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[0:00] Great to see you all here this morning. Please take out your copy of God's Word. We're going to do something a little different this morning. You may have noticed in your bulletin if you pay attention to that at all that we are not going to continue in Mark today.

[0:13] And I know that some people get very dogmatic about what preaching should look like. Many people say that expositional preaching must be verse by verse. Exposition is just simply, in the most simplest of terms, preaching what the Bible has to say about any given topic.

[0:35] Say, picking for the main points of a sermon, the main points of a text for the sermon. That's the definition in its simplest form. And so it's healthy at times to stop and take a little topical look at some things, a more broad look.

[0:50] And so that's what we're going to do together today is we're going to look at church polity together. And the reason for that is this evening we're having our direction dessert when we get together and present a vision for next year and what we believe God is leading us into.

[1:05] Next year and we have newly appointed elders. It just happened, oh gosh, maybe five or six weeks ago we appointed elders of our church and we have yet to really take the time to stop and talk about what that even means.

[1:19] So that's what I would like to do with you today. So I have a lot of texts for you to turn to. And in habit I actually told you to take out your copy of God's Word. I didn't tell you where to turn because I'm going to give you a lot of places.

[1:30] You may find it best for you today to just simply jot down references and turn to them later. You might want to catch me on some of the longer ones. You may try to keep up with me.

[1:42] But for the sake of time I'm going to move pretty quick and I'm not going to wait until I hear pages stop flipping in order for us to get through what needs to be accomplished this morning. I want to say to you also church polity is the doctrines about the organizational structure of the church and it's a subset of a greater study, the doctrines of the church called ecclesiology.

[2:05] What we're going to do this morning is going to be very glossary. I can't possibly expound all of this in a single service unless you guys were willing to stay here until one or two, which I don't think you are.

[2:16] So we're going to kind of glance over some things. So if I don't make a connection for you, I know I'm not making the connection for you. Let's talk about it later. We can connect the dots together. So with that in mind, let's pray and then I'll pile in where we're going to head today.

[2:32] Father, we thank you for the great love that you've shown us in Christ. We are here sitting together in this room because of his completed work.

[2:44] I thank you that we have such a great hope in him. We thank you, Father, that you've also given us, because of Christ, your spirit. There's great triune work in play right now on our behalf.

[3:00] And we pray by your spirit, Lord, that you'll work today. You know our frailties even better than we. And Father, I know that I can accomplish nothing good apart from you.

[3:12] So I pray that you'll work this day in our hearts to bring us into conformity with your son for the praise of your glory. We pray this in Christ's name. Amen.

[3:22] I hope in your Christian walk you are growing in your appreciation for the church. Because the church is what Christ came to die for.

[3:35] The church itself was purchased by Christ's blood. And I mean that in a universal sense. The church today, the church past, the church future.

[3:46] All those who will be found in Christ, who will place believing faith in him, were purchased by Christ's blood. It was his very intention in coming here was to purchase the church for himself.

[4:00] 1 Corinthians 15.3 says, Paul states in Ephesians 5.25 that Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her.

[4:16] This is why Christ came. This is why we have hope in this season in him. Because Christ came and purchased the church.

[4:28] It was precious to him. It is his bride. And he completed that work. Wes mentioned that earlier. This was something that happened once and for all.

[4:40] He was able to with confidence say, it is finished. The writer of Hebrews 10.14 says, For by a single offering, he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified.

[4:54] So this is an accomplished work on Christ's behalf. Yet we still find it carrying out. Still find it having its effect. We have been made perfect in him and yet we are being made perfect.

[5:09] Perfect. As individuals and as the church. Sorry again for Judah. We're in this process and God has given to us a great responsibility.

[5:22] As the church. As the global church. Right? He's set us about a mission. And I think rightly it's good to say, not that God has given a mission to the church, but that he's given the church to his mission.

[5:37] Matthew chapter 28. Verse 16 through 20. After Jesus is resurrected, spending time with his disciples. Verse 16 says, Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them.

[5:50] And when they saw him, they worshipped him, but some doubted. And Jesus came and said to them, All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.

[6:09] And behold, I am with you always to the end of the age. And we can see even here, this work that has been completed and is being completed by the power and grace of God.

[6:21] Right? This is the command that's been given to us as a local congregation. And it's a big, mighty task. So we see most commonly mentioned in the scriptures when we speak of church, the gathering of believers, those local congregations, which we would be one of.

[6:39] And as the global church has this mission to go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe, to be disciple-making disciples, we as a church have been given that very same command.

[6:54] This is true of us as well. So it's important that we ask the question, how? How are we supposed to do this? This is a big, mighty task that has been given to the church.

[7:09] And very quickly, lots of people will give you lots of answers to that. Ask anybody who serves in full-time ministry what their philosophy of ministry is, and you're going to hear all sorts of answers.

[7:22] I feel that for our church it is a grace, and I am thankful to get to serve at a church that believes in the sufficiency of Scripture and actually lives like they believe in the sufficiency of the Scriptures.

[7:36] God has given to us a book that is the guide and rule for all holiness, and that includes the way in which we govern our church. James Montgomery Boyce was a 20th century Philadelphian pastor, just means he pastored in Philadelphia, and said, I don't know why I wrote it down that way, said, while many churches now confess belief in biblical authority, they remain undecided whether the Bible is sufficient for the church's life and work.

[8:06] We confess its authority, but we discount its ability to do what is necessary to draw unbelievers to Christ, enable us to grow in godliness, provide direction for our lives, and transform and revitalize society.

[8:18] He adds, in the 16th century, the battle was against those who wanted to add church traditions to Scripture, the Catholics, but in our day, the battle is against those who have to use worldly means to do God's work.

[8:31] Our great battle in American Christianity is not over the inerrancy of the Scripture, but of the sufficiency of the Scriptures. Has God given us what we need to accomplish the task that He's laid before us?

[8:44] The answer is yes. You can't just say that and not live that appropriately. And so what I want to show you today is the way in which we have arranged our organizational structure as we see the Scriptures teach them to us.

[9:01] And I gave you a phrase that's in the top of your bulletin in the notes that says simply this, maybe not simply, Christ Family Church is God-ordained, Christ-ruled, Spirit-led, elder-guided, deacon-served, and congregation-governed, or congregationally if you prefer.

[9:22] Christ Family Church is God-ordained, Christ-ruled, Spirit-led, elder-guided, deacon-served, and congregation-governed. So I want to break this phrase down for you.

[9:33] We certainly see that the Godhead starts out this phrase, right? This is a church that has been given to us. It belongs to God. It's God-ordained.

[9:44] It's Christ-ruled. It's Spirit-led. It's God-ordained as all things are. All things in this world are ordained by our Lord. They're all held in His providence.

[9:55] And therefore, we can safely say that our church is God-ordained. Isaiah 45.7 God says, I form light and create darkness. I make well-being and create calamity.

[10:07] I am the Lord who does all these things. Job recognized this. Job 42.2. He said, I know that you can do all things and that no purpose of yours can be thwarted.

[10:19] King Nebuchadnezzar, after his wild times in the wilderness, when he comes back to his senses in Daniel 4.35, says of God, He does according to His will among the host of heaven and among the inhabitants of the earth, and none can stay His hand or say to Him, what have you done?

[10:38] Paul, in Ephesians 1.11, says that God works all things according to the counsel of His will. He is sovereign over everything and therefore, the very fact that this church exists means that God ordained it.

[10:54] That we have a name and we are here means that God is in control over what is happening. I think every good sermon has a Charles Spurgeon quote in it. It makes my brother plain language beautiful to read something he said.

[11:10] So let me just read to you this beautiful quote by him. He said, I believe that every particle of dust that dances in the sunbeam does not move an atom more or less than God wishes.

[11:22] That every particle of spray that dashes against the steamboat has its orbit as well as the sun in the heavens. That the chaff from the hand of the winnower is steered as the stars in their courses.

[11:34] The creeping of an aphid over the rosebud is as much fixed as the march of the devastating pestilence. The fall of leaves from a poplar is as fully ordained as the tumbling of an avalanche.

[11:48] Isn't that beautiful? And so this is true of our church. Christ's family church is God ordained. And it is Christ ruled.

[12:00] Matthew 16 verse 18 Jesus says in response to Peter claiming that he is the Christ he says and I tell you you are Peter and on this rock that truth the very truth that he is the Christ I will build my church and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

[12:18] Notice the language there he says Christ says that on this truth I will build my church. Christ rules Christ family church.

[12:31] Christ family church is God ordained. things under Jesus' feet and gave him his head over all things to the church. And again later in Ephesians 5 verse 23 that Christ is the head of the church.

[12:47] We are simply an extension of him. His body moving and working in this world. Christ family church is God ordained. It is Christ ruled. And it is spirit led.

[12:59] It is by God's spirit that this act is accomplished. The spirit is an agent of Christ to us. A helper sent to us to help us accomplish this great task that has been put before us.

[13:15] Romans 8 verse 14 and then verse 17 says for all who are led by the spirit of God are sons of God. Verse 17 if children then heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ.

[13:29] So we have been called together as these heirs of God who are led by the spirit. And that is the way in which we function in the church. Paul exhorts us in Ephesians chapter 4 verse 3 in the beginning of verse 4 that we ought to be eager to maintain the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace for there is one body and one spirit.

[13:53] So we are therefore by the Godhead led along. Christ family church is God ordained Christ ruled and spirit led. But now what part do we play in this?

[14:07] How is it that the Godhead intervenes and connects in our lives and we actually play this out? The scriptures have been very clear to us in this way.

[14:18] Now let me say to you that there are various forms of church government that I find acceptable. I just find the one that we practice most acceptable. I think it's most clearly laid before us.

[14:31] I think church history has spoken clearly to us that this is the most health giving form of polity. But I will grant that there are some variations of some degree that are also acceptable.

[14:44] But let's just talk about elders. Christ family church is elder guided. This word elder in the scriptures has also been translated bishop or overseer.

[14:56] it's translated only as pastor one place in the entire scripture which is found in Ephesians chapter 4. That's the only time you see that term as a noun. Otherwise it's a verb that elders are called to pastor in that way.

[15:13] And so the role of elders in the church if you look in 1 Timothy 5.17 is to rule to preach and to teach. It says let the elders who rule will be well considered worthy of double honor especially those who labor in preaching and teaching.

[15:32] Elders are to care for God's church. 1 Timothy 3.4 and 5 He must manage his own household well. This is a qualification for an elder. He must manage his own household well with all dignity keeping his children submissive.

[15:46] For if someone does not know how to manage his own household how will he care for God's church? Right? Judah making me look bad this morning. 1 Peter 5 2-3 we see that elders are to shepherd.

[16:02] Instruction here Peter is giving to the elders of these churches that he's writing to shepherd the flock of God that is among you exercising oversight not under compulsion but willingly as God would have you not for shameful game but eagerly not domineering over those in your charge but being examples to the flock keeping watch over their souls this is the instruction that's been given to us Hebrews 13 17 obey your leaders and submit to them for they are keeping watch over your souls as those who would give to give an account let them do this with joy and not with groaning for that would be of no advantage to you so elders are to look after the spiritual well-being of the flock that's been given them it's the tasks that are laid before them they must possess outstanding character we don't have time to get into all of these things you can look at these later 1st Timothy 3 1-7 and

[17:03] Titus 1 6-9 I encourage you to take a look at those we believe fully that elders should be plural in nature we should have a plurality leadership Acts 14 23 Paul and Barnabas have just been drug out of Lystra Paul is beaten they think to death some of the Christians gather around him and he rises and then Paul and Barnabas return they go to Derbe for a while then they go to Lystra Iconium and to Antioch and it says and when they had appointed elders plural for them in every church with prayer and fasting they committed them to the Lord in whom they had believed later in Acts 20 verse 17 we see the record that now from Miletus he sent to Ephesus and called the elders of the church to come to him again plural elders Titus 1.5 Paul writes to Titus this is why I left you in Crete so that you might put what remained into order and appoint elders in every town as I directed you

[18:10] James 5.14 is anyone among you sick let him call for the elders of the church and let them pray over him anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord and then 1 Peter chapter 5 verse 1 and the beginning of 2 so I exhort the elders among you as a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ as well as a partaker in the glory that is going to be revealed shepherd the flock of God that is among you or pastor the flock of God that is among you that is enough for me that is enough that we see this plurality as an example to us again and again is enough for me to say we need more than one we don't need a guy on top making all of our decisions for us I have found practically it to be of great benefit I have men that I'm accountable to I have men that I get to shoulder the burden of service share in the joy of service and guidance to our church it's of great benefit for us

[19:19] I have seen in my very young years so many pastors tumble from the top because they have no accountability they're placed on a pedestal as if they're perfect and they try to live that way on the outside on the inside they absolutely rot away we're working hard together for that never to be the case with us I want you to know that I'm a man in need of grace right it is my hope it is my goal to lead you and to lead you well but I fail at things sometimes and I need accountability in my life and this provides that having a plurality of leaders in that way so we see that we're to give guidance to the church and we'll talk in a moment about congregationalism and what role you play in that effort I want to tell you who the elders of our church are and I'll just let you guys raise your hands if you will Wes Shelnut who has served our church for so many years leading us in music and pastoring us in that way has been elected as an elder

[20:30] Doug Hitchcock I picked him out here on the aisle Stan Luttrell over here Daryl Allison in the back and then myself we have five elders of our church now and this is a massive blessing I may feel it more than any of the rest of you do but I love that these men are coming alongside and helping me serve in leading you all it's a huge huge blessing to our church and to have men of this quality by God's grace is a great blessing to us as well and I hope that you'll recognize that you have a leadership structure here that you can go to I can't possibly give each and every one of you the attention that you may need in your life but there are men that can look to them for leadership trust them for what they bring before you so Christ family church then is God ordained Christ ruled spirit led elder guided deacon served we don't want to forget about our deacons our precious deacons and I think that our deacons would actually prefer that we forget about them these are the kind of people that want to serve quietly the kind of people that if they're doing everything well we never notice it never notice just quite how clean the building is or how perfectly the sound goes no one ever really notices when the words are right on the screen but we definitely notice when they're wrong on the screen right these are the people who want to fly under the radar and receive no praise in Acts chapter 6 we see the very first appointing of deacons and an issue had arisen the hellenistic jews weren't being served in the serving of meals and so a complaint arises and it makes its way to the apostles who were teaching and they say it's not fitting for us to serve tables and you recall this record right not because it was below them but because they had other things that were more pressing for them to be working on right the other things were important the serving of the tables mattered but just not for the apostles and we see they elect deacons to serve and to make sure these things are taking place and we can gather from this three general job descriptions for deacons they're to serve the physical needs of the church they actually went and physically fed they took the bread around and fed the people they're to quell or put down grumbling which is what was happening right rightly there was appropriate grumbling happened but their job was to come in and intervene in that situation and to insulate the apostles from all the grumbling about the little things and they were to protect the job of the apostles which later are the elders as they work out ministry

[23:22] Peter as we just read refers to himself as an elder in 1 Peter chapter 5 these are the three general job descriptions of deacons and they must also possess outstanding character 1 Timothy chapter 3 verses 8 through 12 is where you can read about that now let me make a case to you for female deacons this is a highly contended issue in a lot of churches we we believe that it's okay for women to serve in this role now in some churches particularly southern baptist churches deacons are not as scripturally prescribed as they should be they're really more like elders they're kind of quasi elder deacons they sit on a board they make spiritual decisions for the church they often give oversight to the pastor they do spiritual things in the church right we're not talking about!

[24:18] that type of deacon we're talking about those who serve in purely physical ways not in spiritual ways at all 1st Timothy chapter 3 verse 11 in your ESV if you're following along with me reads their wives likewise must be dignified not slanders but sober minded it's in this list of things that must be true of a deacon sober minded faithful in all things I don't care for the way the ESV renders this NASB renders it women likewise the term here used that's translated in ESV their wives was a very general term the word guna is the Greek word and it's just a general term for a woman of any age I think it's more properly rendered women here you see some interpretive difficulty what really clears it up for me is when we see this word diakonos servants where we get our word deacon from we see it attached to a woman in

[25:20] Romans chapter 16 verse 1 it's the example of Phoebe who said was a servant of the church at Kincrae she was actually sent on a physical task to bring aid to Paul right and she's yes if you would like of the church at Kincrae and that helps I believe clear up for us what is meant in 1 Timothy chapter 3 verse 11 now we have to be really careful at this point because we can't always lean on our experience right hear me we can't always lean on our experience but our experience does confirm the truths of scripture and I found for our church the female deacons that we have have served very well and caused no problems it's been and so it therefore affirms that at least in my own mind we also looked as we were making this decision at church history I often lean on men that I know are wiser than myself just like you might call a relative you know who's a little smarter than you if you have uncles maybe that are a little bit wiser most people's uncles are not but if you have an uncle that's a little little ahead and again many of the very healthy church movements had female deacons our deacons that are currently serving for us now are tasked up they have got a lot going on

[26:51] Liz Shelnut she's here sitting next to Wes can you raise your hand Liz Liz is handling all the administration for our church as well as the communication efforts trying to get information out to you guys in a timely manner She helps me cut checks and balance books and all those joyful things that I actually hope none of you ever really know go on it's the underbelly of church work Liz helps me with that Barbara Hitchcock you probably all know Barbara because she's in touch with you a lot about hospitality and cleaning Barbara is the one that makes sure a lot of people get in there and get involved and thank you to everyone who sure that this building stays up again a thing that we don't really realize until it's bad right she does a lot of work to organize and get those things done all that coffee that you guys drink gallons and gallons of coffee

[27:51] Barbara makes sure that that's made when we have meals like tonight we're having our dessert together Barbara helps organize and plan those types of things John Cheatham is making sure we have volunteers and people like that to make sure these mics are running and we record the sermons and the websites up and going and all of that stuff when you click on the Christ family church website and it's working you never think man so thankful for John making sure that this website works all the time you should do that you should be thankful for him and the work he does behind the scenes my dear mother Julie Rainer does all things what we call project grow all things kid oriented so all the volunteers and we have Sunday school and the teachers for that she arranges for those teachers to be here make sure that we got that covered tonight we'll have childcare provided my mom hustled around and found volunteers to make that happen she planned games for them and gotten all those types of things together and where's

[28:53] Daniel Swanson there he is good ma'am Daniel Swanson is the deacon of our outreach so those efforts those things we've been doing this past year those volunteer things going to work with the care center we've been trying to connect with that free it hasn't worked out but all those things Daniel has been in charge of feet on the!

[29:19] So we've identified some roles distinguished some people right we're not better people than the rest of you it's not like we have some special status we've climbed to a certain point on a ladder we've just been gifted differently maybe even the same we just happen to be the best person to fill the role at the time right so I want you to hear that all of you are incredibly important to the life of this church you matter every single one of you in more ways than you can possibly imagine right but I want you to hear this morning this last part of our phrase that we are congregation or congregationally governed this is distinct about us we're not an elder rule church many Presbyterian churches!

[30:07] are this way a couple of really great churches in the area one just down on 400 a pastor that I really love they get together they have meetings like we're going to have tonight and they get together and they tell the church what they're going to do in the hopes that everybody likes it and I want your input this is our own form our biblically prescribed form of checks and balances in this process you all have the spirit of God living within you as well I'm not special not like God is using me as his mouthpiece and none of you get it because I got a direct line to God you better come through me to get to him right we're we're all part of scriptures like 1st

[31:13] Peter chapter 2 verse 9 Peter says you're a chosen race a royal priesthood a holy nation a people for his own possession you remember that in Judaism there were always men that were sent to serve and intervene they stood between right the high priest went in made sacrifice on behalf of the nation of Israel this is no longer the case the temple curtain has been all part of the priesthood now it's a beautiful picture of the church it causes a lot of messes as well but God is working grace in us we might maintain the unity of the spirit Revelation chapter 5 verse 9 and 10 we see the 24 elders and the four living creatures cry out to the lamb who was slain were there you to take the!

[32:04] scroll and open its seals for you were slain and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God and they shall reign on the earth this is that picture and it helps us understand how it is that there's not this clergy laity distinction that there's five of us who are special chosen set aside we we guide that process and I don't think any of you have spent the last couple of months praying about how it is we should be directed next year praying about and working through a budget a calendar right we've taken that responsibility on to to narrow it down to fine tune and to bring it to you but it's your responsibility to approve such things let me just show you some examples of the way in which a congregation is supposed to be involved in the governance of a church discipline

[33:04] Matthew chapter 18 verse 15 through 20 Jesus says if your brother sins against you go and tell him his fault between him and him alone if he listens to you you you have gained your brother but if he does not listen take one or two others!

[33:16] that every charge may be established by the evidence of two or three witnesses church discipline process verse 17 if you refuse to listen to them tell it to the church the congregation and if you refuse to listen even to the church to all those saints let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector one who's cast out one who's not part of the church one who's a sinner is what Jesus communicating here verse 7 18 truly I say to you whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven again I say to you if two of you agree on earth about anything they ask will be done for them by my father in heaven for two or three gathered in my name there am I among them this is one of the important jobs of the church is to judge those who say they're part of the church not with evil condemnation but with love people who come into our fellowship and say they're believers and they're not all of us can look at their lives and go no you're not sin is serious you can't think you're a believer and live this way you need to come to faith in

[34:21] Christ this is what we're saying when we administer church discipline and that responsibility lays on all of our shoulders 1 Corinthians 5 12 and 13 says for what have I to do with judging outsiders is it not those inside the church whom you are to judge God judges those outside purge the evil person from among you the church is meant to be involved in this process they're also meant to preserve!

[34:52] listen to this correction that Paul brings to the church remember the letter was written to the church of Galatia he says I'm astonished that you're so quickly deserting him who called you in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel not that there is another one but there are some who trouble you and want to distort the gospel of Christ but even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you let him be accursed or cast out as we have said before so now I say again if anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to the one you received let him be accursed here he's saying to them he's saying to the congregation judge the message being brought to you this is your responsibility you are responsible I am asking for you to hold me theologically accountable to the message that God has given us I need to know if I'm erring in any way if anyone ever gets up on the stage and errs and is inconsistent with the gospel of

[35:58] Christ we need to bring correction in that we're a religion of words God gets to our hearts through our minds we have to be careful about what we're teaching and this kind of criticism and critique who isn't humble in this way as Paul is to say look if it's different than the gospel we brought you before the gospel of scripture cast me out do that please if I err I have no place here or Aaron I'm not willing to correct my error let me say it that way right so the church is that responsibility!

[36:36] again is laid on their shoulders we even see an example of selection of leadership again back in Acts chapter 6 when we see the selection of deacons it wasn't the apostles that selected the deacons it was the congregation you read carefully those first six verses it was actually the congregation that went and brought those men to the apostles to be appointed as deacons congregation itself selected them so how do we work all!

[37:04] this is nuts and bolts practical for us how do we work all this out so as we're elder guided and I mentioned to you we spend months praying about spend some time fasting about what it is we ought to be doing next year together as a church it's constantly occupying my mind the other men have other jobs and things that occupy theirs but I'm constantly thinking about what we should be doing the next 10 years and 20 years from now we want to lay before you plans and visions and we want you to see the exciting stuff that God can accomplish with us so we take that responsibility to present something to you but we ask in return that you buy in not blindly but you prayerfully consider you critique this has always been a beautifully smooth process for our church I think I've told this we clarified a few things it was a lot of work we labored over that and when we presented the document it was like yeah we approve it it looks so easy so beautifully easy really in retrospect on the way home

[38:21] Sam said hey are you excited that went great I said yeah so what's the matter I said I don't know it just seemed! really anticlimactic it was just all that work and everybody just approved it it was so easy and she said did you expect applause well I guess I didn't expect it but it would have been nice we pulled it off we approved the statement of faith it has always been a beautiful process for us but we invite the critique we want to know if we're missing something please help us see what we're missing!

[38:51] we want this church to be right in the center of what God would have us do next year we want to be there we also want you to see it and know what's happening so you can participate in it too you say yes let's do this next year not that you go all right Nathan great plan go get it done I can't do!

[39:10] the work of this! by myself it's impossible absolutely impossible we have to group together we have to be doing this if we're going to reach this dark world it's going to take every single one of us to do that so we want you to see what we're doing so we can cooperate together to do these things so we can get out there and be effective in the kingdom for the glory of God so that's make sense you guys would absolutely hate me for that because we'd have a business meeting every single Sunday there'd be something we'd have to accomplish we're out of coffee again you guys want to order the coffee but we have to have a meeting for it so we put together a budget and you say go stay within those parameters and go at it think of them as banks on a river we're allowed to flow in that and if we need to make some major changes that's when we come back together and do those things and this is the way we work this out it frees us up to accomplish those things that we think

[40:15]  God wants us to do next year so we all play distinct roles in this process and they differ to be sure but we're all called to be part of the organization of our church your job is not just to come and consume but to participate you have a part to play in this effort together so Christ family church is God ordained Christ ruled spirit led elder guided deacon served and congregation governed but to what end so great to what end draw your attention to our vision mission statement I really hope that this is getting programmed in your head I can rattle it off can you I hope you can you see it every Sunday Christ family church exists to glorify God by experiencing proclaiming and displaying the supremacy of Jesus Christ in all things to all peoples meditate roll that over in your mind this is the work that we're about this is the filter by which we run all of our activity to this is why we exist let's pray together