Brother ‘s Keeper

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Brother keeper

 

Sunday 04/30/17 

Series: Doers of the Word

Message – Brother’s Keeper

Audio Quality was poor today due to location.

Click HERE for Video

 

Brother ‘s Keeper

Seeking the Lord about what makes a church a church.

  1. Church is a safe place. (a fold – noun)
  2. It is a sheepfold
    1. A place of community of believers under God appointed Shepherds.
    2. A place of shared interested in God, the covenant and the family.
    3. A place of intimate involvement in each other’s lives.
      1. Grace goes out
      2. Grace comes in
  3. A place of preparation and training for the work of the ministry.
  4. A place of edification, exhortation and comfort.
  5. A respite from the world and from antagonizing interests.
  6. A place of belonging.

 

What are sheep

  1. Beloved and simple creatures.
  2. Easily spooked or frightened.
  3. A fold (meaning an enclosure of the familiar and safe)
    1. They need caring, nurturing and feeding.
    2. Need community.
    3. Must involve themselves and be involved in.
  4. Need oversight.
  5. Need shepherds.

 

What are shepherds

  1. Those who care for the sheep.
  2. Those who watch our for the sheep (doctrine, dangerous outside influences…like doctrine or worldly world-views or appetites).
  3. Those who feed (teach).
  4. Those who lead and exercise oversight.
  5. Those who fold.

 

In thinking these thoughts it occurred to me that one of the components which is missing in our fold is being involved and being involved in and THAT all has to do with being doers.

 

Turn with me to Hebrews 10:19-25.

 

As an example let’s look at Php 4:2-3 which I also put atop your calendar for May…

“(2) I implore Euodia and I implore Syntyche to be of the same mind in the Lord.  (3)  And I urge you also, true companion, help these women who labored with me in the gospel, with Clement also, and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the Book of Life.”

 

Elaborate…

Paul talks to the Corinthian believers about their involvement in each other’s lives and how that involvement will either evoke blessing and change or adversity and judgment.

 

1Cor. 11:17-34,  

“(17) Now in giving these instructions I do not praise you, since you come together not for the better but for the worse.  (18)  For first of all, when you come together as a church, I hear that there are divisions among you, and in part I believe it.  (19)  For there must also be factions among you, that those who are approved may be recognized among you.  (20)  Therefore when you come together in one place, it is not to eat the Lord’s Supper.  (21)  For in eating, each one takes his own supper ahead of others; and one is hungry and another is drunk.  (22)  What! Do you not have houses to eat and drink in? Or do you despise the church of God and shame those who have nothing? What shall I say to you? Shall I praise you in this? I do not praise you.  (23)  For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you: that the Lord Jesus on the same night in which He was betrayed took bread;  (24)  and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, “Take, eat; this is My body which is broken for you; do this in remembrance of Me.”  (25)  In the same manner He also took the cup after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.”  (26)  For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death till He comes.  (27)  Therefore whoever eats this bread or drinks this cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord.  (28)  But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of the bread and drink of the cup.  (29)  For he who eats and drinks in an unworthy manner eats and drinks judgment to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body.  (30)  For this reason many are weak and sick among you, and many sleep.  (31)  For if we would judge ourselves, we would not be judged.  (32)  But when we are judged, we are chastened by the Lord, that we may not be condemned with the world.  (33)  Therefore, my brethren, when you come together to eat, wait for one another.  (34)  But if anyone is hungry, let him eat at home, lest you come together for judgment. And the rest I will set in order when I come.”

 

…Blessings! 

 

I hope this teaching will challenge you and encourage you to place your trust in the Lord Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord.

You have a special place in God’s family & kingdom. If you do not know Him, please use our ‘Contact Us‘ page and reach out so we may have the privilege of introducing you to the Lord. Neither money nor attendance at our church will be mentioned.

If you have been spiritually fed by this ministry and wish to give, we truly appreciate that and you may do so here, but all outreaches of this ministry are FREE for you and anyone to enjoy at no cost.

Blessings!

 

Pastor Mark

View posts by Pastor Mark

Hi my name is Mark and though I am opposed to titles, I am currently the only Pastor (shepherd/elder) serving our assembly right now.

I have been Pastoring in one capacity or another for nearly 30 years now, though never quite like I am today.

Early in 2009 the Lord revealed to me that the way we had structured our assembly (church) was not scriptural in that it was out of sync with what Paul modeled for us in the New Testament. In truth, I (like many pastors I am sure) never even gave this fundamental issue of church structure the first thought. I had always assumed that church structure was largely the same everywhere and had been so from the beginning. While I knew Paul had some very stringent things to say about the local assembly of believers, the point of our gatherings together and who may or may not lead, I never even considered studying these issues but assumed we were all pretty much doing it right...safety in numbers right?! Boy, I couldn't have been more wrong!

So needless to say, my discovery that we had been doing it wrong for nearly two decades was a bit of a shock to me! Now, this "revelation" did not come about all at once but over the course of a few weeks. We were a traditional single pastor led congregation. It was a top-bottom model of ministry which is in part biblical, but not in the form of a monarchy.

The needed change did not come into focus until following 9 very intense months of study and discussions with those who were leaders in our church at the time.

We now understand and believe that the Bible teaches co-leadership with equal authority in each local assembly. Having multiple shepherds with God's heart and equal authority protects both Shepherds and sheep. Equal accountability keeps authority and doctrine in check. Multiple shepherds also provide teaching with various styles and giftings with leadership skills which are both different and complementary.

For a while we had two co-pastors (elders) (myself and one other man) who led the church with equal authority, but different giftings. We both taught in our own ways and styles, and our leadership skills were quite different, but complimentary. We were in complete submission to each other and worked side-by-side in the labor of shepherding the flock.

Our other Pastor has since moved on to other ministry which has left us with just myself. While we currently only have one Pastor/Elder, it is our desire that God, in His faithfulness and timing, may bring us more as we grow in maturity and even in numbers.

As to my home, I have been married since 1995 to my wonderful wife Terissa Woodson who is my closest friend and most trusted ally.

As far as my education goes, I grew up in a Christian home, but questioned everything I was ever taught.

I graduated from Bible college in 1990 and continued to question everything I was ever taught (I do not mention my college in order to avoid being labeled).

Perhaps my greatest preparation for ministry has been life and ministry itself. To quote an author I have come to enjoy namely Fredrick Buechner in his writing entitled, Now and Then, "If God speaks to us at all other than through such official channels as the Bible and the church, then I think that He speaks to us largely through what happens to us...if we keep our hearts open as well as our ears, if we listen with patience and hope, if we remember at all deeply and honestly, then I think we come to recognize beyond all doubt, that, however faintly we may hear Him, He is indeed speaking to us, and that, however little we may understand of it, His word to each of us is both recoverable and precious beyond telling." ~ Fredrick Buechner

Well that is about all there is of interest to tell you about me.

I hope our ministry here is a blessing to you and your family. I also hope that it is only a supplement to a local church where you are committed to other believers in a community of grace.

~God Bless!