East Gate Church Governance: Part 2
I. Recap of Church Governance Part 1
a. Church Governance – the ways a church body organizes and manages itself
b. East Gate is to be locally governed by a plurality of God-called, qualified, elders, of which senior pastor is the set man.
i. Locally – the church is governed by leaders from within community, not from outside
ii. Plurality – there will be more than one leader
1. For accountability
2. For the health of the leaders and thus the body
3. For the maturing of the body – 5-fold – well rounded, mature body
iii. God-Called
1. God-appointed, not self-appointed
2. Revealed to set man, and confirmed by presbytery and prophecy
iv. Qualified
1. So that the body is protected and to ensure the leadership can bear the responsibility of governing the church
2. 26 biblical, New Testament, qualifications for leadership
v. Elders
1. Mature, time tested followers of Jesus who are capable of oversight, instilling culture, teaching correct doctrine, and correction.
2. Examples to the body of Christ, follow me as I follow Jesus
vi. Set Man
1. God ordained, Chief Elder, first among equals
2. Sent and set, by an apostolic leader
a. EVERY work of God begins with a set man, the man He put in place
3. Carries viision and direction from the Lord
vii. Board of Presbyters
1. 5-fold ministers who operate in the apostolic and prophetic
2. Give counsel and advice to Set man and elders
3. Hold no governing authority unless called upon by the eldership (including the set man) to maintain unity
II. A Quick Comment on Authority
a. All authority is God given
Romans 13:1-4 New King James Version
13 Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God. 2 Therefore whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will [a]bring judgment on themselves. 3 For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to evil. Do you want to be unafraid of the authority? Do what is good, and you will have praise from the same. 4 For he is God’s minister to you for good. But if you do evil, be afraid; for he does not bear the sword in vain; for he is God’s minister, an avenger to execute wrath on him who practices evil.
b. All authority given, is for the purpose of SERVING the giver of authority.
Luke 16:10-12 New King James Version
10 He who is faithful in what is least is faithful also in much; and he who is unjust in what is least is unjust also in much.11 Therefore if you have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches? 12 And if you have not been faithful in what is another man’s, who will give you what is your own?
i. You are first called to be faithful in the use of the authority you currently have before you will be trusted with more.
1. Authority over your thoughts, feelings, and desires
2. Authority over your words and actions
3. Authority within your home if applicable
a. Husbands, parents, children (room, chores, etc…)
ii. You are then called to be faithful in the use of the authority you have over your finances.
1. Keeping track of income and spending
2. Planning for the future and making sacrifices today for a better tomorrow
3. If you cannot be trusted with money, God will NOT trust you with true riches
iii. Finally, you are called to be faithful in the use of the authority other’s give you in their ministry, workplace, service, etc…
1. If you cannot use authority given to you to serve the person who gave you authority, you will not be given what you have been promised
2. You can take a version of it for yourself, but it will pale in comparison to what God has for you.
c. What do you do if you do not have Godly or healthy authority in your life?
i. Submit and trust God
1. Joseph, David, and Daniel are great examples
d. The Exception:
i. If your authority makes it impossible to submit/serve them while stewarding your God-given responsibilities, then leave honorably if possible (example: David)
1. Neglect family, home, finances, etc…
III. Different Roles and Responsibilities within Church Governance
a. Set Man
Numbers 27:15-21 New King James Version
15 Then Moses spoke to the Lord, saying: 16 “Let the Lord, the God of the spirits of all flesh, set a man over the congregation, 17 who may go out before them and go in before them, who may lead them out and bring them in, that the congregation of the Lord may not be like sheep which have no shepherd.”
18 And the Lord said to Moses: “Take Joshua the son of Nun with you, a man in whom is the Spirit, and lay your hand on him; 19 set him before Eleazar the priest and before all the congregation, and inaugurate[a] him in their sight. 20 And you shall give some of your authority to him, that all the congregation of the children of Israel may be obedient. 21 He shall stand before Eleazar the priest, who shall inquire before the Lord for him by the judgment of the Urim. At his word they shall go out, and at his word they shall come in, he and all the children of Israel with him—all the congregation.”
i. Carry vision and direction for the work of God
1. To move the work of God forward in partnership with God
ii. Govern
1. He ALREADY had the Spirit
2. Moses was to lay hands on and inaugurate/ordain Joshua
3. Sharing of authority so that the people would OBEY
a. If you have to command or say you’re in charge, you’re not
iii. Lead
1. He will stand before the Priest, who shall inquire for him
a. This is a post tabernacle of meeting way of saying, the set man will seek the Lord for the will of God over the congregation
2. At his word they (the congregation) shall go out, come in
iv. Raise up elders in obedience to Holy Spirit’s leading and timing
Numbers 11:16-17 & 26-29 New King James Version
16 So the Lord said to Moses: “Gather to Me seventy men of the elders of Israel, whom you know to be the elders of the people and officers over them; bring them to the tabernacle of meeting, that they may stand there with you. 17 Then I will come down and talk with you there. I will take of the Spirit that is upon you and will put the same upon them; and they shall bear the burden of the people with you, that you may not bear it yourself alone.
26 But two men had remained in the camp: the name of one was Eldad, and the name of the other Medad. And the Spirit rested upon them. Now they were among those listed, but who had not gone out to the tabernacle; yet they prophesied in the camp. 27 And a young man ran and told Moses, and said, “Eldad and Medad are prophesying in the camp.” 28 So Joshua the son of Nun, Moses’ assistant, one of his choice men, answered and said, “Moses my lord, forbid them!” 29 Then Moses said to him, “Are you [a]zealous for my sake? Oh, that all the Lord’s people were prophets and that the Lord would put His Spirit upon them!”
1. Gather men of the elders of Israel, elders and officers over the people
a. Speaking to maturity and capability
b. Those who stand out when it comes to spiritual/emotionally maturity and already influential in the body with or without a title
2. Bring them to the tabernacle of meeting, that they may stand there with you
a. Take them into the secret place with you
b. Secret Place Deep Dives
3. I, God, will take of the Spirit that is upon you and will put the same upon them
a. God will unite everyone in spirit
b. Elders do not have different visions for the work than the set man, if they do, they’re not God-appointed elders of the house
i. This is not disagreeing in execution, but in premise
4. Encouragement: If you’re called, God won’t let you be overlooked. Even if you’re not invited to a meeting that you should be, His hand will remain upon you in a way that no one can deny.
a. We WANT to see you elevated and empowered, not kept down/hindered
b. Elders
Exodus 18:17-23 New King James Version
17 So Moses’ father-in-law said to him, “The thing that you do is not good. 18 Both you and these people who are with you will surely wear yourselves out. For this thing is too much for you; you are not able to perform it by yourself. 19 Listen now to my voice; I will give you [a]counsel, and God will be with you: Stand before God for the people, so that you may bring the difficulties to God. 20 And you shall teach them the statutes and the laws, and show them the way in which they must walk and the work they must do. 21 Moreover you shall select from all the people able men, such as fear God, men of truth, hating covetousness; and place such over them to be rulers of thousands, rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens. 22 And let them judge the people at all times. Then it will be that every great matter they shall bring to you, but every small matter they themselves shall judge. So it will be easier for you, for they will bear the burden with you. 23 If you do this thing, and God so commands you, then you will be able to endure, and all this people will also go to their place in peace.”
i. Support and serve the set man
1. So it will be easier for you, for they will bear the burden with you…
ii. Overseer – episcope
1. Watch for people’s souls – be sleepless/keep awake
a. Be attentive to spiritual condition and growth of people’s souls
b. The elder stands before God for the people they lead
Hebrews 13:17 New King James Version
17 Obey those who [a]rule over you, and be submissive, for they watch out for your souls, as those who must give account. Let them do so with joy and not with grief, for that would be unprofitable for you.
iii. Govern and direct the affairs of the church
1 Timothy 5:17 New International Version
17 The elders who direct the affairs of the church…
1. And place such over them to be rulers…
iv. Teach – elders partner with the set man to do the teaching
1. Teach them the statutes and laws
a. Not every elder is a teacher
1 Timothy 5:17 New King James Version
17 Let the elders who rule well be counted worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in the word and doctrine.
i. Double honor is actually a Greek financial term – double pay
v. Lead – elders go first and lead by example
1. Show them the way in which they must walk and the work they must do
2. John 21:15-17 – Jesus speaking to Peter an elder and set man
a. Feed my lambs, tend my sheep, feed my sheep
i. Give them food (word of God)
ii. Tend them; show them the way to go and the work to do
b. Guard and protect the flock from enemies and trouble
Acts 20:29-31 New King James Version
29 For I know this, that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock. 30 Also from among yourselves men will rise up, speaking [a]perverse things, to draw away the disciples after themselves. 31 Therefore watch, and remember that for three years I did not cease to warn everyone night and day with tears.
vi. Judge
1. Let them judge the people at all times
2. It’s the elder’s responsibility to judge the people
Luke 12:13-15 New King James Version
13 Then one from the crowd said to Him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.”
14 But He said to him, “Man, who made Me a judge or an arbitrator over you?” 15 And He said to them, “Take heed and beware of [a]covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses.”
a. Every great matter they bring to you (set man), but every small matter they themselves (elders) shall judge, so that it will be easier for you (set man)
vii. Equip – elevate and empower
c. Deacon
i. Diakonos – servant in an official capacity
1. We are ALL called to be servants, the greatest in the kingdom…
Acts 6:1-7 New King James Version
6 Now in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplying, there arose a complaint against the Hebrews by the Hellenists,[a] because their widows were neglected in the daily distribution. 2 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. 3 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; 4 but we will give ourselves continually to prayer and to the ministry of the word.”
5 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, 6 whom they set before the apostles; and when they had prayed, they laid hands on them.
7 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.
ii. Why Deacons?
1. The church grows
2. People’s practical needs aren’t being met
3. Leadership has to neglect their primary function of prayer and the word to attend to other thing
iii. Responsibilities:
1. Support and serve the eldership
a. It is not desirable that we should leave the word of God and serve tables…
i. It’s easy to look at this passage of scripture and think poorly of the apostles
ii. They had God-given roles and responsibilities that if they would neglect they would answer to God for.
b. The serving of tables was important, but the elders could not stop stewarding what God had given them in order to meet this need
2. Serve and meet the temporal needs of the body
a. Deacons are appointed over business or ministries that meet the temporal, or non-spiritual, needs of the body of Christ
iv. Qualifications:
1. Heart – a deacon must possess a servants heart
a. Desire to serve, not for position or recognition
b. Gift of service/helps, finds joy and connects with God through service
2. Availability – a deacon must have the time to serve
a. Deacons make themselves available for service
i. Widows were being neglected daily
ii. Convenience doesn’t factor into availability for deacons
3. Love – for God’s house and His people
a. Deacons love God, His house, and His people
b. If the church is open, they’re here
4. Home Life – 1 Timothy 2:3
a. Good managers of children and household
b. Household
i. Can live on their own, provide for their own needs
ii. Good stewardship of finances
c. Spouse is loved, nurtured, cared for, and built up
d. Children are guided with dignity and disciplined appropriately
i. Children not rebellious or disrespectful of authority
ii. Not harsh or abusive in discipline
5. Personal Character
a. Good reputation – Acts 6:3
b. Trustworthy – Acts 6:3
c. Full of wisdom – Acts 6:3
d. Dignity – 1 Tim 3:8
e. Not double tongued – 1 Tim 3:8
f. Not addicted to much wine – 1 Tim 3:8
g. Not fond of sordid gain – 1 Tim 3:8
h. Not gossips – 1 Tim 3:11
i. Faithfull – 1 Tim 3:11
j. Husband of one wife – 1 Tim 312
k. Beyond reproach – 1 Tim 3:10
6. Spiritual Life
a. Walk the walk – 1 Tim 3:9
i. Holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience
ii. Speaking the truth of the faith
iii. Not only believe the truth, but walk in it
b. Spirit led – Acts 6:3
i. Moved by God’s presence and pleasure only
ii. Holy Spirit filled
IV. Core Leadership at East Gate
a. Core Leadership is our training and equipping grounds for future elders/pastors, deacons, and set men/church planters.
i. Information and impartation
b. We view everyone at East Gate as potential core leaders
i. Our goal for every service is prepare each person to become a core leader knowing that not everyone will
c. We constantly and prayerfully keep our spiritual eyes and ears open for future core leaders
