Prominent Memphis Area Pastor Resigns

[Tlswift2009]

Originally Posted by TGBTG

Ok, I don't know much about this local assembly, but something that's puzzling to me about this scenario (and this also applies to a lot of denominations) is the fact that there is not a mature believer (or mature believers) in that congregation that can help steer that local assembly under the tutelage of the Holy Spirit?

Why do we have "pastors" applying for church position? This idea of the professional pastor is really troubling.

If there are no mature believers in that congregation to lead the assembly, then what exactly has the pastor been teaching his flock all these years???

Paul's instructions about appointing overseers for the local assembly was choosing someone from within that local assembly...

Ofcourse, sometimes, the believers in newly established local assembly will be new in the faith, so they need someone who is already grounded in the faith to lead them.

But, eventually, the local assembly should have enough mature believers to function as church leadership.

We see that in Paul's ministry over and over again. He established local assemblies in places, left Timothy and/ Titus to take care of the place but eventually, they were to appoint overseers from within that local assembly.

But today, we have too many professional pastors who "apply for the job and get the offer..."

Our problem is far bigger than just scandals. Our pastors need to equip the saints for the work of the ministry. It's not enough to just attend "church" on Sunday and Wednesday to just keep hearing sermons over and over again.

In fact, Pastors should not be preaching all the time. Let your flock also teach (1 Cor 14). How do professional pastors even know if their flock is growing spiritually, when it's just hear a sermon every sunday and wednesday over and over again???

Man, we need the body ministry real bad...

Anyhow, carry on...just my musings...

Hey Brother, I'm with you 100%. I have allowed over the 22 years of my pastoring for members to come forth on bible study night and teach on various subjects; this is to test them and to gauge how they are coming along in their understabding, and ability to construct and teach from the bible on many various passages: IT HAS SO BUILT UP OUR CHURCH BODY AND THE PEOPLE'S ESTEEM {"for the perfection (growth-development-maturity) of God's people}!!! Sometimes I will give the members about a week's notice to prepare to teach; oftentimes I may have about 3 persons to teach that night; sometimes I give church tests/examiniations on the bible events-etc, and I tell you it has really built up and given personal growth/edification, and membership growth. I remember when other people heard back in the 90's what we were doing; our church filled up on a consistant basis on Wednesday nights; of course; this cause me**jealousy**problems within the city's populace of other lazy, nonvisionary Pastors-lol...I am NOT a Pastor that's afraid to share in the work of the ministry, nor am I a pastor who's not familiar with the fact that I'm suppose to build up, empower, and equip God's people for Kingdom Ministry-God has rewarded both of my church ministries during these 22 years tremendously, plus-it garneres more respect within our local assembly; everybody truly feels a part of the working of the ministry in some form; whether its' speaking-teaching-song ministry-hospitality-carehome-street evangelism-etc: YOU'RE ON POINT WITH YOUR CONCERN!!! Most of our church members are far AHEAD of others in the word, and the handling of God's word in church, and within the community, and I have received numerous calls over the years for how EFFECTIVE our ministry has been in many people's lives...

[TGBTG]

Originally Posted by Tlswift2009

Hey Brother, I'm with you 100%. I have allowed over the 22 years of my pastoring for members to come forth on bible study night and teach on various subjects; this is to test them and to gauge how they are coming along in their understabding, and ability to construct and teach from the bible on many various passages: IT HAS SO BUILT UP OUR CHURCH BODY AND THE PEOPLE'S ESTEEM {"for the perfection (growth-development-maturity) of God's people}!!! Sometimes I will give the members about a week's notice to prepare to teach; oftentimes I may have about 3 persons to teach that night; sometimes I give church tests/examiniations on the bible events-etc, and I tell you it has really built up and given personal growth/edification, and membership growth. I remember when other people heard back in the 90's what we were doing; our church filled up on a consistant basis on Wednesday nights; of course; this cause me**jealousy**problems within the city's populace of other lazy, nonvisionary Pastors-lol...I am NOT a Pastor that's afraid to share in the work of the ministry, nor am I a pastor who's not familiar with the fact that I'm suppose to build up, empower, and equip God's people for Kingdom Ministry-God has rewarded both of my church ministries during these 22 years tremendously, plus-it garneres more respect within our local assembly; everybody truly feels a part of the working of the ministry in some form; whether its' speaking-teaching-song ministry-hospitality-carehome-street evangelism-etc: YOU'RE ON POINT WITH YOUR CONCERN!!! Most of our church members are far AHEAD of others in the word, and the handling of God's word in church, and within the community, and I have received numerous calls over the years for how EFFECTIVE our ministry has been in many people's lives...

I am glad you are a Pastor, yet you see what I am saying...