Hold Up The Book

In this third installment of our series on elders/pastors/shepherds, we talk about three more responsibilities of those who lead a congregation, and we talk about one responsibility that all saints have toward the elders who lead them.

This message, part of a series about the grand story of the Bible, talks about the final chapter of the Hebrew Bible: 2 Chronicles 36. It seems like the end of the story of Israel, and there are some heavy lessons to learn from it. And yet, even the writer who penned this chapter knew that, because of the grace of God, this wasn't the end of their story. And that's where we see the good news of The Gospel—that God isn't finished with them yet!

Job is often held up as a great example of patience & endurance through times of great suffering, as well he should be. But in the final chapter of his story, Job's experience turns much more messianic — showing a shadow of things to come in Christ as he intercedes for his friends and God forgives them based on his actions. This communion meditation brings all of that to light, reminding us to be grateful for the mediator who brings about forgiveness of our sins—Jesus the Christ.

*This is a throwback message b/c I'm on vacation and not preaching today :) 

This message simply puts together some Biblical traits of a great group of Christians. Some of them are transcendent ideals about our relationship with God in Christ, and some of them are just very practical ways that we can live out the implications of that grand relationship.

During the Triumphal Entry, the Jews told Christ to rebuke his disciples for the way they praised him ("Hosanna to him who comes in the name of the Lord!"). Jesus' answer was: "If these were silent, the very stones would cry out!" And, as it turns out... sometimes throughout the Bible, the stones did cry out as a mighty act of God was being done!

There are several distorted models of leadership that simply don't work as metaphors or models for elders/pastors of a church. This message highlights some of them and the downfalls of each, plus points us to the importance of shepherds who feed the sheep.

The final commandment is longer than it is often given credit for. More than a generic warning against greed, it's a specific command not to desire things which do not righteously belong to us. It often seems out of place among such lofty ideals as some of the other Commandments, but we attempt to show its powerful place among them with this message.

A church of the living God is his people — both in the universal, eternal sense and in their smaller, congregational identities. One of the hallmarks of congregations is that they are led by elders—a role that is often also called "shepherds" or "pastors." This is a crucial role in a congregation, so this is the first of three messages of teaching on this role and those who fill it.

The meaning of the ninth commandment is typically flattened from "You shall not bear false witness"—which is an issue that pertains to the courts and their ability prosecute evil among the nation—to a general piece of advice that all people should tell the truth. But flattening it like that causes us to miss some of the power that this commandment has for shaping a whole nation of people into a society that values truth, life, equality, and goodness for all people within it.

Hannah—the mother of Samuel—serves a great example of faithful, devoted parenting. Hannah's ultimate decision to give her son to God teaches a lessson that all parents should understand: the our kids ultimately belong to God and are to be given to him.