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Tag Archive: authority

You Are Not The One to Build, Part 4: God is “calling!” What does that mean?

August 16, 2023 1 Comment

Linked text accompanying the You Tube video with the same name. God calls us. God’s call presents neither a question of what human has “authority” nor of human “leadership,” but of God’s right to make free use of what He gives.

A God who Speaks, Authority Contests, Divisions in the Church, God Acts by Speaking, God Speaks to Us, God's purpose for us, God's Voice, His Children, His Friends, Must Trust God to Enter, Peril of Seeking Power, The Kingdom is all around us, The Kingdom is all around us, The Kingdom of the Heavens, To be his ambassadors, To be in his image

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Top-Down or Bottom-Up Repentance? The Shift Toward Mass “Evangelism” and Group “Conversions”

November 4, 2022 0 Comments

Introduction to the historic process by which the Early Church, a collection of outcasts bound together by a personal relationship with Jesus, within a few centuries became the chief bastion of worldly power and order held together by legally enforced adherence to a creed.

Church purpose versus church growth, Compulsory Christianity, Divisions in the Church, Jesus the Son, Mass Conversion, Mass Evangelism, Peril of Seeking Numbers, Peril of Seeking Power, Peril of Seeking Respectability, Salvation, Social control and statecraft, Son of Man, Trinity

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Repentance, in the Weaker Sense, in the Parable of the Two Sons

June 24, 2021 2 Comments

As the parable of the two sons in Matthew 21:28-32 shows, repentance is merely changing our minds so that we start to do what the Father asks. Repentance does not require remorse, payment of a penalty, or even in all cases a spoken apology, and the forgiveness that it produces cannot be sold.

A God who Speaks, Changed treatment of each other, Divisions in the Church, Forgiveness and Unforgiveness, God Speaks to Us, Greed, Parables, Repentance, Salvation, Selling Forgiveness, Through Jesus

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Teachers

December 5, 2020 4 Comments

Teachers are given to the Church to teach and explain the Word of God and to model and transmit the relationship with God they are teaching. Teaching as a gift of the Holy Spirit may also be given to people who are not permanently given to the Church as teachers, and may be given to people on specific occasions. Ephesians 4:11 “teachers” are not the same thing as “pastors.”

A God who Speaks, God Speaks to Us, Other Gifts of the Holy Spirit, Our Oneness in Christ book revision, Through others, Through the church

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Pastors

December 3, 2020 4 Comments

Pastors are shepherds of flocks of people. Their main function is to guide, guard, tend, and care for the needs of their flock, not to command it. They should not be expected to exercise all of the gifts of the Spirit, to be competent to do every job in the Church, or to do the whole “work of the ministry” in place of the members of their flock.

A God who Speaks, God Speaks to Us, Our Oneness in Christ book revision, Through the church

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Apostles

November 27, 2020 2 Comments

The distinguishing mark of the apostle is the apostolic functions of starting new works, of guiding resolution of conflicts, and of ordaining and directing organization in the Body. Since these functions are still needed, it follows God still gives the church people gifted for these functions, whether we call them apostles or not.

A God who Speaks, God Speaks to Us, In the Church, Meaning of Unity, Our Oneness in Christ book revision, Purpose of the Church, The universal Church and local churches, Through others, Through the church, What is God's Word

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The Ephesians 4 “Offices” are Jesus’ Gifts to the Church, not Fixed “Offices” of Authority

November 24, 2020 3 Comments

Ephesians 4:11 identifies five groups of people given to the Church by Christ to equip its members to do the work of the ministry–apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers. These five groups are best viewed based on their functions, and not as fixed “offices” of authority. The common Protestant emphasis on the pastor as the “boss” of the local church is unjustified.

A God who Speaks, Authority Contests, Church purpose versus church growth, Divisions in the Church, God Speaks to Us, Other Gifts of the Holy Spirit, Our Oneness in Christ book revision, Peril of Seeking Power, Purpose of the Church, Through the church

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Authority Figures in the Church — Deacons

November 22, 2020 2 Comments

The New Testament provides for deacons as servants of the local church, administering alms to its widows, orphans and poor members. They are not spoken of as being in charge, but those who serve well obtain good standing and great boldness, as the martyr Stephen and Phillip the Evangelist did.

A God who Speaks, Disrespecting poor believers, Divisions in the Church, God Speaks to Us, In the Church, Meaning of Unity, Our Oneness in Christ book revision, Purpose of the Church, The universal Church and local churches, Through the church

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Authority Figures in the Church — Elders

November 21, 2020 4 Comments

The term term translated “elder” refers to the age and wisdom of persons functioning in this role in the Church. It often seems to be used interchangeably with “overseer” (or “bishop”), and the way a person legitimately functioning in this capacity is to be recognized (often called the “qualifications”) is the same as for an overseer. Like overseers, elders teach and lead by example, not by fiat.

A God who Speaks, Discipline or Correction, God Speaks to Us, Our Oneness in Christ book revision, Restoration of our Relationships, Salvation, Through others, Through the church, Uncategorized

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Authority Figures in the New Testament–“Bishop”– Inspector and Model

November 13, 2020 2 Comments

Christ is himself the Head of the Church, But visible, local churches, as human organizations, also need visible leadership. “Bishops” or “overseers,” as mentioned in the New Testament refer to people who have the function of overseeing others’ work and providing a model of right living, not an office of lordship over the church,

In the Church, Meaning of Unity, Our Oneness in Christ book revision, Through the church

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