TITLE: What about Deacons in the Church?

TEXT: Acts 6:1-7

Juan Sanchez – “The world thinks greatness corresponds to power, but in Gods eyes greatness corresponds to service – particularly serving the people of God.”

What’s the role of Deacons in the Church? Deacons…

1 – PROTECT THE UNITY OF THE CHURCH - V.1

Matt Smethurst – “Of the many lessons for deacons from Acts 6, perhaps the most overlooked is their strategic role in preserving congregational unity. The seven weren’t merely deployed to solve a food problem. Food was the occasion, sure, but it wasn’t the deepest problem. The deepest problem was a sudden threat to church unity.”

2 – CARE FOR THE PHYSICAL NEEDS OF THE CHURCH - V.2

3 – SUPPORT THE ELDERS OF THE CHURCH - V.3-7

TITLE: Who Leads the Church?

TEXT: 1 Timothy 3:1-7

Paul Trip – “For every celebrity Pastor exiting the ministry in the spotlight, there are many more lesser-known pastors leaving in the shadows… for every public falling, there are hundreds of unknown pastors who have lapsed, have left both their leadership and their church in crisis, or are spiritual shells of the pastors they once were. I am convinced from conversation after conversation with pastors and their leadership that we have a leadership crisis…The church is experiencing a leadership crisis.”

Leadership in the church:

1 – GOOD & FROM GOD - V.1

Dave Harvey – “We live in an age of exaggerated autonomy and independence. People want to be independent from absolutes, and their skeptical about anyone who inhabits a position of authority. Cynicism breeds suspicion toward all who bear the responsibility to lead ….The trouble with such cynical thinking is that authority is hardwired into the creation order. God made people to be kings and queens over creation. He mandated that they rule the world(Genesis 1:28). Jesus is revealed to us in Scripture as the Son of God who empties himself of his preincarnate glory and prerogatives and submits to his Father(John 5:19; 6:38; 17:18; 22-26, 1 Corinthians 11:3; Philippians 2:5-11), and we can assume that since we’ll be gathering around God’s throne in heaven, redeemed people will forever live within the borders of authority(Revelation 4). The implications are clear. Leadership is not a consequence of the fall but rather God's good design for human flourishing in a well-ordered world.”

2 – ELDER/PASTOR/OVERSEER - V.2-7, VARIOUS TEXTS

Tim Challies - “We cannot overemphasize the primacy of character. A great many of the problems we see in the local and global church today are caused by the failure to heed this simple principle. So many Christians could be spared so much trauma if only their churches would refuse to put a man in leadership who is lacking such character. So many congregations would be spared so much pain if only they would remove men who prove they don’t have the kind of character God demands. This failure to heed what God makes plain is a terrible blight upon the Christian church.”

D.A Carson – “The criteria mentioned are demanded of all Christians everywhere. Which is another way of saying, elders are first of all to be exemplars of the Christian graces that are presupposed as mandated on all Christians.”

Richard Baxter – “Take heed, therefore, brethren, for the enemy has a special eye upon you. You shall have his most subtle insinuations, and incessant solicitations, and violent assaults. As wise and learned as you are, take heed to yourselves lest he overwit you. The devil is a greater scholar than you, and a nimbler disputant; he can transform himself into an ‘angel of light’ to deceive (2Co 11:14). He will get within you and trip up your heels before you are aware; he will play the juggler with you undiscerned, and cheat you of your faith or innocence, and you shall not know that you have lost it—no, he will make you believe it is multiplied or increased when it is lost.”

What’s the job of Elders/Pastors/Overseers?

2A. SHEPHERD THE FLOCK – 1 PETER 5:1-2

1 Peter 5:1-2 - So I exhort the elders among you, as a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, as well as a partaker in the glory that is going to be revealed: shepherd the flock of God that is among you…”

2B. TEACH THE WORD – TITUS 1:9

Titus 1:9 - “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.”

2C. KEEP CLOSE WATCH – ACTS 20:28

Acts 20:28 - “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.”

TITLE: Who Belongs to the Church?

TEXT: Acts 2:41-47

Answering 2 Crucial Questions:

1 – WHO BELONGS TO THE CHURCH? – V.41

Acts 2: 42-47 – “And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. And all who believed were together and had all things in common. And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.”

CH Spurgeon – “I believe that one reason why the church of God at this present time has so little influence over the world is because the world has so much influence over the church. Put your finger on any prosperous page in the Church’s history, and I will find a little marginal note reading thus: “In this age men could readily see where the church began and where the world ended.’ Never were there good times when the church and the world were joined in marriage with one another. The more the Church is distinct from the world in her acts and in her maxims, the more true is her testimony for Christ, and the more potent is her witness against sin.”

2 – WHY MEMBERSHIP IN THE CHURCH? – V.41b-42

WHY MEMBERSHIP? Because of the biblical pattern:

SALVATION → BAPTISM → MEMBERSHIP

So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand.

More specifically…why the need for formal membership? Because…

2A. It’s how we live out the biblical images & the one another’s

2B. It’s how we obey the command to submit to our leaders - Hebrews 13:17

2C. It’s how leaders can obey the command to lead & care – Acts 20:28

2D. It’s how we exercise church discipline when there is unrepentant sin - 1 Corinthians 5:1-2, 2 Thessalonians 3:6-15

​​1 Corinthians 5:1-2, 9-11 - It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and of a kind that is not tolerated even among pagans, for a man has his father's wife. And you are arrogant! Ought you not rather to mourn? Let him who has done this be removed from among you….I wrote to you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people— not at all meaning the sexually immoral of this world, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters, since then you would need to go out of the world. But now I am writing to you not to associate with anyone who bears the name of brother if he is guilty of sexual immorality or greed, or is an idolater, reviler, drunkard, or swindler—not even to eat with such a one.

2 Thessalonians 3:6,11-15 - Now we command you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you keep away from any brother who is walking in idleness and not in accord with the tradition that you received from us….For we hear that some among you walk in idleness, not busy at work, but busybodies. Now such persons we command and encourage in the Lord Jesus Christ to do their work quietly and to earn their own living. As for you, brothers, do not grow weary in doing good. If anyone does not obey what we say in this letter, take note of that person, and have nothing to do with him, that he may be ashamed. Do not regard him as an enemy, but warn him as a brother.

What’s your next step?

Step 1: Discern if Hope is the local church for you - Next Sunday!

Step 2: Learn to follow Christ with us here! - October 1st, 9:30 am

Be Baptized! Visit hopechurchtw.ca/baptism

Become a Member! Visit hopechurchtw.ca/membership

TITLE: What is the Church?

TEXT: Matthew 16:18, Various Texts

John Hammet – “In designating themselves ekklesia, the early Christians were taking a word already in use by Greek speaking Jews to refer to the people of God in the Old Testament, and thus making a claim to some degree of historical connection to that earlier people; they were also using a word that reinforced the idea that the church is made up of those summoned or called by God.”

THE CHURCH IS …

The assembly of the called-out people of God”

THE CHURCH: The assembly of the called out people of God are:

1 – THE FAMILY OF GOD

John Hammet - “When the references to the church as a household, the references to God as the Father of believers, and the references to believers as brothers and sisters are added together, they become so pervasive that the comparison of the Christian community with a ‘family’ must be regarded as the most significant metaphorical usage of all.”

JI Packer– If you want to judge how well a person understands Christianity, find out how much he makes of the thought of being God’s child, and having God as his Father.”

Joseph Hellerman– “In the New Testament, the group took priority over the individual…in light of ancient Mediterranean cultural sensibilities, the use of sibling terminology indicates that Jesus wanted his followers to interact with one another like members of a strong group, surrogate family characterized by collectivist solidarity and commitment on every front.”

Joseph Hellerman - “Long-term interpersonal relationships are the crucible of genuine progress in the Christian life. People who stay also grow. People who leave do not grow. We all know people who are consumed with spiritual wanderlust[a strong desire to travel]. But we never get to know them very well because they cannot seem to stay put. They move along from church to church, ever searching for a congregation that will better satisfy their felt needs. Like trees repeatedly transplanted from soil to soil, these spiritual nomads fail to put down roots and seldom experience lasting and fruitful growth in their Christian lives.”

[Insert Ministry Year Kick Off Graphic here]

2 – THE BODY OF CHRIST

Romans 12:4-5 – “For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another.”

1 Corinthians 12:14-19, 24-26 - For the body does not consist of one member but of many. If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. If the whole body were an eye, where would be the sense of hearing? If the whole body were an ear, where would be the sense of smell? But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose. If all were a single member, where would the body be? As it is, there are many parts, yet one body….But God has so composed the body, giving greater honor to the part that lacked it, that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together.

Ephesians 4:15-16 – “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.

Colossians 2:18-19 – “Let no one disqualify you, insisting on asceticism and worship of angels, going on in detail about visions, puffed up without reason by his sensuous mind, and not holding fast to the Head, from whom the whole body, nourished and knit together through its joints and ligaments, gr

Karl Whittingstall | 1 Samuel 16:1-13

Title: The way of blessing or a wasted life

Text: Psalm 1:4-6

Psalm 1 confronts us with…

1 – THE TRAGEDY OF A WASTED LIFE – V.4

Three stages of harvesting grain (top of slide above picture)

2 – THE INEVITABILITY OF A FINAL JUDGMENT – V.5

“In the case of the final judgment, God assumes the role of both prosecutor and judge of the wicked. The books bearing witness to the resolute rebellion of the unrepentant are opened. They will collapse under the weight of the damnation they have been laying up for themselves. Their lack of legitimate defense results in their being cast into the lake of fire (Revelation 20:11-15)”

“The activities and outcome of the courtroom scene differ for believers. God is still judge. Satan is now cast as the prosecutor. His accusations are answered and silenced and Satan himself is rebuked by the defense that Jesus offers on behalf of his own. The righteous also fall, but in praise and adoration under the weighty realization that they are in the presence of the Judge of the Universe (Revelation 4:10-11; 19:4)”

GOSPEL: The single key to the blessed life (top of slide)

God created

|

We rebelled

|

Jesus came

|

We are invited

(These can come out all at once)

3 – THE BEAUTY OF THE WAY OF BLESSING – V.6

Jason Matta | Psalm 1:3

Title: The way of blessing

Text: Psalm 1:1-2

The way of blessing is marked by:

1 – A LIFE THAT IS SET APART – V.1

The way of blessed DOES NOT:

1A. Pursue ungodly counsel - V.1A

1B. Partner with open sinners - V.1B

1C. Participate in total rebellion – V.1C

(Please create the following diagram from top to bottom vertically):

The progressive path of the empty life (Title of slide)

The pursuit of ungodly counsel

|

Growing partnership with open sinners

|

Full participation in total rebellion

|

= The empty, frustrated life

2 – A HEART THAT LOVES GOD’S WORD – V.2

“The contrast between the two ways may be put like this: It is the difference between those who are in love with sin and those who love God. The first class love sin’s ways and follow it. The second love God and seek him in Scripture where he may be found.” - James Montgomery Boice

The heart that loves God’s Word understands that:

2A. God’s ways are best – V.2A

2B. God’s ways are inexhaustible – V.2B

“God My Strength When Life Is Hard”

Psalm 73

Introduction

When life is hard – I don’t forget God’s goodness -

When life is hard – I don’t lose focus

The danger of losing focus

The desire comes from a right focus

When life is hard – I trust God’s design

The human heart will fail

The spiritual heart will fail

The hope of a failed heart – God’s story

When life is hard – I will not give up

So What?!

Title: Our Conquering Priest-King

Text: Psalm 110

The Lord Jesus Christ:

1. IS SEATED - v. 1

Verse 1

YAHWEH says to my ADONAI: “Sit at my right hand, until I make your enemies your footstool.”

God’s Right Hand is a symbol of:

Power (Psa. 89:13)

Protection (Psa. 16:8; 63:8)

Presence (Psa. 16:11; 48:10)

Salvation (Psa. 60:5; 20:6; 138:7)

Victory (Psa. 18:35; Isa. 41:10)

Defeat of God’s enemies (Exo. 15:6, 12; Psa. 21:8; 74:11)

His mighty works (Psa. 45:4; 118:15-16; Isa. 48:13)

Judgment (Lam. 2:4)

“[God] raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church” (Ephesians 1:20-22)

“Then comes the end, when he delivers the kingdom to God the Father after destroying every rule and every authority and power. For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. The last enemy to be destroyed is death.” (1 Corinthians 15:24-26)

2. WIELDS THE SCEPTER - v.2-4

Verse 2 (NIV)

“Your troops will be willing on your day of battle. Arrayed in holy splendor, your young men will come to you like dew from the morning’s womb.”

“The Gospel creates new people, who are committed to Christ in every area of their lives. People like these will change the world. They will fill and rule the earth for the glory of Jesus. They will plant churches and establish godly families, and they will also establish hospitals, schools, arts, and sciences. That is what has happened, by God's grace. And that is what will continue to happen until Jesus comes.” (Dr. John M. Frame)

What does this mean for us?

WE’RE IN WAR-TIME - v. 2b

“We are in a war. There is an enemy. That enemy is no gentleman, prepared to play by rules and on a level playing field. When the world around us is relinquished to a supposedly neutral "common kingdom," that enemy will seize control, and in many ways has done so and is increasingly advancing.” (Robert Letham)

WE’VE FREELY ENLISTED - v. 3

“what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also. Share in suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. No soldier gets entangled in civilian pursuits, since his aim is to please the one who enlisted him.” (2 Timothy 2:2-4)

WE HAVE SALVATION - v. 4

Our Great High Priest…

Can empathize and helps us in temptation (Heb. 2:18)

Represents us to God (Heb. 5:1)

Enters the Most Holy Place (Heb. 9:24)

Makes one sacrificial atonement for sin (Heb. 10:11-14)

Brings us close to God (Heb. 10:19-22)

Perfects believers (Heb. 10:14)

Intercedes for us continually (Heb. 7:24-25)

Is a steadfast Anchor for our soul (Heb. 6:20)

3. WILL SHATTER HIS ENEMIES - v. 5-7