God has given and gifted men in each local church to serve as elders to shepherd the flock God as called out. In shepherding these men are responsible to God to provide oversight, leadership by teaching and protecting to His people. Three commands are given them in regard to their assuming the responsibility. Each one should do so voluntarily, with eagerness to serve the Lord in this capacity, and doing so as examples of godliness in life and lifestyle. The guiding principle of unselfishness should underscore the truths they teach and live out.
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Where is a Timothy? I read the PDF file that was associated with this sermon. Particularly, I looked at the church constitution. I have not seen any protection of the laity from elders who are behaving un-Godly! I heard nothing in this sermon that addressed this problem. ¶ I heard, the verses before the ones I give. This is okay, but no answer to the following verses. ¡ ¶ 1 Timothy 5:19 Do not admit a charge against an elder except on the evidence of two or three witnesses. 20 As for those who persist in sin, rebuke them in the presence of all, so that the rest may stand in fear. 21 In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus and of the elect angels I charge you to keep these rules without prejudging, doing nothing from partiality. 22 Do not be hasty in the laying on of hands, nor take part in the sins of others; keep yourself pure.---ESV ¶ ! So, the sermon is mostly okay in my opinion. However, there are those who might be curious where is a Timothy to correct a leadership of a church. Independent Fundamentalist Baptist Churches have no mechanism to correct faulty leadership. So, there is no alternative, one has to leave a church if a leadership goes bad. So, this is an interesting sermon, I agree with Dr. Rugh, don't go to a church that doesn't follow Scripture!
In the fall of 1969, Gil began a full-time teaching ministry as Senior Pastor of Indian Hills Community Church. He also earned his Ph.D. from the California Graduate School of Theology. The focus of Pastor Rugh’s ministry is systematic, verse-by-verse teaching of the Bible. As a...