Building on the Foundation

Every Pastor, I’m sure, is familiar with Christ’s instructions to Peter, and the chances are good that these instructions are the guiding creed that they follow. The instructions are as follows. John 21:15-17 CSB When they had eaten breakfast, Jesus asked Simon Peter, "Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these? " "Yes, Lord," he said to him, "you know that I love you." "Feed my lambs," he told him.  16 A second time he asked him, "Simon, son of John, do you love me? " "Yes, Lord," he said to him, "you know that I love you." "Shepherd my sheep," he told him.  17 He asked him the third time, "Simon, son of John, do you love me? " Peter was grieved that he asked him the third time, "Do you love me? " He said, "Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you." "Feed my sheep," Jesus said.   These instructions should guide not only every pastor but every man ...

  This post forms a sequel to my earlier post, The Flabbergasting Reason Women Should Be Deacons and Ministers . Both that article and this one lay out some things that I learned only a few months ago, when I began to deep-dive into what God’s Word really says about church government. As we saw in that first post, deacons, ministers, and servants are one and the same thing. There is no office or position of “deacon.” They hold no position of authority within the congregations, but are simply those who serve the congregation in some capacity. Both men and women may fill this role if they meet the qualifications and represent the congregation honorably. For example, women who help out with the sound system or filming, or who bring snacks for everyone to enjoy, or who serve the brethren in any other capacity, may be considered “deacons,” “ministers,” or servants to the congregation. In fact, all of God’s people are to be servants, that is, “deacons,” to one another. However, deacons, ...