tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329600504016968888.post3747332370485070865..comments2024-03-27T15:47:46.091-05:00Comments on Pastoral Meanderings: What does the Church have to offer. . . Pastor Petershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10653554256101480140noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329600504016968888.post-24826406610918270862013-09-20T17:50:39.815-05:002013-09-20T17:50:39.815-05:00THE PASTOR
Was there ever and office of, The Pasto...THE PASTOR<br />Was there ever and office of, The Pastor, approved of or mentioned in New Testament Scripture? No, there was not. There was no single pastor appointed as the authority over any local church congregation.<br /><br />The word pastor is mention one time. (Ephesians 4:11 And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, (NKJV)<br />Ephesians 4:11 And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, (ESV)<br /><br />Pastors were shepherds. Bishops, elders, and overseers are one and the same; and they were the pastors or shepherds.<br /><br />1 Timothy 3:2 A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, temperate, sober-minded, of good behavior, hospitable, able to teach; (NKJV)<br />1 Timothy 3:2 So an elder must be a man whose life is above reproach. He must be faithful to his wife. He must exercise self-control, live wisely, and have a good reputation. He must enjoy having guests in his home, and he must be able to teach. (New Living Bible)<br />1 Timothy 3:2 Now the overseer is to be above reproach, faithful to his wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, (New International Version)<br /><br />Titus 1:5-7....appoint elders in every city....7 For a bishop must be blameless, as a steward of God, not self-willed, not quick-tempered, not given to wine, not violent, not greedy for money, (NKJV)<br />Titus 1:7 Since an overseer manages God's households, he must be blameless--not overbearing, not quick-tempered, not given to drunkenness, not violent, not pursuing dishonest gain.(NIV)<br />Titus 1:7 An elder is a manager of God's household, so he must live a blameless life. He must not be arrogant or quick-tempered; he must not be a heavy drinker, violent, or dishonest with money. (NLT)<br /><br />Acts 20:17,28 From Miletus he sent to Ephesus and called for the elders of the church. 28 "Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you<br />overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood. (NKJV)<br />Acts 20:28 Pay attention to yourselves and to the entire flock in which the Holy Spirit has placed you as bishops to be shepherds for God's church which he acquired with his own blood. (God's Word-Translation)<br /><br />Notice that the apostle Paul called for the elders (plural), he did call for The Pastor (singular).<br /><br /><br />Acts 14:23 So when they had appointed elders in every church,and prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord in whom they had believed.<br /><br />The apostle Paul and Barnabas appointed elders (plural) in every church congregation. They did not appoint a pastor (singular) in every church congregation.<br /><br />Elders, bishops, and overseers are the same office and their responsibilities were to pastor or shepherd the individual church congregations.<br /><br />THERE WAS NO SINGLE PASTOR WHO HAD AUTHORITY OVER A INDIVIDUAL CHURCH CONGREGATION.<br /><br />Men today like to called Reverend Pastor.<br />Reverend means awesome. So they want you to refer to them as Awesome Pastor.<br /><br />Psalms 111:9 He sent redemption unto his people: he hath commanded his covenant for ever: holy and reverend is his name. (KJV)<br /><br />The Lord has earned the right to be called reverend (awesome).<br />Is there any man that has earned the right to be called Reverend (awesome) Pastor?<br /><br />THE NEW TESTAMENT SCRIPTURES ONLY MENTION A PLURALITY OF ELDERS IN CHURCH CONGREGATIONS.<br /><br />MEN HAVE INVENTED THE REVEREND PASTOR (SINGULAR) AND HAVE PLACE HIM IN AUTHORITY IN LOCAL CHURCH CONGREGATIONS. <br /><br /><br />YOU ARE INVITED TO FOLLOW MY CHRISTIAN BLOG. Google search>>> steve finnell a christian view <br /><br />Steve Finnellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12863026367048527526noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329600504016968888.post-39966984957211267652013-04-06T08:13:03.464-05:002013-04-06T08:13:03.464-05:00I agree with this post completely.
There is, howe...I agree with this post completely.<br /><br />There is, however, one rather major disconnect in the Church today and that is that we do not actually OFFER these things.<br /><br />I get so frustrated as I read pastors' blogs where they discuss and argue gay marriage, divorce, singleness etc and never bring it into the context of the full Law/Gospel proclamation of the Bible not apply the sacraments to the issue at hand.<br /><br />We do not need a unique outreach to each of these groups. In fact, to do so would be counterproductive in many ways.<br /><br />But we DO need to take what we have and clearly offer it all individuals.<br /><br />By the way, Pastor Peters, Kudos on your blog over the last few months. It has become an amazing source of both Law AND Gospel. I rarely see a post anymore in which you do not apply both to whatever issue you are discussion. This is exactly what pastors should be doing. THANK YOU THANK YOU.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329600504016968888.post-41573152076180688142013-04-04T21:20:53.344-05:002013-04-04T21:20:53.344-05:00This problem of "relevance" is true worl...This problem of "relevance" is true worldliness. Growing up Baptist, worldliness meant a lifestyle associated with "sinners." <br /><br />Don't drink, dance, smoke, do drugs, or have sex outside of marriage. That was the definition of worldliness. No. Worldliness is when the Church (and individual members thereof) take on the characteristics of the World System. The culture, personal or societal that requires the Gospel be sidelined or silenced for personal/societal preference (itching ears) is worldly.Janis Williamshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02947508427040251166noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329600504016968888.post-10997936851987499172013-04-04T08:34:52.892-05:002013-04-04T08:34:52.892-05:00I offer here two stories to prove your point: Whe...I offer here two stories to prove your point: When my oldest daughter was two, we brought her to communion with us. Her "job" was to take the individual cups and place them in the basket on the way back to the pew. One Sunday, a drop of wine accidently spilled on her sleeve. She pointed it out to us by saying, "Look, I have the blood of Jesus on me." We hadn't discussed this with her at home. She just understood from listening to the liturgy in church.<br /><br />The second story I was just told yesterday by my father who is a pastor. He is currently having private confirmation classes with a severely mentally disabled 15 year old boy. My dad simplifies things as best he can. To memorize the simple response to "Christ is Risen" with "He is risen indeed!" is difficult for this boy. The other day they were talking about Easter and the Resurrection. My dad asked if he knew what opposites were. His response was yes. What followed proves that God reaches ALL His people in His Word and it alone is sufficient. This is how the conversation continued. "What is the opposite of up?" "Down." "Hot?" "Cold." "Right?" "Left." "Death?" "JESUS!"<br /><br />Never underestimate the power of God in His Word and Sacrament to and for ALL people, proclaimed and ministered in Worship. Rebeccahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08285242616788019562noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329600504016968888.post-33147396649736324062013-04-03T18:51:32.490-05:002013-04-03T18:51:32.490-05:00It always amazes me that folks want someone else (...It always amazes me that folks want someone else (or the church) to do something for the children. One of the great joys of my life was to take my grand daughter to church when she was very little As I held her in my arms, she would look for the Pastors voice when he was speaking, marvel at the stained glass windows, sing the liturgy with gusto. At three years old she could sing the entire liturgy and follow the movement of the service. I gave her something to write on during the sermon, but would find her stopping from time to time to look up when bits and pieces of the homily would catch her attention. Children are capable of far more than we think. The Word and liturgy impinges on their hearts if we only get out of the way and allow the Holy Spirit to work. PLEASE - no children’s sermons to entertain the adults, and demean the wonder God has given us through children. Children learn from the modeled behavior of the adults. As goes the Divine Service, so goes the formation of the children.<br />E. QuanbeckElsa Quanbeckhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13837596130692585521noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329600504016968888.post-51522017913967858382013-04-03T10:42:26.970-05:002013-04-03T10:42:26.970-05:00Earlier this year a first grader was ill on Sunday...Earlier this year a first grader was ill on Sunday morning and his mother decided to take him home after Sunday school rather than stay for the Divine Service. He was beside himself. He didn't want to go home! Finally his mother asked, "Why do you want to go to church this morning?" He answered, "I want to get Jesus.<br /><br />Out of the mouths of babes ...<br /><br />Pastor John RutzAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com