Nile Street Notes

Anna Church of Christ

104 Nile Street, Anna, Illinois 62906

833-5815

Vol 23. Issue 37 Sept. 13, 2009

Impulse Buyers

Hello, my name is Steve Higginbotham and I am an impulse buyer. There, I feel better now. But it's true, I'm the kind of guy for which they make commercials and design eye-catching packaging. When I go shopping, if I see something on the shelf I like, I put it in the buggy. Consequently, my children never miss an opportunity to go shopping with me, and my wife rarely sends me.

But this "impulse buying" has sometimes led to some very poor purchases. You see, I don't check the price like I should, and it's not until I'm at the checkout that I realize how expensive some items are. Well, at this point, I'm too embarrassed to say anything. I don't want to hold people up in the line behind me by putting it back. So I proceed with the purchase, that has now lost its luster.

Now if I can change subjects, is that not precisely why we choose to sin? Impulse. If we fully comprehended the cost before the transaction was made, we wouldn't make it. But we go on our impulse. Immediate gratification. And we don't worry about the price until we get to the checkout.

Well friends, let me remind you that there will be a "checkout" someday, and we will have to pay for our "purchases." Therefore, I would encourage you, as well as myself, to learn self-discipline, and make life-choices based not upon today, but upon eternity.

- Steve Higginbotham via MercEmail

SERMON TOPICS

A.M. – “A Qualified Elder”

(Titus 1:5-9)

P.M. – “The Character & Work Of An

Elder” (Acts 20:28-32)

Those For Whom We Are Praying:

Kathleen Ritchey

Rodney & Nikki Lingle

Bill Whitnel

Mitchell Shock – Grandson of Rosemary’s cousin.

Austin Detering

Carlos Wright – Dr. says cancer is currently “dormant.”

Charles Dillow – Freda’s brother-in-law

Paul Etherton - Sara Wilkins' father. Cancer in lymph nodes.

Jean Brown – Kris’s aunt.

Diana Schultz - Recovering from injuries sustained in a car crash.

Sentence Sermon: “Peace is not the absence of trouble-peace is the presence of God.”

Quotable Quote: “Happiness is when what you think, what you say, and what you do are in harmony.” - Mahatma Ghandi

Welcome! If you're visiting with us, we extend you a special welcome and invite you to come back at every opportunity. If our worship seems unusual to you, please let us know what you find different. We endeavor to worship "in Spirit and in truth" (Jn. 4:24) and do only what scripture authorizes (Col. 3:17, Deut. 4:2; Rev. 22:18-19).

UPCOMING ACTIVITIES/MEETINGS

* Ladies’ Day will be September 19. Shelley Hazelwill be the speaker and the theme will be, “Women Teaching Women.”

Italian food and salads have been decided on for the luncheon. Sherry will post a sign-up sheet before Sept. 19. We plan to

feed 60.

* Ladies’ Day at Central church of Christ in Paducah, KY on Sept. 26.

* No potluck today. We’ll have it next Sunday and the quarterly Men’s Business Meeting will follow.

* Let’s remember to contact those we haven’tseen in a few weeks.

* Please continue to drop any Bible questions in theQuestion & Answer box in the foyer. Recent questions will be addressed in

the near future.

* Please continue boycotting Pepsi & Frito-Lay products as they support the homosexual agenda.

*Little Egypt Youth Camp Retreat Oct. 9-10 Details on Bulletin Board.

*Fall Lectureship at Marion congregation Oct. 11-14 w/various speakers.

* Gospel Mtg. in Centralia 9/27-9/30 w/John Polk.

* There will be a baby shower for Brittany Carter on Sept. 27 from 2-4 p.m. in the Yates home at 307 East Poplar St. in Cobden.

Brittany is having a girl.

* Brother Jamie resigned as elder last Sunday night.We thank him for his many years of service to the Lord and this

congregation in this capacity.

* Brother Ryan is being considered for the eldership. Please voice your thoughts concerning this to the current elders by next

Sunday.

Hearing assistance for any service is available upon request.

BIBLE QUESTION/ANSWER:

Last week’s answer: Mary said it when Elizabeth told her, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb.” (Lk. 1:34-46)

New question: Who said he had fought a good fight, finished his course, and kept the faith?

Birthdays &Anniversaries

David Smith - 9/14

What Is a “Pastor”?

“Is the term ‘Pastor’ a proper title for ministers of the gospel? ”

Three verses in the New Testament include the word “pastor” (in various forms): Ephesians 4:11, Acts 20:28, and 1 Peter 5:2.

In Ephesians 4:11, Paul discusses various roles that Christ placed in the church. He intends for “pastors and teachers” to serve in the church. The expression “pastors and teachers” identifies a single group.

Homer A. Kent writes, “Pastors and teachers are named as one grammatical unit (by use of just one article in the Gk text)” (Ephesians: The Glory of the Church, Chicago: Moody, 1971, p. 72). Pastors (i.e., shepherds), as they care for the flock, are also teachers.

In Acts 20:28, Paul again refers to pastors. Here, however, he uses the verb form of the word, which is translated “to feed” (ASV) or “to care for” (ESV). Pastors feed, tend, and protect the church. They are to do all the things that a shepherd would do for a flock. Note in this verse that the church is called “the flock.”

Similarly, in 1 Peter 5:2, Peter encourages these servants by saying, “Tend the flock of God . . .” The word “tend” is again the verb poimaino, which W. E. Vine defines as, “to act as a shepherd” (Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words, McLean: MacDonald, n.d., p. 427).

From these verses we learn that pastors are to act like shepherds by caring for the flock, and this care includes teaching. But a closer look at these verses will demonstrate that the responsibilities for pastors involve more than teaching.

In Acts 20:28, Paul identifies those who are to “take heed . . . to all the flock” as “bishops” (i.e., overseers or administrators). Likewise, Peter instructs these servants to “act like shepherds” as they “oversee” the flock of God (1 Pet. 5:2). This exhortation is addressed to “the elders” (1 Pet. 5:1). We observe how the words “bishop” and “elder” are interchangeable in another passage as well — Titus 1:5-6.

These terms — elder, bishop, and pastor — are used of the same service in the church. These words describe a man who is older and experienced in the faith (i.e., an elder); a person who is a decision-maker, manager of church affairs, and leader (i.e., bishop); and one who maintains a careful watch for the spiritual needs of all the members of the flock (i.e., a pastor).

When other passages are considered, we learn that pastors, bishops, or elders must meet scriptural qualifications (1 Tim. 3:1-7; Titus 1:5-9), and they serve in a plurality over a single congregation (Titus 1:5; Acts 14:23; 1 Pet. 5:1-2). B. F. Westcott observed, “From a consideration of these passages it is evident that there was not as yet a recognized ecclesiatical hierarchy” (St. Paul’s Epistle to the Ephesians, Eugene: Wipf and Stock Publishers, 1998, p. 62).

The modern-day “pastor” system is as much a departure from the New Testament pattern of church organization as is an ecclesiastical hierarchy. No one man can assume the role of “the pastor,” whether by title or by practice, for a congregation. Neither can a congregation delegate one man to be the sole church manager, regardless of the unanimity of vote or the crises at hand.

The Lord’s plan is for qualified men to serve together over a single, autonomous congregation. Less than ideal circumstances never justify unscriptural arrangements in church matters — any more than a lack of water justifies sprinkling as an alternate form of New Testament baptism.

By considering these New Testament passages, we conclude that all pastors are ministers (i.e., servants), but not all ministers are pastors.

Ministers, or preachers of the gospel, primarily work in the study and teaching of the Word (1 Tim. 4:15-16; 2 Tim. 4:2-5). They may function as a pastor/elder as well, if they are qualified. The apostle Peter was both a preacher and elder (1 Pet. 5:1). And Paul indicates that there may be elders who devote themselves full-time to the work of teaching the Word (1 Tim. 5:17).
It is the case, however, that many preachers labor in congregations in cooperation with pastors/elders, as did Timothy and Titus.

These complimentary roles of service were designed by Christ to lead all members to serve God according to their abilities (Eph. 4:12). In that respect, all Christians should be “ministers” of the gospel. Working together with preachers and elders, the whole congregation can grow according to the Lord’s plan.

- Jason Jackson via Christian Courier