The PursueGOD Training Podcast

Welcome back to week two of our Overseer Training series!

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The PursueGOD Training podcast helps pastors, small group leaders, and everyday Christians to make disciples through healthy biblical churches.

Find resources to talk about these episodes at pursueGOD.org/training.

Help others go "full circle" as a follower of Jesus through our 12-week Pursuit series.

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From the Job Description: An overseer must qualify according to 1 Timothy 3:1-7 and Titus 1:6-9 and PG’s profile of a healthy leader. 

He must affirm Alpine's doctrinal statement, the Alpine Way, and Alpine’s Statement on Sexuality and Gender. - reference back to the unity we mentioned last week.  It’s imperative your elders/overseers can affirm your philosophy of ministry. 

• 1 Timothy 3:1-5 This is a trustworthy saying: “If someone aspires to be a church leader,[a] he desires an honorable position.” 2 So a church leader must be a man whose life is above reproach. He must be faithful to his wife.[b] He must exercise self-control, live wisely, and have a good reputation. He must enjoy having guests in his home, and he must be able to teach. 3 He must not be a heavy drinker[c] or be violent. He must be gentle, not quarrelsome, and not love money. 4 He must manage his own family well, having children who respect and obey him. 5 For if a man cannot manage his own household, how can he take care of God’s church? He must not be a recent convert, or he may become conceited and fall under the same judgment as the devil. 7 He must also have a good reputation with outsiders, so that he will not fall into disgrace and into the devil’s trap.
• Overseer, elder, bishop, pastor - words used interchangeably in NT- to oversee, to care for - caring for the flock is at the heart of the calling of an overseer 
• Several translations say, “He desires a good work.”  Many people desire honorable positions, but how many desire to work for the Lord?  
• What is the use of a lazy minister? He is no good either to the world, to the Church, or to himself. He is a dishonor to the noblest profession that can be bestowed upon the sons of men.” (Spurgeon)
• Ashamed of the low expectations I placed on Overseer Team in Logan for the first four years I was campus pastor.  Men often rise to the level of expectation.  I saw that first hand in the years I coached and I’ve seen it in ministry. 
• Above reproach 
• Literally means “nothing to take hold upon” - It is a metaphor of a boxer who so skillfully defends himself, it is impossible to hit him. 
• It can’t mean perfection or there would be no overseers.  Is there a pattern of sin in your life someone can point a finger at?  Not just sins of commission, but sins of omission as well.  This is why we look to see if someone is obedient to helping others pursue God before we invite them to serve in this capacity.  Are they honoring God with their finances?  
• Faithful to his wife 
• Original Greek - must be the husband of one wife, Some translations say must have married only once 
• Most commentaries agree it means monogamy, faithful to his wife
• I’ve always taken a very conservative view on this requirement, but I am softening that stance, or at least think I am. It seems all of the other requirements describe the condition of the man after he has begun a relationship with Jesus. Would Paul have been described as gentle before his conversion, while he was rounding up Christians to be imprisoned or looking upon their stoning with approval?  If that element of the list isn’t looked at as “Has always been gentle” why would we look at this element as “has always been the husband of one wife”.  
• Faithful to his wife would include being faithful with your eyes
• Self Control, live wisely, have a good reputation 
• Story about deacon who bragged he was a real S.O.B. Monday through Friday 
• Self control on social media, self control when we engage in hard conversations 
• Live wisely means there may be areas in my life that aren’t necessarily sinful, but is it wise?  
• Enjoy having guests in his home, hospitality
• Traveling Christians in that culture who didn’t want to stay at public inns because of the depravity - may look different today
• Able to teach 
• The seventh item is "able to teach". This implies not only a readiness to teach, but also having the spiritual power to do so, after the overseer has prayerfully reflected on God's Word and its practical application.
• Teaching environments: small groups, mentoring, Sunday morning, Alpine U classes or similar 
• Not a heavy drinker or violent, gentle, not quarrelsome, and not love money
• In our culture, quarrelsome would also apply to the way the handle social media
• Most literal translation is not contentious - an overseer should not  be someone that people are walking on eggshells around. 
• Do they put love of things over love of God and love of people? 
• Manage his own family well
• How does this look when kids are out of the home? 
• If kids are rebelling, is it because of the father’s parenting or in spite of the father’s parenting? 
• Honest feedback from the candidate’s wife can be very helpful in this case. 
• Not a recent convert and good reputation with outsiders
• Recent is a relative and subjective term.  Has the potential overseer been through trials since they’ve become a believer that have revealed the genuineness of their faith? 
• Have they served alongside others?  How do those who have served with them feel about their qualifications?  
• Profile of a Healthy Leader:
• Spiritual: Be humbly submitted to Jesus as Savior and Lord. Honor God with excellence in your work, depending on God for the results. Colossians 3:23-24
• Emotional: Celebrate your strengths and take ownership of your weaknesses. Stay teachable and positive in the face of trials. 2 Timothy 2:24-25
• Relational: Care about people, not just tasks. Do conflict well, speaking truth in love according to the standard of Jesus. Matthew 18:15-17
• Financial: Don’t love money. Be generous to God through regular, sacrificial giving to your local church. 2 Corinthians 8:7

Missional: Buy into the disciple-making mission of the church. Model it personally in your life and encourage others to participate. Matthew 28:19-20

Part 1 of 3 in the Overseer Training series. Go through this with a mentor (or mentors) from the existing pastoral team at your church or campus.

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The PursueGOD Training podcast helps pastors, small group leaders, and everyday Christians to make disciples through healthy biblical churches.

Find resources to talk about these episodes at pursueGOD.org/training.

Help others go "full circle" as a follower of Jesus through our 12-week Pursuit series.

Click here to learn more about how to use these resources at home, with a small group, or in a one-on-one discipleship relationship.

Got questions or want to leave a note? Email us at [email protected].

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In the New Testament, you’ll find the authors use three different words to describe the office of elder, pastor, overseer, or bishop.  

• Episkopos - overseer
• Philippians 1:1 I am writing to all of God’s holy people in Philippi who belong to Christ Jesus, including the church leaders and deacons. (NLT) 
• NIV, NASB, ESV - overseers
• KJV, NKJV - bishops
•  Poimen - shepherd/pastor 
• Ephesians 4:11 So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and becoming mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. (NLT) 
• NIV, NKJV, KJV, NASB - pastors
• ESV - shepherds 
• This term is the least used term of the three in referring to the official position in the church.  Jesus uses this term throughout the book of Matthew; sheep without a shepherd, I am the good shepherd, the sheep know the shepherd, etc. 
• Presbyteros - elder 
• 1 Timothy 5:17 The elders who direct the affairs of the church well are worthy of double honor, especially those whose work is preaching and teaching. (NIV) 
• NLT, ESV, KJV, NASB, NKJV - elders 

Alpine Way - At Alpine Church, we understand and take into account the culture that surrounds us in this moment of time. This helps us to wisely contextualize our ministry practices, so that we can be more effective in fulfilling the Great Commandment and the Great Commission in the arena where God has placed us.

Our primary field of engagement begins with the Wasatch Front of Utah, and extends to other areas throughout the Intermountain West where the culture of Mormonism is most rooted. We share the Gospel with all those we encounter, but our target audience is disaffected Latter-day Saints and others with a Mormon background. As God gives opportunity, we are open to serving in areas beyond the Mormon cultural domain, but we are especially interested in areas where Mormonism is common.

• Because of this we use the terms “overseer” and “‘pastoral team” as “elder” and “bishop” carry meanings in the LDS culture that could be confusing to our attenders. 

Functions of pastor, elder, overseer, bishop according to scripture 

1. Oppose False Teaching/Proclaim the Gospel - 1 Timothy 1:3 As I urged you when I went into Macedonia, stay there in Ephesus so that you may command certain people not to teach false doctrines any longer. 1 Timothy 4:6, 1 Timothy 4:11, 1 Timothy 4:16, 1 Timothy 6:2-3 
2. He is to be a teacher - “able to teach” is listed as a qualification. According to 1 Timothy 5:17 there are elders/overseers whose role is not primarily teaching or preaching because Paul uses the phrase - “especially those whose work is preaching and teaching”. This indicates a separation from those who don’t have that primary role.  Environments for teaching - small groups, mentor relationships, Sunday services, in the home
3. Promote unity in the body - 1 Timothy 1:3-4 
4. Pray for the body 1 Timothy 2:1, 2:8 (This command is to “men everywhere” so it is not limited to overseers/elders, but would certainly include them)
5. He is a manager - 1 Timothy 3:5
6. Spiritual discipline - 1 Timothy 5:20, 1 Timothy 5:1
7. Spiritual Authority - This would make sense that you don’t have the responsibility to discipline unless you have authority. 

The role of pastor, elder, overseer, or bishop is different from the role of deacon. 

• Phil 1: (NLT) 1 This letter is from Paul and Timothy, slaves of Christ Jesus. I am writing to all of God’s holy people in Philippi who belong to Christ Jesus, including the church leaders and deacons.
• 1 Timothy 3:1-13 
• Qualifications of both roles are similar. If you hold the position that women can be deacons then deacons would not have spiritual authority or this would be inconsistent with Paul’s writings in 1 Timothy. We don’t see the “able to teach” requirement listed for deacons.

Excerpt

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The PursueGOD Truth podcast is the “easy button” for making disciples – whether you’re looking for resources to lead a family devotional, a small group at church, or a one-on-one mentoring relationship. Join us for new episodes every Tuesday and Friday.

Find resources to talk about these episodes at pursueGOD.org.

Help others go "full circle" as a follower of Jesus through our 12-week Pursuit series.

Click here to learn more about how to use these resources at home, with a small group, or in a one-on-one discipleship relationship.

Got questions or want to leave a note? Email us at [email protected].

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Notes

In this episode, we take a look at some principles of effective and compelling preaching. Also in the episode is an interview with author Phil Campbell, who has great insight in how to make sure your congregation stays awake!

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The PursueGOD Training podcast helps pastors, small group leaders, and everyday Christians to make disciples through healthy biblical churches.

Find resources to talk about these episodes at pursueGOD.org/training.

Help others go "full circle" as a follower of Jesus through our 12-week Pursuit series.

Click here to learn more about how to use these resources at home, with a small group, or in a one-on-one discipleship relationship.

Got questions or want to leave a note? Email us at [email protected].

Donate Now

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The Three C’s of Preaching

• PG sermons are designed to give you a simple skeleton for your sermon. The preacher’s job is to prayerfully put “flesh” on it using scripture, exposition, and personal stories.
• Prep with the “3 C’s” in mind. Be clear. Be concise. Be compelling. Great preaching engages everyone – seekers as well as believers, young and old, male and female.

Ethos, Pathos, and Logos

• Ethos speaks to the credibility of the speaker. Are you believable? What qualifies you to preach in the first place?
• Pathos speaks to the emotions of the audience. Why should they listen? Have you prepared the message in a way that connects to them?
• Logos speaks to the logic of the message. Does it make sense? Have you connected the big idea to the talking points with simplicity in mind?

Get Phil Campbell's book Saving Eutychus.

In today's episode, we look at the transformative impact of shepherding relationships, emphasizing that true growth often occurs outside the pulpit. We discuss the vital role of preachers in equipping believers for discipleship, fostering unity and maturity in the body of Christ.

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The PursueGOD Training podcast helps pastors, small group leaders, and everyday Christians to make disciples through healthy biblical churches.

Find resources to talk about these episodes at pursueGOD.org/training.

Help others go "full circle" as a follower of Jesus through our 12-week Pursuit series.

Click here to learn more about how to use these resources at home, with a small group, or in a one-on-one discipleship relationship.

Got questions or want to leave a note? Email us at [email protected].

Donate Now

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• Real transformation happens in the shepherding context (families, small groups, and one-on-one mentoring relationships), not in the preaching context. Matthew 9:35-37
• Matthew 9:35-38 (NLT) 35 Jesus traveled through all the towns and villages of that area, teaching in the synagogues and announcing the Good News about the Kingdom. And he healed every kind of disease and illness. 36 When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them because they were confused and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. 37 He said to his disciples, “The harvest is great, but the workers are few. 38 So pray to the Lord who is in charge of the harvest; ask him to send more workers into his fields.”
• The preacher’s job is to equip regular Christians to do the work of the ministry. A great sermon empowers conversations throughout the week. Ephesians 4:11-12
• Ephesians 4:11-16 (NLT) 11 Now these are the gifts Christ gave to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers. 12 Their responsibility is to equip God’s people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ. 13 This will continue until we all come to such unity in our faith and knowledge of God’s Son that we will be mature in the Lord, measuring up to the full and complete standard of Christ.
• 14 Then we will no longer be immature like children. We won’t be tossed and blown about by every wind of new teaching. We will not be influenced when people try to trick us with lies so clever they sound like the truth. 15 Instead, we will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church. 16 He makes the whole body fit together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love. 
• Ultimately, PG sermons are designed to help people pursue God – and this means getting more people to go “full circle”. Matthew 28:19-20
• Matthew 28:18-20 (NLT) 18 Jesus came and told his disciples, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. 19 Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. 20 Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”
• We build resources with one distinctive in mind: to equip the preacher to support the discipleship infrastructure of the church. If conversations aren’t happening after the sermon, we’ve missed the point.

Today we’re starting a 3-week series called Preacher Training – with a focus on preaching sermons based on the pursueGOD discipleship resources.

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The PursueGOD Training podcast helps pastors, small group leaders, and everyday Christians to make disciples through healthy biblical churches.

Find resources to talk about these episodes at pursueGOD.org/training.

Help others go "full circle" as a follower of Jesus through our 12-week Pursuit series.

Click here to learn more about how to use these resources at home, with a small group, or in a one-on-one discipleship relationship.

Got questions or want to leave a note? Email us at [email protected].

Donate Now

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In this episode we introduce five questions for self-reflection to determine if you’re qualified to preach in a local church. 

Before we get to those questions, let’s talk for a minute about the PG resources.

• PG uses podcasts on a variety of topics to offer biblical answers to everyday questions. Then we organize these podcasts into series so you can use them to make disciples at church, home, or in the world. 
• Local churches can freely preach sermons based on our series and then point small groups, families, and mentors to the series page for sermon-based curriculum. You’re welcome to adapt your sermon as needed.
• Ultimately, PG curriculum is designed to help people pursue God – and this means getting more Christians to be disciple-makers. We’ll explain this philosophy of ministry in detail in lesson 2 of this series.

Five Questions before you preach:

• Are you connected to Jesus? Preaching in the early church was a function of spending time with Jesus, not of seminary training. Acts 4:13
• 13 The members of the council were amazed when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, for they could see that they were ordinary men with no special training in the Scriptures. They also recognized them as men who had been with Jesus.
• Are you honoring God in everyday life? Preachers are qualified by solid character and sound doctrine. Titus 1:5-9
• 5 I left you on the island of Crete so you could complete our work there and appoint elders in each town as I instructed you. 6 An elder must live a blameless life. He must be faithful to his wife,* and his children must be believers who don’t have a reputation for being wild or rebellious. 7 A church leader* is a manager of God’s household, so he must live a blameless life. He must not be arrogant or quick-tempered; he must not be a heavy drinker,* violent, or dishonest with money.
• 8 Rather, he must enjoy having guests in his home, and he must love what is good. He must live wisely and be just. He must live a devout and disciplined life. 9 He must have a strong belief in the trustworthy message he was taught; then he will be able to encourage others with wholesome teaching and show those who oppose it where they are wrong.
• Do you care about people? Godly preachers are not motivated by ego or financial gain, but rather by a desire to help people pursue God. 1 Timothy 6:3-4
• 3 Some people may contradict our teaching, but these are the wholesome teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ. These teachings promote a godly life. 4 Anyone who teaches something different is arrogant and lacks understanding. Such a person has an unhealthy desire to quibble over the meaning of words. This stirs up arguments ending in jealousy, division, slander, and evil suspicions.
• Are you personally making disciples? You can’t lead someone to a place you’ve never been. Matthew 28:19-20
• 19 Therefore, go and ma ke disciples of all the nations,* baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. 20 Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”
• Do you have a teaching gift? 1 Corinthians 12:29-30
• 29 Are we all apostles? Are we all prophets? Are we all teachers? Do we all have the power to do miracles? 30 Do we all have the gift of healing? Do we all have the ability to speak in unknown languages? Do we all have the ability to interpret unknown languages? Of course not!

Excerpt

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The PursueGOD Training podcast helps pastors, small group leaders, and everyday Christians to make disciples through healthy biblical churches.

Find resources to talk about these episodes at pursueGOD.org/training.

Help others go "full circle" as a follower of Jesus through our 12-week Pursuit series.

Click here to learn more about how to use these resources at home, with a small group, or in a one-on-one discipleship relationship.

Got questions or want to leave a note? Email us at [email protected].

Donate Now

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In this episode, Bryan and Ross discuss the practices of a great board member. They emphasize the importance of being prepared for board meetings and understanding the purpose of the meetings. They also talk about the spiritual side of board membership and the need to hear the Spirit in decision-making. They discuss the process of voting and seeking consensus, as well as the responsibility of breaking the ice when there is a holdout on the board. They also highlight the importance of participating constructively and cultivating emotional maturity as a board member. Finally, they discuss the importance of teamwork and defining success in team terms.

Takeaways

• Being prepared for board meetings is crucial and shows that you take your role as a board member seriously.
• Board meetings have a spiritual side and it is important to hear the Spirit and seek God's leading in decision-making.
• Participating constructively in board meetings involves speaking respectfully, listening patiently, and asking tough questions without being demeaning or aggressive.
• Board members should continue to grow in their skills and wisdom as board members, as well as in their relationship with Jesus.

This is a general series that many churches will find helpful. It should be a great conversation starter for established boards, and it might even help your church rethink your leadership structure.

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The PursueGOD Training podcast helps pastors, small group leaders, and everyday Christians to make disciples through healthy biblical churches.

Find resources to talk about these episodes at pursueGOD.org/training.

Help others go "full circle" as a follower of Jesus through our 12-week Pursuit series.

Click here to learn more about how to use these resources at home, with a small group, or in a one-on-one discipleship relationship.

Got questions or want to leave a note? Email us at [email protected].

Donate Now

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In this episode, Bryan and Ross discuss the traits of a great board and common pitfalls to avoid. They emphasize the importance of board members being spiritually attuned, relationally healthy, fully invested in the mission, focused on strategy rather than operations, and self-policing. They also highlight the need for good record-keeping, attention to finances, and avoiding relationship dysfunction and personal preferences over the mission. To do this, the pastors introduce three practical tools: a board member covenant, an annual board calendar, and a prime responsibility chart.

Takeaways

• Board members should be spiritually attuned, relationally healthy, fully invested in the mission, focused on strategy, and self-policing.
• Good record-keeping is essential for legal requirements, credibility, and resolving disputes.
• Board members should pay attention to finances, have checks and balances, and build financial reserves.
• Relationship dysfunction and personal preferences can hinder the effectiveness of a board.
• Practical tools like a board member covenant, annual board calendar, and prime responsibility chart can help improve board functioning.

This is a general series that many churches will find helpful. It should be a great conversation starter for established boards, and it might even help your church rethink your leadership structure.

--

The PursueGOD Training podcast helps pastors, small group leaders, and everyday Christians to make disciples through healthy biblical churches.

Find resources to talk about these episodes at pursueGOD.org/training.

Help others go "full circle" as a follower of Jesus through our 12-week Pursuit series.

Click here to learn more about how to use these resources at home, with a small group, or in a one-on-one discipleship relationship.

Got questions or want to leave a note? Email us at [email protected].

Donate Now

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In this episode, Bryan and Ross discuss the relationship between the governing board and the senior pastor. This conversation explores the role of a governing board in a church and the importance of supportive yet accountable board members. It discusses the nature of board approval, decision-making, budget approval, performance evaluation, and the removal of the senior pastor. The conversation emphasizes the need for clear processes and guidelines to ensure effective governance and accountability within the church.

Takeaways

• Avoid an adversarial or submissive attitude towards the senior pastor.
• Support the senior pastor by providing encouragement, resources, and wise counsel.
• Hold the senior pastor accountable and ask tough questions to improve decision-making.
• Buy into the church's mission and be supportive of the pastor's vision, but avoid becoming yes-men. Board members should provide support and accountability to the senior pastor, ensuring that decisions align with the church's vision and goals.
• The relationship between the board and the senior pastor should be both supportive and accountable, with a balance between working for and working with the board.

This is a general series that many churches will find helpful. It should be a great conversation starter for established boards, and it might even help your church rethink your leadership structure.

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The PursueGOD Training podcast helps pastors, small group leaders, and everyday Christians to make disciples through healthy biblical churches.

Find resources to talk about these episodes at pursueGOD.org/training.

Help others go "full circle" as a follower of Jesus through our 12-week Pursuit series.

Click here to learn more about how to use these resources at home, with a small group, or in a one-on-one discipleship relationship.

Got questions or want to leave a note? Email us at [email protected].

Donate Now

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In this episode, Bryan and Ross discuss the key responsibilities of a board member in a church. They cover three different hats that board members wear: the governance hat, the volunteer hat, and the participant hat. They emphasize the importance of understanding foundational principles, engaging in strategy rather than operations, and being a positive force in the church. They also discuss the boundaries of a board member, including no individual authority, no personal agendas, confidentiality, and avoiding conflicts of interest.

Takeaways

• Board members play different roles and wear different hats, including the governance hat, the volunteer hat, and the participant hat.
• Understanding foundational principles and documents is crucial for board members to fulfill their responsibilities.
• Board members should focus on strategy and the big picture, rather than getting involved in operational details.
• Board members should be a positive force in the church, nurturing relationships, growing in faith, and praying for the church and its leaders.