What Is the Scriptural Procedure to Appoint Elders In A Local Church?
God designed and planned His church from all eternity before time began (Ephesians 3:10-11). God also designed the organization of His church so that each local congregation would appoint an eldership (a group of two or more qualified, spiritual mature Christian men who have and maintain certain qualifications of 1 Timothy 3:1–7 and Titus 1:5–12; Elders are also known as shepherds/pastors, Ephesians 4:11, bishops/overseers, Philippians 1:1; Acts 20:28, and stewards, Titus 1:7, indicating the importance and extension of their work).
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Can A Christian Male Be Qualified For The Eldership If He Has A Christian Child Who Was Adopted?
Yes.
One of the qualifications a man must have in order to be appointed to the eldership is mentioned in 1 Timothy 3:4,5, “one who rules his own house well, having his children in submission with all reverence 5 (for if a man does not know how to rule his own house, how will he take care of the church of God?)” and Titus 1:6, “having faithful children.”
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Are Christians To Keep or Not To Keep The Feast of Tabernacles?
Some skeptics falsely charge that there is a contradiction in Zechariah 14:16-21. They claim that Christians are to keep the feast of Tabernacles, yet the new covenant teaches that they (and everyone else) are no longer legally bound to the law of Moses (Romans 7:1-4). Which is correct? Is the skeptic’s charge valid? Let us rightly divide God’s word together as we search the Scriptures for the answer (2 Timothy 2:15; Acts 17:11).
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Can A Christian Male Be Qualified For The Eldership If He Has A Stepson or Stepdaughter Who Is A Christian?
Yes.
One of the qualifications a man must have in order to be appointed to the eldership is 1 Timothy 3:4,5, “one who rules his own house well, having his children in submission with all reverence (for if a man does not know how to rule his own house, how will he take care of the church of God?)” and Titus 1:6, “having faithful children.”
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Are Song Leaders, Song Books, etc. Aids or Additions to Church Worship?
Major Premise: All authorized and specified acts of New Testament church worship are actions which may have subordinate expedients (aids) authorized by God.
Minor Premise: "Singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord" is an authorized and specified act of New Testament church worship (Ephesians 5:19; Colossians 3:16)
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If A Local Church Does Not Have Two Or More Qualified Men Who Could Be Appointed As Elders, Can They Still Function As A Scriptural Church?
Yes.
There is no indication of elders in the Jerusalem church of Christ until Acts 11:30; yet they were scripturally functioning as the church of Christ.
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What Is the Outpouring of the Holy Spirit?
Old Testament prophets prophesied of the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. So, what is it?
- It was not the Holy Spirit Himself being outpoured (the literal outpouring of a Person is absurd). Instead, “outpouring” is a “metonymy” (“a figure of speech consisting of the use of the name of one thing for that of another of which it is an attribute or with which it is associated…” Merriam-Webster). The outpouring “of” the Spirit is the outpouring “from” the Source – not the Source Himself. It is representative of the Holy Spirit.
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Is Everyone Amenable to The Laws of God on Marriage, Divorce and Remarriage?
Yes.
God-ordained marriage is between one male and one female for life (this has been God’s law since creation, Genesis 2:24; Matthew 19:3-12; Romans 7:1-4). The Lord permitted only one reason for the divorce of a God-sanctioned marriage (fornication on the part of one of the spouses, Matthew 19:9).
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Does Matthew 16:27,28 Prove Covenant Eschatology?
Jesus states to His disciples in Matthew 16:24-28: “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul? For the Son of Man will come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and then He will reward each according to his works. Assuredly, I say to you, there are some standing here who shall not taste death till they see the Son of Man coming in His kingdom.”
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Is Church Discipline/Withdrawal Authorized and Permanently Mandatory?
The New Testament teaches that the church belongs to Jesus and must be handled the way Jesus sees fit (Matthew 16:18-19; 28:18; Acts 20:28; Colossians 3:17; 1 Timothy 3:15; etc.). An essential part of the doctrine of Christ is the topic of church discipline (Heed the warning of subtracting from God’s Word: 2 John 1:9-11; Revelation 22:18-19). Some major passages addressing church discipline/withdrawal (whether it involves a false teacher, impenitent member…) are as follows: Matthew 18:15-20; Romans 16:17-18; 1 Corinthians 5:1-13; 2 Thessalonians 3:6-15; Titus 1:10-16; 3:10-11; 2 John 1:9-11; etc.).
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What Is the Identification of The Rock in Matthew 16:18?
This question comes from the context of Matthew 16:13-20. The Catholic denomination assumes this passage relates to when Peter would become the first pope on whom, they falsely say, the church was built. They assert that Peter is the rock. This cannot be true for the following reasons:
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What Is the Scriptural Procedure for Church Discipline/Withdrawal?
While there is no set procedure for how a church and/or Christian withdraws from an erring member or an unfaithful church, there are many authorized ways to do so. Each circumstance needs to be thought through carefully and prayerfully (unless there is an urgent need to act quickly) before correction and/or withdrawal occurs. The foremost motive is love (#1, for Christ; #2, for the protection of His bride, the church, and #3 for the unfaithful member or unfaithful church who is clearly in violation of scripture and needs to and/or refuses to repent, John 14:15; 1 Peter 2:17; 1 John 4:20-21).
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Does 1 Corinthians 7:10,11 Grant Permission For Divorce?
Absolutely not!
1 Corinthians 7:10,11: “Now to the married I command, yet not I but the Lord: A wife is not to depart from her husband. But even if she does depart, let her remain unmarried or be reconciled to her husband. And a husband is not to divorce his wife.”
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