Letter To Our Children
by Pastor Joe | February 23, 2022 | Letters To Our Children
February 23, 2022
He must hold firmly to the trustworthy message as it has been taught so that he can encourage others by sound doctrine and refute those who oppose it.
Hello Friends,
We have been learning about authority in our Sunday morning worship services. We have learned that God has established authority, and He has done this for every person's good.
In the early church, God gave authority to apostles, men like Paul, John, and Peter, who told all Christians to look out for each other with warm care and prayer (Gal. 6:1-2; 1 John 3:16-18; 5:16; Heb. 12:15-16).
These apostles also appointed in each church family protectors, called elders (Acts 14:23; Titus 1:5), who were given authority to watch over, and care for the church, for the church good, as a shepherd would care for their sheep (Acts 20:28-31; 1 Pet. 5:1-4). The apostles could not physically be part of every church, so this was God's plan for His church.
God’s method to care for His people was to give His authority to certain people to serve, care, protect, and lead others on His behalf. For example, in the Old Testament, God calls Himself the shepherd of Israel (Psalm 80:1), and kings, prophets, priests, and elders (local rulers) were told to serve as His under-shepherds, leading and caring as God would (Deuteronomy 17:18-20).
In the New Testament, Jesus is called the Chief Shepherd (1 Peter 5:4), and the elders are His under-shepherds, following the same patterns as in the Old Testament—watch over, care, teach, and pray for God’s people.
Every church is to have elders. They are to be as good fathers caring for their children, have a well-ordered personal life, guided by God’s word, and prayer in Christ’s name in their care of the church. (1 Tim. 3:1-7; Titus 1:5-9)
Elders are not superheroes or superstars; they are ordinary and are Christ’s gift to the church. They teach the Gospel serving the church in the love and strength of Christ. Therefore, when you accept and receive the care and ministry of your elders, you are accepting and receiving the care and ministry of Christ Himself.
Here are the right now elders of West Cohasset Chapel. They(and I) love you, count it a privilege to serve you in many ways, are grateful for you, and cherish your prayers.
Grace and peace to you—overflowing this week.
Pastor Joe