Biblical Leadership: Function vs Title | Let's Talk Biblical

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If you love talking about the Bible as
much as I do, then I think you'll really
enjoy this show. Welcome to Let's Talk
Biblical, the podcast where we dig deep
into the heart of scripture, explore
timeless truths, and have real
conversations about what the Bible says
and how it applies to us. My name is
Lex, and I want to thank you for joining
me on today's episode. So, grab your
Bible, get comfortable, and let's talk
biblical.
All right. Hey guys. Uh, sorry about
that. I was a little bit late tonight.
Um, I had some things I was trying to
finish up real quick and time got away
from me. So,
all right. Tonight we are going to be
talking about the roles and functions
uh in of leadership within the church
within the body of Christ. And so what
what is biblical leadership? What does
biblical leadership look like? Um and
we're going to talk about
uh the five-fold ministry. We're going
to talk about elders and deacons and uh
just all sorts of things about
leadership. And first off, I want to
start off with um servantthood and how
we're supposed to be servants and how
Yeshua has called us to serve. Um but in
in the world we live in today uh so many
people have this idea
that
um you know someone who is charismatic,
someone who is popular, someone who is
has influence
um you know they think celebrities and
uh you know musicians and and actors and
singers and athletes and people like
that. people of influence um people who
are
uh you know social media uh social media
influencers and whatnot they think that
those people
are the ones who are are qualified to
lead
and that's not always the case.
Um, you know, also we have this idea
that leadership is about titles and
authority and position and recognition
and that's not what we see in the Bible
either. Um,
so let's let's go ahead and dig into the
scriptures and see what the Bible says
uh about the kind of leaders that God is
looking for. And we're going to start in
Matthew uh chapter 20.
And let's start at verse 25.
But Yeshua called them to himself and
said, "You know that the rulers of the
Gentiles lord it over them, and those
who are great exercise authority over
them." Okay, so this um
this is the uh the way that the world
thinks about authority, right? It's it's
about lording over. It's about having
authority and power and um putting
people under you, you know, pushing
people down while you lift yourself up.
And that's not the way Yeshua says uh
leadership should work. And so then we
go on. It says, "Yet it shall not be so
among you. But whoever desires to become
great among you, let him be your
servant."
Okay? And whoever desires to be first
among you, let him be your slave.
Just as the son of man did not come to
be served, but to serve and to give his
life as a ransom for many. Okay, so here
we see that Yeshua
gave himself as the example of how to
lead through service, how how to be a
servant. And we're to follow his
example. He says, if you want to be
great, then you need to be a servant.
And if you want to be uh the first, you
know, the the greatest, the the head of
all, you need to be a slave. And this
just seems backwards
to to our our the worldly way of
thinking.
Uh but if you think about it, every
every good leader in scripture was first
a servant. They learned how to serve.
And by learning how to serve, then they
learned how to lead. And so for example,
Moses,
Moses uh was first a servant before he
was a leader. Okay? Um he was um you
know, he he was well he grew up in in
Pharaoh's home, but he wasn't like the
leader of Pharaoh's home. He saw his
family serving. Uh you know, then there
was this fight and struggle with an
Egyptian because he was fighting for his
his fellow Hebrew. And then he fled and
he went out and he became a shepherd and
he served as a shepherd and he worked
and he labored and he he took care of
the sheep for years.
And um during that time of service as a
shepherd, he learned how to how to
serve, but he also learned how to lead.
And by leading sheep, he learned how to
lead people. And then we have um Joseph
Joseph was sold into slavery by his
brothers. He um he he worked for
potterer and um then he went to prison
and he went through all kinds of stuff.
And this this mess that he went through
was to train him up to be a leader. And
and after he served and I've got a bug
flying in my around my face. after he
served um in Egypt for all those years
and was a servant and a slave for all
that time, then he was able to
eventually he was exalted to the second
highest position in Egypt, second only
to Pharaoh.
But he was able to do that because God
took him through the servant
process. He became a servant first so
that he could know how to lead. um
David, King David, you know, he was
considered the greatest king that Israel
ever had. He served first. He served as
a shepherd boy and then he also served
he served Saul in Saul's palace. Even
when Saul was trying to kill him and
hunt him and and destroy him, David
served Saul and was faithful to Saul and
um didn't try to take authority for
himself.
H David didn't try to take authority
from Paul. Uh he waited for God to to
give him the power and authority.
David had uh had the opportunity to take
Saul's life more than once.
And David uh did not take Saul's life.
Instead, he said, um, you know, far far
be it from me, you know, who am I to to
lay hand on the, uh, anoint the on God's
anointed. And so, David was humble and
he was a servant. He served, uh, King
Saul for all this time. Um,
even even the apostles
uh, they were before they were apostles,
they were disciples and in their
disciplehip, they were serving Yeshua.
Uh many of them had other ways that they
served before. Um
and they all their training ground was
through service. Um and so the biblical
model for leadership
has with humility. It's about humbling
yourself and to serve and to um so
learning how to submit to authority so
that you can better lead. I think that's
that's one of the biggest keys is if you
have to learn how to submit to authority
before God can use you to lead others
before God can trust you with authority.
He needs to know that you are submitted
to authority. And I think that's the
biggest thing we've got to understand
about leadership according to God is if
you want to lead, you have to learn how
to submit to authority. You have to
learn how to serve. And by submitting to
authority, we learn how to uh
appropriately wield authority so that
we're not um we're not abusive in it. Um
and it's it's not about exaltation.
Having leadership and authority in in
the in the church, in the body of
Christ, is not about exalting yourself.
It's not about becoming greater and and
becoming somebody special. Um, it's
about, um, helping others.
It's about building up the body. It's
about strengthening and encouraging the
body. It's about, um, drawing others
closer to Yeshua.
Um, it's has nothing to do with you
becoming somebody special, you becoming
somebody important, you becoming
somebody who people look up to or admire
or whatever. That's not what matters. Um
so uh I think we want to start with
Yeshua as the ultimate servant. Um and
you know he just said that uh
the son of man did not come to be served
but to serve and to give his life as a
ransom for many. Okay. So here we see
Yeshua uh the whole reason he came to
earth was to serve and to give his life.
He humbled himself. He was he was in
heaven. He was exalted with God. He he
the the father and the son share glory.
And we see this in scripture that that
he you know when he prayed he said Lord
excuse me father restore to me the glory
that I once had with you before the
world was.
And so before he before he he dies on
the cross, he prays this prayer that
he's he's asking to have his glory
restored to him because for the time he
was on earth, his glory was not given to
him. He came as a servant. He came
humble. He came um lowly
and
in him him coming as a man, God
incarnate, God coming as a man, he
humbled himself and took on flesh and
became one of us.
And that's a great example to us that we
are to to humble oursel for the people
and not to try to exalt ourselves before
the people, not to try to make ourselves
seem like we're somebody special, but to
humble ourselves.
And
uh he came to serve. He he came to give
to give what he had. He he didn't come
to receive. He came to serve.
He didn't come to see what he could get
from from us. He came to give and what
what can he give to us? Um and you see
his whole ministry he's going he's
teaching he's healing. He's casting out
demons. He's he's serving people. He's
he's helping people. He's doing what's
needed. Um loving those who are uh
unloved, having compassion on those who
need compassion.
Um
you know he helping the poor, helping
the sick, helping the needy. Um he came
to serve and then ultimately he gave his
life as a ransom. He died on the cross
for our sins. He died for us so that we
could live. He died so we could live.
And so this self-sacrificing life is
what we are supposed to imitate.
And so as leaders, we are supposed to
imitate Yeshua. And as all believers,
we're supposed to imitate Yeshua. but
especially as leaders.
Um
we see he he washed the disciples feet.
Um
he healed the sick. He made uh he made
time for kids. That was something uh
that that's kind of unheard of for
people in leadership.
um someone who you know you you look at
um
oh people who are who are very uh you
know CEOs and and businessmen people who
are in charge of of running companies
and stuff they don't they don't make
time for children um they just make time
for important people but Yeshua showed
us that we need to make time for
children and he you know he he knelt
down with the kids and he he hugged them
and and taught them and talked talk to
them and spend time with them. And
that's important. We need to be people
who are willing to spend time with the
people who don't
who who can't
um what's the word? They can't do
anything to add to our value. They can't
do anything to add to our esteem. They
can't do anything to add to our
authority.
Um you know, because that's what CEOs
look for, right? people who run
companies, big uh managers and and um
you know people who run companies, they
look for what can I get from you? How
can you help me? Um what can I get out
of this relationship? They want to
network and connect with people who can
help them somehow. And they hobnob with
people who are important.
And Yeshua says, "Hey, let's let's spend
time with the poor. Let's spend time
with the widows. Let's spend time with
the orphans. Let's spend time with the
children. Let's spend time with the
needy. Let's spend time with the sick.
Let's spend time with those who are in
prison. Those people can't add to your
value. They can't
they can't add to your greatness.
Um
and that's what we need to learn is is
to care for those people who can't do
anything for us.
Um loving them even when they can't
return the favor. Um, it's not about uh
networking and and making connections so
that they can hook you up with uh
opportunities and and things like that.
It's it's about caring for those who are
in need. And that's that's what we see
over and over again through Yeshua's
ministry and what we are supposed to do
as leaders as well. Um, you know, he he
he touched the le the lepers, you know,
people that were untouched, people, you
know, the the society would shun them
and ignore them and not uh even come
around them. You know, can you imagine
going years and years and years without
ever being touched by another human? Um,
that's that's got to be extremely
lonely. And I'm sure that um they were
they were so surprised when Yeshua
touched them. And I I can imagine
how much um gratitude
they had for that touch because his
touch healed them. And but not only did
it healed them, but it was it was a
touch of compassion, touch of love,
touch of kindness that they needed.
Um,
so,
uh, true leadership in the kingdom is
not about climbing a ladder. It's not
about moving up. It's not about exalting
yourself. It's not about pushing other
people down. It's not about lifting
yourself up. Okay? That is not what
leadership in the Bible looks like.
That's not what Christian leadership
should be about. That's not what
biblical leadership is. It's not about
pushing people down or climbing up.
It's about getting on your knees. It's
about humbling yourself. It's about uh
getting your hands dirty and doing the
work, the service, the labor. Um you
know that it's
ministry is service. And if you don't
know how to serve,
then you're not you're not cut off from
ministry.
Um
Yeshua Yeshua, he he uh he really turned
leadership upside down. The way the
world thinks about leadership, he
flipped it upside on his head. Um and he
defined greatness as being willing to
serve. And so that's something we have
to uh always keep in mind that we are to
be servants. And you know, we you can
look back throughout the scriptures at
at places where people are called the
servant of the Lord. Um uh the apostles
refer to themselves as bondervants of
Jesus Christ. Um there's all kinds of
things throughout the Bible about
serving and you know we are called to be
faithful servants and so um all of these
things are significant and important.
Um, so let's go ahead and move on. Now
that we've kind of um talked about being
a servant, I want to look at the
five-fold ministry. So, we're going to
jump over to Ephesians
and chapter 4 and we're going to start
in verse 11.
All right. Uh Ephesians 4:11 says, "And
he himself gave some to be apostles,
some prophets, some evangelists, some
pastors and teachers."
Okay. Well, let me let me pause that for
a second. Yeshua is talking about Yeshua
gave these uh Yeshua gave some to be
apostles, some prophets, some
evangelists, some pastors, some
teachers. So Yeshua is giving people as
leaders to as a gift to the church.
Okay. So I think we first need to
realize that that this is leadership in
the church is a gift from Yeshua to the
church. Leadership in the church is a
gift from Yeshua to his body. Okay? And
let's see why why this is a gift. It's
for the equipping of the saints, for the
work of ministry, for the edifying of
the body of Christ.
Okay. So he gives us leadership in the
church so that we can be brought up
correctly, so we can be edified, so we
can be uh equipped.
um so that we can be strengthened
till we all come to the unity of the
faith
and of the knowledge of the son of God
to a perfect man to the measure of the
stature of the fullness of Christ.
that we should no longer be children
tossed to and fro and carried about with
every wind of doctrine by the tricker of
man and the cunning craftiness of
deceitful plotting, but speaking of the
truth in love may grow up in all things
into him who is the head, Christ,
from whom the whole body joined and knit
together by what every joint uh by what
every joint supplies according to the
effective working by which every part
does its share.
causes growth of the body for the
edifying of itself in love.
Okay.
Um
so
he gives these
uh apostles, prophets, evangelists,
teachers and pastors
for the benefit of the church. They are
gift to the church for the building up
of the church for the strengthening of
the church um for the unity of the
church.
and for teaching sound doctrine. Um, and
so these these are in place for a
reason. And there's so many the reason I
want to bring this up is because in this
movement, um, there are so many people
who are teaching,
which is ironic,
they're teaching that we don't need
leaders. They're teaching that we don't
need pastors and we don't need teachers.
They're teaching that we don't need
teachers. it it doesn't even make sense
because they're teaching, showing us
that we need to be taught. Obviously,
they think they need to teach us. Um, so
who are they to say that we don't need
teachers if they are even trying to be a
teacher? Um, it doesn't make sense. And
so when you hear things like that, um,
it it should cause you to kind of rub
your head and say, "Well, wait a minute.
If if you're teaching me, but you say I
don't need a teacher, then you're saying
I don't need you. So, why are you here?
Um, it's kind of a uh self-defeating
thought really. Um, but Yeshua says we
need teachers. Yeshua says we need
pastors. Yeshua says we need
evangelists. Yeshua says we need uh
prophets and and apostles as well. And
so, if if Yeshua thinks we need these
things, then who are we to say we don't?
Who are we to say those things are
archaic or done away with? those things
are no longer necessary.
Um
but uh each of these roles has a
function and I want to I want to dive
into the function. Um so apostles are
sent ones. They are the ones who are
sent to establish, build and govern. Um
they lay the foundation.
Um and they're they're spiritual
pioneers. Okay, we're going to dig in a
little deeper in a minute, but I want to
give a brief overview. Um, prophets,
prophets are those who speak the word of
God with boldness,
calling the church to repentance.
Um,
and and this is something a lot of
people don't understand about prophets.
They think a prophet is just a future
teller, a seer of future events. And
that's that's not the majority. Uh the
majority of prophets we see in scripture
are people who are calling God's people
to repent.
They're calling for repentance. They're
not they're not necessarily predicting
the future.
Um and oftentimes they're calling for
repentance
um in order to
prevent something from happening in the
future. Like for example, Jonah. Jonah
was sent to Nineveh to preach repentance
and uh to tell them that God was going
to destroy the city
and after his preaching they all
repented and then God didn't destroy the
city because they repented. Um but if
they had not repented then God would
have destroyed the city. So it's kind of
like a if you don't do this God's going
to do that um scenario. And often times
that's what prophecy ends up looking
like is if you don't repent, if you
don't change your ways, God will do
this. Um
so like another example, Nebuchadnezzar,
King Nebuchadnezzar,
um he did not listen to the prophets and
he did not um repent and God punished
him.
Okay? And we have numerous examples in
scripture of that kind of thing
happening as well. Uh Pharaoh is another
great example.
Excuse me, I am yawning a lot tonight
for some reason. Um Pharaoh's another
great example. So Moses is a prophet.
Moses comes to Pharaoh. He says, "Let
God says, "Let my people go." Pharaoh
says, "I'm not going to let the people
go." So God sends a plague.
Moses comes back, says, "Let my people
go or else I'll send another plague."
And Pharaoh says, "Nope, I'm not going
to let the people go." So God sends
another plague. And this continues over
and over and over and over and over. And
uh Pharaoh really never learned his
lesson.
Even after the death plague, uh Pharaoh
told Moses to get out. Take take the
people and get out. But then he started
chasing Moses
shortly after they left. He grabbed his
chariots and army and started chasing
him.
Obviously, he didn't learn his lesson.
And so, that's why he ended up drowning
in the Red Sea because he didn't learn
his lesson from all the plagues.
Moses came as a prophet to to point
Pharaoh to repentance and to get Pharaoh
to turn from his wicked ways.
Um, and if if Pharaoh would have
listened and done what Moses had said,
uh, he would not have experienced all
the plagues and he would not have ended
up drowning in the Red Sea. Um, but it's
because of his hard heart and his
resistance to the word of the prophet
um, that he experienced the punishment.
And so when God sends um
prophets into our midst, we are supposed
to listen to them. Uh but it's not
necessarily that they are teaching about
the future. They don't always predict
the future. Often times they're just
bringing a word for right now, what's
happening right now in this moment, in
this world, in this place, in this
church, whatever it is. Oftentimes, that
is what a prophet is doing.
uh most often actually
um but they're speaking the word of God
and that's that's the point is to bring
bringing forth the word of God with
boldness and it's for the the the
purpose of um correction or
encouragement or something like that. Um
evangelists, the next one is
evangelists. They are uh they're the
heralds. They are the ones who are
bringing the gospel to new places. Um
they are going out and saving the lost.
They're going out and finding lost souls
and converting them to believers. Um
that is what an evangelist does.
And then we get to pastors. Uh pastor is
also called a shepherd.
Okay. Word pastor and the word shepherd
are interchangeable is because the
pastors are the caregivers.
They are
the ones who guide and nurture and
protect the flock. Okay. They're the
ones who have been entrusted as stewards
over God's people. And so it's their job
to um to care for, watch over, and
protect those people. And so they lead
um as shepherds. They shepherd the
flock. And then we have teachers.
Teachers are those who rightly divide
the word of truth. Okay? They are
grounded in sound doctrine. They're
grounded. They ground the body in sound
doctrine. They they bring truth uh sound
doctrinal biblical truth to God's
people. Okay? And and you may see
overlap. You may have pastors who are
teachers or you may have pastors who are
apostles. You may have apostles who are
prophets. You may have uh teachers who
are apostles. You know, like you have
different crossover. You have uh
evangelists who are apostles or you may
have evangelists who are pastors. So you
have there's crossover and you may have
someone who is exhibits multiple of
these or even possibly all of these I
think at times
u but the purpose is to equip the saints
to equip the church um for the work of
ministry and to build up the body of
Christ until we reach the unity of faith
and maturity in Messiah. Okay, that's
that's what Ephesians says these are
for. Okay, so now let's dig a little
deeper into these. an apostle.
Um, an apostle is a scent one. And you
think about when a king was to send uh
an emissary, they would send a um
someone to go on their behalf and they
would take uh a signate ring or they
would take a scroll with the the king's
name on it or with the king's seal on it
or something and and they would come on
behalf of the king as ambassadors.
That's kind of the the the idea behind
an apostle is they are ambassadors. They
are sent ones. They are coming in the
name of someone else. They're coming in
the name of the king. And so as
apostles, uh apostles come in the name
of Yeshua and they come on his behalf.
And they they are pioneers. They they
take uh and establish
the church in new areas where it has
never been established before. Um and
they they have a governing uh role. They
govern and oversee churches, multiple
churches. Um and they provide
foundational teaching and insight
um and oversight.
Okay? So they they bound they they form
this foundational teaching and oversight
for all of the churches that they
establish.
um their their their role is a mission
type of role. They're missionary in a
sense uh because they're taking the
gospel to places where it's never been
before and they're building churches
where there are no churches and they're
establishing faith in new places and
expanding the kingdom. Okay. Um, and so
they are a type they're connected to
missionaries in a way, but they're also
connected to someone like a
denominational uh supervisor where they
oversee multiple congregations and they
also function as a um a theology
professor because they are teaching
sound doctrine in all of these
congregations. And so they have multiple
roles and hats that they would wear. Um,
and so we see Paul is a great example of
what it means to be an apostle. And so
we see he planted churches. He went
around traveling different places,
planting churches and appointing leaders
in those churches. And then he would
communicate with them through his
letters and teach them doctrine and
teach them uh, you know, answer their
questions and things like that and help
uh, govern those churches.
uh even though he was not present there,
he laid the doctrinal foundations for
those communities and um he appointed
leaders. He appointed elders and leaders
in those churches uh to serve and to
lead those communities and he he
communicated with the leaders and he was
in charge of the leaders and the leaders
were in charge of those communities.
Okay.
uh apostles carry a governmental type of
authority. Um and so they they come with
doctrinal correction. They they come to
unify churches and have oversight over
churches and um they they they they care
for and look over the the community of
all the churches and they govern them.
And so it's kind of a a government
oversight type of position as well as
missional foundational forming of those
churches. Um and so for uh a verse to
look at in connection with this
is 1 Corinthians chapter 3 and uh let's
look at verse 10.
according to the grace of God
which was given to me as a wise master
builder. I have laid the foundation and
another builds on it. But let each one
take heed how he builds on it. Okay, so
here Paul is talking about how he laid
the foundation. He's he's the one who is
laying the foundation for this
community, for this church.
And but then someone else steps in. The
the elders, the pastors, uh the teachers
of that community begin to build on that
foundation that Paul laid as an apostle.
Um all right. So then we have prophets.
Prophets function as a mouthpiece for
God. Um they're one who speak forth is
is really what the word uh prophet means
is one who speaks forth the words of
God. And so prophets reveal the heart
and the will of God. Okay, this um this
is important. It's not again it's not
about fortuneelling. It's not about
future telling. It's not about seers and
and and seeing the future before it
happens. That's not what prophecy is
really about. Prophecy is about
revealing God's heart to his people. Um
they call uh the body to repentance.
They call the body to um forgiveness.
They call the body to holiness.
Um they issue warnings and corrections.
They issue direction and guidance. Um
and they they confirm God's plans and
God's purposes
in the lives of the of the people of the
community.
They speak truth
and edify and convict. Um, prophets are
here to strengthen and encourage and
comfort
uh while also confronting sin. And this
is we see this in 1 Corinthians 14
and verse three.
according to the grace of God which was
given to me as a wise master build. Oh,
wait. Uh, that's there it is. Okay.
Sorry, I didn't click the button. Uh, 1
Corinthians 14:3. But he who prophesies
speaks edification and exhortation and
comfort to men. Okay. He who prophesies
speaks edification and exhortation and
comfort to men. So this is what we see
uh the prophet is supposed to be doing.
They're to be um edifying the church.
Edifying means strengthening the church.
And so now sometimes those words are
hard. Um a word of correction
strengthens the church, but it's a hard
word. A word of punishment strengthens
the church, but it's it's a hard word.
Um it's not edification isn't always
like a pat on the back. It's not always
a you're doing a great job.
Edification is doing what is necessary
to strengthen the body. Um exhortation
is more about um speaking words that
that um encourage and build up. Um but
edification is just about what it what
it takes to strengthen.
Um
okay
let's go on to
evangelists.
Evangelists are the bringers of the good
news. Um an evangelist is a gospel
messenger. They are one who is going out
and bringing the gospel to the lost. Um
and and we see that apostles do
something similar too. So like there's
there's crossover in all of these. Um
but some are more heavy in in something
than others. Um evangelists have a
burden for the lost. Okay? They if if
you have ever um talked to an
evangelist,
you will see that an evangelist wants
everybody to be an evangelist. Okay?
That's they are motivators. They are
encouraers. They are um they're they're
they're like the cheerleaders of
ministry. Um they see they see the lost
and they want to go save the lost and
they want you to go save the lost and
they want everybody you know to go save
the lost. They just want us all to get
mobilized and go out in the street and
preach the gospel out in the street to
everybody who walks by and preach the
gospel at your job and at your school
and at Walmart and everywhere you go.
And
um you know if you're not an evangelist
and and you start talking to one um
you're going to realize real quickly
that uh he thinks you should be an
evangelist too because that's how
evangelists think. They they they are an
evangelist and they want everybody else
to be evangelist too. And so that is
that is one thing interesting about
evangelists. You don't see that with
apostles or prophets or pastors or
teachers. Um, apostles are like, "You
don't want to be an apostle. Uh, this is
a special calling that only certain
people can have, and that's something
God appoints, not, you know, not me."
Uh, prophets are the same way. You know,
you can't just be a prophet. You don't
want to be a prophet. This is it's a
hard life. Um, you don't want to you
don't want to have that weight on your
shoulders. Um, don't don't be a don't be
a prophet. You know, that's what a
prophet's going to tell you. You don't
want to be a prophet. Pastor, same
thing. They'll say, "Oh, nope. You don't
want to be a pastor. Uh being a pastor
is hard. Uh it really wears on you. It
tears you down. It's it's not for
everybody. Um it takes a special person
to be a pastor. And if you're not
called, you you you shouldn't do it. You
should go do something else. And
teachers will say the same thing.
They'll say, you know, um you know, you
have you have to be qualified to be a
teacher. Not everybody can be a teacher.
You have to you have to really study and
know what you're talking about and and
really be willing to dig in and and
understand the depths of scripture
before you can teach. And uh there's you
know there's a lot of accountability
behind that and stricter judgment. You
know the Bible even says not many should
seek to be a teacher because of stricter
judgment. And but evangelist
says I'm an evangelist and you should be
an evangelist too. And you and you and
you and you and you and you and you and
you. We should all be evangelists. Like
that's the mindset of an evangelist. And
um so it's really interesting how that
works.
But um they are uh they're the ones who
stir up the church for outreach. They
they're here to motivate to stir us up,
to encourage us to go out and reach the
the lost with the gospel. And they help
uh teach others how to share their
faith, how they they equip others to
share their faith correctly. Um,
and so evangelists equip others in the
church to evangelize. And so not only do
they do the work of evangelism, but they
equip others to do evangelism as well.
Um,
and so a verse to go along with that is
second Timothy
uh chapter 4 and verse 5.
But you be watchful in all things,
endure afflictions, do the work of an
evangelist, fulfill your ministry. Okay.
Then we get to pastors.
Again, like I said, pastors are
shepherds. They are the caregivers. Um
they uh lead the sheep, they feed the
sheep, and they protect the sheep.
That's the purpose, the function of a
pastor. That's their function. And
again, these are functions I want to
emphasize. It's not a title. It's not
it's not about I want I call myself
apostle so and so or I call myself
prophet so and so or I call myself
evangelist so and so or I'm pastor so
and so or I'm teacher so and so. It's
not about titles. It's about function.
What is your function in the body and an
apostle functions as someone who uh you
know they plant and they start and they
lay foundation and they they bring
doctrine. Okay, they are foundation
layer. A prophet is one who speaks forth
God's word um to the people. A
evangelist is one who goes out and wins
the lost.
And a pastor is one who shepherds and
cares for the sheep. They lead the
sheep. Uh they they counsel, they
comfort, um they guard against spiritual
predators. Um they protect, you know,
they they they they know how to identify
a sheep from a wolf.
Okay. And they they separate their sheep
from the wolves. And they protect the
sheep from the wolves. And they guard
the sheep so the wolves can't come in
and get them and lead them astray. And
they they get very defensive and
protective of their sheep because they
love their sheep and they care for their
sheep. A pastor is someone who has deep
uh love for for the people that God has
entrusted him to and he understands that
he is a steward of those people. He's
those people are given to him as
stewardship and he is there to manage
them well and to lead them well. Um
pastors walk closely with the people
helping them grow in holiness. Uh
pastors uh work to disciple uh people
that that's part of their part of their
function is as disciplemakers.
Um they they make disciples. They
disciple people and they make disciples.
Um they are they are there to help the
church be healthy and grow. Um and and
help each individual part each
individual person in the church to be
healthy and to grow. Um and so pastor is
you know when you think of pastor you
should think of a shepherd. What does
the shepherd do? It takes care of the
flock. It leads the flock. It it feeds
the flock. It guards the flock. That is
what a shepherd does. And so first
Timothy,
we had the verse for pastors and I want
to uh bring it to is 1 Timothy chapter 3
and start verse two. A bishop then must
be blameless. The husband of one wife,
temperate, soberminded, of good
behavior, hospitable, able to teach,
uh, not given to much wine,
not violent, not greedy for money, but
gentle, not quarrelome, not covetous,
one who rules his own house well, having
his children in submission with all
reverence.
For if man does not know how to rule his
own house, how will he take care of the
church of God?
Okay. Uh that's important. You need to
know how to if you can't raise your own
children, if you can't take care of your
own family, if you can't lead your own
wife, if you're not a spiritual leader
to your wife, then how do you think you
can lead the church? Um if you're not a
spiritual leader to your children, h how
do you think you can lead the church? Um
you need to first know how to manage
your own home and lead your own home and
be a pastor to your wife and your
children before you can try to lead the
church. Um then we go on he says they're
not to be a novice. They're not to be a
new new to the faith, new to their
doctrine, new to their beliefs. Uh why?
Because less being puffed up with pride,
he fall into the same condemnation as
the devil.
Okay? So he's not to be a new believer.
So, this is this is something else we
see a lot of times is someone famous
maybe um comes to faith and they they
decide they're going to be a a a
believer now. All of a sudden, we want
them to be a teacher because oh, they've
got they've got influence. So, we need
to get them in front of people and have
them teach people. And
they they they don't know how to teach
people. They just started believing.
They just just started reading their
Bible. They don't know the first thing
about leading and teaching people in the
scriptures.
Yeah, they're influential. Yeah, they're
popular. Yeah, they're beautiful.
Whatever it is that you think about them
that makes them qualified, that's not
what qualifies them. They haven't they
haven't walked with the Lord long
enough. They're novice. They're new. Um,
they haven't served the Lord long
enough. That, you know, I I think about
the uh the illustration of the fruit
tree
in in the Old Testament. The the
commandment around the fruit tree is
that uh when you plant a fruit tree, for
the first three years, you're not to eat
of its fruit at all. And then the fourth
year, you dedicate it to God. And then
the fifth year, you can eat of its
fruit. And so it takes five years before
you can eat from a fruit tree. If you
plant, if you go plant an apple tree or
peach tree, cherry tree, whatever, you
got to wait five years before you're
supposed to eat of the fruit.
you let that fruit fall to the ground
and rot and decompose and and nurture
that soil
and produce good soil and fruitful soil
and good nutrients in that soil so that
the tree is stronger and healthier and
can produce better fruit. Um
but uh they're not to be a novice.
They're not to be a new person.
Wrong button. And then we have um he
must have a good testimony among those
who are outside lest he fall into the
reproach and the snare of the devil. So
they're to have a good testimony.
They're they're to have um they're
they're not to be thought
poorly of.
Um people people should say, you know,
hey, he's he's trustworthy. He's honest.
He's um you know, he's someone who
is faithful. He's someone who is um not
deceitful. He's you know, we we feel
like we can trust this guy. We feel like
he he he's compassionate. He's loving.
He's kind. People should recognize that
about a leader. And if if people don't
recognize that about about somebody or
about you, uh that's a problem. And I
man I I've met some pastors in my life
that uh you know you meet them and you
think man that guy reminds me of a used
car salesman
uh or or you know that guy reminds me of
um you know somebody from uh you know
like a a mafia or something you know
like he he seems like a mobster and it's
because they don't have the character
that a leader should a leader should
have.
And so, you know, you meet a a pastor or
a leader of some kind and and you know,
you go to meet him and and the
impression you walk away with is he
seems like a used car salesman. Well,
what does that tell you? That that means
that this guy is um he's trying to get
something out of you. This this guy is
deceptive. He's sneaky. He's slick. He's
smooth with his words. You know, he
comes in, he's flattery and and smooth
talker, and he can get you to really
like him.
And then but but there's this thing
where he he can use that to his
advantage
and he he can use that to to get
something from you. Well, that's not how
pastor should be. Um or he reminds you
of of some some sort of a a mob boss.
Well, you know what what does that mean?
Well, you walk in and you meet this guy
and and he's got his um his entourage of
uh
uh security guards
uh guarding him. Uh you can't touch him.
Uh you have to get permission to come
talk to him. Um you know, he's he
doesn't he doesn't fellowship with the
people. He he's kept side in a special
green room where nobody can inter
interact with him until it's time for
him to come and get on stage and then
when he's done talking then he goes back
to his green room and is separate from
the people and you don't ever actually
get to talk to the guy face to face.
Um he's just there speak and doesn't
want to actually shake hands or
fellowship with you at all. Doesn't want
to get to know you. Doesn't want to know
your name. He's just there to present.
That's not
that's not that's not the heart of a a
leader, biblical leader. Um, you know,
we see a someone like Paul. Paul was an
apostle. He's one of the greatest
apostles in my opinion. Uh, him and
Peter, the two, I think, the two
greatest apostles of the church. And
they went to the people. They ate with
the people. They fellowship with the
people. They prayed with the people.
they they had communication and
connection with the people in all those
ways. And so a leader needs to be
hospitable.
Okay, let's go back over these again. So
we go back.
Uh he must be husband or one wife,
temperate, soberminded, of good
behavior, hospitable. Okay. Hospitable
is, you know,
someone who's willing to have entertain
guests and and be um, you know, in
communication with with the people. Um,
they're able to teach,
not given to wine. Okay? So, not to be a
drunkard, not violent. This is something
we got to be careful of, too, is is
biblical leaders shouldn't be violent
people. Um, you know, if you see someone
who is is a violent person, um, you need
to be cautious about letting them be a
leader, uh, not greedy for money. This
is a big one. They should not be greedy
for money. Um, let me let me emphasize
this. They should not be greedy for
money. Um, if you know, you look at
these these TV preachers, TV and
pastors, and what do they do is, uh, if
you'll send me your money, I'll I'll
send you a blessing. Um, you know, send
us send us a donation and we'll we'll
give you, uh, this free gift.
Um, you know, it's all about money. It's
all about blessings. If you want God to
bless you, then send us your money. Um,
and all it is is they're just trying to
get money from you.
Now, I do believe that uh money is
important, that tithes are important,
that that donations are important, that
supporting ministry financially is
important. I I I believe that a worker
is worthy of his wages. I believe that.
Um but there's some p some pastors and
some preachers and some evangelists
that, you know, they're they come just
for the money. They come just to get
money from people and they they
orchestrate their whole ministry on how
can I grow financially? How can I get
more money? How can I uh what can I do
that's more profitable financially? Um
and if if you're concerned about
financial profit, then you're in you're
in you're in the wrong business because
that's not what ministry is about.
Ministry is not about financial profit.
Um, you know, I I believe that God
provides for his leaders and his
teachers and his his his people. Um,
that God provides for ministry
and he does so through the generous
financial gifts of uh the people within
that ministry or within that community.
Um, and that's the way God designed it
to work. But it's not about trying to to
get rich. It's not about trying to uh
buy a new house or a new plane or a new
car or whatever. Um it's not about
wearing fancy suits and you know
expensive clothing and and things like
that. It's
if you're in ministry for money, you're
in you're in for the wrong reason.
Um,
you know, I I I remember um when I was
uh younger, I was a teenager, I I would
often tell people that I I want to go
into ministry when I grow up. I want to,
you know, because people would ask,
"What do you want to do when you grow
up? I want to be a pastor. I want to go
into ministry. I want to, you know, I
want to do missions work." Something
along those lines, you know, I want to
be in ministry. I want to be a pastor.
And um I remember one time, you know,
most of the time people like, oh, hey,
that's great. You know, good for you. I
remember one time I I said that to
somebody and they said, "I hear there's
a lot of money in that." And I thought,
"What?
That's not what I've heard. I've heard
that uh going into ministry, you're
you're just signing over to life of
poverty pretty much." Um because there's
not a lot of money in ministry. Um, have
you ever looked at I mean, if you look
at the majority of churches, most
churches are
under 500 members. Um, and you know, the
mega churches are getting rich. Yeah.
Mega churches have multiple thousands of
people, yeah, they're doing great
financially, but most churches are under
500. And really, most the majority of
churches are like under two or 300. Um,
and you know, if you look at right now,
there are so many churches that are
under a hundred
probably. You know, I I would mention I
would venture to guess that over half of
all churches in the world are under 100
members.
There's no way that that pastor is
getting rich off of 50 members or 80
members or 100 members. There's no way.
He's not getting rich off. she's
probably barely paying the electric
bill.
Um, and so when people say that, oh
yeah, there's a lot of money in
ministry, you're you're you're thinking
wrong, um, it's not about money. Okay,
so again, he says they're not to be
greedy for money,
but gentle, not quarrelome, not
covetous. Okay, covetous also is tied
with greedy for money in ways. Uh, it's
not always money, but it could be other
things. and then one who rules his house
well. Okay. So, um but these are
qualifications for leadership in the
church. And we see both elders and
deacons have similar lists of
qualifications. Um and that I think is
very interesting because even though
deacons don't teach, they still have
similar requirements
qualifications to be to lead.
Okay? Pastors are not CEOs.
um they're not corporate executives
uh who are who are managing a business.
That's that's the way the modern world
seems to think and act. And that's the
way they they try to treat pastors as
some sort of a a CEO of business. And
that's not what that's not what we're
here for. We are stewards and
undersheperds of the flock of God. And
so I want to turn to first Peter now.
1 Peter chapter 5 and we'll start in
verse two.
says, "Shepherd the flock of God which
is among you, serving as overseers,
not by compulsion, but willingly, not
for dishonest gain, but eagerly,
nor as being lords over those entrusted
to you, but being examples to the flock.
And when the chief shepherd appears, you
will receive the crown of glory that
does not fade away."
All right? So um that is the heart of a
a true pastor, a true shepherd is is
that we are to guard the flock that God
has entrusted to us. We are to lead and
um be stewards over God's people. And
that's that's the way a pastor that's
the heart of a pastor. And you know if
you don't have that kind of a heart, if
you're a pastor and you don't have that
kind of heart, then pray pray that God
would give you that kind of a heart. um
or find a different job because you're
not cut out to be a pastor. And if you
want to be a pastor, pray for God to
give you that kind of a heart or else
you should probably find another job
because you need to have that heart to
be a pastor.
Um
and then Jeremiah 3 gives us a little
bit more
about uh Jeremiah 3:15.
says, "And I will give you shepherds
according to my heart who will feed you
with knowledge and understanding."
Okay. Um God wants to have shepherds who
according to his heart, right? People
who pastor and and shepherd the people
from the heart of God. And that that is
I I'm emphasizing pastor because I think
pastor is a is a very significant role
that we need more of um especially in
this movement. We have a lot of people
who want to be teachers in this
movement.
We don't have uh a lot of people who
want to be pastors in this movement and
we need more pastors. Um
okay then we go into teachers.
Teachers are uh the guardians of truth.
Okay? They are instructors. They are the
ones who uh teach the body sound
doctrine. And the problem is there's
also what the Bible calls a false
teacher. And so just because somebody
teaches doesn't mean they're teaching
good doctrine. Uh there are false
teachers
um who teach false doctrine. And so we
need to be careful.
Teachers are here to explain the
scriptures with clarity and with
accuracy.
And uh
they a teacher is someone who is
supposed to help you discern truth from
error. And um
false doctrine from good doctrine.
That's what they're supposed to do is
help help us um to to know what is good
doctrine and what's not. to teach us
good doctrine and to teach us what uh to
to teach us to avoid the false doctrine
and and what false doctrine is. Um
so teachers are the guardians of
doctrine, right? They they guard the
word. They guard the theology.
Um and so you think about a teacher.
Teacher is what what what do you think
of when you think of teacher? You think
of a college professor, right? You think
of your high school teacher. You think
of a kindergarten teacher. The same kind
of thing. A teacher is someone who who
who brings sound doctrine. And so, you
know, a theology professor at a college
is what I would classify as a teacher in
this in this aspect.
um someone who teaches at church,
someone who um they they have a class
that they teach, they have an audience
that they teach, they have u an
auditorium that they teach. Now, some
Yahoo who has a YouTube channel doesn't
necessarily mean he's a teacher. Even if
he has 200,000 subscribers, right? Even
if he has a million subscribers,
doesn't mean he's a teacher. He's just
some guy who got a YouTube channel. That
doesn't make him a teacher. And so what
makes him a teacher is is he teaching
sound doctrine? Is he guarding the
biblical faith? Is he is he helping
people to grow in their knowledge and
understanding of the word of God?
If he's not teaching that, then he's not
a teacher. He's just some guy who's
posting videos online.
Um, you know, so we've got to be careful
about who we listen to and who we let
who who whose voices are we letting into
our ears because there are a lot of
false teachers in the world today. And
um they have a huge platform online.
That's one thing that social media has
done is it's given a platform. Uh it's
given a platform for good teachers,
which is great. It's awesome. Good
teachers have so much more ability to
reach people with the message. But it's
also given a platform for bad teachers
and for false doctrine and false
teachings and it's given them the same
platform. And so you know whereas you
know a couple hundred years ago a
preacher was bound to his pulpit in his
town and he may have 50 people in his
church and that's the extent of his
reach. And so he pours his life into
those 50 people until he dies. Well, now
a preacher has whoever's in his
congregation plus whoever might possibly
be watching online, which could be
thousands or even millions of people
potentially. So, his reach is much
greater, but his responsibility is also
much greater because if he teaches false
doctrine, he has just led even more
people astray. If if that preacher who
only has 50 people in his congregation
teaches a false doctrine, he's only
misled 50 people. The preacher who
preaches online and leads million a
million people astray. He is accountable
for the millions of people he led
astray. That's a greater responsibility.
And so, you know, I I would encourage um
online teachers especially,
weigh that, consider that. What are you
doing? Make sure you are not leading
people astray because you're going to be
held accountable for that.
Um
and then a verse I have along with
teachers is Titus
uh chapter 1 verse9
holding fast the faithful word as he has
been taught that he may be able by sound
doctrine both to exhort and convict
those who contradict. Okay. So this is
uh the responsibility of a teacher. And
then James 3 is the final warning.
James 3:1.
My brethren, not let uh let not many of
you become teachers, knowing that we
shall we receive a stricter judgment.
Okay. So um we need to be careful that
we're not uh trying to exalt oursel.
We're not trying to become a teacher. it
to be in ministry, to be a pastor, an
apostle, a prophet, an evangelist, a
teacher, whatever it is, whatever role
um in ministry you're looking at, it's a
we need to take that role seriously
and we need to consider
um
that
it's a calling from God. It's not just
something you you just decide one day,
hey, I think I'll do this. Um, it's a
calling from God. And
if you
you can't just treat it like a job. It's
not just like, oh, hey, I think I'll
I'll I'll go mons for a living, or I
think I'll I'll go um,
you know, be a firefighter, or I think
I'll go um
work, you know, sell used cars or I
think I'll, you know, you can't just
say, "Hey, I think I'll be a pastor."
It make sure it's a calling. Make sure
God has called you to it. And it's not
something you inherit. You know, just
because your dad was a pastor doesn't
mean you are a pastor. Um I actually
knew people in college who, you know,
it's like they they come from this
family of pastors and their dad was a
pastor and their grandpa was a pastor
and their great-rpa was a pastor and
they think that, well, that's that's
what I got to do. I'm supposed to follow
in my dad's footsteps. That's not
necessarily true. Um
just because your dad was a pastor
doesn't mean you are called to be a
pastor. God may have a different calling
for you. Um
but
the five-fold ministry is important and
it matters today and uh we have a need
for apostles, prophets, evangelists,
pastors and teachers. uh these roles are
not obsolete and they are necessary for
the edification of the body and the
unifying of the body and uh to build us
up in our faith and strengthen our
doctrine and our faith and our beliefs.
Um
and they are important. So now I I want
to quickly touch on elders and deacons.
And I know I'm already past my hour so
hang on with me.
try to make it quick because elders and
deacons um fall under a lot of the other
stuff I've already talked about. Right?
So, an elder is um elders and deacons
are about local leadership in the
church. And so, elders oftentimes elders
and pastors are kind of synonymous and
over have a lot of overlap. Um and
deacons have more to do with servant.
And and the word deacon actually means
to serve. And so back to the beginning
we have before you want you know if you
want to lead you need to first become a
servant. And so that idea of
um you know becoming a pastor someday
you need to learn how to to be a deacon.
You need to learn how to serve. You need
to learn how to uh wait tables fold
chairs. You know this example we see in
Acts is when they they appointed
deacons. It was for the purpose of of
serving food, waiting tables so that the
apostles could teach the word. Um
and so deacons serve the physical and
administrative needs of the community.
Um freeing the elders to focus on prayer
and teaching. Okay. Um and so they work
together. Elders and deacons work
together. elders are there for the uh
the teaching and um
spiritual
oversight, spiritual uh leadership in
the in the community. And then the
deacons are there for the physical uh
oversight and physical uh service and
leadership within the community. And um
so the elders focus on prayer and
teaching and the deacons focus on uh
doing the work, doing the labor.
Okay. qualifications
uh listed for both are very similar and
they're supposed to be above reproach,
faithful to their their wife, um
self-controlled, hospitable, able to
teach, not greedy, and managing their
households well. That those are
qualifications that are for both elders
and deacons. They share um and so
it's not about having a good resume, I
guess. Um,
you know, when you when you look at the
qualifications for
uh elders and deacons in the church,
it's not, hey, they need to have these
qualifications
um as far as degrees
and pedigrees and things like that,
right? You know, you don't have to have
a a PhD
to be an elder. You don't have to have a
um
you know a doctorate or master's degree.
You don't have to have even a bachelor's
degree to be a pastor elder. Um it's not
about degrees. It's not about things
like that. It's it's about your
character and it's about
your reputation and it's about your um
your your ability
to communicate the word of God with
others,
but that doesn't necessarily mean you
have to have a degree to do so.
Um,
and it's not about how much authority or
how much um influence you have.
It's it's about how well you manage
the things that you have authority over.
And so, uh, it's not about being a
popular superstar who has millions of
fans worldwide. It's about how well do
you take care of your wife and kids? How
well do you manage your household?
Um, you know, so it's about what what's
your character like?
Okay. And so elders are spiritual
overseers, shepherds of the flock. Uh,
elder is often interchangeable with a
pastor and a shepherd. So they're very
similar function and um there's a lot of
overlap. Um, but an elder is not always
a pastor. Pastors are referred to as
elders multiple times throughout
scripture, but elders are not always
pastors. And so an elder is is someone
who is um you know has has respect and
authority in the community and has
oversight.
Um but they don't always teach. It says
an elder who teaches is worthy of double
honor though. And so that means that not
all elders have to teach. Um but they
feed the flock. They they take care of
the flock. Um they guard the truth. Uh
they model uh integrity, godly living.
They lead with accountability.
Um
and then deacons are servants. The word
deacon means to serve a servant or a
minister. Um we see in Acts six when
they first appointed the apostles they
handled the practical needs the um
the the serving of tables things like
that and the administrative logistical
tasks.
Uh they care for the poor and the
widows. They um they support the
teaching ministry by freeing up elders
to do spiritual duties, you know. So
they they free up elders to be able to
teach by them taking care of other
things. Uh they demonstrate integrity
and faithfulness in the church. Um and
deacons serve the physical body so that
the spiritual body remains strong. They
don't just set up chairs or count
offerings. They embody the Messiah.
Uh the Messiah's example of
servant-hearted ministry. Okay? They
embody servant leadership. They embody
servantthood.
Um, and that's something that deacons
are are great at. Um,
let's see. All right.
So, uh, together we see the elders and
deacons both they work together. They
are necessary. They support one another.
Um, and they strengthen the church. Um,
it's important to have both elders and
deacons. And elders would consist of
pastors and teachers. Uh whereas deacons
would be uh servant leaders. And um but
they bring order to the to the church,
order to the community and unity. And um
they make ministry more effective.
Um elders and deacons are not about
titles.
Um,
and that's something I I I keep saying,
but I I I think it's important because
people so many times they want a title.
They want they want to be seen as
somebody special, somebody important,
somebody um
who people look up to. And that's not
what it's about. It's not about having a
title.
The the title deacon means servant.
Okay? So, you're you're you're aspiring
to have a title of deacon, but what that
means is you're you're you're the
servant. You're the one who cleans the
bathrooms. You're the one who sets up
chairs. You're the one who washes
windows. You're the one who
plans events.
You're the one who vacuums. Like, that's
that's the role of a deacon. But, you
know, I've had people want to to become
deacons and when they realize they find
out that it's about being a servant,
they realize that's not what they
thought it was. They they thought it was
a title of authority, a title of
respect, that people would uh somehow
look up to them and and honor them and
respect them because they are somebody
special. That's not what it's about.
It's about serving.
And same thing with elders, pastors,
teachers. Um it's about serving and it's
just serving in a different function
now. You're serving uh in the word of
God and you're serving in prayer and
you're serving in counseling and you're
serving in uh ministering to people and
and helping those in need. Um
and so you're serving in a different
way,
but it's still about serving.
And if if you if you want to be a pastor
or a teacher or an elder or something
because you think that's going to give
you a platform
um so that people will listen to you and
give you authority and respect then you
need to go into politics or some other
uh you know become a you know go into
some other field where um you know
that's important because
that's not important in in church
leadership. It's not important that you
have a platform so people can hear you.
That's not the purpose. Um the purpose
is so that
uh God
can be heard
and so that God can be exalted. It's not
about exalting you. It's about exalting
him.
Um and we are our our aspiration as
ministers is should be to be a faithful
servant
to Yeshua. That's that's what our goal
should be to be a faithful servant. Um
not to be a prominent speaker, a
prominent voice in the world. Um our our
goal is to be a faithful servant. So
that he says, "Well done, good and
faithful servant." Um,
and so Matthew 23
verse 11,
but he who is greatest among you shall
be your servant.
Whoever exalts himself will be humbled
and he who humbles himself will be
exalted.
Okay. So, this is this is how we should
treat leadership is is it is we're we're
doing it as a service. We are here to
serve. Um and and our goal and desire
should be how Lord, how can I serve you
better?
Um
all right. I think that's going to wrap
that up for this week. Um let me go
ahead and talk about next week. Okay.
So, next week, uh, we are going to be
talking about,
um, church discipline. And this is one
of those topics that I think really
needs to be talked about, but rarely
gets talked about. Um, it's one that
people misunderstand
and they they don't they don't
understand how it's supposed to function
and they they get it wrong. And so, I
think church discipline is extremely
important for us to have a good biblical
understanding of. And so that's what
we're gonna talk about next week. And um
so it's you know discipline
is is
I don't want to give you too much but
discipline is not about punishment. It's
about restoration. Okay. And and that's
I think where I want to leave it for
next week. And so come back next week uh
as we talk about church discipline and
uh see how it really should function in
the church. All right. Thanks. We'll see
you guys next time. Thank you for
joining me on Let's Talk Biblical. If
you enjoyed this episode, then share it
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forward to chatting with you again next
week. Until next time, keep talking
biblical. Shalom.