POSITIONS IN THE CHURCH
Philippians 1:1 Paul and Timotheus, the servants of Jesus Christ, to all the saints in Christ Jesus which are at Philippi, with the bishops and deacons:
1. RIGHTLY DIVIDING POSITIONS IN THE CHURCH
a) Paul’s epistles are where we find the pattern and instructions for the body of Christ – 1Tim 1:16, 1Cor 11:1-2.
b) Priest’s and Pope’s are not positions for the church.
• Priest are ministers of Israel/Law (specifically the Levites) – Exo 27:21, 28,29. Today we are not under the law and Christ is our mediator – Rom6:14, 1Tim 2:5.
• Pope/Vicar is essentially following the pattern given to Israel under the law.
c) Acts 6:1-7 is not our pattern – Deacons aren’t just “yes-men” that do the dirty work that is beneath the Bishop– 1Tim 3:9,13.
d) The bishop of a church is not one who you confess your sins to, who is Lord over your soul, they are not God, or the final authority.
e) Associate pastor, youth pastor, secretary, worship leader, choir leader, etc.. are not positions found in the scripture. Only bishops and deacons – Eph 4:11 is talking about when the body of Christ was being established.
2. CHURCH MEMBERSHIP
a) When talking about positions in the church you must first be a member of the church.
b) You become a member not by being voted in, not by doing certain works, and not by getting a baptismal certificate. You are a member by faith – Gal 3:26-28, 5:6, 1Cor 1:17, 12:13,27, 2Cor 5:17, Col 1:26-28, Eph 1:13, 5:30.
c) Our purpose of coming together is to minister one to another. This means you have those who are stablished in the faith who can minister and those who are young in the faith who need ministering to.
d) All members of the church should strive to grow and be elders – Titus 2:1-8, Col 1:28
3. ORDAINED OFFICES IN THE CHURCH
a) Elders:
•Elder does not necessarily speak to age (1Tim 4:12), but one who is in a position to oversee, lead, proven. One who comes before, matured.
• Both bishops and deacons are elders – Phil 1:1, Acts 14:23, 1Tim 5:17.
• Elders guard the doctrine – 1Tim 3:15, 1Tim 1:3
b) Deacons:
• Are those that minister -the word means servant or minister, and is why people go to Acts 6 for their pattern. The question should be what are the deacons of the body of Christ serving/ministering – 1Tim 3:8-13,
• Deacons in the scripture -Tychicus (Eph 6:21, Col 4:7), Epaphroditus (Phil 2:25), Epaphras (Col 1:7, Phil 1:23-24), Several mentioned in 1Cor 16:15-19.
c) Bishops:
• Bishops are those who oversee the local assemblies – Acts 20:17-38
• Bishops set things in order – 1Cor 4:16-17, 11:34, 14:40, Titus 1:5.
• Bishops attend to the doctrine – 1Tim 4:13, 2Tim 4:1-5, Titus 1:5-11.
4. WHEN BISHOPS OR DEACONS ARE WRONG
a) It is important to know that Christ is the head of the church, not the bishop or deacon board – Eph 5:23, Col 1:18, Col 2:9-10
b) The scripture is our final authority, not the bishop or deacon board – 2Tim 3:16-17, 2:15.
c) It takes members who know the scripture and doctrine to determine if an elder is ruling well – 1Tim 5:17.
d) If an elder is wrong and teaching falsely you can entreat him, their can be reconciliation/correction – 1Tim 5:1 – Ultimately if they refuse to be corrected you leave – Rom 16:17.
e) Mark those who are teaching and walking rightly and follow them – Phil 3:17, 1Cor 4:16.
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