The affairs of life are not wrong in themselves but they do take time and when someone focuses solely on those things it can become an entanglement.

We are to love our family, but in comparison (or on a measure) to the love of Christ it should be hate. In other words—the love to Christ should greatly exceed the love to the family.

Business ventures are a matter that is completely fine but we’re not to be unequally yoked with unbelievers within those ventures. Entertainment like sports, travel, hobbies and music can entangle as much as School Activities, Politics and different types of clubs (boy scouts, awana, girl scouts). Decorating, be it interior or landscaping devours time and so does the News—which we find exceedingly helpful but sometimes we just spend hours focused on it. Education is intoxicating especially when some people want to be a student their whole lives; constantly taking another major in school.

There’s religious entanglements too. Bible conferences are a big one. A non-prioritized ministry where we’re leaving the best for just the good. Excessive meetings where we gather for all types of reasons: it should be a quality in gathering—not a quantity. Hospitality to the point that there are so many visitors that no work is being done. Despondent Discipleship where you’re being a tender teacher to a person who really isn’t responding, isn’t progressing and not really caring about it—move on! Entertaining yout hprograms where kids are under-challenged—focusing on the peripherals instead of the core: challenge them instead! Boards and committees are not wrong in themselves but they must be balanced!

Whatever rules your time and thoughts proves to be your master and we either want no masters or too many masters. We have to focus on One Master and that is Christ—preeminent in all things. This is why it is important to focus on the best.

Paul could’ve spent countless hours with an anti-slavery campaign but he didn’t—he was called to preach the gospel. He could’ve spent countless hours focusing on baptizing people but once again he didn’t—he preached!

Categorize and Prioritize
Firstly separate the wise from the foolish: 1) working out your salvation with fear and trembling (Phil 2:12) 2) being innocent to what is evil and wise to what is good (Rom 16:19-20) and not being corrupted from the single hearted loyalty and purity that is in Christ (2 Cor 11:3)

Secondly, separate the best from the good: 1) not forsaking the assembling of yourselves together (Heb 10:25); 2) Committing your words to those who are faithful (2 Tim 2:2); 3) Redeeming the time because the days are evil (Eph 5:16). We’re to squeeze every effective second for the maximum yield. Before you make a decision to give more time to the Lord, ask yourself if you have squeezed the current time you have because God grows ministries only when he grows people. Therefore be faithful to the portion given to you.

Thirdly, separate the Good from the permissible. Always ask yourselves these questions: 1) Is it profitable for my spiritual growth (1 Cor 10:23); is it profitable for someone else (Rom 14:9); 3) will my idle talk reduce men to silence (Job 11:3) and 4) do you listen and ask questions.

Fourthly, separate the Good from the Harmful. Does it pass the Phil 4:8 test: Is it true, just, honest nad praiseworthy? Could it cause someone else to stumble by mastering them (1 Cor 8:9)?

Fifthly separate the simple from the extravagant: 1) Love of money (1 Tim 6:6-10); 2) Rejoice Always (1 Thes 5) by being satisfied with what you have; 3) live a life that counts for eternity

Doctrine is always lived out—what we truly believe will be seen in our lives. If we truly believe there will be evidence in our lives.

Session 10-Warren Henderson

Tech Tags: elder, pastor, shepherd, shepherding, flock, church leadership

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The lesson in this section is clear: we can not separate what we are at home from what we are in the church for the way we conduct ourselves in the home will affect our church in some degree or another. The apostle places his house-life next to the very house of God—therefore there must be complete consistency. The home is the training ground for any type of work we may partake in for in it: 1) character is developed 2) we learn to love, 3) learn to pity, 4) learn to exercise tenderness, 5) exercise headship, 6) and administer discipline. A person doesn’t begin to function as an overseer upon receiving a label; he is already doing the work. As you know sheep can not read labels and see the shepherd’s overalls and read the words on his lapel to know he is a shepherd: they recognize the worker when they see him working. There is no formal ordination where people don’t expect the person to be their overseer and if the day ever comes where someone is raised as an overseer and it’s a big surprise to everyone then he is not an overseer.

Ruling Well?
It is erroneous to think that Ruling means domination as in the family is subservient to the dictates of the Tyrant King of the Home. The proper thinking is that in the home the potential overseer stands before them in the form of example: attending to their needs, caring for the home and presiding over them. He leads by example and not by dictate as per the good shepherd in John 10 who calls by name and leads them out not shouting at them then bullying them. The sheep then hear his voice and follow him.

It is also erroneous to think that Well is redefining Ruling to mean a Proper Autocracy. The proper thinking is that authority is being exercised in such a way as to bring about an admirable outcome. Therefore the ruling authority is one that reflects an example by constantly attending to needs of those he has a care over and well is that it yields admirable results.

Keeping Children Under Subjection?
Sometimes people take this to mean the thirty year old children that have gone off and done whatever they see fit in their lives and thus disqualify themselves from the work—this is not the case: this is in reference to little children and in the case of those older progeny—they are no longer in subjection. Ephesians 6:1 would say Little children obey your parents in the Lord and that they are to honor their father and mother (Eph 6:2)

They are to be brought up in the admonition of the Lord but done so in so a way that is not hyper-critical—not provoking children unto wrath.

The current climate with children is that they are told to assert themselves and to disagree with anyone in authority. In Scotland, the only communication in the school was from the teacher who stood at the front and the children were expected to sit silently. Therefore the speaker believes that there is a stage where children are entirely subject to their parents and that there is no discussion only obedience. Children are not to be given silly choices like “Do you want to stay here and keep watching the Disney channel or do you want to go to the meeting tonight?” A child must be told “Turn off the tv, it’s time for the meeting” no discussion.

With All Gravity
Sometimes this is taken to mean that the father must be a Kill-Joy; that is not the case. He must act in a way that makes it advisable to obey, he must speak with a wisdom that makes it natural to obey and also displays a love that makes it delightful to obey.

Headship
It is erroneous to think that headship isn’t important or old fashioned. If the wife doesn’t respect the man’s leadership in the home there will be problems in the church where that leadership will come into play. Likewise, if the man gives over his leadership in the home he may have problems with not emphasizing leadership in the church.

This concept is laughed out of court today and taken to mean that the wife is to submit to every degraded opinion of the husband. There should be intelligent discussion and interaction and the husband must be willing to take all points into consideration—this could mean admitting that you’re decision was not the most favorable one and going with her opinion. But above all, the matter does not end in a stalemate: the husband must make a decision and the wife has to submit to his authority in the matter.

But remember husbands that you are to love your wives (Eph 5). This is a very high calling to the way you are a leader in your home. This leadership has a high standard—being Sacrificial and willing to lay down your life for her. This leadership has a high comparison—as Christ loved the church! This leadership is not blind but understanding, with knowledge and with honor understanding the differences in biology and that we are not to be boorish (1 Pet 3)!

Session 09 – Willie Burnett

Tech Tags: elder, pastor, shepherd, shepherding, flock, church leadership, family, headship, husbands, wives, children

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How?
One must strive for mastery with personal discipline, keeping their life in subjection and being fit for use. This, in totality, is Sacrifice. For example the Olympicists will train for years focused on exercise, diet, a rigorous schedule and foregoing personal pleasures to compete so that they can win by a fraction of a second and gain a corruptible award. This Sacrifice will be combined with constant vigilance for the word pastor is not a noun (as a title) but a verb—it is a work and the characteristics therein are part and parcel to what the overseer is. Sometimes small assemblies have men who are not everything on those lists in 1 Timothy and Titus knowing that they ought to be but they wind up in the position as elders by default. These may be good men who want to see the testimony of the Lord continue and would gladly step aside if someone comes and steps up—and with God’s help they will serve in any capacity they can. Sometimes the Sacrifice and Vigilance consists of keeping the doors open while training younger men to come in and lead. So it takes Sacrifice, it takes Vigilance and Perseverance.

What for?
The Faith! It is what was commonly confessed at that time: 1) The gospel (1-3), the Church (4, 12), Proactive Reception (not having people creep into the church without knowing where they’re from but being clear on who is in fellowship), Holiness (4, 24), the Lord’s Return (14), Judgment to Come (7), Person of Christ (25), Authority of the Lord Jesus (24).

Question: do we know The Faith? How can we contend for what we don’t know? We must seek venues for extended teaching on the Faith to feed the flock! Question: what part of The Faith is disposable? What would you demarcate as peripheral? We have to be careful with how we answer these questions—is any part of God’s word something that “doesn’t tie in”?

Why Contend?
The Dangers are listed in verses 5-7. There was the Historical Departure of Egypt, Sodom and Angels and there will be a Future Departure (1 Tim 4:1). So because these dangers exist we must contend.

But also because the extreme value of The Faith. They are wholesome and sound words! They are a sacred Trust (1 Tim) and worth fighting for!

Session 08 Larry Price

Tech Tags: elder, pastor, shepherd, shepherding, flock, church leadership

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Pattern: Apostle’s Doctrine
The Apostle’s Doctrine, in contrast to Moses’ Law which was spoken by God on a mountain are the very words of the Lord Jesus Christ speaking from the majesty up on high (Heb 1:3). Paul would say in 1 Cor 14:37 that “the things I write unto you are the commandments of the Lord” These are instructions from the Lord on high so that we you may know how to behave yourself in the house of God which is the pillar of God in the truth (1 Tim 3:14,15) therefore keep the doctrine (1 Tim 4:16).

This doctrine is a God given mold or pattern. For instance, in Exodus 25:40 the people were to build the tabernacle void of their personal creativity. Although there were metal workers and craftsmen, they were told to follow the pattern God made and gave to Moses. Exodus 25 to 30 are specific instructions for each of the items of the tabernacle such as the colors, the materials used and the details. This section has more room for it than the story of creation but it doesn’t end there. Exodus 36 — 39 contains many of the same details but is different in this respect: it is the construction of the items of the tabernacle. Exodus 39:33-43 illustrates how the construction of the house of God matched the instruction given by God.

The question for the church is: does the construction of the local church—the body of believers—match the instruction, or the Pattern, found in the Apostle’s Doctrine. For there are two important elements of building the church; one is that it must be done and the second is how it is being done. Are we building the foundations of the church on men or methods or on the Lord Jesus Christ (1 Cor 3:10-11). Every man’s work will be judged and at that point it will not be a question of “Did you work” but “what was the quality of the work” and “what materials were used in the work!

Parentage: Relational Fellowship
Why Parentage with Fellowship? There are different forms of fellowship: the one on sports teams or the one when there’s an endeavor together. But there’s another kind that is on the basis of who the persons are related two. 1 Cor 1:9 would show that our fellowship is in God’s Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. The basis of fellowship is not that Jesus is some prophet that we all follow his teachings but (1 Tim 3:16) He is God in the flesh, the Son of God manifested to men in whom we fellowship with the Father in (1 John 1). Matt 16 marks the first time Church is used in the New Testament and it isusage after the confession that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. Christ says that upon this rock, this solid confession, would His church be build. No other foundation can be laid (1 Cor 3:11) but the Son. The church is not for socializing but for sharing in common the things of God

Practice: Breaking of Bread
The chief way the believers would fellowship with the Father in the Son would be the breaking of Bread. For the bread that was broken and the cup that was shared—was it not the communion in the body of Jesus Christ says 1 Cor 10. At first they did it daily (Acts 2) but eventually they did it, by practice, upon the first day of the week and they continued doing it. Paul would later say that it was to be done until the Lord returns (1 Cor 11:26).

Done in remembrance of Him (says 1 Cor 11) is a dynamic practice which is more than passively remembering a historic event. Memorial Day is a day where soldiers who fought in our nations wars are not only remembered—but they are honored for what they did.

Jer 16:6 and 7 is a picture of this Memorial. The funeral custom was to take bread and a cup of consolation in respect of the person who dies. As they broke the bread something would be said to honor the person, likewise with the cup.

Prayer
Their continued prayers reflected their dependence on Jesus Christ. Sometimes prayer meetings are like a visit to the doctor’s office. It is okay to pray for ailments but we’re to pray for everything (Phil 4:6-7). Sometimes we try gimmicks to get people to come to meetings or be interested in the word but Paul uses prayer as a major tool for enlightenment (Eph 1:16). Also for the being filled of the fullness of God (Eph 3:14-19) and so that one may grow in love and wisdom (Phil 1, Col 1).

Session 07?Randy Amos

Tech Tags: elder, pastor, shepherd, shepherding, flock, church leadership, acts, prayer, lord’s supper, fellowship, apostle’s doctrine, acts 2:24

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