New Covenant Eldership - Zac Poonen - August 5, 2018
http://rlcfchurch.org/new-covenant-eldership River of Life Christian Fellowship 1306 N Lincoln Avenue Loveland, Colorado - 80537, USA
Summary
The speaker argues that the Old Covenant was abolished because God's ultimate plan required the Holy Spirit to dwell in man, which was impossible due to sin. He emphasizes that sin requires a definitive price, which Jesus paid on the cross. The New Covenant shifts the relationship from a governmental one to a familial one, where the church functions as the 'body of Christ'—a family where Christ is the head, requiring the cooperation of all members because no single human can perfectly manifest the glory of God.
Outline
The message in plain words, in the order it unfolds. Select a time to jump the video to that moment.
Why the Old Covenant was replacedThe author of Hebrews explains that Jesus mediates a better covenant with better promises, and the first covenant was replaced because it could not accomplish God's full purpose for humanity.Hebrews 8:6
The seriousness of sin and Christ's paymentThe Old Covenant prepared humanity by showing the need for a sacrifice, because sin is extremely serious and required Christ to suffer and die on the cross.
Building a church free from sinUnderstanding the high price Jesus paid changes a believer's attitude toward sin, forming the foundation of a church whose members genuinely want to be delivered from sin.
God as a Father instead of a government headUnder the Old Covenant, God operated like the head of a government with specific temple servants, but under the New Covenant, the Holy Spirit makes believers children who can approach God as Dad.
Why leadership in a family requires multiple peopleGod never intended a family to be led by just one person, and because no single human can perfectly manifest the glory of Christ, believers need one another in the body of Christ.John 1:14
Balancing the kindness and severity of GodBelievers must look carefully at both the kindness and the severity of God to grow properly, just as parents together balance discipline and encouragement in a home.Romans 11:22
The biblical pattern of multiple eldersRather than a single pastor or king, churches should be led by multiple qualified elders chosen by the apostles to maintain spiritual balance.
Apostolic examples of appointing eldersPaul and Barnabas traveled back through cities to strengthen disciples and appoint multiple elders in every church rather than leaving leadership to a popular vote.Acts 14:21
Qualifications for elders and respecting authorityTitus and Timothy outline strict personal and family qualifications for elders, who serve as God's representatives and deserve respect much like earthly parents or authorities.
Going to a brother in privateJesus instructed that if a brother sins, believers should go and show him his fault in private with the primary aim of winning him back rather than proving a point.Matthew 18:15
Further steps when someone refuses to listenIf an erring individual refuses to listen, the process involves taking two or three others, and in extreme cases of unrepentant sin, church discipline must be applied.
