This is where it is at. I believe if Ephesians 4:11 is properly practiced the priest will function properly which will then free the Elders up to function properly. When pastors burn out it is due to two things (which I think I will post about in reference to Eph 4:11) 1. Unbiblical expectations from untrained congregants and 2. Unbiblical perception of obligation to fulfill those unbiblical expectations.

Any takers?

Jon Zens: “The Congregation organizes itself (I Cor. 11:33-34; 14:39-40; 16:2-3) Disciplines fallen members (I Cor. 5:3-5; 6:1-6) Warns the unruly (I Thess. 5:14) Comforts the feeble (I Thess. 5:14) Supports the weak (I Thess. 5:21) Abounds in the work of the Lord (I Cor. 15:58) Admonishes one another (Rom. 15:14) Teaches one another (Col. 3:16) Prophesies to one another (I Cor. 14:31) Serves one another (Gal. 5:13) Bears one another’s burdens (Gal. 6:2) Cares for one another (I Cor. 12:25) Washes one another’s feet (John 13:14) Loves one another (John 13:34-35; 15:12,17; Rom. 13:8; 1 Thess. 4:9) Is to be devoted to one another (Rom. 12: 10) Shows kindness and compassion to one another (Eph. 4:32) Edifies one another (Rom. 14:19; 1 Thess. 5: 1 lb) Bears with one another (Eph. 4:2; Col. 3:13) Exhorts one another (Heb. 3:13; 10:25) Incites one another to love and good works (Heb. 10:24) Encourages one another (1 Thess. 5: 11 a) Prays for one another (Jas. 5:16) Offers hospitality to one another (1 Pet. 4:9) Fellowships with one another (I John 1:7) Confesses sins to one another (Jas. 5:16)”

“With dramatic clarity, all of these “one another” commands incarnate the decisive reality that every member of the believing community is to bear the responsibility of pastoral care in the assembly. Leadership, therefore, is a corporate rather than a solo affair. The idea that elders exclusively direct and rule the affairs of the church, make decisions for the assembly, deal with all of its problems, and supply all of its teaching is alien to Paul’s thinking and bereft of Biblical support. Stated simply, the New Testament knows nothing of an elder-ruled, elder-governed, or elder-directed church. And it knows even less about a pastor-led church.”

“The ministry of the whole Body is to overshadow the supervisory/exemplary role of the elders, it would make our churches far more healthy and vibrant. The elders, being the more mature brethren, are merely responsible for modeling pastoral care by nurturing their younger brethren in Christ (Acts 20:28-29; Gal. 6: 1; Heb. 13:17b). And their goal, along with the prophets, teachers, and evangelists, is to empower the saints to take responsibility for the flock along with them (Eph. 4:11-12, 1 Thess. 5:12-13). (Elders can simultaneously be prophets, teachers and evangelists; but not all prophets, evangelists, and teachers are elders.)”

“While some believers take the lead more than others due to their peculiar gifting and relative spiritual maturity (i.e., the elders), the emphasis of the NT is upon the responsibility of the entire assembly, Thus, leadership and pastoral responsibility fall upon the shoulders of every member of the church rather than upon the back of one person or a select group. In God’s ecclesiology, brotherhood precedes, exceeds, and overshadows eldership. “

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Hutch: Once we get away from the false notion of a one man pulpit and a seated priesthood, those who Lionel is referring to as “home elders” should not be so busy with their duties of being an example to the church that they cannot hold a full time job. In fact it is my opinion that they should not be any more busy serving in the church as any other believer priest. The congregation is responsible for doing the works of the ministry and elders are merely another vital part of that congregation as a whole. Since a healthy congregation will have prophets, teachers, evangelists and elders, there should be plenty of folks able to teach and speak in each gathering so that there is no need for one individual to be preparing and presenting 3-4 one hour long monologues per week. I think it prudent that one of the elders should bring a short message each week along with messages from the other teachers and prophets.

A think a lot of times we can easily fall back into the idea of the unbiblical and man made structure of one man teaching each week from behind a pulpit.

I cannot thank you enough for the link to this article and book.

Awesome!

kg

This is what I was saying here:

If I say that Paul is saying as a directive to “protect the flock from wolves” then my exegesis leads me to say yes unless that person travels outside of his home area and because of the work of his ministry must live off of the resources of others; however, if you can get a job then you should. Now many may disagree but if I cancel out the pay as normative I have to cancel out the wolves as normative and watching after the flock. What do you think? See where I am going? I don’t think I can embrace one sentence as normative and reject the other one.”

Barnabbas, Peter, Paul, John, and others were evangelist/apostles who traveled outside of their working environment. For example Peter was a fisherman, to preach the Gospel in some area where fishing was not available would leave him broke, busted and disgusted. So I am not arguing against men and women who travel abroad to do missions work (I believe missionaries should make their money off the Gospel) or evangelists (I believe they should make their money off of the Gospel) or apostlic ministers (church planters) I believe they should also. However when someone lives in a community for 40 plus years, raising their families and never traveling (they are home elders like the ones Paul is talking to in Acts 20) then I believe that they can work for a living and should. They should be a blessing both spiritually and monetarily not a burden. As Paul says “it is better to GIVE than it is to RECEIVE”

Again, what do you think is going on in 1 Corinthians 9?