- Come Thou Almighty King
Mark 3:14ESV
- QR Code for VolunteersWhen Americans answer the telephone, most of them simply say, "Hello." I have heard that the response is a bit different in other countries. - Germans answer a ringing phone with their last name. - In Denmark, the Danes will answer with both their first and last names. - Russians say, "I’m listening." - The curious French say, "Hello, who’s on the line?" - Italians greet callers with "Ready" upon which the caller demands, "Who's speaking?" - The Spanish give the command, "Speak!" - The Chinese proclaim, "Hey, hey, who are you?"God calls each of usto serve in different ways.God called Isaiahand he answered.
Isaiah 6:8 ESV And I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?” Then I said, “Here I am! Send me.”Ordinationis public ceremonyto celebrate that processGod callingperson answeringchurch recognizing.I have heard some teachwe should not ordain.Some have said it iscompletely unbiblicaldoes not apply in NThas come to an end.We will seewhat the Bible teachesabout all of this.I do concede,in some Christian groupsthe modern practiceof ordination is connected tomany false ideas.Let’s go to the Biblestudy ordination.The concepts ofordinationlay on of handshas a rich biblical history.Old TestamentFirst passage in Biblespeaking of ordinationSecond book of Bible.At Mount SaniaDuring Sanctuary building.Speaking of priestly garments:Exodus 28:41 ESV And you shall put them on Aaron your brother, and on his sons with him, and shall anoint them and ordain them and consecrate them, that they may serve me as priests.The word “ordained”literally means“ to fill the hand”.The very next chaptergives long and explicitdescription of entireordination ceremony.During the ceremonyMoses literally placedsacrificial meats and breadsinto their hand.The meaning is clear.They were being given authorityto perform the ceremonialrites of sacrifices and offerings.SuccessionThe official positionof High Priest wouldbe passed down fromFather to oldest son.The one who held this positionwould have holy riteto stand as mediatorbetween God and man.Leviticus 16:32 ESV And the priest who is anointed and consecrated as priest in his father’s place shall make atonement, wearing the holy linen garments.Later,not only the priestsbut all the Leviteswere ordained forSacred work.Numbers 8:10–11 ESV When you bring the Levites before the Lord, the people of Israel shall lay their hands on the Levites, and Aaron shall offer the Levites before the Lord as a wave offering from the people of Israel, that they may do the service of the Lord.They were set apartfor holy work.Later we see,other leaders in Israel(not just Priest and Levites)being coronatedin similar manner.Numbers 27:18–20 ESV So the Lord said to Moses, “Take Joshua the son of Nun, a man in whom is the Spirit, and lay your hand on him. Make him stand before Eleazar the priest and all the congregation, and you shall commission him in their sight. You shall invest him with some of your authority, that all the congregation of the people of Israel may obey.Joshua was not a priest.He was from thetribe of Ephraim.He was a judgein Israel.Kings in Israellater experience similarcoronation ceremonies.But the symbolism involvedanointing oillike the priests and Levitesbut not laying on of hands.These were momentsof great intensity aspriestkingjudgereceive calling from God.A missions director once met with the mother of one of his agency’s missionaries and spent some time getting to know her. She prepared tea for the director in her parlor and as they drank the tea, she explained to him the difficulty of having a daughter on the mission field of China and a son as a missionary in Sudan. She loved and missed them dearly, but as she explained, her love for God allowed her to let them follow His will for their lives. The mother went on to describe the burden her son had for the Sudanese people. Her relay of his description of the people brought her to tears several times during the conversation. The missions director left her house with a deeper appreciation for the parents of missionaries and a greater burden for the country of Sudan.A few months later the missions director got word that a missionary in Sudan had been killed—it was the Scottish lady’s son. Feeling he should be the one to break the news to her, he once again visited the mother in her home. After telling her the tragic news, the mother looked down, and in a few moments of composure she said, “Sir, I would rather have my son die in the middle of Sudan, alone, than to have him living here with me, disobeying God’s will.”New TestamentAs Jesus was workingto develop theNew Christian Church,He, once again,used this symbol ofordination andlaying of hands.Mark 3:14–15 ESV And he appointed twelve (whom he also named apostles) so that they might be with him and he might send them out to preach and have authority to cast out demons.Ellen White givesmore description regardingthe touching moment.Desire of Ages Chapter 30—“He Ordained Twelve”When Jesus had ended His instruction to the disciples, He gathered the little band close about Him, and kneeling in the midst of them, and laying His hands upon their heads, He offered a prayer dedicating them to His sacred work. Thus the Lord’s disciples were ordained to the gospel ministry.
Jesus later selecteda broader groupfor a similar calling.Luke 10:1 ESV After this the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them on ahead of him, two by two, into every town and place where he himself was about to go.Others were appointedto the gospel work.The word translatedas appointed hereis the word:ἀναδείκνυμιThe world literally meansto lift up on highand show everyone.The point is,the appointment togospel service is meantto be a public recognitionof their spiritual leadership.Interestingly,this same word is usedwhen the disciples areseeking God’s leading inwho will replace Judas.Acts 1:24 ESV And they prayed and said, “You, Lord, who know the hearts of all, show which one of these two you have chosenThe word SHOWis the same word:ἀναδείκνυμιThe 12The 70Were set apartfor a special work.But they were notto let this callingget to their heads.D.L. Moody was the most famous evangelist in the world in the late 1800s. People came from around the world to attend his Bible Conferences in Northfield, Massachusetts. One year a large group of pastors from Europe were among the attendees. They were given rooms in the dormitory of the Bible school. As was the custom in Europe, the men put their shoes outside the door of their room, expecting them to be cleaned and polished by servants during the night.Of course there were no servants in the American dorm, but as Moody was walking through the halls and praying for his guests, he saw the shoes and realized what had happened. He mentioned the problem to a few of his students, but none of them offered to help. Without another word, the great evangelist gathered up the shoes and took them back to his own room where he began to clean and polish each pair. Moody told no one what he had done...But this work,effect more thanthe individual being ordained.Acts of the Apostles Chapter 2—The Training of the TwelveIt was at the ordination of the Twelve that the first step was taken in the organization of the church that after Christ’s departure was to carry on His work on the earth.
Ordination servednot only aspicking people whowill work in ministrybut also toorganize the new body.Deacons were commissionedagain with the samelaying-on of hands.Acts 6:6 ESV These they set before the apostles, and they prayed and laid their hands on them.Paul and Barnabashad also be selectedor a special work.Acts 13:2–3 ESV While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” Then after fasting and praying they laid their hands on them and sent them off.They were being sentas frontier missionariesto be church planters.Acts of the Apostles Chapter 16—The Gospel Message in AntiochBefore being sent forth as missionaries to the heathen world, these apostles were solemnly dedicated to God by fasting and prayer and the laying on of hands. Thus they were authorized by the church, not only to teach the truth, but to perform the rite of baptism and to organize churches, being invested with full ecclesiastical authority.
They were calledby God himself.Through Holy Spirit.But they wereordainedsentby the church.This is a combination ofGod’s CallingChurch OrganizationFrequently peopleforget 1or get them confused.Some churchesfocus only onGod’s callingmiss church organization.This happens much incongregational charismatic churches.Laying-on of handsany oneany timehas lost its meaning.Other churchesfocus only onecclesiastical orderforget Spirit’s leadership.The Catholic Churchfocuses much onapostolic successionordaining new leaders.They are missing muchof New Testament meaningof Christian leadership.They enforce ritelike celibacythat the Bible nevercalled for.They lack Spiritual leading.Both churches seem toattach a mystical meaningto the service of ordinationnot found in the Bible.In the Catholic church,Clergy and laity (non-clergy)seem to hold differentspiritual positions.For Catholics,priests are not just calledto do Holy work.Through ordinationthe clergy becomeHoly people...This mystical conceptof ordinationcan’t be found in the Bible.I read of a candidate for ordination into the ministry. He was having an interview with the bishop on the day before the ordination service. Feeling his unworthiness he said, "Bishop, if you knew how unworthy I am to be ordained by you, you would never lay hands on me."The dear bishop replied, "If you knew how unworthy I am, you wouldn’t let me do it!"We’ve got to recognise that in the sight of God we’re but sinners saved by grace. We need to come again and again to the Cross of our Saviour.Acts of the Apostles Chapter 16—The Gospel Message in AntiochBoth Paul and Barnabas had already received their commission from God Himself, and the ceremony of the laying on of hands added no new grace or virtual qualification. It was an acknowledged form of designation to an appointed office and a recognition of one’s authority in that office. By it the seal of the church was set upon the work of God.
Church leadersdon’t become holierthrough ordination.It is the church’srecognition ofthe calling thatGod already gave them.Through it,the church investsin the individualthe calling alreadygiven by God.Paul continued this traditionin the churches he setup.Acts 14:23 ESV And when they had appointed elders for them in every church, with prayer and fasting they committed them to the Lord in whom they had believed.Paul created overseerslike Timothy and Titus.He asked these peopleto raise up more churchesand ordain more elders.Ordination was connectedGod’s callingChurch Organization.That why Paul said:Titus 1:5 ESV This is why I left you in Crete, so that you might put what remained into order, and appoint elders in every town as I directed you—They were not justpicking leaders andwalking away.They were creating a structurefor the church tocontinue building upon.Acts of the Apostles Chapter 16—The Gospel Message in AntiochPaul regarded the occasion of his formal ordination as marking the beginning of a new and important epoch in his lifework. It was from this time that he afterward dated
Paul understood he was:called by Godappointed/sent by the ChurchOne of the reasons forthis public recognition ofElders and Deaconswas to differentiate betweentrue and false leaders.There was a dangerof the churchbeing divided bynewself proclaimedleaders.That’s why Paul warned:1 Timothy 5:22 ESV Do not be hasty in the laying on of hands...Paul asked themto ordain leaders slowlyas God’s callinghas become clearin their service.The Nominating Committeewith prayer and sincerityhas worked hard to selectdevoted and willing candidatesfor these sacred callings.The Israeli settlement of Netzarim in the heart of the Gaza Strip was a point of much conflict with militant Palestinians for several years. The conflict was so great that the settlement was evacuated in 2005.Those who lived in Netzarim did so at great personal risk because they felt it was an important part of keeping their land free. A schoolteacher, Shlomit Ziv, who lived in Netzarim in 2001 said, “I don’t live where it’s comfortable; I live where it’s important to live.”This is what it meansto be ordainedTo LiveWhereLikeGod called.SummaryMain Points:Ordination Is Very BiblicalThe Old and New Testament Teach ItThere Is No Point In Which It EndedWe Should Still Do It TodayHere are the steps:God Calls The PersonThe Person Shows Evidence of Their CallingWe Recognize That Calling Publicly Through OrdinationWe Organize Leadership AuthorityFalse Teachings:Ordination Brings New Virtue or GraceThere Must Be an Unbroken Succession of LeadershipThose Ordained Have Authority Above the BibleWe Should Ordain Any One at Any TimeOrdination is Not Connected with Church OrderTimothy Stackpole was a New York Firefighter, who was severely burned in a 1998 fire. After he recovered, he returned to the force despite the advice of some friends and family and the fact that he could retire comfortably.He was a great fire fighter and passionate about his work and was soon promoted to captain. Timothy was one of the fire fighters that ran into the second tower to try to save some people.He understood his calling.He wanted to serve.even if he didn’t have to.Today,We recognize eachof our leaderscalled by Godto serve.AppealRejoice with Us TodayJoin us by Holding Uptheir hands inprayerwilling support. Isaiah 6:8ESV
Exodus 28:41ESV
Leviticus 16:32ESV
Numbers 8:10–11ESV
Numbers 27:18–20ESV
Mark 3:14–15ESV
Luke 10:1ESV
Acts 1:24ESV
Acts 6:6ESV
Acts 13:2–3ESV
Acts 14:23ESV
Titus 1:5ESV
1 Timothy 5:22ESV
- I Would Draw Nearer to Jesus
1 Corinthians 5:1–13NIV2011
1 Corinthians 5:1–13NIV2011
1 Corinthians 5:1–13NIV2011
1 Corinthians 5:1–13NIV2011
1 Corinthians 5:1–13NIV2011
1 Corinthians 5:1–13NIV2011
1 Corinthians 5:1–13NIV2011
1 Corinthians 5:1–13NIV2011
1 Corinthians 5:1–13NIV2011
1 Corinthians 5:1–13NIV2011
1 Corinthians 5:1–13NIV2011
1 Corinthians 5:1–13NIV2011
1 Corinthians 5:1–13NIV2011
1 Corinthians 5:1–13NIV2011
1 Corinthians 5:1–13NIV2011
1 Corinthians 5:1–13NIV2011
1 Corinthians 5:1–13NIV2011
1 Corinthians 5:1–13NIV2011
1 Corinthians 5:1–13NIV2011
1 Corinthians 5:1–13NIV2011
1 Corinthians 5:1–13NIV2011
1 Corinthians 5:1–13NIV2011
1 Corinthians 5:1–13NIV2011
1 Corinthians 5:1–13NIV2011
Luke 7:36–38NIV2011
Luke 7:36–38NIV2011
Luke 7:36–38NIV2011
Luke 7:36–38NIV2011
Luke 7:36–38NIV2011
Luke 7:36–38NIV2011
Luke 7:36–38NIV2011
Luke 7:39–50NIV2011
Luke 7:36–38NIV2011
Luke 7:39–50NIV2011
Matthew 9:11–12NIV2011
Matthew 9:11–12NIV2011
Matthew 9:11–12NIV2011
1 Corinthians 6:1–13NIV2011
1 Corinthians 6:1–13NIV2011
1 Corinthians 6:1–13NIV2011
1 Corinthians 6:1–13NIV2011
1 Corinthians 6:1–13NIV2011
1 Corinthians 6:1–13NIV2011
1 Corinthians 6:1–13NIV2011
1 Thessalonians 4:1–8NIV2011
1 Thessalonians 4:1–8NIV2011
1 Thessalonians 4:1–8NIV2011
1 Thessalonians 4:1–8NIV2011
1 Thessalonians 4:1–8NIV2011
1 Thessalonians 4:1–8NIV2011
1 Thessalonians 4:1–8NIV2011
Romans 8:1–2NIV2011
Romans 8:1–2NIV2011
Romans 8:1–2NIV2011
Romans 8:1–2NIV2011
Romans 6:22–23NIV2011
Romans 8:1–2NIV2011
Romans 6:22–23NIV2011
Romans 8:1–2NIV2011
Romans 6:22–23NIV2011
1 Corinthians 7:1–5NIV2011
1 Corinthians 7:1–5NIV2011
1 Corinthians 7:1–5NIV2011
1 Corinthians 7:1–5NIV2011
1 Corinthians 7:1–5NIV2011
1 Corinthians 7:1–5NIV2011
1 Corinthians 7:1–5NIV2011
1 Corinthians 7:1–5NIV2011
1 Corinthians 7:6–9NIV2011
1 Corinthians 7:6–9NIV2011
1 Corinthians 7:6–9NIV2011
1 Corinthians 7:6–9NIV2011
1 Corinthians 7:6–9NIV2011
1 Corinthians 7:6–9NIV2011
1 Corinthians 7:6–9NIV2011
1 Corinthians 7:6–9NIV2011
1 Corinthians 7:6–9NIV2011
1 Corinthians 7:6–9NIV2011
1 Corinthians 7:6–9NIV2011
Proverbs 7:4–5NIV2011
1 Corinthians 7:6–9NIV2011
Proverbs 7:4–5NIV2011
- My Maker and My King
- O Worship the Lord
- Children of the Heavenly Father
- Come Thou Almighty King
- I Surrender All
- Draw Me Nearer
- Take My Life and Let It Be
Mark 3:14ESV
- QR Code for VolunteersWhen Americans answer the telephone, most of them simply say, "Hello." I have heard that the response is a bit different in other countries. - Germans answer a ringing phone with their last name. - In Denmark, the Danes will answer with both their first and last names. - Russians say, "I’m listening." - The curious French say, "Hello, who’s on the line?" - Italians greet callers with "Ready" upon which the caller demands, "Who's speaking?" - The Spanish give the command, "Speak!" - The Chinese proclaim, "Hey, hey, who are you?"God calls each of usto serve in different ways.God called Isaiahand he answered.
Isaiah 6:8 ESV And I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?” Then I said, “Here I am! Send me.”Ordinationis public ceremonyto celebrate that processGod callingperson answeringchurch recognizing.I have heard some teachwe should not ordain.Some have said it iscompletely unbiblicaldoes not apply in NThas come to an end.We will seewhat the Bible teachesabout all of this.I do concede,in some Christian groupsthe modern practiceof ordination is connected tomany false ideas.Let’s go to the Biblestudy ordination.The concepts ofordinationlay on of handshas a rich biblical history.Old TestamentFirst passage in Biblespeaking of ordinationSecond book of Bible.At Mount SaniaDuring Sanctuary building.Speaking of priestly garments:Exodus 28:41 ESV And you shall put them on Aaron your brother, and on his sons with him, and shall anoint them and ordain them and consecrate them, that they may serve me as priests.The word “ordained”literally means“ to fill the hand”.The very next chaptergives long and explicitdescription of entireordination ceremony.During the ceremonyMoses literally placedsacrificial meats and breadsinto their hand.The meaning is clear.They were being given authorityto perform the ceremonialrites of sacrifices and offerings.SuccessionThe official positionof High Priest wouldbe passed down fromFather to oldest son.The one who held this positionwould have holy riteto stand as mediatorbetween God and man.Leviticus 16:32 ESV And the priest who is anointed and consecrated as priest in his father’s place shall make atonement, wearing the holy linen garments.Later,not only the priestsbut all the Leviteswere ordained forSacred work.Numbers 8:10–11 ESV When you bring the Levites before the Lord, the people of Israel shall lay their hands on the Levites, and Aaron shall offer the Levites before the Lord as a wave offering from the people of Israel, that they may do the service of the Lord.They were set apartfor holy work.Later we see,other leaders in Israel(not just Priest and Levites)being coronatedin similar manner.Numbers 27:18–20 ESV So the Lord said to Moses, “Take Joshua the son of Nun, a man in whom is the Spirit, and lay your hand on him. Make him stand before Eleazar the priest and all the congregation, and you shall commission him in their sight. You shall invest him with some of your authority, that all the congregation of the people of Israel may obey.Joshua was not a priest.He was from thetribe of Ephraim.He was a judgein Israel.Kings in Israellater experience similarcoronation ceremonies.But the symbolism involvedanointing oillike the priests and Levitesbut not laying on of hands.These were momentsof great intensity aspriestkingjudgereceive calling from God.A missions director once met with the mother of one of his agency’s missionaries and spent some time getting to know her. She prepared tea for the director in her parlor and as they drank the tea, she explained to him the difficulty of having a daughter on the mission field of China and a son as a missionary in Sudan. She loved and missed them dearly, but as she explained, her love for God allowed her to let them follow His will for their lives. The mother went on to describe the burden her son had for the Sudanese people. Her relay of his description of the people brought her to tears several times during the conversation. The missions director left her house with a deeper appreciation for the parents of missionaries and a greater burden for the country of Sudan.A few months later the missions director got word that a missionary in Sudan had been killed—it was the Scottish lady’s son. Feeling he should be the one to break the news to her, he once again visited the mother in her home. After telling her the tragic news, the mother looked down, and in a few moments of composure she said, “Sir, I would rather have my son die in the middle of Sudan, alone, than to have him living here with me, disobeying God’s will.”New TestamentAs Jesus was workingto develop theNew Christian Church,He, once again,used this symbol ofordination andlaying of hands.Mark 3:14–15 ESV And he appointed twelve (whom he also named apostles) so that they might be with him and he might send them out to preach and have authority to cast out demons.Ellen White givesmore description regardingthe touching moment.Desire of Ages Chapter 30—“He Ordained Twelve”When Jesus had ended His instruction to the disciples, He gathered the little band close about Him, and kneeling in the midst of them, and laying His hands upon their heads, He offered a prayer dedicating them to His sacred work. Thus the Lord’s disciples were ordained to the gospel ministry.
Jesus later selecteda broader groupfor a similar calling.Luke 10:1 ESV After this the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them on ahead of him, two by two, into every town and place where he himself was about to go.Others were appointedto the gospel work.The word translatedas appointed hereis the word:ἀναδείκνυμιThe world literally meansto lift up on highand show everyone.The point is,the appointment togospel service is meantto be a public recognitionof their spiritual leadership.Interestingly,this same word is usedwhen the disciples areseeking God’s leading inwho will replace Judas.Acts 1:24 ESV And they prayed and said, “You, Lord, who know the hearts of all, show which one of these two you have chosenThe word SHOWis the same word:ἀναδείκνυμιThe 12The 70Were set apartfor a special work.But they were notto let this callingget to their heads.D.L. Moody was the most famous evangelist in the world in the late 1800s. People came from around the world to attend his Bible Conferences in Northfield, Massachusetts. One year a large group of pastors from Europe were among the attendees. They were given rooms in the dormitory of the Bible school. As was the custom in Europe, the men put their shoes outside the door of their room, expecting them to be cleaned and polished by servants during the night.Of course there were no servants in the American dorm, but as Moody was walking through the halls and praying for his guests, he saw the shoes and realized what had happened. He mentioned the problem to a few of his students, but none of them offered to help. Without another word, the great evangelist gathered up the shoes and took them back to his own room where he began to clean and polish each pair. Moody told no one what he had done...But this work,effect more thanthe individual being ordained.Acts of the Apostles Chapter 2—The Training of the TwelveIt was at the ordination of the Twelve that the first step was taken in the organization of the church that after Christ’s departure was to carry on His work on the earth.
Ordination servednot only aspicking people whowill work in ministrybut also toorganize the new body.Deacons were commissionedagain with the samelaying-on of hands.Acts 6:6 ESV These they set before the apostles, and they prayed and laid their hands on them.Paul and Barnabashad also be selectedor a special work.Acts 13:2–3 ESV While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” Then after fasting and praying they laid their hands on them and sent them off.They were being sentas frontier missionariesto be church planters.Acts of the Apostles Chapter 16—The Gospel Message in AntiochBefore being sent forth as missionaries to the heathen world, these apostles were solemnly dedicated to God by fasting and prayer and the laying on of hands. Thus they were authorized by the church, not only to teach the truth, but to perform the rite of baptism and to organize churches, being invested with full ecclesiastical authority.
They were calledby God himself.Through Holy Spirit.But they wereordainedsentby the church.This is a combination ofGod’s CallingChurch OrganizationFrequently peopleforget 1or get them confused.Some churchesfocus only onGod’s callingmiss church organization.This happens much incongregational charismatic churches.Laying-on of handsany oneany timehas lost its meaning.Other churchesfocus only onecclesiastical orderforget Spirit’s leadership.The Catholic Churchfocuses much onapostolic successionordaining new leaders.They are missing muchof New Testament meaningof Christian leadership.They enforce ritelike celibacythat the Bible nevercalled for.They lack Spiritual leading.Both churches seem toattach a mystical meaningto the service of ordinationnot found in the Bible.In the Catholic church,Clergy and laity (non-clergy)seem to hold differentspiritual positions.For Catholics,priests are not just calledto do Holy work.Through ordinationthe clergy becomeHoly people...This mystical conceptof ordinationcan’t be found in the Bible.I read of a candidate for ordination into the ministry. He was having an interview with the bishop on the day before the ordination service. Feeling his unworthiness he said, "Bishop, if you knew how unworthy I am to be ordained by you, you would never lay hands on me."The dear bishop replied, "If you knew how unworthy I am, you wouldn’t let me do it!"We’ve got to recognise that in the sight of God we’re but sinners saved by grace. We need to come again and again to the Cross of our Saviour.Acts of the Apostles Chapter 16—The Gospel Message in AntiochBoth Paul and Barnabas had already received their commission from God Himself, and the ceremony of the laying on of hands added no new grace or virtual qualification. It was an acknowledged form of designation to an appointed office and a recognition of one’s authority in that office. By it the seal of the church was set upon the work of God.
Church leadersdon’t become holierthrough ordination.It is the church’srecognition ofthe calling thatGod already gave them.Through it,the church investsin the individualthe calling alreadygiven by God.Paul continued this traditionin the churches he setup.Acts 14:23 ESV And when they had appointed elders for them in every church, with prayer and fasting they committed them to the Lord in whom they had believed.Paul created overseerslike Timothy and Titus.He asked these peopleto raise up more churchesand ordain more elders.Ordination was connectedGod’s callingChurch Organization.That why Paul said:Titus 1:5 ESV This is why I left you in Crete, so that you might put what remained into order, and appoint elders in every town as I directed you—They were not justpicking leaders andwalking away.They were creating a structurefor the church tocontinue building upon.Acts of the Apostles Chapter 16—The Gospel Message in AntiochPaul regarded the occasion of his formal ordination as marking the beginning of a new and important epoch in his lifework. It was from this time that he afterward dated
Paul understood he was:called by Godappointed/sent by the ChurchOne of the reasons forthis public recognition ofElders and Deaconswas to differentiate betweentrue and false leaders.There was a dangerof the churchbeing divided bynewself proclaimedleaders.That’s why Paul warned:1 Timothy 5:22 ESV Do not be hasty in the laying on of hands...Paul asked themto ordain leaders slowlyas God’s callinghas become clearin their service.The Nominating Committeewith prayer and sincerityhas worked hard to selectdevoted and willing candidatesfor these sacred callings.The Israeli settlement of Netzarim in the heart of the Gaza Strip was a point of much conflict with militant Palestinians for several years. The conflict was so great that the settlement was evacuated in 2005.Those who lived in Netzarim did so at great personal risk because they felt it was an important part of keeping their land free. A schoolteacher, Shlomit Ziv, who lived in Netzarim in 2001 said, “I don’t live where it’s comfortable; I live where it’s important to live.”This is what it meansto be ordainedTo LiveWhereLikeGod called.SummaryMain Points:Ordination Is Very BiblicalThe Old and New Testament Teach ItThere Is No Point In Which It EndedWe Should Still Do It TodayHere are the steps:God Calls The PersonThe Person Shows Evidence of Their CallingWe Recognize That Calling Publicly Through OrdinationWe Organize Leadership AuthorityFalse Teachings:Ordination Brings New Virtue or GraceThere Must Be an Unbroken Succession of LeadershipThose Ordained Have Authority Above the BibleWe Should Ordain Any One at Any TimeOrdination is Not Connected with Church OrderTimothy Stackpole was a New York Firefighter, who was severely burned in a 1998 fire. After he recovered, he returned to the force despite the advice of some friends and family and the fact that he could retire comfortably.He was a great fire fighter and passionate about his work and was soon promoted to captain. Timothy was one of the fire fighters that ran into the second tower to try to save some people.He understood his calling.He wanted to serve.even if he didn’t have to.Today,We recognize eachof our leaderscalled by Godto serve.AppealRejoice with Us TodayJoin us by Holding Uptheir hands inprayerwilling support. Isaiah 6:8ESV
Exodus 28:41ESV
Leviticus 16:32ESV
Numbers 8:10–11ESV
Numbers 27:18–20ESV
Mark 3:14–15ESV
Luke 10:1ESV
Acts 1:24ESV
Acts 6:6ESV
Acts 13:2–3ESV
Acts 14:23ESV
Titus 1:5ESV
1 Timothy 5:22ESV
- I Would Draw Nearer to Jesus
Auburn SDA Church
He Ordained Twelve
- Come Thou Almighty King
- I Would Draw Nearer to Jesus
- My Maker and My King
- O Worship the Lord
- Children of the Heavenly Father
- Come Thou Almighty King
- I Surrender All
- Draw Me Nearer
- Take My Life and Let It Be
- I Would Draw Nearer to Jesus