St. Joe Community Church
  • Home
  • Connection Groups
    • Connection Group News
    • St Joe Care Team
  • About
    • Beliefs and Values
    • Our membership covenant
    • Leadership
    • Ministries
    • Who is Jesus?
    • On Mission
    • 8:30 am & 10:30 am Services
    • Resources
  • Give
  • Sermons
  • St. Joe News
    • News Request
  • Contact
  • Waltemath Fund

Sermons

Photo by Caleb Lucas on Unsplash

Church Elders: Why, Who, What?

2/7/2021

0 Comments

 
  • Sermon
  • Resources
  • Kids Connection
<
>

Sermon only

Full worship service

Picture
Click to download Pastor's Notes in MS Word format.
Church Elders:  Why, Who, What?
1 Timothy 3:1-7
Everything rises and falls on leadership
Everyone follows someone   -self, or someone else!
 
A leader always emerges when another leader disappears
-lack of preparation can lead to poor/wrong leaders
 
God has appointed Jesus to lead the church
-Jesus is the Chief Shepherd!
 
God calls out men to lead under Christ’s authority
-1 Peter 5:1-3  Elders, Shepherds, Overseers
-Sometimes called “Under-Shepherds”, under THE Shepherd
 
Local churches are led by Elders/Shepherds/Overseers
 
Why?  The reason for elders
Biblical Reason:  New Testament Pattern
-Titus 1:5  Paul instructed Titus to appoint elders in every church
 
Practical Reason:  Someone has to lead!
-Unspiritual leaders may emerge- incompetent, unspiritual, wolves!
 
Who?    1 Timothy 3:1-7 qualifications (see also Titus 1:5-9)
Above Reproach-  overall above average character
Faithful in Marriage- one woman man
-for sure means not married to more than one woman
-could mean not divorced and remarried, a common interpretation
-it does mean everyone agrees he is faithful to marriage!
Self-controlled- temperate, balanced life
Sensible- prudent, wise,
Respectable- the dignity and respect of his peers
Hospitable- loves strangers, isn’t into cliques, associates with all
Able to Teach- skilled at teaching, not necessarily a “preacher”
Not addicted to wine-  not interested in alcohol, self- controlled
Gentle (not a bully)- doesn’t pick fights, isn’t abusive
Not quarrelsome- isn’t looking to beat people in conversation
Not greedy- money is his servant, not vice versa
Manages household well- children, home, possessions, maybe people
   -overseeing a church is similar to overseeing a family
Not a new convert- qualified leaders take time to mature
Good reputation among unbelievers
 
What?  process of appointing elders and practical work of elders
Elders are affirmed by the church
-Elders oversee the selection process
-All church members nominate men they believe are qualified
-Elders conduct ordination interviews
-Church votes to affirm men who were affirmed by the Elders
 
Elders serve as needed by the church
-It is common for elders to serve for a set number of years, then rotate
-Senior Pastor/Elder serves indefinitely
 
Elders oversee all spiritual aspects of the church
-Preach, Protect, Pastoral Care
-Elders at St Joe serve under the authority of the whole congregation
-They DON’T micro-manage nor do all the work
    -everyone is a minister! 
 
What Now?
Pray for and support Elders  Hebrews 13:17
 
Support healthy accountability  1 Timothy 5:19
 
Nominate potentially qualified men  -Give names to elders
 
Consider your own calling! 
-if you are asked by your church to serve
-if you are led by the Holy Spirit to become an Elder




 
Here is the resume of a potential church pastor…
 
Before his conversion to Christ he was complicit in a murder
 
This man had been in prison frequently (Acts 16:37, Acts 24:7).
 
He has started more than one riot in a city (Acts 19:28).
 
He has been in frequent troubles with the local authorities (Acts 24).
 
He has frequent health issues (2 Cor 12:7).
 
He was not accepted and not trusted by most of the Christians early on and many were even afraid of him (Acts 9:26).
 
He was believed to have mental health issues by the local authorities (Acts 26:24).
 
He has been accused as being an insurrectionist by the local leaders (Acts 24:5).
 
He has been accused of being a leader of a cult or sect (Acts 24:5).
 
Everywhere he went, he seemed to cause problem and once he even quoted a world philosopher in trying to witness about Christ (Acts 17:28).
 
He was teaching doctrines that were contrary to the religious leaders of the day (Acts 24:5).
 
Would a man like this be affirmed by our local church??
 
This was the resume of the Apostle Paul!
Kids Connection
0 Comments

Church Covenant Message 2021, Part 3

1/24/2021

0 Comments

 
  • Sermon
  • Pastor's notes
  • Kids Connection
<
>

Sermon only

Full worship service

Picture
Click to download copy of Pastor's Notes in MS Word format.
​Church Covenant Message 2021 Part 3
We can trust that the church will never fail
Matt 16:18  “I will build my church”
 
But why do local churches come and go?
Society Reasons
-economics, population shifts:  churches die when towns die
-cultural change- churches cling to previous cultural traditions
 
Spiritual Reasons
-they stop trusting the Bible as their final authority for truth
-they become a social club instead of a spiritual community
-they stop sharing the Good News consistently
-Power and popularity become more important than people
 
How does the Bible define a local church?
1.  The Church Is A FELLOWSHIP
Acts 2:42  “They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching, to fellowship, to the breaking of bread, and to prayer” 
 
-A top priority in a fellowship is HARMONY and UNITY.
 
2.  The Church Is A FAMILY
1 Peter 3:8  “Finally, all of you should be like-minded and sympathetic, love one another, and be compassionate and humble”
1 Timothy 5:1-2  ”Don’t rebuke an older man, but exhort him as a father, younger men as brothers, older women as mothers, and the younger women as sisters with all purity.” 
 
-Our family focuses on RELATIONSHIPS not RULES.
 
3.  The Church Is A BODY
1 Corinthians 12:27  “Now you are the body of Christ, and individual members of it.”
 
-We are a body — not a business! 
-We are an organism — not an organization!
 
4.  The Church Is A FLOCK
-The Church is cared for and led by SHEPHERDS.
-1 Peter 5:1-3  Elders, Shepherds, Overseers
 
This is why we are committed to a Church Covenant
Our Covenant defines how we relate to one another
 
Our Covenant is defined by on Biblical Principles
 
Our Four Covenant Agreements as church members
Review from last two messages
1.  I WILL PROTECT THE UNITY OF MY CHURCH
     ...BY ACTING IN LOVE TOWARD OTHER MEMBERS
     ...BY REFUSING TO GOSSIP
     ...BY FOLLOWING THE LEADERS
 
2.  I WILL SHARE THE RESPONSIBILITY OF MY CHURCH
     …BY PRAYING FOR ITS GROWTH
     …BY INVITING THE UNCHURCHED TO ATTEND
     …BY WARMLY WELCOMING THOSE WHO VISIT
 
3.  I WILL SERVE THE MINISTRY OF MY CHURCH
     …BY DISCOVERING MY GIFTS AND TALENTS
     …BY BEING EQUIPPED BY MY PASTORS
     …BY DEVELOPING A SERVANT’S HEART
 
Part 1 and 2 Messages, including sermon notes, are available on our website.
-Worship Videos are on our YouTube channel
-Audio Sermons are available on many podcast sites
 
 
Today’s focus is on our final covenant commitment
 4.  I WILL SUPPORT THE TESTIMONY OF MY CHURCH
     …BY ATTENDING FAITHFULLY
     …BY LIVING A GODLY LIFE
     …BY GIVING REGULARLY
 
Hebrews 10:24-25  And let us consider one another in order to provoke love and good works, not neglecting to gather together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging each other, and all the more as you see the day approaching.
 
Philippians 1:27  Just one thing: As citizens of heaven, live your life worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or am absent, I will hear about you that you are standing firm in one spirit, in one accord, contending together for the faith of the gospel
 
1 Corinthians 16:2  On the first day of the week, each of you is to set something aside and save in keeping with how he is prospering, so that no collections will need to be made when I come.
 
Leviticus 27:30  “Every tenth of the land’s produce, grain from the soil or fruit from the trees, belongs to the Lord; it is holy to the Lord.
 
 
What must we do now with this church covenant?
1.  Ask God to affirm His Word in your heart
 
2. Evaluate your own commitment level to the local church
-Community- never/rarely attends
-Crowd- regular attender
-Congregation- member, committed to the covenant
-Core- giving yourself in practical and consistent ways
 
3.  Enroll in our Discovering Membership Class
-A four session (3.5 hours at once usually) Bible study
  -When and where?
 
4.  Let us know how to help you!
-Connection Card, website contact page, Facebook Page
Kids Connection.
0 Comments

Our Church Covenant

2/17/2019

0 Comments

 

What is the church, and how do we relate with each other and northeast Indiana?

Picture
Pastor Greg Byman
By Pastor Greg Byman
St Joe Community Church
February 17, 2019

What does it mean to be a member of a church? Is it like a contract, where do’s and don’t are spelled out in legal detail? Today Pastor Greg Byman rolls out the Bible’s blueprint for church membership as a covenant between fellow believers in Jesus Christ. God describes his church as a family, a fellowship, a flock and a body, and the follower of Jesus Christ does well to carefully consider the implications of these illustrations for how he relates to his fellow man both within the church and in the broader community.

Ed Moy - 38th Director of the US Mint from Centered on Vimeo.

"Full time ministry is what you dedicate to the Lord in your work." Ed Moy is the 38th Director of the US Mint (2006-2011), television commentator, author, White House staffer, business executive, pastor, corporate director, and above all, a follower of Jesus. Through his story, Ed shares how service to the Lord is more than a Sunday event but an everyday working reality.

If you're interested in receiving more compelling stories from Centered, please:
1) Download the Centered mobile app for iOS, Android, and Windows Phone at get.theapp.co/c50d
2) Sign up for the Centered mailing list at eepurl.com/QKkKj
3) Like the Facebook page at facebook.com/centered

Picture

Questions about this message?

"I'm glad you asked." -- Pastor Greg Byman
Name and email are optional, but it's more fun to have a dialogue than a monologue. :)
Submit

Pastor's Notes


Read More
0 Comments

The Lord's Supper and Church Covenant

3/4/2018

0 Comments

 
By Greg Byman
March 4, 2018
St Joe Community Church
The Lord’s Supper is God’s personal reminder to his church—God’s family—to proclaim salvation, forgiveness and reconciled relationships. The Lord’s Supper reminds Christ followers that God’s family is marked by covenant commitments. For example, God’s family is a fellowship (Acts 2:42); a family based on relationships, not rules (1 Peter 3:8, 1 Timothy 5:1-2); and a spiritual body with different members exercising diverse gifts to bring glory to the Lord Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 12:27) and a flock cared for by pastors, overseers and elders (1 Peter 5:1-3).
​
Pastor Greg Byman delivered this sermon on March 4, 2018 about the Lord’s Supper and the importance of its implications for how the St. Joe Community Church’s body of believers relate to each other. We do this through covenant commitments in the unity, responsibility, ministry and testimony of its members.
Click "Read More" to access sermon notes, slides and transcript.

Read More
0 Comments
    Picture
    Listen to St Joe sermons via your favorite podcast platform.
    YouTube
    Picture
    Apple Podcast
    Picture
    Google Podcast
    Picture
    Stitcher
    Picture

    RSS Feed


    Archives

    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    September 2014
    February 2013
    January 2013
    February 2009
    January 2009

    Categories

    All
    A Bill Wallace
    A Chris Kern
    A Chris Mann
    A David Mitchell
    A Donnevin Wolfe
    A Donovan Coley
    A Greg Byman
    A Greg Minick
    A James Thomas
    A Jerry Jones
    A Jimi Staton
    A Jo Faulkner
    A Jon Moody
    A Julie VonGuten
    A Michael Griffin
    A Nick Scott
    A Rick Hillard
    A Sara Fritz
    ASL American Sign Language
    B01 Genesis
    B01 Genesis 01
    B01 Genesis 02
    B01 Genesis 03
    B01 Genesis 05
    B01 Genesis 06
    B01 Genesis 07
    B01 Genesis 08
    B01 Genesis 09
    B01 Genesis 15
    B01 Genesis 16
    B01 Genesis 17
    B01 Genesis 21
    B01 Genesis 22
    B01 Genesis 28
    B01 Genesis 31
    B01 Genesis 32
    B01 Genesis 37
    B01 Genesis 39
    B01 Genesis 44
    B01 Genesis 45
    B01 Genesis 50
    B02 Exodus 03
    B02 Exodus 04
    B02 Exodus 20
    B03 Leviticus
    B03 Leviticus 18
    B03 Leviticus 27
    B05 Deuteronomy 06
    B05 Deuteronomy 07
    B05 Deuteronomy 14
    B05 Deuteronomy 17
    B05 Deuteronomy 31
    B06 Joshua
    B06 Joshua 01
    B06 Joshua 24
    B07 Judges
    B07 Judges 02
    B08 Ruth
    B08 Ruth 01
    B09 1 Samuel 03
    B09 1 Samuel 04
    B09 1 Samuel 25
    B10 2 Samuel 07
    B10 2 Samuel 11
    B10 2 Samuel 16
    B11 1 Kings 02
    B11 1 Kings 19
    B12 2 Kings 05
    B13 1 Chronicles 28
    B13 1 Chronicles 29
    B18 Job 28
    B19 Psalm
    B19 Psalm 022
    B19 Psalm 024
    B19 Psalm 030
    B19 Psalm 032
    B19 Psalm 037
    B19 Psalm 051
    B19 Psalm 063
    B19 Psalm 071
    B19 Psalm 08
    B19 Psalm 112
    B19 Psalm 119
    B19 Psalm 127
    B19 Psalm 128
    B19 Psalm 139
    B20 Proverbs
    B20 Proverbs 03
    B20 Proverbs 04
    B20 Proverbs 08
    B20 Proverbs 09
    B20 Proverbs 12
    B20 Proverbs 14
    B20 Proverbs 15
    B20 Proverbs 22
    B20 Proverbs 27
    B20 Proverbs 31
    B21 Ecclesiastes 12
    B21 Jeremiah 31
    B23 Isaiah
    B23 Isaiah 07
    B23 Isaiah 26
    B23 Isaiah 40
    B23 Isaiah 44
    B23 Isaiah 53
    B23 Isaiah 58
    B23 Isaiah 64
    B26 Ezekiel 18
    B27 Daniel 01
    B27 Daniel 03
    B27 Daniel 04
    B27 Daniel 07
    B28 Hosea 03
    B28 Hosea 11
    B32 Jonah 01
    B32 Jonah 02
    B32 Jonah 04
    B33 Micah 05
    B38 Zechariah 12
    B39 Malachi 02
    B39 Malachi 03
    B40 Matthew
    B40 Matthew 01
    B40 Matthew 02
    B40 Matthew 03
    B40 Matthew 04
    B40 Matthew 05
    B40 Matthew 06
    B40 Matthew 07
    B40 Matthew 08
    B40 Matthew 09
    B40 Matthew 11
    B40 Matthew 13
    B40 Matthew 14
    B40 Matthew 15
    B40 Matthew 16
    B40 Matthew 17
    B40 Matthew 18
    B40 Matthew 19
    B40 Matthew 20
    B40 Matthew 22
    B40 Matthew 23
    B40 Matthew 25
    B40 Matthew 26
    B40 Matthew 28
    B41 Mark
    B41 Mark 01
    B41 Mark 04
    B41 Mark 07
    B41 Mark 10
    B41 Mark 12
    B41 Mark 14
    B41 Mark 16
    B42 Luke
    B42 Luke 01
    B42 Luke 02
    B42 Luke 04
    B42 Luke 05
    B42 Luke 07
    B42 Luke 09
    B42 Luke 10
    B42 Luke 12
    B42 Luke 13
    B42 Luke 14
    B42 Luke 18
    B42 Luke 22
    B42Luke 23
    B42 Luke 24
    B43 John
    B43 John 01
    B43 John 02
    B43 John 03
    B43 John 04
    B43 John 05
    B43 John 06
    B43 John 07
    B43 John 09
    B43 John 10
    B43 John 13
    B43 John 14
    B43 John 15
    B43 John 16
    B43 John 17
    B43 John 19
    B43 John 20
    B43 John 21
    B44 Acts
    B44 Acts 01
    B44 Acts 02
    B44 Acts 04
    B44 Acts 05
    B44 Acts 08
    B44 Acts 09
    B44 Acts 10
    B44 Acts 11
    B44 Acts 12
    B44 Acts 13
    B44 Acts 16
    B44 Acts 17
    B44 Acts 18
    B44 Acts 19
    B44 Acts 24
    B44 Acts 26
    B44 Acts 27
    B45 Romans
    B45 Romans 01
    B45 Romans 02
    B45 Romans 03
    B45 Romans 04
    B45 Romans 05
    B45 Romans 06
    B45 Romans 07
    B45 Romans 08
    B45 Romans 10
    B45 Romans 12
    B45 Romans 14
    B45 Romans 15
    B45 Romans 16
    B46 1 Corinthians
    B46 1 Corinthians 01
    B46 1 Corinthians 02
    B46 1 Corinthians 03
    B46 1 Corinthians 04
    B46 1 Corinthians 05
    B46 1 Corinthians 06
    B46 1 Corinthians 09
    B46 1 Corinthians 10
    B46 1 Corinthians 11
    B46 1 Corinthians 11
    B46 1 Corinthians 12
    B46 1 Corinthians 15
    B46 1 Corinthians 16
    B47 2 Corinthians
    B47 2 Corinthians 01
    B47 2 Corinthians 02
    B47 2 Corinthians 04
    B47 2 Corinthians 05
    B47 2 Corinthians 06
    B47 2 Corinthians 08
    B47 2 Corinthians 09
    B47 2 Corinthians 12
    B48 Galatians
    B48 Galatians 03
    B48 Galatians 06
    B49 Ephesians
    B49 Ephesians 01
    B49 Ephesians 02
    B49 Ephesians 04
    B49 Ephesians 05
    B49 Ephesians 06
    B50 Philippians
    B50 Philippians 01
    B50 Philippians 02
    B50 Philippians 03
    B50 Philippians 04
    B51 Colossians
    B51 Colossians 01
    B51 Colossians 02
    B51 Colossians 03
    B51 Colossians 04
    B52 1 Thessalonians
    B52 1 Thessalonians 01
    B52 1 Thessalonians 02
    B52 1 Thessalonians 03
    B52 1 Thessalonians 05
    B54 1 Timothy
    B54 1 Timothy 01
    B54 1 Timothy 02
    B54 1 Timothy 03
    B54 1 Timothy 04
    B54 1 Timothy 05
    B54 1 Timothy 06
    B55 1 Timothy
    B55 2 Tim 2:16
    B55 2 Timothy
    B55 2 Timothy 01
    B55 2 Timothy 03
    B55 2 Timothy 04
    B55 2 Timothy 3
    B56 Titus
    B56 Titus 1
    B56 Titus 2
    B56 Titus 3
    B57 Philemon
    B58 Hebrews
    B58 Hebrews 01
    B58 Hebrews 03
    B58 Hebrews 04
    B58 Hebrews 10
    B58 Hebrews 11
    B58 Hebrews 12
    B58 Hebrews 13
    B59 James
    B59 James 01
    B59 James 02
    B60 1 Peter
    B60 1 Peter 01
    B60 1 Peter 03
    B60 1 Peter 04
    B60 1 Peter 05
    B61 2 Peter
    B61 2 Peter 01
    B61 2 Peter 03
    B62 01 John
    B62 01 John 04
    B62 01 John 05
    B66 Revelation 20
    B66 Revelations
    B66 Revelations 02
    B66 Revelations 03
    I Abortion
    I Beatitudes
    I Bible Study
    I Celebrate Recovery
    I Christmas
    I Coronavirus
    I Easter
    I Elders
    I Fellowship
    I First Baptist Church Violence
    I Lord's Supper
    I New Year
    I Prayer
    I Service
    I SJCC 15th Anniversary
    I Testimony
    I Tithing
    M Big Brothers Big Sisters
    M New Mercies Ministries
    M SJCC Children's Ministry
    M SJCC Youth Ministry
    M Young Lives
    S 2009 Difficult People
    S 2017 Game Changer
    S 2017 Hope Begins Now
    S 2017 Spiritual Disciplines
    S 2018 Family Elephant
    S 2018 How To Talk With God
    S 2018 Keys To Contentment
    S 2018 Lord's Supper
    S 2018 Reasons To Believe
    S 2018 Reasons Xmas
    S 2018 What On Earth?
    S 2019 Best Relationships Ever
    S 2019 Colossians
    S 2019 Faith Fitness
    S 2019 Philemon
    S 2019 Stand Up
    S 2019 Storm Strong
    S 2020 Boast In The Lord
    S 2020 Easter Best News Ever
    S 2020 How To Walk Through Chaos
    S 2020 Hunker Down
    S 2020 Romans
    S 2020 Who's Your One?
    S 2021 Christmas
    S 2021 Church Covenant
    S Lord's Supper
    S Lottie Moon
    S One Verse Evangelism
    S One-Verse Evangelism
    S The Lord's Supper
    St Joe Q&A Podcast
    W Needs Work
    Y 2020 Humility
    Z Morning Sermon
    Z Transcription Human

    Category key:
    A: author
    ​B: Bible book
    I: Issue
    S: Series

    RSS Feed

Home
About
​> About Our Beliefs and Values
> About Our Member Covenant
> About Leadership
> About Ministries
2900 North Anthony Blvd.
Fort Wayne, Indiana 46805
(260) 471-4704 www.StJoeCommunityChurch.org
Sunday Worship: 8:30 AM & 10:30 AM (Live cast at 10:30 am)
Sunday Kids Connection Classes (infants-5th grade):  10:30 AM

Wednesday Prayer & Bible Study:  6:30 PM
Picture
Picture
Photo used under Creative Commons from romanboed
  • Home
  • Connection Groups
    • Connection Group News
    • St Joe Care Team
  • About
    • Beliefs and Values
    • Our membership covenant
    • Leadership
    • Ministries
    • Who is Jesus?
    • On Mission
    • 8:30 am & 10:30 am Services
    • Resources
  • Give
  • Sermons
  • St. Joe News
    • News Request
  • Contact
  • Waltemath Fund