THE FORGIVABLE BUT STILL WORSE THAN OTHER SIN, OR, WHAT'S THE BIG DEAL? (29 OF 44)
Scripture: 1 Timothy 3:2
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The Forgivable but Still Worse than Other Sin, or, What's the Big Deal? (29 of 44)
Series: The Church at Ephusus: God's Calling, Empowering, and Instruction for the Church
Patrick Edwards
1 Timothy 3:2
Introduction
For some weeks now we've been looking at the foundation, the purpose, and the heart of the local church. Paul has shown us throughout 1 Timothy simply why we exist, what we are supposed to look like, and what we are supposed to do. Two weeks ago we tackled particularly the question of leadership and administration over the church, looking at the qualifications and requirements that Paul sets over the church. One qualification we didn't spend much time on was the qualification that an elder or deacon must be the husband of one wife. The church hasn't been alone in wrestling with what this phrase means and does not mean. The question that has been asked of me and I know asked in this church is often, ''Can a divorced and/or re-married man serve as an elder or deacon?''
This church has answered since its inception 30 years ago, ''No, he cannot.'' Now I'm not going try to change anyone's minds this morning. Two things are required for that and I have control over neither of them: (1) You must open and willing to have your mind changed and (2) only the Holy Spirit can do that. I address this topic today not because of what it means for elders and deacons; I address this topic because while we have stood and shouted at the federal government for corrupting marriage, we have failed to take a good look in the mirror and see how we ourselves have corrupted God's ordained, beautiful union. The church, just like the 1st century Jews that Jesus encountered, failed to hold up the covenanted institution of marriage as highly as God did. I think it's vital that we address this topic this morning because we as God's church need to understand, embrace, and proclaim the meaning of marriage.
At the same time, for some of us this morning, I am no doubt alr ...
Series: The Church at Ephusus: God's Calling, Empowering, and Instruction for the Church
Patrick Edwards
1 Timothy 3:2
Introduction
For some weeks now we've been looking at the foundation, the purpose, and the heart of the local church. Paul has shown us throughout 1 Timothy simply why we exist, what we are supposed to look like, and what we are supposed to do. Two weeks ago we tackled particularly the question of leadership and administration over the church, looking at the qualifications and requirements that Paul sets over the church. One qualification we didn't spend much time on was the qualification that an elder or deacon must be the husband of one wife. The church hasn't been alone in wrestling with what this phrase means and does not mean. The question that has been asked of me and I know asked in this church is often, ''Can a divorced and/or re-married man serve as an elder or deacon?''
This church has answered since its inception 30 years ago, ''No, he cannot.'' Now I'm not going try to change anyone's minds this morning. Two things are required for that and I have control over neither of them: (1) You must open and willing to have your mind changed and (2) only the Holy Spirit can do that. I address this topic today not because of what it means for elders and deacons; I address this topic because while we have stood and shouted at the federal government for corrupting marriage, we have failed to take a good look in the mirror and see how we ourselves have corrupted God's ordained, beautiful union. The church, just like the 1st century Jews that Jesus encountered, failed to hold up the covenanted institution of marriage as highly as God did. I think it's vital that we address this topic this morning because we as God's church need to understand, embrace, and proclaim the meaning of marriage.
At the same time, for some of us this morning, I am no doubt alr ...
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