In Recognizing Elders

The Importance of Remembrance and the Church's Manifesto

0:00 Now, as we have already announced, when we meet this evening, our season of worship and the ministry of the Word will culminate in our gathering to the Lord's table. And central to this institution of Christ the Lord are His own words, This do in remembrance of me. This do in remembrance of me. Now, surely one would think that of all the things, a community of hell-deserving sinners, saved by the grace of God through the person and work of Christ, would never forget, would never need to be reminded of, it would be Christ crucified for sinners. However, our Lord, fully aware of the tendencies of the hearts of even the most devoted of His people, has given a means of calling to remembrance the most fundamental, the most central realities of their redemption. And He's done this because He knows that it's only the truths that are kept alive and active in our hearts and minds, which will mold and powerfully influence our lives.

1:24 Now, what is true with respect to the doctrine of Christ crucified? For sinners, the central truth of all saving religious experience is true of all lesser truths as well. Namely, that if those truths are to exert their proper influence upon our hearts and minds to the shaping of our lives and our experience, they also must be kept in remembrance. It is therefore a commitment.

2:00 You know, most priests are told that you should be called to remember the very fundamental truths that have shaped and molded our life together under the blessing of God. And so we are engaged in a series of studies entitled, a manifesto of Trinity Baptist Church. A manifesto being simply a public declaration of the motives and intentions of a group. A public declaration, of the fundamental rationale for the existence of that group.

2:35 And I've expressed the various individual elements of this manifesto in terms of spiritual determination. The first was that we're determined that Jesus Christ shall have his rightful place in the totality of our life and ministry as a church. The second, we are determined that all of our doctrine and practice shall be molded by the word of God. Thirdly, we are determined that we shall maintain a God-centered climate in the totality of our life and ministry.

3:15 And the fourth tenet of the manifesto is this. We are determined that our life and ministry will unquestionably confirm the unique place assigned the church in the saving purposes of God. Now, in opening up that fourth affirmation, I have set before you a biblical definition of the word church, a biblical demonstration of the uniqueness of the church in the purposes of God, and I am presently seeking to give you some of the plain manifestations of this affirmation. It's determination as they come to expression in our church life. We touched upon our theology and practice of the Christian life, our theology and practice of evangelism and missions, and we conclude this morning this third plain manifestation of this determination, namely our theology and practice of ministerial recognition, preparation, and formal ordination. And in our previous...

Agents in Ministerial Recognition, Preparation, and Ordination

4:25 In our previous studies, we have looked into the scriptures, and we have seen together that the agents in the preliminary recognition of a man as a possible gift of Christ to his church are the man himself, Romans 12, 3, the godly and discerning community of God's people, in the multitude of counselors there is safety, and the formal acknowledgement of the church through its leadership, 2 Timothy 2.2, that a man is a faithful man to whom the deposit of apostolic truth should be given. So the agents involved in the preliminary recognition are not the individual detached from the church, but the individual, according to Romans 12, who is a member in the body of Christ, and who exercises this personal self-examination, personal self-examination, and evaluation in the context of active involvement in the life of a biblical church. Not sitting on a mountain somewhere or shut up on a closet or on a desert isle with a pet monkey and a palm tree waving overhead and comes to the conviction, I am a gift of Christ.

5:48 No, the sober evaluation in its context, according to Romans 12.3, takes place in the midst of the church. And those mature believers who are the second agent in this preliminary recognition are believers who know what a church is, who have seen gifts of Christ ministering among them and have a basis of giving sound counsel because they've seen the thing and they have a spiritual iron when Christ is shaping and molding a man to be a good man. To be a similar gift of Christ to his church.

6:31 And then thirdly, of course, agent, the church, those born in his church, those designated as elders,

6:51 rule over you anonymously in the New Testament. Well then, when such a man is recognized, where is he to be placed for any concentrated, specialized training in order that he might be well furnished with the tools and preach the word of God? Over decades should and give him a lengthy ministry. Well, for the biblical church, and then any be given in the context of the church.

7:46 And it is as it would be to take a budding physician out of a hospital during the time of his prepper to take someone who need and machine and to pairing him to be a farmer. It will be looked upon as sheer nonsense in those fields. And it's time for what it is in the church of Christ. Then, in our last study, we focused upon the agents in recognition of the in the initial recognition.

8:55 And then we considered the agency of the formal recognition. And we had time only to consider the recognition of a church planter. One sent.

9:15 And though I can over that material that a group of would not have received the affirmation were not sufficient biblical data brought forward. And there is. Sufficient data to demonstrate that the Bible knows nothing of self-appointed or pack who bite was sent for through the instrumentality of the church at Antioch and so though the scripts the church secondary and instant agent in the recognition and commissioning of a church planter, but instrument and what God is joined together, let not man put us under now in those minutes.

10:32 Sticking very closely to my notes, I've condensed some four hours of exposition into ten minutes. Now, this morning, we shall the issue of the recognition and recognition and ordination, not one who will serve in the place offered an over a ruler in God's in opening up this subject. I have three heads.

Foundational Principles from Acts 6 for Designating Leaders

11:19 We should console the foundation of the foundational principles implemented in the light of first Timothy three Titus and first Peter five. And then the foundational frustrated in the practice of Trinity Baptist church. So the foundational and illustrated number one, the foundational in act six to this familiar portion of the word of God for in acts chapters.

12:22 I don't let that run by as a hundred and twenty prior to Pentecost. And though there are principles there by who did that and he does that in acts chapter and all of living temple.

13:25 In efficacious and in acts of what that's it faithfully qualify within Christ, because they're with it in the daily minute.

14:47 It is not fit that we should for set tables out there for from among you seven men of good report full of the spirit wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business, but we will continue steadfastly. And the same Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, Philip and Prochorus and Nicanor and Timon. And Parmenas and Nicolaus, the light of Antioch, whom they set before the apostles, and when they had prayed, they laid their hands upon them. Now, what are the foundational rules established in this passage under incident of sting, specially designated or specially qualified men for a specially designated task? Well, the first principle is this.

15:56 The clear altitude. Not just and by now, they probably had a meeting in Solomon's porch where they met for their corporate public instruct seasons of corporate what we would call worship and praise to God altitude. They said it's not fit that we should forsake the word look out among you from among yourselves.

17:09 And then they gave the stem seven the Greek word for those they didn't say look out seven persons would be a literal translation. Look out among you seven. And then here's the stem. Report full over this business.

17:46 So the first thing they did as the apostles, and there is no indication yet, and we find them in place in Acts 15. But there's no record look at what point the upon. But at this job in the wisdom of one thing, it was the whole attitude of the disciples and said, look out among you.

18:33 And here's the full taking seriously the divine state existing in obedience. Their leaders. We sought taking seriously the divine standards. Verses.

19:10 This is the Bible that I read that wouldn't it be wonderful to have one. We didn't have one person that had to affirm his individuality by being out of step with the obvious direction of the Holy Spirit in the whole group. Now I'm thankful. We never have any Carnall outburst in congregational meetings.

19:32 Why do we long for absolute unanimity? Because when you read a passage like this, you say under the dynamic of the Holy Spirit, it is except anything less. Now we're not going to go have a hippity party. party and resign if we don't. But why not? If God, well, it's saying please the whole. Did they select a committee to look it out? No. The multitude. The details are not. Men after Stephen, a man who

20:31 was impressive because he was vice president of the local bank of Jerusalem. They took the apostol that was a man of faith. That's the apostle. Validified the choice of the people by laying

21:23 their hands on them and praying. The existing leaders validated and formally ratified the choice by laying their hands on them and praying. Verse 6. Whom they set before the apostles and when they had prayed, they laid their hands upon them. That is, by this he formed the office of a deacon.

22:00 But whatever we regard the consciousness and the development at this stage in the history of when the the the to function in that task. Responsibility and office. Jonathan Edwards with the first

23:15 Corinthian passage in his Sabbath question and the change of the day from the first of the week, the seventh to the first day of the and show can only be made in a command. If God wants to make his will known in terms of see the will of God in every way that he makes it known to us. And so in this way, we have a marvelous holding of the operative with respect to the question, it is all part of the question of whether we can find what it is that we have to find in the first place in order to find freedom in those who have disobeyed God. That is the real question. Verse 7. The dean of the church with his wife and his two children, he was convinced that they could work their ways out.

24:25 Then the dean of the church went in the셨el that the school is not for those who are not good at prayer and that they should take it into their right hand and pray by their own will, that is, it is not their fault that the church is not going to the church and the church is not going to God. It is the elae of the church. And, when you come to a passage in Romans chapter 9, it is a little heavy going, but you get mentally lazy, and you'll be open to have somebody pushing preachers up there, on you you never should have so your own well-being's at stake so don't don't despise think and follow i've laid it out as simply as i know how i can't do your thinking for you so hang in there they had preached acts 1421 the gospel to that city and it made many disciples they returned to laconium and ends exhorting them to continue in the faith and that through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of god and when they had appointed for them elder church and had prayed with fasting they commended them to the lord on whom they had believed now some see

Foundational Principles from Acts 14 for Appointing Elders

25:31 this passage and say oh that's not indicated in the text luke is to convey the notion that they appointed that is by unilateral acted and appointed urge would have been far more but he used the word you would be incongruent with that action and i don't want to take you into technical things this that we must never take a synoptic or a statement meant to synopsis your details are the greater detail

Implementing Principles in Light of 1 Timothy 3, Titus 1, and 1 Peter 5

26:50 in acts then we should and therefore we move to our second heading having considered the foundational principles as established in acts now secondly the foundational principles implemented in the light of first timothy 3 titus 1 and first peter 5 what do we have in these three passages well in these three passages particularly three and titus 1 a spirit requirements for someone to be an elder an overseer pastor faithful is the saying if a man seeks the office here he desire good work the overkill of

27:58 necessity d e i translucent to transliterate it into english of the character the credibility of mature balanced character and experience coupled with necessary gifts extend the way down to seven and give direction to that church in its own development he was letting forth very gifts is sold to a man who would be biblically recognized his people with knowledge and good understand anything in titus chapter one

29:10 his titus's left there from paul he is the one inside for this call street that you should set in order the things that week as i can't use to the appointment you see again we can read into that appropriate form ecclesiastical bodies went up and then the standard is given at least so that we know what we have here is that we are not the only one we give by the law we give to the law it is an act that the astrologers do, the kind of the parable of the parables of the parables which are the parables of theированists and the things that the parables of the parables are called. No, what we have here are generic descriptions that consist and the gifts essential to do the work of overseeing the flock of God. And then in 1 Peter 5, the major contribution there is that Peter touches upon certain attitudes and motives for taking up the work of oversight that round up the picture. What then are we to do in the light of these passages?

30:34 Acts 6, to be implemented in the light of 1 Timothy 3, Titus 1, and 1 Peter 5. Well, let me suggest that we have the answer in the Acts 6 passage. Number one, the existing or existing leadership must give of the divine standard. Wasn't that the first thing the apostles did?

31:21 Fully what we are before any is the divine by which a community of God's people may recognize Christ's gift.

32:14 Let me try to illustrate it. Back in the days when you...

32:17 You had kings and kingdoms and areas ruled and areas to which he would send someone to exercise authority in his place. Imagine a part of the kingdom that was to receive a new representative from the king to rule over that area. And the king said, because I'm sending before me a portrait. Now, he could inform the people in two ways.

32:46 He could send someone to go to every individual within the precincts of that area he was to rule. He could take this individual hand, send out the various pictures of the man to every individual and say, Now, when you see this man, you'll know he's the one appointed by the king. Receive him as the king himself. Or he could do it another way.

33:08 If he had a slide machine, a projector, he could take a slide of that and gather the whole village together on a given day and put up a screen and then he could take that portrait, that picture, that photograph, and not touching up any of its features, it would be enlarging, and then he could simply point out to the whole, the various features by which this man is and say, Now, when this man, he has lips, he has lips, he points out all, he's been appointed by the king.

33:59 Now, that's the principle.

34:28 If this will be his feature, blameless, been of one wife, orderly, given to hospitality, lover of wine, etc., etc., and God says that, don't wreck, is to go on.

35:40 And the day, and doesn't love your souls, and doesn't walk in a manner that is consistent with the gospel,

36:25 you don't need, is your part of the new covenant community. Long before they had a written revelation,

37:01 that people figure, oh well, the people are recommending them, must know what they're doing, so we'll word for it. Don't you ever do it.

37:12 That the portrait be flashed on the screen. So the existing must give up the divine standard. Secondly, the whole assembly of God's people must prayerfully and accurately seek out men by that standard. The whole, by that standard.

37:43 We have no apostles, we have no apostolic representatives alive today, we have no Timothys, no Tituses, but, we do have those to expound the word, either among us, who fits that picture, who bears, who has likeness in all of its leading features. And then thirdly, the existing or assisting leadership, must then, validate, and formally ratify the decision of the people. And even in the case of Timothy, this was true. 1 Timothy 5.22, Paul said, Lay hands hastily upon no man.

38:45 But involved in that prohibition, not to lay hands hastily upon a man, is the establishment, that when a man was properly, after a due course, were to be laid upon him. So in that very prohibition, the underlying assumption, that when a man, Timothy laid the man, and that made him an able minister, is grace that came from Jesus Christ. There wasn't a little bit left in Timothy's fingertips. No, Timothy conferred no grace. But because God says in his house, all things are to be done decently and in order. Timothy, as the apostolic representative there, was formally, and from the moment, Christ's gift unto us. With respect to implementing the principles established by, in Acts chapter 6.

Illustrating Principles in Trinity Baptist Church's Practice

40:07 Well, having looked at the foundational, foundational principles as established, foundational principles implemented, now thirdly, the foundational principles illustrated in our practice, in Trinity Church. Now let me make it clear that I'm not saying that the only way you can implement the principle the way we do it. Now can I make the disclaimer any more plain than that? I, that the only, know our, wise, states that, go the script of sufficient faith and practice, paragraph 1 on the, yet we do acknowledge, this is concerning the worship and government, in societies which are to be ordered by the light of nature and Christian prudence, according to the general, which are always to be observed. Implementing, that our present, were change in any of it. Because it's a matter of human judgment and Christian prudence. There may be, change, in the detail, of the implementation.

41:36 So long, then to, print, duly recognized. But we have to have some practice, is here. We can't just come every time we think God may be giving us an elder saying well how will we go about it? We've got three principles on how we implement it. What do you think? What do you think?

41:51 The confusion. God's not the author of confusion but of peace. All things are to be done decently and in order. And so here are the corporately acknowledged principles.

42:03 What do we do? Well in the recognition when there's some indication of a growing consensus from the people from the leadership that a man, one whom Christ is giving to us as a gift and there is an indication of that graces and that desire that the office of an elder over the next X number of weeks will you prayerfully consider this man as you know him in the light of 1st Timothy 3, Titus 1, 1st Peter 5. Will you then if you have any question about his competence or qualifications go to him and talk the issues. If you don't get the issue resolved, we're saying look out among you brethren. And then we give you the stand of a meeting at which time by our tree in Titus 1, one of those passages must be read and at least briefly expound so that in the meeting where we're formally looking at a man, one eye is there

43:30 and the man leaves the room with his wife and immediate family and his qualified fitness are discussed or the lack of the same by whom? Not just the existing elders but by the whole congregation. Now why do we do that? Because we like to clog up an evening of your time? No dear people, because of and have the word of God have discerned and you are judgment that though not infallible is judgment of chariot one and then after free discussion a secret ballot is marked and is that ballot worded? Do you think that's by accident? You think we found that somewhere? No, I never found that anywhere.

44:30 Having considered Mr. so and so in the light of 1st Timothy 3, do not belice this giving him to serve among us as an elder. And that secret ballot is folded and no one knows who could I do or do not and then if there is coming recognition from you then and a given stated meeting that man will stand here and the hands of the existing eldership are laid upon him to do what? Not to confer any grace of the activity of the ascended Christ and then we commit that man to the Lord who has given him to us that he may be given grace to do the work to which he's called. Now where did that practice come from? I didn't grow up with it. Mr. Dixon didn't grow up

45:44 with it. None of the other elders who've come on to the eldership since the beginning grew up with it. Those of you who are charter members of this church and a dozen or fifteen of you left none of you grew up. And when it came time I went through that process in September of 1967. You say well you'd been practicing for 10-15 years. That's right. You'd already been. Put my neck on the block he led the meeting. You say

46:33 I've got witnesses here. I think maybe you're taking this. Yes that's right. We're taking it serious. And if you've reaped any benefits from men with all their sins and imperfections are nonetheless true gifts of Christ. It's because we took this thing seriously and you better take it seriously or the curse of God will come upon you and your children. Through false on the basis it'll be because you have only true shepherds. Don't sell your birthright. Don't sell it.

Refusing to Treat Biblical Standards as Unattainable Idealism

47:43 We refuse to treat 1st and Midas 1 as an unattainable idealism.

47:50 I was struck in the early days when I shared friends what we were convinced we ought to do as Mr. Dixon and I and a few others were in the place of leadership in those early days. Not officially but we're giving leadership as a steering committee that we ought to have this process whereby 1st 3 and Titus 1 were taken seriously and expound. That's an ideal standard and God doesn't expect that a man meet all those requirements.

48:24 Well I hadn't forgotten all my Greek and the little particle of necessity hadn't been rubbed out by the Holy Ghost. A bishop therefore must be. Say it's nice and God has not rewritten his word. This is no novel idea that the church armed with the word of God and prayerfully and independence upon the Holy Spirit doesn't need the intervention of outside experts. Confession of faith beautifully states it and this is the last I make this morning is this confirmation from our own confession of faith. Listen to how beautifully and simply it's stated. To each of these churches thus gathered according to his mind that is Christ's mind declared in his. He has given all needful for their caring that order in worship and discipline which he has instituted for them to observe with commands and rules for the do and right exerting and executing of that power.

49:37 A particular church gathered and completely organized according to the mind of Christ consists of officers and members. The officers appointed by Christ to be chosen and set apart. By the peculiar administration ordinances the execution of power or duty etc. The way appointed by for the calling of any person fitted and gifted by the Holy Spirit unto the off for elder in a church is that he be chosen there unto by the common suffrage of the church itself and solemnly set apart by fasting and prayer with the imposition of hands of the eldership of the church. This is no novel position it's just that the old that have been rediscovered by the grace of God some of us have taken them seriously enough to put our feet in them. So now we come around to where we began with the great question who's authorized to recognize a resident elder and we have affirmed that in the totality of our life and practice we are determined that everything will confirm the neutrality and we have seen just as sure

The Church's Unique Role in Ministerial Recognition and Final Exhortation

51:08 it must be if it's biblical Christ-centered church-based evangelism and missions Christ-centered church-based also in ministerial recognition preparation it must be Christ-centered church does that mean we condemn others who different no to his own master a servant stands or falls are we saying we have it all perfected no we have not yet attained but what we are saying is this according to our present light we are determined that in this crucial issue we will not we will not push aside the church of Christ as the divine the ordained institution for the initial recognition special preparation formal ordination of its official leaders and its teachers could it be could it be it in the light of the overarching teaching of the scripture that

52:15 The people of God in the old covenant, under the new, after 20 are off, I fall in the whole process. We've left to individuals to determine their call, and we've left to the parachurch institutions to prepare them, and to the supra-church structure upon the people of God. May God keep us from sin. By the grace of God, the wonderful promise of Jeremiah 3.15 will be fulfilled in this assembly until the coming of Christ.

53:15 I will give them shepherds after my heart, who shall feed them with knowledge and with understanding. Dear people, these are serious issues. And as we approach our 25 years together, it's time that we go back to these foundational principles, examine them, be convinced of them, and renew our determination that by the grace of God they shall regulate our life, so long as God gives us life and breath. And my friend, if you're here this morning and not a Christian, I hope one thing has come through to you, that the man in that pulpit is talking to a group of people who obviously believe the Bible ought to regulate all they do. You've got it. That's right. That's right.

54:04 And this is the same Bible that says, If you do not repent of your sins and believe on the Lord Jesus, it were better for you that you'd never been born.

54:14 This Bible says that you're either in Christ or out of Christ. On your way. To heaven or on your way to hell. You better take seriously what it says about you.

54:24 Give yourself no rest until you know your sins are pardoned through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. And you're ready to die and go to judgment and meet the living God. Let us pray.