Nature and Authority of Congregational Vote

The point: Read through the book of Hebrews carefully in preparation for renewing our studies in that epistle next Lord's Day.

A story from a children's book about a man buying all the birds in a cage and setting them free illustrates the doctrine of redemption as setting free by paying a price.

So it starts with the doctrine of theology, God proper, and it ends with eschatology. And to give you a little idea of how almost every chapter is introduced with a very interesting little anecdote or story to catch the ear of children, and I would say probably from about ages seven or eight onward this book would be appropriate. The chapter on redemption begins this way. Years ago, in a far-off land, a number of beautiful birds were for sale.

2:05 - 2:37 Read in full sermon

Driving home: your congregational vote in such decisions is exactly what your amen is when one of us is preaching

The leadership of a wise husband in his household is used as an analogy for elder rule, where the husband makes decisions but seeks his wife's input and the family's consent and support for implementation.

the elders would have every right to say to the people here is a direction in which we are moving in obedience to the word of God and let the issue rest however it is in the interest both of the hearty and joyful compliance of the people of God as well as an affirmation of the graciousness of the rule of the elders to lay out as much as is necessary to secure from the people of God what I have called their corporate consent to and support of this particular direction in which the elders believe the congregation ought to go and so what we have done over the years and I trust will continue to do...

35:58 - 37:22 Read in full sermon

The point: I confess my fault in that matter and by the grace of God in the future whenever my fellow elders designate me as their spokesman in setting before you a proposal for your confirmation and consent or support I will attem…

Just as a wise father consults his wife, elders may 'dip in' to the congregation to seek wisdom and insight from non-office bearers before making decisions.

the petunias there and cut back the ivy a little bit there isn't that what God did put him in the garden to dress it and to keep it well if he is really regarding her as bone of his bone and flesh of his flesh he will incorporate her thinking her sensitivities into the decision making process well in the same way elders may dip in to the congregation and we often do people who are not office bearers and yet we see men or women whose wisdom and sensitivity in a given area might be helpful to us we dip in and we lock in and get a read out and we get a read out in the decision making process we a...

38:53 - 40:23 Read in full sermon

The point: I confess my fault in that matter and by the grace of God in the future whenever my fellow elders designate me as their spokesman in setting before you a proposal for your confirmation and consent or support I will attem…

A father proposing a white water rafting trip to his initially scared children illustrates how a wise leader might persuade and wait for consent on non-ethical administrative decisions.

is biblical then he is prepared if it is an issue of ethical and moral moral decision to stand his ground and if necessary have his wife and his kids against him Matthew chapter 10 I came not to bring peace but a sword that's what my bible says now if it's not an ethical and moral issue that demands immediate action what will he do if he gives his little speech at the family table and everyone is skittish about it he'll back off and he'll wait till he can persuade them you see the difference he may not have looked into the whole idea of taking a white water trip his kids are teenagers and they...

40:23 - 41:51 Read in full sermon

The point: I confess my fault in that matter and by the grace of God in the future whenever my fellow elders designate me as their spokesman in setting before you a proposal for your confirmation and consent or support I will attem…

Congregational vote on administrative decisions is likened to saying 'Amen' during preaching, signifying corporate affirmation and consent to Christ's will.

that we move with your consent and your support in other words as one of my fellow elders stated it your congregational vote in such decisions is exactly what your amen is when one of us is preaching you see we're opening up the word and we say this is what the text says this is what it means and your judgment is carried and your heart is carried and your spirit is carried and finally your mouth opens up and says amen so be it I see it my heart is with it I affirm it well that's what the congregational vote is with respect to administrative decisions it is the corporate amen of the congregatio...

41:51 - 43:21 Read in full sermon

The point: Pray God make the kind of men who will bear the burden of assertive leadership will not be marked by any of those six characteristics of eldership tyranny and yet have the fiber and the spiritual grace to stand like gran…

The structure of a Presbyterian church, with its Presbytery appointing and ordaining ministers, is used to highlight the difference in authority regarding officer recognition compared to Reformed Baptist polity.

alright so there's a difference there between the place that the congregational vote has yes in those things and the place that it has say in something like we recently proposed with reference to the house in West Orange if I can illustrate it this way most some of you are not aware of the Presbyterian structure but it's basically this here are these churches in a given geographical area alright this may be the northeast Presbytery of the Podunk Presbyterian Church ok now you have office bearers and according to their church rules so many will be designated they usually say one teaching elder ...

49:17 - 50:46 Read in full sermon