Today was a little different, just two sessions with the first being the 25/26 AGM for the AGC. Being part of the AGC is about an affiliation with likeminded churches in the local area, yet it involves more than just agreeing theologically (as significant as that is). We partner through financial giving, by encouragement, by sharing resources, and by participating in the business meetings. All this to say that Peoples Church was represented well at the AGM – 4 of our Elders made motions, and I asked several questions (does that surprise anyone?). Being involved in the AGM through practical elements like motions and questions is a small but significant sign to affiliated churches that we really do believe in the beauty of being united with them.

The final session of the conference was once again taught by Norm Miller and boy did he bring it home! One thing I really respect Norm for is his genuineness of faith. He really does believe in the power of the Gospel. A good preacher points to the Gospel; a great preacher ignites awe for the Gospel… and Norm is a great preacher!

Here is the outline of his final talk:

Grace Extended: Embracing the Conspiracy of Grace (2 Corinthians 12:7-10)

• God’s Grace comes in Unexpected Ways
• God’s Grace is all we Need
• Grace has a Pre-requisite
• God’s Grace Transforms Attitudes

The conference theme focused on Grace upon Grace. With each session, it became evident just how easy it is to treat the grace of the Gospel with such familiarity that we lose some of the awe. Which is why I so appreciated Norm, because I have come away inspired and ignited once again by the splendor and majesty of God’s grace displayed in Jesus – thank you Norm!

We are now back home after a fun drive debriefing the conference. The work of ministry at Peoples continues – elders meeting tonight, preaching cohort in the morning, and the closing event of connect groups tomorrow night… oh, did I mention another baptism service this weekend! Time to roll up our sleeves and get on with the work of making the grace of God known to others!

Thank you for sending us to the AGC conference – we pray that the impact of the conference would be felt through our service in the coming weeks and months. How to finish a trio of blogs? By reminder all of the grace God has given…

Amazing grace (how sweet the sound)

that saved a wretch like me!

I once was lost, but now am found,

was blind, but now I see

Even though we are at a conference, the team from Peoples Church is still at work. Bright and early our Youth Pastor was in the hotel lobby working on his message for this weekend’s IMPACT. I joined him as I studied the sermon for Sunday (another baptism service), and throughout the day the elders were answering emails from members seeking advice. So, with so much going on, we decided to take a little break this afternoon to head to Niagara-on-the-Lake… WOW! What a beautiful place, made even better by the tasty ice-cream (food seems to feature in this blog) and the discussion on effective ministry as we walked the water edge. What a blessing to be able to take 2 hours to rest and take in the beauty of God’s creation.

The conference had three sessions today, each as rich as the other. Norm Miller is truly a man of God that loves His Lord, the church, and the lost. I was moved to watch this humble servant preach through tears and with urgency sharing the message of the Gospel to fellow pastors. One element that speaks to his servant heart, before each message he kneels to pray… but only after eyes are closed, and when he stands back up he does so before the amen… he kneels before God but ensures others don’t see… it is not for show, but out of reverence for the Lord!

Here is session 1 outline:

Grace Received: Experiencing the Transformation of Grace (Titus 2:11-15)

• God’s grace produces transformation
• God’s grace must be the message of the church.

The grace of God brings dead people in their sin back to life. Our mission is simple, to receive this grace (being born again) and to take this grace out to the lost. If we are not on that mission, then who is?

Here is session 2 outline:

Grace Extended: Stewarding the Gifts of Grace (1 Peter 4:7-11)

• The urgency of stewarding these gifts of grace
• The grace in being given these gifts
• The ministry purpose of these gifts
• Steward gifts well for God’s glory

It was in this session that Norm “let it rip” – wow! We should not be interested in what we want in the church, or what others want in the church, but in what God wants. God’s will is clear – the lost to be saved, and the saved to live for Him! The room erupted in Amen’s and audible affirmation – yes, Jesus really is everything and our mission is to elevate Him by taking Him to the lost. Souls are dying in sin, let not one more die without having the message of Jesus impressed upon them.

An additional session:

We had the opportunity to go to a breakout session delivered by Dwayne Cline considering the pathway to an effective volunteer service. At Peoples Church, we are so grateful for the many who serve in so many different ministries. Yet, we know how many are feeling tired and pulled in lots of different directions. Dwayne was helpful to show the elders clear pathways we can develop to help new volunteers and to encourage those needing a rest. More to come on this in future, but fair to say that we are listening and looking to serve those who serve others in our church!

One element I have yet to mention is the fellowship we have enjoyed as fellow elders and with other pastors/elders from other AGC churches. From the South African Pastor who gave me a name of an immigration lawyer to help with our new visa, to the AGC leaders who were willing to talk to Pastor Seth about wider youth ministry in the AGC, all the way through to the ministry partners who shared about the needs in reaching Muslims, the 20/30s age range, and those seeking to have answers to their major life questions.

As day 2 closes out and I reflect on all the encouraging aspects of the conference, one stands out personally – the volume of singing coming from the men! Oh, how our churches would be blessed when the men sing unashamed of their praises for King Jesus.

Till tomorrow… May the grace of God bless you!

So, from the lobby of my hotel (which is the perfect blend of comfortable chair, good music, and fast WIFI), here are my thoughts on the first day of AGC East Conference.

The Conference theme is “Grace Upon Grace,” considering how believers receive grace from God and then in turn send that grace out to others. The keynote speaker is Norm Millar, Lead Pastor of Redemption Bible Chapel – more on Norm in a moment!

For those who know me, you know I am an extrovert of extroverts. So, we arrived early to meet and mingle amongst fellow AGC leaders – a pastor from Toronto, AGC East Leadership, a few pastors who sat on my ordination council, the lady who gave me the WIFI details… and many more! A benefit of the conference is that meals are provided, so off we went to the gym to share in a meal – is there anything better than sitting with like-minded brothers and sisters in Christ? Eating, chatting, fellowshipping, laughing, and praising God for tasty food!

Well, we come to the main event… session 1… and wow was Norm Miller excellent. Here is his outline:

Grace Received: Believing the Incarnate Grace (John 1:14-18)

1. Indwelling Grace – the Word became flesh.
2. Visible Grace – in the life of Jesus
3. Abundant Grace – it is more than we can ever hope for or need
4. Hidden Grace – it is not for the world, but for the believer

One element I really appreciated was Norm’s reminder that we must know the depravity of our sin and our deserving of hell to truly grasp how beautiful the grace of God is in sending Jesus to be our propitiation for that depraved sin! A greater understanding of God’s grace will lead to a greater ability to give God’s grace to others!

After the session concluded, it was a joy to sit with my fellow elders and talk “shop.” Which brings me back to being in the lobby of this hotel and the end of day one. Is it worth being here? Is it worth taking time away from church duties, family, and doctoral studies? Absolutely, even if it were only to hear from Norm Miller how God’s grace is like the sea – wave upon wave, never ceasing, always consistent, overwhelmingly powerful, and a beauty to behold.

Till day 2… back to the comfortable chair, good music, and strong WIFI.

To help focus our hearts and minds on the Lord, we have organized a week long early morning devotion - a time to eat (breakfast provided), a time to hear from God's Word, and a time to reflect on the Lord's journey to death and resurrection for our salvation. Every day this week (Monday - Sunday) the church will be open:

• Breakfast served at 6:30am with the devotion starting at about 6:50am.
• On Friday, breakfast will be served between 8am and 9:30am, with a Good Friday service at 10am.

We invite you to join us as we meditate on the Word of God and draw closer to Jesus during this Holy Week. If you cannot attend, below are the readings we will follow, read along with your church family and be encouraged by the Lord.

Monday (Jesus Cleanses the Temple)

• 2 Samuel 7:12-13
• Isaiah 56:7
• Matthew 21:12-17
• Luke 19:39-48
• John 2:13-22

Tuesday (Jesus Rebukes the Pharisees)

• Matthew 21:23-22:46
• Mark 14:1-2
• Luke 20:1-47

Wednesday (Judas Decides to Betray Jesus)

• Mark 14:3-11
• John 12:1-8
• John 13:1-30

Maundy Thursday (The Last Supper)

• Matthew 26:17-30
• Mark 14:12-72
• Luke 22:7-20
• Luke 22:39-46

Good Friday (Jesus Crucifixion)

• Isaiah 53:1-12
• Matthew 27:1-61
• Luke 23:1-49
• John 1:29
• John 18:28-40

Saturday (Jesus was Dead)

• Isiaah 52:13-15
• Matthew 27:62-66
• Luke 23:50-56
• John 19:39-41

Sunday (Jesus Lives)

• Isaiah 52:7-10
• Matthew 28:1-10
• Luke 24:1-12
• John 20

Human Perfection

Ransom, an Englishman with previous galactic travel experience, finds himself sent to Perelandra by Maleldil for an unknown reason. Upon arrival, Ransom meets the Queen who is in search of the missing King. As Ransom dialogues with the Queen, it becomes apparent that she and the King represent the Adam and Eve of Perelandra. The Queen is seemingly the first of her species, having no children or knowledge of how to expand the species. In his initial conversation with the Queen, Ransom is overwhelmed by the knowledge that both he and the Queen are completely naked. He was neither embarrassed nor ashamed, but he was conscious of being ugly in comparison.

Ransom’s experience over his and the Queen’s nakedness was also experienced in creation. Adam and Eve were created in the image of God (Genesis 1:27) and felt no shame over their nakedness (Genesis 2:25). In creating Adam and Eve, God created man and woman to perfectly complement one another. There was no barometer by which to feel shame for no imperfections existed. Adam and Eve could stand before one another and be completely satisfied in their nakedness for they knew no different; in perfection, there is innocence and freedom from the need to cover up. Lewis is not only hinting that Perelandra is the Garden of Eden, but he is also beginning from a place of perfect sinlessness, of an innocence that has not been corrupted by sexual immorality.

Subtle Distortion

The peace felt on Perelandra is abruptly interrupted by the introduction of Weston, a scientist with a checkered past. Ransom is concerned about his arrival, giving mention to his murderous tendency from a previous encounter on Malacandra. Weston’s arrival brings distortion to the perfect innocence of both male and female nakedness. He accuses Ransom of seduction, and mockingly suggests if he is meant to view it as sexless innocence. In Lewis using the word “seduction” he enters the first sinful connotation in relation to nakedness. Seduction is the act of tempting someone to take part in an activity (often a sexual activity). The mocking tone of the phrase “sexless innocence” suggests a silliness in believing that two naked people are not aiming to seduce one another. The beauty of naked innocence is now under question.

Scripture reminds us that there are two ways in which a man can look at a woman, one is pure in nature, the other is adulterous. Jesus taught that looking at a woman with lustful intent is adultery in the heart (Matthew 5:28). Desire fuels lust and ignites the motive for seduction. Lust and seduction are sins committed in the heart even without any outward action occurring. Sin will lead to shame, which is why Adam and Eve found themselves ashamed of their nakedness after disobeying God (Genesis 3:7). Nacked innocence has now become shameful and sordid situation.

A Looming Darkness

Weston is possessed by an evil force called the un-man. It is not entirely clear how this occurs, or even if Weston knows what is happening at the time of possession. The un-man wishes to destroy the innocence of Perelandra and will do so through the corruption of the Queen. Ransom watches on helplessly as the un-man spends hours even days trying to convince the Queen to question Maleldil’s commands. Interestingly, throughout these conversations the un-man consistently uses beauty and sexuality to tease out a different way of thinking for the Queen. His desire is for the Queen to become “like the women of his world,” even promising her that she will be “more beautiful than these women.” There is a self-deprecating doubt being inserted into the mind of the Queen – I am not the most beautiful. Going further, the un-man clothed the Queen in flamboyant feathers, leading to the self-absorbed question – “do you think we are more beautiful?” With the addition of a mirror, the Queen becomes completely obsessed by how she looks. Ransom is grateful that the Queen is only being taught vanity, for if the un-man led her to understand modesty, then he may also lead her to understand what is immodest. The innocent nakedness of the Queen is now the center of vanity with the potential to give way to uncontrolled sexual desire. A real danger is on the horizon!

Throughout Scripture, man is consistently warned about sexual immorality. We are to flee sexual immorality (1 Corinthians 6:18), for the sexually immoral person will not inherit an eternal inheritance (Ephesians 5:5). We are to abstain from sexually immoral practices (1 Thessalonians 4:3) by controlling our passions (1 Thessalonians 4:3-5). Young women are encouraged to be modest (1 Timothy 2:9), remembering that beauty is a vain pursuit (Proverbs 31:30). With such serious warnings, why is sexual immorality so prevalent? The looming darkness of sexual sin is usually not first seen in an action, but in the heart of an individual. To desire and lust will often lead to the beautification of oneself. We seek to be more attractive so that others will notice us. We like to be seen. We crave the attention from the one we desire. Like the Queen in Perelandra, we become obsessed by what we see in the mirror. We ask what will make us look more beautiful. Soon, we are consumed by how good we look, and how we want others to see ourselves. Our heart propels us into action, and we walk through the door of self-worship into a room where sexual desire is uncontrolled. The darkness experienced through sexual immorality begins in the light of day, through the subtle self-worship of what we see in the mirror.

Conclusion

The story of Perelandra cleverly shows the reader how self-obsession and vanity destroy any assurance of an eternal inheritance. When the Queen has eyes on herself, she ponders her beauty and her greatness. Yet when the Queen was looking for the King, she walked in peace knowing that the plan of Maleldil would come to pass. The Christian is to take their eyes of themselves and seek after the King. It is only the seeking of King Jesus that truly frees us from the looming darkness of sexual immorality. Through Jesus, our innocence is restored, and we can live in harmony without experiencing shame. We are to worship the creator not the created. The story of Perelandra gives us hope that sexual sin can be defeated through reliance on the creator God.

As a new believer, you are yet to know all the ways in which you will change, but the Holy Spirit will guide you to the truth of God’s Word, in John 17:17 we learn that you will be sanctified (purified) with the Word of God (truth). As you read Scripture, the Spirit will lead you to conviction over sins you are committing (John 16:8) and bring you to an understanding of God and His ways (1 Corinthians 2:12). I would encourage you to daily read from Scripture, for reading Scripture is the primary way that the Holy Spirit will help you understand the life of a faithful believer.

Romans 12:2 declares that new believers will have their minds transformed, and in Titus 3:5 we learn that the Holy Spirit will bring whole life renewal to each believer. You are going to think more like Christ and His Word, which will lead to changed behaviors. The Holy Spirit will guide you to see that there is an old sinful way of living, but you are to reject that way and live in a new way. As you live this new way, the Spirit will grow in you behaviors and characteristics that reflect Christ, these characteristics are called the Fruit of the Spirit. In Galatians 5:16-26, we learn that the Spirit will guide you to the truth and reveal to you how you are being washed clean of the old sinful ways. The Holy Spirit will then aid you in seeking the ways of God - a renewed mind will lead to a renewed heart, which will in turn bring a renewed way of behaving. You will no longer walk the way of the world but will walk in the way of the Spirit.

Although you are a new creation, transformation takes time. Don’t expect to immediately think and behave differently. Instead, we are to seek a daily growth in the ways of God. 2 Peter 1:3-15 reminds us that each day we can grow by adding the ways of God to our lives. The person you were before Christ is gone, the Holy Spirit now daily changes you to look, sound, and behave more like Jesus. Even when it doesn’t seem like you are changing, keep pressing on toward the prize of knowing Jesus and being like Him (Philippians 3:12). As a Christian changed by the Holy Spirit, seek through the Spirit’s power not to sin, instead, lean into the Holy Spirit working in your life and seek to live per the example of Jesus.

Considering this, Peoples Church has established EXALT classes on Sunday mornings - short classes covering key elements of the Bible and foundational doctrines of the church. For the month of January we focused on Ecclessiology (The Study of the Church). We would encourage you to watch each session and learn more about what the Bible tells us about church... these classes are just like riding a bike!

1. Conversion: https://youtu.be/KrGhC2wUEXo?si=WIt7LZP4kt_GmvFD
2. Baptism: https://youtu.be/gsaB6WP-1Wg?si=6yTGxtabcOduzx9W
3. Communion: https://youtu.be/1-YRf9vsuVQ?si=WtdC61SCGJ_4hKK8
4. Membership: https://youtu.be/RCszvOaT3xU?si=BW8IpeIa-XOFdXqj

I want to specifically help you understand that the regular gathering with your church family is not a lifestyle, rather it is an obedient and blessed gathering of the children of God, to worship our Lord and to proclaim Gospel truth. To help bring this understanding, let me ask and hopefully provide clear answers to a few key questions:

1. What is the purpose of our worship gathering? We do not approach worship services with a mindset of what we can get out of it, rather we consider God as the audience of our worship and our desire is to please Him.[1] Our goal in each worship service is to bring praise to Jesus, for He deserves and expects all the honor and glory (Revelation 4:11). From the singing to the reading of Scripture, through to the preaching of the Gospel, the service reflects our desire to please God by worshipping His Son and the completed work on the cross. It is for this very reason that as a church we have a liturgy that takes us through confession of sin, adoration for the Lord Jesus, and proclamation of His Word. The entire worship service is centred on the Gospel that saves.
2. Why are we to gather regularly? Scripture commands us to meet regularly (Hebrews 10:24-25). Obedience to this command brings many benefits that the Lord clearly has established in regular attendance. To name a few – we are spurred on by our fellow believers (Hebrews 10:24), we can serve others with our gifts (1 Corinthians 14:12), and it maintains unity within the family of God (Ephesians 4:3). Attendance is more than a lifestyle; it is a witness that you are obedient to the Word of God and blessed by the Lord’s plan for His church. “The church is not the incidental plan of God,”[2] it is His means of glory and blessing for His people. Our purpose is to please God, and He blesses us through the gathering of His church. He has planned for His people to join, to worship, to serve, to unite, and to reach out to the lost. Friend, you are part of that purpose and blessing.
3. How do I get into the positive habit of attending? I know that life is busy, and I appreciate that family and work pressures mean it is all too easy to hit the snooze button on Sundays and take a day off at home. However, I think H. B. Charles in his book “On Worship” gives a helpful reminder when he wrote, “Christ is the head of the church. And Christ does not have out of body experiences. To submit to the authority of Jesus Christ over your life is to live in fellowship with the church.”[3] As a believer in Christ, you have both the duty and responsibility to honor Him with your attendance each week. He has commanded it, and therefore you are to obey. Having said this, I would also remind you “to not show up just to say you were there. Be prepared to participate fully.”[4] What this means is that it would be helpful to create healthy habits during the week, especially on Saturday. Aim to get to bed early on Saturday so you are ready to go in the morning. Take the preaching passage for next week’s sermon and read it each day through the week. Tell the family you will be at church. Serve on one of our ministry teams. Be prepared and be active in the church and you will find that you look forward to Sunday, rather than seeing it as just another task to complete in an already busy week.
4. Why this letter? We love Jesus and we love you! Jesus has given His instructions for us to gather, to worship Him, and to be blessed. We love you as a fellow family member and we do not want to see you walk outside of the Lord’s commands. We pray that you read this letter through the lens of that love and recognize the seriousness of walking in faithfulness. Scripture reminds us that we are to help our family members honor God’s Word (Matthew 18:15, Galatians 6:1, James 5:19-20) and bring them back to faithfulness. Let me be clear – we desire for you to walk in faithfulness and return to regular attendance at the weekly Sunday worship service.

I hope answering these questions have given you something to think upon and mull over. I would be glad to take you out for a coffee for us to chat some more. When you come on Sunday morning, come sit by my wife and I, it would be our pleasure to stand in worship with you.

All for Jesus, Pastor Ross Ferguson

[1] H.B. Charles. On Worship: A Short Guide to Understanding, Participating in, and Leading Corporate Worship (Chicago: Moody Publishers, 2022), 16.

[2] Charles, 43.

[3] Ibid., 40.

[4] Charles, 79.

Scripture speaks of two ordinances – baptism and the Lord’s supper. Ordinance simply means that Jesus has ordained/commanded for these practices to be undertaken as a visible portrayal of the Gospel.[1] To the outside world, baptism is the mark by which a member is recognized.[2] Shaun Wright, in quoting Stephen Wellum, notes that baptism is the “initiatory covenantal sign” with the Lord’s supper being an “ongoing covenantal sign.”[3] In other words, it is through baptism and the Lord’s supper that one is recognized as a child of God living in continued faithfulness. Both ordinances are “the Lord’s visible seal of His invisible grace.”[4] The outward act of baptism visibly displays that one is a child of God. The outward act of the Lord’s Supper declares union with Christ and unity between His people. In this manner, the ordinances are “outward means of grace that sanctify us.”[5] The Holy Spirit’s work through these visible signs has a purifying action in the believers life.

Baptism

Ordinances are such in that Jesus has commanded them. Baptism was commanded by Jesus as He commissioned His disciples to reach the nations (Matthew 28:19),[6] with immediacy obedience was expected from confessing believers (Acts 2:38). It is by the waters of baptism that a believer were “numbered among the children of God.”[7] Baptism is therefore a “mark of union with Christ.”[8] Therefore, the only individuals that can be baptized are confessors of Jesus Christ (Romans 10:9) who have trusted in Jesus Christ for salvation.[9] The timing of baptism is a matter of determining a credible confession of faith in Jesus. The New Testament speaks of confessors being baptized almost immediately upon profession of faith (Acts 2:41, 8:12, 8:38, 16:15, 16:33). In the church today, the membership affirms each profession of faith and baptizes those who are deemed credible. Therefore, baptism should be as soon as practically possible and as soon as the church is able to determine a credible profession. The church should not rush to baptize (seeking to protect from lack of understanding of the Gospel) yet at the same time the church should not impose an arbitrary waiting time.

The baptism that the church performs is to be one of full immersion. Not only does the word baptism mean immersion in the original Greek,[10] but immersion is the picture of the union with Christ’s death and resurrection (Romans 6:3-4). The confessor is to be lowered entirely into a body of water (whether the sea, a river, or a baptismal pool) signifying death to the old life, and be raised out of the water, signifying new life in Jesus. As per the teaching of Jesus, one is to be baptized in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit (Matthew 28:19). 

The Lord’s Supper

The Lord’s supper is the continued sign and proclamation of a believers unity in Christ’s church.[11] Believers partake in the Lord’s supper in obedience to Scripture (1 Corinthians 11:23-26). It is to be noted that participation is only for baptized believers, for it is only the church that has been commanded to celebrate the Lord’s supper.[12] Each element declares the Gospel – the bread representing the body of Christ broken and the cup representing the blood of Christ shed. It is through these elements that one is “reminded of Christ’s death for us.”[13] In partaking together, the church visibly displays the unity found in the body of Christ. When unity is threatened, communion acts as a regular reminder of the grace shown each believer and the call to brotherly affection for the sake of God’s glory.

Although church history indicates that only the clergy can baptize and administer the elements of communion,[14]Scripture does not give clear instruction to whom should administer the elements. It would however be wise to follow the example of the early church, and the example of Paul by having the Elders or Deacons administer the elements. The Lord’s Supper should also be undertaken in the regular gathering of the body (usually Sunday morning services).[15]There is freedom in how often communion is to be undertaken, however, a regular approach should be adopted to ensure obedience and encouragement in the church family. The Lord is present with His people in communion; therefore, each church should recognize the beauty of unity that comes through regular obedience and worship in the Lord’s supper.

References

[1] Mark Dever and Jonathan Leeman. Baptist Foundations: Church Government for an Anti-Institutional Age (Nashville, TN: B&H Academic, 2015), 88.

[2] Edmund P. Clowney. The Church: Contours of Christian Theology (Downers Grove, IL: IVP, 1995), 104.

[3] Dever, 83.

[4] Clowney, 104.

[5] Ibid., 89.

[6] Unless otherwise specified, all Bible references in this paper are to the English Standard Version (ESV) (Wheaton: Crossway, 2001).

[7] Clowney, 104.

[8] Ibid., 80.

[9] Dever, 123.

[10] Ibid.

[11] Clowney, 80.

[12] Dever, 89.

[13]  Ibid., 154.

[14] Ibid., 159.

[15] Ibid., 161.

The Offices of the Church

            The church, consisting of members who are baptized believers in Jesus, seeks to organize itself “for service, not dominion.”[1] The head of the body (church) is Jesus, and “all authority in the church belongs to Christ.”[2] In order to advance Christ’s kingdom, each office stewards the authority that is given to them by Christ.[3] Scripture gives foundation to three distinct offices – Member, Elder, and Deacon. The three offices are dependent on one another in the pursuit of a God honoring, obedient, and healthy church.

Member

            A brief mention should be given to that of each baptized member of the church. Members, who have confessed Christ (Romans 12:2) and who have been baptized (Acts 2:38) hold a general office position. As members meet regularly together, they are to encourage one another (Hebrews 13:17). The members are also responsible for removing from their midst those who are under discipline (Matthew 18:16-18), and those who are false teachers (Galatians 1:8). The proper (also known as special) offices (elder and deacon) are selected from amongst the membership. Therefore, the membership holds general responsibility for selecting qualified individuals for positions of special authority. Furthermore, church members have mutual responsibility to expand the Kingdom of God through evangelism and discipleship (Matthew 28:16-20).

Elder

            The New Testament model is to appoint elders in every church (Titus 1:5). Elders are to lead the church,[4] and watch over the flock of God.[5] Each body of believers is to select from amongst the membership qualified men. Elders are to meet the qualifications set out in 1 Timothy 3:1-7 which cover both character and ability. The elder is to be above reproach in all matters and are to be noted as well thought off by both the church and those outside the church. In serving the household of God, each elder is to manage his own household well as an example of one that honors God in both personal living and public service. In meeting the qualifications, each elder sets an example of holy living before the church that they are to imitate (1 Corinthians 11:1)

In Paul’s instructions to both Timothy and Titus, the office of elder is consistently described as a plural office. In other words, each church is to have multiple elders who serve together, with equal authority, shepherding the flock effectively as a team. Furthermore, the language used in both 1 Timothy 3:1-7 and Titus 1:5-9 indicates that the office of elder is a male only role. As elders derive their authority from the Word of God,[6] their power is limited to sound doctrine as declared by the Word of God. Elders are therefore should correctly handle the Word of God in both proclamation and application. Using Scripture as the foundation, elders are to protect the church from false teachers (Acts 20:17), visit and pray for members who are sick (James 5:14), and faithfully preach (2 Timothy 4:2).

Deacon

             The ministry of mercy “claims a special office of Deacon.”[7] The Deacon’s primary purpose is to serve the needs of the saints.[8] Deacons are to be selected from amongst the membership and are to meet the qualifications as defined in 1 Timothy 3:8-13. As per Paul’s instructions, the deaconate is plural (multiple deacons) with qualifications focusing on the character of the individual. A servant heart is the core of who the deacon is. The membership is to identify, select, and vote upon each deacon. Unlike elders, deacons are not required to have an ability to teach for they do not exercise authority over doctrine, rather they are to lead in the practical management of the church.

The practical matters could range from the application of benevolence to management of building facilities. Deacons are to focus on benevolence, with special mention given to the administration of care toward widows (1 Timothy 5:3-16). Although not strictly correlated, the general ministry of deacons can be modelled after Acts 6 and the feeding of the widows.[9] The key to understanding the responsibilities of the deacon is to consider the needs of the church body and how best to facilitate those needs being met.

Conclusion

            The body of believers serves and are served by the head – Jesus. In seeking to expand the Kingdom of God, the church organizes itself through a general office of membership and special offices of elders and deacons. Each office is given limited authority over specific elements of the church, with each expected to take responsibility and contribute to the health of the church. 

[1] Clowney, Edmund P. Clowney. The Church: Contours of Christian Theology (Downers Grove, IL: IVP, 1995), 206.

[2] Ibid., 202.

[3] Ibid., 207.

[4] Mark Dever, and Jonathan Leeman. Baptist Foundations: Church Government for an Anti-Institutional Age (Nashville, TN: B&H Academic, 2015), 272.

[5] Ibid., 274.

[6] Dever, 279.

[7] Clowney, 212.

[8] Ibid., 213.

[9] Dever, 312.