LifePoint Church of Elizabethtown
LP 04/28/2024

      • Psalms 62.5ESV

  • Who Is Like The Lord (Psalm 113)
  • This Is Amazing Grace
  • Lord I Need You
  • I Need Thee Every Hour
  • Introduction: Can I be honest? I don’t like the governmental side of church. Making decisions in community is stressful and frustrating. I know that it is necessary but knowing it is necessary doesn’t remove the stress. We have all seen when the church was divided over a simple decision. We have all experience the pain of differing opinions too bolding stated. We’ve witness pastor failures, pastor mutinies, power struggles, lack of accountability, and authority out of control.
    When LifePoint began, we began like most other church plant. We had a team that became a leadership team. We were unsure what style of government we needed to adopt. The Bible gives us some offices of the church and instructions on how to treat leaders, but it doesn’t prescribe a particular style of government.
    In fact let me lay out some of the forms of government that we see in churches:
    Hierarchal Form — This is a top — down style of government. We see this in Catholicism, Episcopalian, and even Methodists. If you’ve been in the military or worked for a large corporation, you know how this works. The one at the top tells the one below him what is expected and everyone below does it. In this form of government the member is the last in the order.
    Presbyterian Form — In this style of government there is a presbuteros or body of pre-qualified men who that govern the church and make the decisions for the body. Oversimplification here but the church would then do what is decided by that body. Some would call this elder-ruled.
    Council Form — this style many of you are familiar with. A council is formed from leaders of various committees which were appointed by the congregation. This council makes certain decisions on behalf of the church, but some decisions are deferred to the congregation for a vote.
    Congregational — Led — the congregation votes on everything. The congregation may give some limited power to leaders or staff to spend or act on their behalf, but ultimately the church decides within a business session of the church.
    There are shortcomings in all of these forms and there will be shortcomings in any form or government because people are involved.
    What we all agree on is a church needs a pastor or leader. If one is to lead they must have authority that matches expectations. In other words you can’t expect from a leader something he doesn’t have the authority to do.
    A second thing that we may not know is a pastor must have accountability. Someone once told me that “people don’t do what you expect, they do what you inspect.” I don’t know if I agree with that fully, but I do believe that we all need someone looking out for us in love so we don’t run ourselves in a ditch.
    A third thing that we need to understand about church leadership. Without shared leadership the church will stagnate. Jesus didn’t call one disciple that later became an apostle; He called 12. In the Great Commission He basically said; You go and do for others what I have done for you. Teach them to observe what I’ve taught you. If you have one leader you’re only going to get what one leader can reasonably produce. When he reaches his limit, he will either cave, burnout, quit, or just maintain.
    One thing that I have said from the beginning, before we had our first service was I want to develop a government that struck a balance between pastoral authority and accountability.
    If you want and expect me to lead, then give me the authority to do it!
    However, love me enough hold me accountable and keep me out of the ditches. Don’t let me shipwreck my faith.
    I have come to realize in the process of planting LifePoint that this responsibility, vision, and leadership must be shared with faithful, capable men.
    So, where are we landing when it comes to leadership? We want to take and adapt the things that glorify God, promote unity, pastoral authority and accountability, community, and shared leadership. So, here is four components to our structure.

    Christ — Ruled.

    This is an acknowledgment that all authority ultimately rests in Jesus Christ — the head of the church. Listen to Ephesians 1:22
    Ephesians 1:22 NKJV
    And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church,
    All things pertaining to the church is under the headship of Jesus Christ. The idea behind headship is founding or creating, and then maintaining the unity of the whole.
    Christ headship also reminds us that the role of our structure and the purpose of our government is spiritual. Our government should glorify God as Christ life and body glorified the Father.
    Colossians 1:15-18 emphasizes the preeminent position of Jesus in the church.
    Colossians 1:15–18 NKJV
    He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist. And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence.
    The goal of the church and its leaders should be to seek Christ’s will in every decision made. Is He being exalted, is God being glorified through this?
    The bottom line is this is not my church nor any other man’s church, nor any body of people’s church. It is Christ’s church and when we submit to His lordship we are part of the body and bride.

    Pastors — Led

    Now, I know this sounds strange because we have talked much in the past about shared leadership, and this style has been associated with Presbyterianism, Reformed Theology, or the Christian church denomination.
    We have heard criticisms like anything with no head is dead, and anything with two heads is a freak. Well we just established that the Church has ONE HEAD and that is Christ.
    What is very attractive about this is, its Biblical, it is shared responsibility, shared accountability, and expanded ministry.
    Our model is first among equals. We have a lead pastor who is the main teaching, preaching, and leading shepherd, and then a body of qualified leaders who can advise, bear some of the weight, oversee ministries, teach, preach, and evangelize.
    Let’s look at some scriptures together as we think about shared leadership. Philippians 1:1
    Philippians 1:1 NKJV
    Paul and Timothy, bondservants of Jesus Christ, To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are in Philippi, with the bishops and deacons:
    Both bishops and deacons in the text are plural. Bishop means overseer which we rightly associate with a pastor, and deacon means servant. We have no problem with a plurality of deacons within one body, but often associate the plurality of bishops with several churches rather than one.
    Is it possible and is it not wise to have several overseers in one congregation?
    Is that not why we hire staff at a church? I think often God has those qualified gifted leaders right under our noses and there is not always the need to hire staff.
    Another passage is 1 Peter 5:1-4
    1 Peter 5:1–4 NKJV
    The elders who are among you I exhort, I who am a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that will be revealed: 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.
    Again, we see a plural use the term elder which is interchangeable with pastor. Bishop, Elder, and Pastor is 3 words for the same office and Peter uses all of those in this text. Peter could be addressing the elder in Pontus, the one in Galatia, the Cappadocia, the one in Phrygia, the one in Bythinia. It seems more likely that he just has a plurality in mind.
    In Titus 1:5 Paul reminds Titus why he sent him to the region of Crete. He uses the plural for elders in the context of each city.
    Titus 1:5 NKJV
    For this reason I left you in Crete, that you should set in order the things that are lacking, and appoint elders in every city as I commanded you—
    3. It seems highly likely that the early church when it was unified employed shared leadership.
    They had a group of men dedicated to pray, and ministry of the Word. Acts 6:2
    Acts 6:2 NKJV
    Then the twelve summoned the multitude of the disciples and said, “It is not desirable that we should leave the word of God and serve tables.
    It seems that they shared the responsibility of making difficult decisions Acts 15:6
    Acts 15:6 NKJV
    Now the apostles and elders came together to consider this matter.
    Here is the bottom line for us. We realize that a lead pastor needs, authority, support, accountability, wise council, and shared leadership. We realize that the church needs thriving ministries that are passionately and well managed. Therefore we want to have a process of developing leaders. Some will be elders, some deacons, and some teachers.
    We’re not gonna do snatch and grab as we have seen in other churches. We need a few leaders so snatch them up and ordain them. We will walk with men as long as needed to develop them into leaders.

    Deacons — Served

    The chief role of a deacon is to serve the people. The title itself means servant or minister.
    I believe for years we have tried to press men with gifts of service to lead, or men with leadership gifts to serve.
    An elder grows people spiritually through ministering the word and visionary leadership. A deacon grows people spiritually through care ministry. Practical, physical needs connected to the biblical principle of brotherly love.
    The goal of a deacon is that no one misses out on the warmth and love of the family of God.
    Let’s look at the origination of deacons in Acts 6:1-7
    Acts 6:1–7 NKJV
    Now in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplying, there arose a complaint against the Hebrews by the Hellenists, because their widows were neglected in the daily distribution. Then the twelve summoned the multitude of the disciples and said, “It is not desirable that we should leave the word of God and serve tables. Therefore, brethren, seek out from among you seven men of good reputation, full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business; but we will give ourselves continually to prayer and to the ministry of the word.” And the saying pleased the whole multitude. And they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit, and Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas, a proselyte from Antioch, whom they set before the apostles; and when they had prayed, they laid hands on them. Then the word of God spread, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests were obedient to the faith.
    There was a threat against the church in the early years. I think we underestimate how serious this could’ve been. It could’ve totally class divided the church.
    Deacons were the answer to this problem. We know that this wasn’t just a situational solution because as we read earlier deacons were installed in Philippi and qualification for deacons are mentioned along with those of elders in 1 Timothy.
    The overarching goal is that no one is left out of the love, warmth, hospitality, and care of the community of faith, and deacon ensure that.

    Congregational — Affirmed

    The church is not a cult of personality; it is one body. The reason for this four-component system is to ensure that we function in a way that glorifies God, and we do what we do under the leadership of the Holy Spirit.
    Personal opinions and conventional wisdom are only useful when under the control of the Holy Spirit.
    Congregational affirmation doesn’t mean we agree on everything without question. We can disagree and still be affirming toward each other.
    What it does say is we will function as one body and affirm one another in our roles, mission, and vision. Listen to Philippians 2:1-4
    Philippians 2:1–4 NKJV
    Therefore if there is any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and mercy, fulfill my joy by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.
    We need the encouragement of Christ, the comfort of love, and the fellowship of the Spirit. We need affection and mercy. How?
    Like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord and one mind. Doing nothing out of selfish-ambition or conceit, but rather in humility putting others before self.
    In other word we are not always striving for our own way. I love what he adds after the example of Christ in verses 5-11. Listen to Philippians 2:14-16
    Philippians 2:14–16 NKJV
    Do all things without complaining and disputing, that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, holding fast the word of life, so that I may rejoice in the day of Christ that I have not run in vain or labored in vain.
    What are we saying? Christ-Rule, Pastors-Led, Deacons-Served, and Congregational — Affirmed will glorify God and highlight the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Let’s Pray!
    ​

      • Ephesians 1:22ESV

      • Colossians 1:15–18ESV

      • Philippians 1:1ESV

      • 1 Peter 5:1–4ESV

      • Titus 1:5ESV

      • Acts 6:2ESV

      • Acts 15:6ESV

      • Acts 6:1–7ESV

      • Philippians 2:1–4ESV

      • Philippians 2:14–16ESV

  • Hallelujah, What a Savior!
LifePoint Church of Elizabethtown
louie@lifepointchurchetown.com
1-270-317-7861
http://lifepointchurchetown.com
6 members