for that very

same end.

The evangelists

help equip us

that we might

share the

gospel.

But while

evangelists are a

gift to the

church, we do

not hold that it

is an office of

the church, a

formal position

found here.

Evangelistic people

most certainly are a

gift to the

church.

Now I hope that I

have sufficiently

shown you the

authority of

counsel that an

elder holds,

right?

But what about the

authority of the

congregation?

congregation?

Does the

congregation hold

any authority?

Yes, it does.

The congregation

or the church as

a whole is doing

two things in this

text.

Number one, teaching

the truth, right?

Teaching the truth,

attaining the unity

of the faith, the

knowledge of the

Son of God, verse

13.

This is a pushback

against doctrine

blowing people

around.

So the congregation

is teaching the

truth and applying

the truth.

Verse 15, we're

growing up in every

way into him who

is the head.

Then you see all

this activity in

verse 16, these

joints held together

doing this work.

Right?

So teaching the

truth and applying

the truth.

So the congregation,

the local church

as a whole, is

responsible for

discipling,

helping people

grow in their

pursuit of

Christ, and

they're responsible

for doctrine.

What is that

truth?

Being led by the

elders of the

church to

disciple and to

hold sound

doctrine.

the congregation

has a different

authority from

the elders.

The local church

as a whole holds

the authority of

command or, if

you like,

coercion set

against persuasion.

I don't love it.

I like counsel and

command personally,

but persuasion and

coercion works.

God delegates

authority, and

it always has

limits, and

it is always

subservient to

the one who

delegated it.

Bad authority

is always bad.

Most of us

have had some

experience with

bad authority.

If you haven't,

live a little

longer.

You're going to

see authority

not exercised

properly, but

that doesn't mean

we should throw

away authority.

authority

submitted to

God is

always good.

Always good.

It's aimed at

blessing for

us.

So, I want

to take you to

some additional

text to show

you the two

areas that the

congregation holds

authority in,

our discipling

and doctrine.

We're going to

do this at a

clip, because

I'm really

supposed to be

talking about

elders, but I

want to show

you what are

elders leading

the congregation

to do together.

discipling.

Matthew chapter

Matthew 28 · chapter mention

28.

Go ahead and

join me there.

I'm going to

get water.

I've got to

get ready for

this fast

reading I'm

about to

do.

So,

Matthew 28.

This is the Great Commission.

Jesus came and said to them,

verse 18,

all authority in heaven and on earth

has been given to me.

There's that ultimate authority.

Go therefore

and make disciples of all nations,

baptizing them in the name of the Father

and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,

teaching them to observe

all that I have commanded you

and behold, I'm with you always

to the end of the age.

On the heels of Ephesians chapter 4,

Ephesians 4 · chapter mention

do you see the church's work

in the middle of that text?

I hope you do.

This is a commission given to the church

and how do we do that

in visible expression?

In local churches.

So we, as a church,

are meant to go,

make disciples,

baptize them,

welcoming them into the membership

of the church,

teaching them to observe

all that I have commanded you.

Right?

Grow up into Christ-likeness.

Don't be tossed to and fro

by every wind of doctrine.

Right?

Now, turn with me backwards

in the book of Matthew

to chapter 16.

I'll begin reading in verse 13

because the context

has some relevance.

Now, when Jesus came

into the district

of Caesarea Philippi,

he asked his disciples,

who do people say

that the Son of Man is?

And they said,

some say John the Baptist,

others say Elijah,

and others Jeremiah,

or one of the prophets.

He said to them,

but who do you say

that I am?

Simon Peter replied,

you are the Christ,

the Son of the living God.

Way to go, Peter.

Knocked it out of the park.

And Jesus answered him,

blessed are you,

Simon Barjona,

for flesh and blood

has not revealed this to you.

Right?

It's by grace

that he gets that answer right.

But my Father who is in heaven.

And I tell you,

you are Peter,

and on this rock,

that truth that he is the Christ,

I will build my church.

And the gates of hell

shall not prevail against it.

Right?

There's our confidence

for Matthew 28.

Jesus is with us

to the end of the age,

and he has all authority.

He's building his church,

and so go and do this work.

And then he says,

in verse 19,

I will give you the keys

of the kingdom of heaven.

And whatever you bind on earth

shall be bound in heaven,

and whatever you loose on earth

shall be loosed in heaven.

Right?

This is the symbol

of the authority

given to the church.

But we don't really fully comprehend

what he's talking about

at this point.

Okay?

We're given keys,

we're binding,

and we're loosing.

We don't have to go far

to understand.

Go to Matthew chapter.

This will feel disjointed

for just a moment,

but hear it out.

Beginning in verse 15.

If your brother sins against you,

go and tell him it's fault

between you and him alone.

If he listens to you,

you have gained your brother.

Do you see Ephesians 4 in this?

Speaking the truth

and love to one another.

Do you see it in there?

Your brother sins.

You go show him his sin.

We all need help doing this.

We all have blind spots.

Like, we're going to do things.

We're going to err.

We're going to realize it at times.

We're not going to realize it at times.

We need to be approached

that we might repent

and press on.

Right?

This is how we grow

in Christlikeness.

Verse 16.

But if he does not listen,

take one or two others

along with you

that every charge

may be established

by the evidence

of two or three witnesses.

You make it more serious.

Multiple people come

and they say,

no, no, we see this issue too.

Right?

We want to speak the truth

and love to you

that you may grow

in Christ.

And there's another opportunity

for repentance.

To listen.

In verse 17,

if he refuses to listen

to them,

tell it to the church.

And if he refuses

to listen even to the church,

right?

So there's a step here

where the church now

as a total

is speaking to this person

saying,

this is not the way

of a Christ follower.

Then the church

is to let him be to you

as a Gentile

and a tax collector.

That is to say,

to put them outside

of the church.

Right?

This is the process

we often call

church discipline.

Right?

But I think every step

in this is discipline.

It's discipling.

Right?

We are teaching the truth

that a person

might faithfully follow Jesus.

And if we find

that they're not in Christ,

then the loving thing

to say to them is,

we don't believe

you're in Christ.

Now how does this connect

back to Matthew chapter 16?

Matthew 16 · chapter mention

Verse 18 of chapter 18.

Truly I say to you,

whatever you bind on earth

shall be bound in heaven.

And whatever you loose on earth

shall be loosed in heaven.

The exact same phrase.

Keys of the kingdom.

Doing this careful work.

So if you didn't hear

Ephesians chapter 4

Ephesians 4 · chapter mention

through that,

maybe you'll hear it

the other way around.

Right?

So back in Ephesians 4 verse 11,

Ephesians 4:11

he gave apostles,

prophets, evangelists,

shepherd teachers

to equip the saints

for the work of ministry

for building up

the body of Christ

until we all attain

to the unity of the faith

and of the knowledge

of the Son of God

to mature manhood

to the measure

of the stature

of the fullness

of Christ.

Right?

Working us

together,

verse 16,

the body would grow

so that it builds

itself up

in love.

Right?

This is the discipling work

given to the congregation,

all of us,

together.

William Gurnall,

a 17th century

Puritan minister,

once said this,

God would not rub so hard

if it were not

to fetch out the dirt

that is ingrained

in our natures.

God loves purity

so well

that he would rather

see a hole

than a spot

in his child's garments.

Secondly,

doctrine.

The church,

as a whole,

is meant to defend

doctrine.

Paul writes

in Galatians chapter 1

Galatians 1 · chapter mention

to the church

in Galatia,

but even if we

or an angel

from heaven

should preach to you

a gospel contrary

to the one we preached

to you,

let him be

accursed.

As we have said before,

so now I say again,

if anyone is preaching

to you a gospel

contrary to the one

you received,

let him be

accursed.

This would be

an exercise

of the keys.

The truth

must be

preserved

and

defended.

David Gibson

in an article

entitled

Assumed Evangelicalism,

some reflections

in route

to denying

the gospel.

Quote,

you may have heard

the story

of the Mennonite

Brethren movement.

One particular

analysis

goes like this.

The first generation

believed

and proclaimed

the gospel

and thought

that there were

certain social

entailments.

The next generation

assumed the gospel

and advocated

the entailments.

the third generation

denied the gospel

and all that were

left

were the entailments.

The practice

but not the gospel

itself.

The whole congregation

defends

doctrine.

Again,

back to Acts chapter 20,

Acts 20 · chapter mention

Paul's farewell

to the Ephesian elders.

I read verse 28

already,

pay careful attention

to yourselves

and to all the flock

in which the Holy Spirit

has made you overseers

to care for the church

of God

which he obtained

with his own blood.

I know,

he goes on,

that after my departure

fierce wolves

will come in among you

not sparing

the flock.

And,

this will make you

shudder,

from among your

own selves

will arise

men speaking

twisted things

to draw away

the disciples

after them.

Why did he say

to pay careful

attention

to the flock?

Because there will be

people from outside

and people from

inside

that will lead

people

astray.

Jude writes

in verse 3 and 4,

Beloved,

although I was very eager

to write to you

about our common salvation,

I found it necessary

to write appealing

to you

to contend

for the faith

that was once

for all

delivered

to the saints.

For certain people

have crept in

unnoticed

who long ago

were designated

for this condemnation,

ungodly people

who pervert

the grace of our God

into sensuality

and deny

our only Master

and Lord,

Jesus Christ.

So we're

to defend

doctrine.

We've talked

long,

too much,

I'm going to skip it today,

I've got a whole bunch

of notes about it,

about theological triage,

but let me just sum it

by saying

we are confessional people,

it is important

for us to take up

the word,

understand what it says,

write documents,

decide those things

that are

worthy of dying for

and those things

that can be

debated.

We think it's important

to make truth claims

concerning what

the Bible teaches

on any particular

topic.

topic.

So elders

are given

as gifts

to the church

to lead

the congregation

in the important

work of discipling

and defending

doctrine.

But,

what does

elder-led

congregationalism

look like

in action?

If you're

totally unfamiliar

with this polity,

how might it be

observed

and this in closing?

You will notice

sermons preached

and classes taught,

discipling relationships

where the Bible

is read

and studied

and applied,

earnest prayer

for one another,

sin confronted

and corrected,

discipline processes

carried out

when necessary,

evangelism

and missions

to the end

of the earth

to all peoples,

welcoming

new members

through the

ordinance of

baptism,

celebrating

the Lord's

supper together

regularly

with joy,

confessionalism

and all

that is in

tales,

all this

careful work

of theological

triage,

I could go

on.

but note

that you,

the congregation,

the church

as a whole

have a profound

and precious

responsibility

and God

has given

to the church

elders

to help.

May we continue

by grace

under the authority

of the giver

of all good things

to govern ourselves

according to his word

for the good of his people

and for the witness

of the gospel

to the glory of Christ.

Let's pray.