A lecture on church discipline.
Upon instructing Timothy on how pastors and deacons are to conduct themselves as servants of Christ, the apostle Paul adds, “These things write I unto thee, hoping to come unto thee shortly: but if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.” (1 Timothy 3:14,15) Every disciple of Christ should know how to behave himself in the house of God. Maintaining good order in the church of the living God is called discipline.
This is the ninth study on the subject of church discipline. The term church is first used by Jesus Christ and recorded in Matthew 16 and 18. Its reference in 18:15-20 relates to the subject of church discipline. However, the larger context begins with 17:24 and runs through 18:35. Therein we discover six sections, each dealing with the issue of ‘offenses’.
Special attention is given to the subject of forgiveness as highlighted by Christ in Matthew 18:21-35. The formula for resolving relational conflict (study eight) is now supported by a word study on forgiveness. Two of the four Greek terms translated ‘forgive’ are examined.
A lecture on Elder Plurality: Part 7
The Reformed Baptist Movement has given rise to a new form of church leadership not practiced by Baptist churches prior to the 1950′s. The majority of modern books and articles almost invariably assert that each church should be overseen by a plurality of elders. While many churches have conformed to the new trend, others staunchly cling to their traditional practice of having a single pastor assisted by a group of deacons. It is unwise to follow a trend, or support a tradition, without knowing the Scriptural, historic and practical reasons undergirding the practice.
This seventh study is the second of two parts which offers a response to six more objections that may be raised against the arguments for the traditional structure of Baptist polity: (1) If the wife (singular) represents a plurality of deacons, then why cannot the husband (singular) represent a plurality of elders?; (2) Children in a home do not cast a vote in decision making, yet if children resemble members, then how can you equate the two since members do cast a vote?; (3) Your insistence that there be only one pastor overseeing a single church leads to a one man ministry which often culminates in idol worship; (4) One pastor is given too much authority that can be easily abused—better to have a plurality of elders to help police the oversight of the leading pastor; (5) Christ has not modeled the church after the Jewish Synagogue or the family unit—He has designed it to reflect the eternal Godhead Himself—the great Three-in-One and One-in-Three; (6) You have made sweeping conclusions on how eldership functions in the Old and New Testaments without providing sufficient Scriptural support.
An exposition of Psalm 5:11,12.
David directs his thoughts entirely to God in this Psalm, making it an excellent model of a powerful prayer. Upon a careful reading of the Psalm, four aspects of prayer are highlighted: Its character, object, certainty and benefit. This study considers the benefit of prayer by examining how the people of God are led to shout for joy upon their apprehension of sovereign grace. Their joy springs from a trust in the Lord as well as a love for the Lord. Thus, the child of God remains unsatisfied with the mere comfort of knowing he is protected by God; he longs to know the Protector Himself, and it is this which gives him an unquenchable joy.
The following structure is an overview of the exposition:
Psalm 5:11,12
A lecture on church discipline.
Upon instructing Timothy on how pastors and deacons are to conduct themselves as servants of Christ, the apostle Paul adds, “These things write I unto thee, hoping to come unto thee shortly: but if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.” (1 Timothy 3:14,15) Every disciple of Christ should know how to behave himself in the house of God. Maintaining good order in the church of the living God is called discipline.
This is the eighth study on the subject of church discipline. The term church is first used by Jesus Christ and recorded in Matthew 16 and 18. Its reference in 18:15-20 relates to the subject of church discipline. However, the larger context begins with 17:24 and runs through 18:35. Therein we discover six sections, each dealing with the issue of ‘offenses’.
Special attention is given to the subject of forgiveness as highlighted by Christ in Matthew 18:21-35. A formula for resolving relational conflict is suggested. It should be noted that forgiveness may not always be the answer in resolving problems.
The following chart lays out the doctrine of forgiveness:
A lecture on Elder Plurality: Part 6
The Reformed Baptist Movement has given rise to a new form of church leadership not practiced by Baptist churches prior to the 1950′s. The majority of modern books and articles almost invariably assert that each church should be overseen by a plurality of elders. While many churches have conformed to the new trend, others staunchly cling to their traditional practice of having a single pastor assisted by a group of deacons. It is unwise to follow a trend, or support a tradition, without knowing the Scriptural, historic and practical reasons undergirding the practice.
This sixth study is the first of two parts which offers a response to six objections that may be raised against the arguments for the traditional structure of Baptist polity: (1) The sun, moon and stars is a weak apologetic on which to build the structure of the family unit and the Christian church; (2) The Scriptures never tell us the Christian church is modeled after the family unit; (3) The single family unit is relatively small compared to the average church; you cannot apply the simplistic form of government in a family unit to that of a Christian church; (4) While a father may be equipped to care for the members of his house-hold, it is impossible for one pastor to care for the needs of an entire church; (5) If Ephesians 5 and 6 provides a blueprint on how the family unit is governed, then the six-fold grouping seems to support a plurality of elders within a church; (6) The husband/wife analogy may be a compelling argument for the traditional pastor-deacons order of Baptist churches, but it does not hold up to the analogy used by Paul in Ephesians 5 where Christ is identified as the head of the church, not the pastor.
An exposition of Psalm 5:7.
David directs his thoughts entirely to God in this Psalm, making it an excellent model of a powerful prayer. Upon a careful reading of the Psalm, four aspects of prayer are highlighted: Its character, object, certainty and benefit. This study considers the benefit of prayer by examining how David is led to a place of consecration to the Lord. He first recognizes the absolute sovereignty of God by the expressions, “Thy house”, “Thy mercy”, “Thy fear” and “Thy holy temple.” He then acknowledges his submission to God by his personal pledge: “I will come into Thy house”, and “will I worship before Thy holy temple.” Thus, prayer enables a child of God to consecrate his life to the Lord and His people.
The following structure is an overview of the exposition:
Psalm 5:7
An exposition of Luke 14:26-35.
The ramifications of the Christian life stretch to the roots of every connection he has formed with the world around him. Now that Christ is King, everything must yield to His Lordship. There are three connections with the world that are most important to the individual: (1) Who we know; (2) What we own; (3) What we want. Our Lord touches on each of these worldly attachments showing how the believer must yield it all to Him.
The following structure is an overview of the exposition:
Luke 14:26-35
An exposition of Psalm 5:5,6,10.
David directs his thoughts entirely to God in this Psalm, making it an excellent model of a powerful prayer. Upon a careful reading of the Psalm, four aspects of prayer are highlighted: Its character, object, certainty and benefit. This study considers the Certainty of prayer by exploring David’s confidence in God’s judgment of the wicked. A vivid description is supplied on the true nature of the ungodly which affirms the justice of God in executing judgment upon the rebels. A frightening challenge lies at the end of the study: sin has no escape.
The following structure is an overview of the exposition:
Psalm 5:5,6
Psalm 5:10
A lecture on church discipline.
Upon instructing Timothy on how pastors and deacons are to conduct themselves as servants of Christ, the apostle Paul adds, “These things write I unto thee, hoping to come unto thee shortly: but if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.” (1 Timothy 3:14,15) Every disciple of Christ should know how to behave himself in the house of God. Maintaining good order in the church of the living God is called discipline.
This is the seventh study on the subject of church discipline. term church is first used by Jesus Christ and recorded in Matthew 16 and 18. Its reference in 18:15-20 relates to the subject of church discipline. However, the larger context begins with 17:24 and runs through 18:35. Therein we discover six sections, each dealing with the issue of ‘offenses’.
Special attention is given to 17:24-27 as Jesus highlights the importance for Christians to carry themselves without offense towards others. Those who exercise such prudence avoid committing many offenses that otherwise would go unchecked. Indeed, wise is the Christian who, before speaking or acting, considers the vulnerability of others.
The following comparison is an overview of the exposition:
Matthew 17:24-27
Matthew 17:25c-27
Matthew 17:26b-27
A lecture on Elder Plurality: Part 5
The Reformed Baptist Movement has given rise to a new form of church leadership not practiced by Baptist churches prior to the 1950′s. The majority of modern books and articles almost invariably assert that each church should be overseen by a plurality of elders. While many churches have conformed to the new trend, others staunchly cling to their traditional practice of having a single pastor assisted by a group of deacons. It is unwise to follow a trend, or support a tradition, without knowing the Scriptural, historic and practical reasons undergirding the practice.
This fifth study is the second of two parts which offers a third reason why the church is modeled after the family unit: The family unit is the building-block for social government. Compelling parallels exist between the type of government established by God (1) among the luminaries: sun, moon and stars; (2) within the house-hold: husband/father, wife/mother and children; (3) within the church: pastor, deacons and members. At the root level, God’s design of church government is simple and sensible.