Jesus did not surround himself with spiritual people. He always welcomed common people, outcasts and notorious sinners. A particular scandal arose from his association with tax collectors Zachaeus and Matthew (Lk19:1-9). He outraged religious leaders when he reached out to such people. He even ate with them and sat at their tables. The spiritually elite
Jesus preached the gospel at the beginning of His ministry. The kingdom of God was near (Mk1:14-15). He later said the kingdom would come during their lifetime (Mk 9:1). The kingdom and the church are the same in the Bible. It was not then and is not now a denomination (something larger than a local
The only one qualified to stand between God and man is Jesus. Anyone who claims to mediate between you and God, other than Jesus Christ, is a usurper, a false teacher. There is ONLY ONE MEDIATOR BETWEEN GOD AND MAN … and He is JESUS. “For there is one God and one mediator between God
When kids get up to 10 or 15 years old they want their own guitar and drum. Now we see immature adults, often preachers and elders, who think they need a band to entice and entertain ‘the unchurched’ into worshiping God. From time to time we hear leaders in a congregation who announce their decision
Strict Bible requirements qualify for leadership in the church (I Tim 3:1-7 and Tit 1:59). These men are called elders (also bishops, shepherds, pastors, presbyters, overseers). Paul warned that from among these leaders, perverse men would later lead Christians in departing from the truth. Read these severe warnings in I Timothy 4:1-5; 6:3-4; 2 Timothy
There are many one another passages in the New Testament which show the need Christians have for each other. The church consists of “one body in Christ with many members, like the many parts of a human body function in harmony (Romans 12:5). Christians are connected to one another. Before his death, Jesus gave this
After the apostles died, the direction of the local church was left under the oversight of men called bishops (also known as elders, overseers, pastors, shepherds or presbyters). Each congregation was to be supervised by a plurality of such men, not by one man called “the pastor” or “the bishop.” Teachers and preachers were also
“By what authority are you doing these things?” The chief priests and elders asked Jesus this question (Mt 21:23-27). Jesus replied by asking them a question: “I will ask you one question … John’s baptism—where did it come from? Was it from heaven, or from men?” Since they could not answer Jesus, neither did He
Jesus said a man must be honest and good in order to produce fruit in His kingdom (Luke 8:15). The seed of the gospel must find lodging in this kind of soil or it cannot bear fruit for God. If any man or any preacher is not totally honest, he can never make a good
When storms and hurricanes are approaching, many warnings of danger have gone out, but some pay no attention or take a chance and are killed. Jesus established His church. He issued many warnings about dangers of false teachers who would lead, people astray: “Beware of false prophets who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but