|
1001 E. MacArthur
Ministers |
Today
The church building is now equipped with a silent alarm system. If you have business here before or after normal operating hours, you must contact a staff member to obtain entry! - More Later
Craft Encouragement Operation There are sack bundles and papers for everyone to sign with encouragement. Please sign, deliver or pickup your own.
Fellowship Day Donuts Etc. 8:50-920am After Evening Services Menu for basket dinner includes: Mexican: Taco Salads, Casseroles, Burritos, Enchiladas, Chips & Salsa. Dessert: Cookies & Vanilla Ice Cream
Card Shower Going Away card shower for Everett Nicholas given also during Fellowship Dinner.
Kids in the Kingdom Will have a kite day at 4:30
Deacon Meeting at 5pm gives any agenda items to Neal Martin.
Listening Hour With Small Group Committee An open meeting will be held today at 4:30-5:45pm. For anyone, who would like to meet with the committee to discuss questions & possibilities of a small groups ministry.
This Week
Wedding Invitation Jennifer Dupy & Jake Jones will unite in marriage this Saturday, May 24 at 2:00.
-
|
May 18, 2003 Vol XXIV # 20 Teens Senior High Appreciation Day Reception during Fellowship Dinner.
Office has application for Genesis. ________________________ Lacy Nelson’s brother, Spec. Ryan Nelson, Army National Guard, has been activated for one year to serve on a Homeland Defense mission. He’ll be guarding the nuclear plant in Pine Bluff, Arkansas. See the military bulletin board.
Questions & Answers concerning the Biblical study of elders originally scheduled for tonight will be postponed. Upcoming New Sunday Morning Adult Bible Classes beginning June 1 thru Aug.: · 2 Corinthians- Wayne Stephens Annex 1 · Archaeology & the Bible –Cliff Annex Kitchen · 20’s-30’s- NW Classroom · Isaiah- Bill Schweikhard Auditorium
Ladies Retreat Planning Committee Meeting Will meet at Marsha Rowley’s house for a brunch at 10:00am on Sat. 31, please let her know if your attending by Wed.,28th 275-0335
Dates to Remember: Genesis-June 7-13, Trek-June 21-28, VBS-July 6-9, Mission Ringling-July 11-13, Camp Rock Creek-July 20-24
THANK YOU Our thank you this week goes to Polly Willis for the lilies she brought for Easter.
|
|
|
Remember in Your Prayers Susan Douglas had optic knee outpatient surgery last Thursday. Mike McDonald, Lonnie McDonald’s cousin has reoccurring leg cancer and have found spots in lungs. Allsion Younger spent a few days in the hospital with a uterine infection. Kim Kotts, Bob Kotts’ daughter broke her leg in two places. Denzel Williamson, Tokee Richard’s brother-in-law pass away last week from a heart attack.
_________________________________________________________________________________
IT’S ALL ABOUT RELATIONSHIP There are traditional assertions about elders: 1) Elder is the highest office in the church, 2) Elders hold positions like civil, secular, even military office with inherent authority, 3) Ruling and decisions are the primary functions of elders, 4) Elders run church business. Such understandings rest heavily on societal patterns. The New Testament draws a different picture. “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them and their officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant and whoever wants to be first must be your slave . .” (Matt 20:25-27). The terms used for the church leaders - teacher, steward, elder, overseer, shepherd - describe service, mentoring, protection, instruction, guidance, strengthening and leading. Elders encourage, edify, empower, and equip others toward the Lord and good works (Eph 4:11-12). Jesus said, “All authority in heaven and on earth is given to Me” (Matt 28:18). Apparently there is good reason why the scriptures never place the word “authority” in the same context with elders. Why would we criticize denominations for their religious hierarchies and then set up one of our own, claiming it to be delegated from God?! Elders are part of the Body, but are not the Head (Eph 1:19-23). (We never see elders holding meetings or required to make decisions in scripture! Did you notice why Titus was to appoint elders in 1:9-11?; see Acts 20:28). See what is an elder for?! Study the Biblical words and qualities for the role. Think spiritual family instead of corporate boards or the business world or executive officers. Spiritual leading is not bossing or handling secular functions and trivialities. Nurturing, edifying, and seeking the lost are not matters of selecting persons to “call the shots.” Becoming a spiritual overseer is a “noble task,” not a status; a “good work,” and not a station (1 Tim 3:1). A man must desire the work, not as a power base, but because it takes extraordinary effort to help save people. So, do elder(s) ever make a decision? Sure, nothing gets well done without thinking. Guidance must be given to a flock that will scatter without it. Protection, edification and equipping need plans. But all of this is on what basis? By the micromanagement of an eldership or by the wise, kindly empowering of a people? By reins held tightly in a boardroom or by pastoring amongst the flock? It’s all about relationship, and not rank. Good leaders nurture the desire to follow in those whom they lead. Followers follow on the basis of respect for elders and the good of the church, not because elders are all-powerful. No shepherd can make anyone do anything. As Brother Reuel Lemmons wrote, “The church may well be waiting for the emergence of a leadership that prays over (with) the sick, that counsels the families that are breaking up, that comforts the brokenhearted, that girds itself with a towel and cleans up the ground after the parade is over.” Leadership like that revolutionizes the church and leads to better things in the kingdom. - Cliff
|
| : |