BOOK REVIEW - CHURCH ELDERS: HOW TO SHEPHERD GOD'S PEOPLE LIKE JESUS BY JERAMIE RINNE (9MARKS)

 

Does the Bible teach single Senior Pastor leading a church, assisted by a youth pastor and music minister, or does it teach a multiplicity of elders? Does Scripture restrict this office to men, as 1 Timothy 2:11-12 seems to indicate, or is it open to anyone who desires the office of elder, called a good thing in 1 Timothy 3:1? Is there any difference between an elder and a deacon, and if so what are they?

Church Elders: How to Shepherd God's People Like Jesus by Jeramie Rinne is part of the 9Marks Building Healthy Churches series. It deals with topics both controversial and non-controversial, though a lot of the controversies are not as much what the text says but whether we agree with what it says. For example, one Amazon  reviewer gave this book a one star review because the author did not believe that women should have authority over men in the church; I guess Paul's statements in 1 Timothy 2:12 should be discarded because, well, because the views of man supersede the Word of God.

This book does a good job of analyzing what the teachings of the Pastoral Epistles and Peter's admonition to elders in 1 Peter 5. Rinne holds that elders are, unlike deacons, supposed to be able to teach. I like his story when he challenged his elders to consider preaching a sermon. He also states the Biblical model is for there to be multiple elders in the congregation, not only to more effectively shepherd the flock, but also to encourage and hold accountable the other elders - after all, they're human and need shepherding as well.

My favorite chapter is on searching out the strays. After all, there are cults that are really more interested in turning church attending Christians into their teaching than reaching the lost. He does a great job of identifying the strays that need shepherding: sinning sheep (those who need to be corrected), wandering sheep (those not attending regularly due to work, interests, or illnesses), hurting sheep (those that need encouraging and sometimes need visiting due to illness), fighting sheep (when a church member has a beef with another church member), and biting sheep (when a church member has a beef with an elder). Rinne also points out that church membership is an aid in allowing elders to rescue the strays.

I highly recommend both the 9Marks: Building Healthy Churches series in general and this book in particular.  

PASTOR APPRECIATION MONTH, PART 3 OF 3 - PASTORS I'VE NEVER MET

 

 

My bookshelf (it's been rearranged once or two dozen times since).

In this three part series, I've looked at pastors who have been behind the pulpit with me sitting under their ministry. I've also looked at pastors who were primarily sitting at one side of a McDonald's table with a cup of hot coffee and me on the other side with a cup of iced coffee. 

However, God had used people in the role of pastor I have never met. Sometimes, it's because their influence was more via television or radio or books they've written, with me observing from a place they can't see me. In other cases, they are individuals who finished their race before I started mine. I'll be mentioning "pastors" I appreciate who were, in a sense, behind the veil. And these I'll list alphabetically - more challenging for me, but it might make this list more interesting!

1. Kay Arthur, founder of Precept Ministries.
   
2. Athanasius, church father and influence on the Nicene Creed.
   
3. Margaret Becker, Christian singer/songwriter.
   
4. Rosaria Butterfield, author of The Gospel Comes With A House Key, dealing with hospitality and community.
   
5. Steve Camp, Christian singer/songwriter, pastor. 
6. Michael Card, Christian singer/songwriter, author.
   
7. Rod Dreher, author of The Benedict Option, focusing on community.
   
8. Les Feldick, host of "Through The Bible with Les Feldick, focusing on the importance of Paul.
   
9. Ronnie Lee Floyd, former SBC President.
   
10. Todd Friel, host of Wretched Radio.
    
11. J. D. Greear, former SBC president.
12. Keith Green, Christian singer/songwriter.
    
13. Gary Habermas, apologist.
    
14. Dave Hunt, author/apologist.
    
15. Eric Liddle, Olympic runner, missionary.
    
16. John MacArthur, pastor, author, radio minister. 
17. Daniel McCabe, singer/songwriter for the Daniel Band. 
18. Dr. J. Vernon McGee, pastor, host of Thru The Bible Radio.  
19. Philip Melanchthon, reformer, co-laborer with Martin Luther. 
20. Russell Moore, seminary professor, former ERLC President.
21. J. P. Moreland, apologist, author of Love Your God With All Your Mind.  
22. Rich Mullins, Christian singer/songwriter.
23. Kerry Nietz, author of the Peril In Plain Space trilogy, which emphasizes community (don't be scared off by the book titles or book covers). 
24. Ed O'Neil, founding member of Dixie Melody Boys.
    
25. Janet Parshall, hostess of "In The Market" on Moody Radio.
    
26. David Platt, author, pastor, former International Mission Board president.
    
27. Frank Reich, formal football player, Colts coach, seminary professor.
    
28. Carroll Roberson, Southern Gospel singer. 
29. Francis Schaeffer, author. 
30. Charles Simeon, pastor who dealt with adversity.
    
31. Charles Simmons, pastor and radio minister. 
32. Charles Stanley, pastor, radio/TV minister.
    
33. Tertullian, church father. 
34. Cal Thomas, journalist.
    
35. Gary Thomas, author of Sacred Pathways.
    
36. Isaac Watts, pastor, hymn writer, author of logic textbooks and cathecisms.
37. Charles Wesley, co-founder of the Methodist church, evangelist/pastor, hymn writer. 
38. George Whitfield, co-founder of the Methodist church, missionary/evangelist.
39. Malcolm Wild, Christian musician.
    
40. Richard Wurmbrand, pastor, author of Tortured for Christ, founder of Jesus To The Communist World (now known as Voice Of The Martyrs).

Have any authors/historical figures/musicians/TV and radio ministers been an influence on your life?

PASTOR APPRECIATION MONTH, PART 2 OF 3 - PEOPLE GOD USED TO HELP SHEPHERD ME

Courtesy of TheGospleMark

Continuing with looking at Pastor Appreciation Month, I'd like to mention other ministers who had an impact on me that I believe are worthy to be included as pastors, even though they did not have that title. Some had the role of teacher, others were more friends. These would include:

• Rita Reynolds - my Grandmother, who taught me to memorize the books of the Bible.
• Rev. Marv Cowan, a Missionary to Utah, who I had opportunity to talk to one week at camp when he did an elective on cults. I saw him at Verde Baptist soon afterwards, since Verde Baptist supported him.
  
• Mike Cook. Was he supposed to be a youth pastor, or did he just serve a role?
  
• Bible college professors David Nicolas, Steven Sonmor, Rick Railsback, and Dennis Wretlind. I had opportunity to speak to them outside of class while I was at school.
  
• Bill Smith, who taught a men's Precept class in Tennessee.
• Dan Harting, founder of Families Against Cults.
  
• David Witt, CEO of Spirit of Martyrdom 
  
• Bishop Robert Lyons, who was head of the chaplains department Becky worked at. I had some opportunities to interact with him as well.
• Church Planter/Artist Kerry Jackson and Steve Sering, who worked with Circle City Canvas Church.
• Josh Jacobs, who was an influence to me while he was pastor at Hunter Road Bible Church.
• Mark Mirza of Common Thread Ministries.
• Missionary Monte Baker. I've talked to him on phone and Skype.
• My men's study group at Northside Baptist Church: Curt Waters, Nick Laurino, Jim Myers, and Tim Schlotterbeck. I also will include the teachers of the Living Stones class, which include Myers, Schlotterbeck, Glenn Christie, and Chris Pole.
• Finally, a list of friends I've had throughout my life that have had an influence on me spiritually in alphabetic order: Lonnie Atkenson, Mel Brown, Tony Finch, James Lawson, Dan Schafer, and Mario Smith.
  

 Do you have any teachers and friends who weren't technically pastors but who filled that role in your life?

PASTOR APPRECIATION MONTH, PART 1 OF 3 - MY PASTORS.

"All My Rowdy Friends Are Preachers!" L-R Dr. Leroy Thomas (Founder & Professor of Pastoral Studies, Southwestern College), Bob Irvine, Dr. Jeremy Couture, Josh Jacobs, Richard Walton, Dennis King, Bill Scott, Mark Mirza (Common Thread Ministries, Bishop Robert Lyons (hospital chaplain), Gary Stump, James Lawson (cartoonist).

How many of you are aware that October is Pastor Appreciation Month? It's fitting that Pastor Appreciation Month ends with Reformation Day. 

The next three days I will develop the theme. Yes, we need to appreciate the pastors in our lives, starting with the men who are preaching the Word of God from the pulpit. But I also want to honor others who fill that role though not the office. Some may be pastors from the past who are pastoring from heaven through their writings and inspiration. Some are current pastors who have no idea I exist but who inspire me through books or TV/Radio ministries. Some have helped pastor me as a teacher or as a friend.

Today, I'd like to start by thanking the pastors I've had in my life (including youth pastors), which I'll do in chronological order. Some I have comments about, and others I will just mention. All are worthy of honor.

1. Rev. Evans, Fullerton Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). I'm trusting my over 60 year old memory for the church's official name and the pastor who was there when I moved at age 9 from the hicktown of Fullerton, California, to the metropolis of Skull Valley, Arizona. I do remember he had a daughter around my age.
2. Merle Heatwole, Skull Valley Community Church. I may not have his name spelled correctly. 
3. Ken Gordon, Verde Baptist Church, Cottonwood, AZ.
4. Ken Kunneman, Manzanita Baptist Chruch, Kingsman, AZ. I'm not sure I got his name correct. While at that church, I was introduced to cults, and an Anabaptist history view. A year later after returning to Cottonwood, Ken taught an elective on future things at camp, which I attended with Ken Gordon's son Tim (who was two years ahead of me in high school).
5. Denny Leeds (Youth Pastor), Verde Baptist Church. 
6. Henry Atkenson, Verde Baptist Church
7. Jim Woods (Youth Pastor), Verde Baptist Church
8. Joe LoMuscio, Cactus Baptist Church, Phoenix, AZ
9. Jim McCormick, Cactus Baptist Church. When I started attending there, he was an associate pastor, and became senior pastor after Rev. LoMusio took the pastorate at Temple Baptist Church, Fullerton, CA. (NOTE- I walked past Temple Baptist on the way to school before moving to AZ.)
10. Joe Magliato, Sonlight Christian Center, Orange CA. One claim to fame - his wife had a brother named Carman. Yes, that Carman.
11. Mark Cola (College/Career Pastor), Sonlight Christian Center.
12. Roger Hosier, Antioch Baptist Church, Orange, CA. Roger had the honor of marrying Becky and I.
13. Bob Irvine, Bethel Baptist Church, Phoenix, AZ
14. Bill Hackett, Valley Christian Assembly, Phoenix, AZ. 
15. Rodger Buck and 
16. Bob Johnson, Bethel Baptist Church, Valley, NE. Rod, Bob, and I were co-pastors.
17. R. B. Adamson, Victory Baptist Church, Bowling Green, KY.
18. Don Finto, Belmont Church, Nashville, TN.
19. Jerry Badgley, Calvary Church of the Nazarene, Nashville, TN.
20. Dennis King, Stonebrook Baptist Church, Nolensville, TN. If you're familiar with Experiencing God, Henry Blackaby wrote it with Claude King. Claude is Dennis' brother.
21. Mike Wilson, Calvary Chapel, Bowling Green, KY
22. Jeff Adler, Simhat Yeshua Messianic Congregation.
23. Jeff Seward, Horizon Christian Center West, Indianapolis, IN. Becky and I attended Simhat and Horizon at the same time. (Also, while I was sitting under the teaching of Jeff and Jeff, I also had a supervisor at work named Jeff.)
24. Gary Stump, Arlington Avenue Baptist Church, Indianapolis, IN.
25. Bill Scott, Hunter Road Bible Church, Indianapolis, IN
26. Richard Walton, Arlington Avenue Baptist Church, Indianapolis. Richard has the honor (or not) of being my pastor for the longest time - 16 years, not counting serving as an associate under Rev. Stump for a year when I had previously been at Arlington.
27. Tommy Johnston, Castleton Community Church, Indianapolis, IN.
28. Dr. Jeremy Couture, Northside Baptist Church, Indianapolis, where Becky and I currently attend.

I would like to thank each of these men for their leadership and for being a blessing to me, and especially their faithfulness to serving the Lord Jesus Christ.

Does anybody else have a pastor they want to thank?

 

HOW CAN YOU PRAY FOR YOUR PASTOR? HERE'S THREE GREAT IDEAS!

 

I'm writing this blog on Sunday, November 7th, a week before I'm planning on posting it. Today, Pastor Jeremy Couture of Northside Baptist Church, Indianapolis, finished up a series on Hebrews. 

His final point dealt with praying for church leadership (Hebrews 13:18), and then gave three areas he would like the church to pray for him.

My hunch? I think if you asked your pastor if you'd like to pray for him on those three points, he would say, "Go for it! Thank you!"

Here are the three areas:

1. Personal Walk.
   
2. Priorities.
3. Protection.

My first thought was to tell you this will be a short blog, without any elaboration. Then, I thought I at least needed to add something. I took a look at what I wrote and realized I was right the first time.

Do you pray regularly for your pastor? If not, how many minutes is it going to be before that changes?