Younger Be Subject Unto the Elders, #3

In this part of the sermon: Martin opens with a prayer and reflection on the Lord's Day as a celebration of Christ's resurrection, then reviews the duties of elders (shepherding, oversight, exemplary living)…

The recent memorial service for Mr. Gordon Daughtry is mentioned as a celebration of God's grace, setting a tone of celebration for the Lord's Day service.

A little more than 48 hours ago, many of us were gathered in this very place in order to celebrate the homegoing of Mr. Gordon Daughtry. Gordon's memorial service was indeed a celebration of the grace of God manifested in his life and of that grace that will again be manifested in the last day when he, with all of God's redeemed, is brought out of his present resting place. And we are here this morning on this, the first day of the week, in another gathering of celebration.

2:55 - 3:39 Read in full sermon

The point: You do not have to agree with all of your elders' judgments on matters not explicitly addressed in the word of God, but you must submit.

The example of deciding whether to sing a hymn during the offering illustrates a matter of judgment where members may disagree with elders but must still submit.

It does not mean that you must agree with all of your elders' judgments on matters not explicitly addressed in the word of God. You may not think it's in the best interest of the whole congregation to sing a hymn while the offering's passed. This is something new. We're trying.

9:25 - 9:41 Read in full sermon

The point: If you have a long list of disagreements with elders' judgments, consider whether you belong in that church.

The analogy of a wife submitting to her husband, even when disagreeing on matters of judgment, illustrates the nature of submission to elders.

No, no. Just like a wife may say, sweetheart, I believe you're dead wrong in this decision. But I'm going to be submissive to you because the Bible says I must be. If you're telling me to do something contrary to the Bible, I'll defy you in the name of Christ.

10:31 - 10:44 Read in full sermon

The point: Respond cheerfully with the guidance elders give out of the Scriptures.

The shepherd's crook is used as a metaphor for the elders' role in pulling back straying sheep, emphasizing the corrective aspect of their ministry.

If it's the duty of shepherds to guide and to govern the flock, then it's the duty of the flock to respond cheerfully with the guidance they give out of the Scriptures. And then fourthly, if it's the duty of shepherds to seek to heal the sick sheep and restore the strained sheep, it's the duty of the sheep to welcome the medicine and welcome the crook that pulls you back into line. The crook, not the guy that steals, but thy rod and thy staff. It's the staff with the crook in the end that the shepherd uses to bring back the wavered sheep.

12:36 - 13:10 Read in full sermon

The point: Ensure your perspectives concerning rule by elder are grounded in the word of God itself, not inherited comfort or pragmatic arrangements.

Martin shares that young people have expressed thanks for elders they respect, but he warns that this comfort is not a sufficient foundation for conviction about elder rule.

They must not be resting down upon a framework you've inherited and with which you feel comfortable. Now a number of you young people have said to me without any solicitation, you know pastor I'm so thankful I was reading the church that had rule by elder and elders I could respect and elders that carry my judgment. Wonderful! But that's not going to last very long.

35:17 - 35:40 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: Martin introduces the second prerequisite: a deep, biblically grounded, and Spirit-imparted conviction concerning the divine authority of church order, emphasizing that belief in…

Martin recounts being invited to be a 'facilitator' at a conference and rejecting the term, emphasizing that biblical leadership is about teaching and preaching, not merely facilitating.

You cannot have definitive, strong, aggressive leadership. You need to have facilitators. I've been invited to go to a conference some years ago and be a facilitator. I said it.

38:31 - 38:35 Read in full sermon

The point: If you have breathed any of the noxious air of anti-authoritarianism, egalitarianism, feminism, or the idol of democratic rule into your spiritual lungs, cry to God to get it out.

The example of older men trying to look 'hip and cool' illustrates the societal pressure of egalitarianism and the loss of respect for age and authority.

No respect from the young to the old. The old trying to look, isn't it ridiculous when you see a man my age trying to look mob and hip and cool? Isn't it ridiculous? More than once I've had to resist the temptation to get on airplanes and see people like this.

40:56 - 41:12 Read in full sermon

The point: When we think biblically, we say, 'Lord with all my heart, I know your ways are right. I know your ways are wise. I know your ways are good.'

Martin shares an anecdote about an editor wanting to change 'pastors' to 'spiritual advisors' and 'prayers' to 'thoughts,' illustrating the pervasive 'false spirituality' and political correctness that undermines biblical terms and concepts.

And what you call good, I'll call good. called wise, I'll call wise, and anything that rises up again, I know that's residual flesh. That's my remaining corruption that needs to be mortified. And then I want to touch, I mentioned false spirituality, and I want to touch on this. You see, it's not unpopular in our day to talk about my spiritual side. One of our men is getting a book published. None of us will read it. We couldn't understand half a page of any of it. It's highly technical stuff. But in his acknowledgments, he wanted to acknowledge those for whom he was particularly grateful for t...

45:48 - 46:36 Read in full sermon

The point: Repent of your arrogant, self-imposed sense of Lone Ranger Christianity, thank God for His keeping grace, and integrate yourself into a biblical church, accountable to biblically qualified elders.

Martin uses the metaphor of 'Lone Ranger Christianity' to describe the arrogant, self-imposed sense of independence from church leadership, which he challenges as tempting God.

Christ, elders were put in place to be the instruments of Christ that they might continue in the faith. And make it safely to the end. So this pseudo-spirituality that says, oh, I've got Christ and the Holy Ghost and the Bible, I don't need elders. If anyone's sitting here with that mentality, I challenge you to go before your Christ with this text and tell him to give you an understanding of it that will make you feel comfortable. I know a better exhortation. Repent of your arrogant, self-imposed sense of Lone Ranger Christianity. And thank God that he's kept you in spite of it. And then you ...

50:53 - 51:56 Read in full sermon

The point: Repent of your arrogant, self-imposed sense of Lone Ranger Christianity, thank God for His keeping grace, and integrate yourself into a biblical church, accountable to biblically qualified elders.

Martin uses the analogy of cutting off 'escape routes' or 'rabbit trails' to explain his relentless pursuit of biblical truth, even when it makes people angry, because he loves them.

Oh, but Pastor Martin, you're saying that... No, no, that's smoke. No, I'm not saying that someone thrown into prison with no fellowship in no church, and no pastors will not be enabled in that set of circumstances to cling to Christ. Of course, God will give special grace for the special providential difficulties that he arranges. But that's not you and that's not me. So blow the smoke away. Don't hide behind, well, what? Forget, my friend, forget all of that. Pastor Martin, that's what irritates me about you. Every time I try to find the escape route, you cut it off. Yes, and you know why I ...

51:57 - 53:10 Read in full sermon