Pastor Meeting

Pastors Meeting

Dasmarinas, Cavite, Philippines

Thursday, November 14, 2013

Dr. Jerry Smith

Missionary Pastor-Teacher

jfrsmth@gmail.com

A brief word about Christ-Ed in the Church

Christ

Education

Christ-ed is an ‘equipping’ ministry

With the primary task of edifyingChristians and equipping them toworship and honor God and to reachout to the world.

CHRIST MUST BE EXALTED in Church meetings

• If spiritual leaders truly desire to see theirpeople GROW, Christ must be the focus.

• Christ-Ed involves focusing attention onChrist, the source of the believer's spiritualstrength; his inspiration; and his ultimatemodel of the faith.

It is clear from Scripture that Jesus Christ is the ultimate need of all

mankind:

John 6:68

Then Simon Peter answered him,Lord, to whom shall we go? thouhast the words of eternal life;

Our divinely appointed goal is to become the image of Christ

Romans 8:29

For whom he did foreknow, he alsodid predestinate to be conformed tothe image of his Son, that he mightbe the firstborn among manybrethren.

The END of the believer’s spiritual walk is to eventually become the

image of Jesus ChristImage:

LikenessRepresentation

IllustrationReflection

… of Jesus Christ.

Because: Only Jesus Christ PLEASES GOD

Matthew 3:17

And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This ismy beloved Son, in whom I am wellpleased.

“It is God's goal that Christians mature (1Corinthians 3:1-3), with the goal of the perfect man in Christ (Ephesians 4:13)” (Byrnes, 1988).

Where is CHRIST in HIS Church?Is He on the outside of our churches?

Revelation 3:20

Behold, I stand at thedoor, and knock: ifany man hear myvoice, and open thedoor, I will come in tohim, and will sup withhim, and he with me.

In Song

Where is the emphasis in our songs?

GOD or ME?

GOD-Centered or MAN-Centered

CHRIST-Exalting or MAN-Exalting

Song: King of Majesty

You know that I love you

You know that I want to know you so much more

These words are from my heart

I will live for you

I am devoted to you

Forever I’ll give my praises to you

Song: Faith

I’m reaching for the prize

I’m giving everything

Nothing will keep me from Him

I will live for you

Scripture says …

Matthew 26:33, 35

33 Peter answered and said unto him, Though allmen shall be offended because of thee, yet will Inever be offended.

35 Peter said unto him, Though I should die withthee, yet will I not deny thee. Likewise also said allthe disciples.

Scripture says …

John 2:24

But Jesus did not commit himselfunto them, because he knew allmen

Song: Mahal Na Mahal Kita

Mahal na mahal kita

Mahal na mahal kita

Mahal na mahal kita

BUT Scripture says …

1John 4:19

We love him because he first loved us.

John 14:15

If ye love me, keep mycommandments.

Scripture says …

Scripture says …

Psalm 115:1

Not unto us, O LORD, not unto us,but unto thy name give glory,for thy mercy, and for thy truth'ssake.

Song: To God Be The Glory

To God be the glory great things He hath done

So loved He the world that He gave us His Son

Who yielded His life an atonement for sin

And opened the life gate that all may go in

Praise the Lord, Praise the Lord …

Song: Majesty

Worship His majesty

Unto Jesus be all glory honor and praise

So exalt, lift up on high the name of Jesus

Magnify, come glorify Christ Jesus the King

Worship His majesty

Jesus who died now glorified

King of all Kings

Song: Jesus Paid it All

I hear the Savior say your strength indeed is small

Child of weakness watch and pray

Find in me your all in all

Jesus paid it all, all to Him I owe

Sin had left a crimson stain

He washed it white as snow

1Corinthians 14:15

I will sing with the spirit, and Iwill sing with theunderstanding …

Scripture says …

In Teaching

We need Christ to grow

2Peter 3:18

But grow in grace, and in theknowledge of our Lord andSaviour Jesus Christ. To him beglory both now and for ever.Amen.

That we might bear fruit

2Peter 1:8

For if these things be in you, andabound, they make you that ye shallneither be barren nor unfruitful inthe knowledge of our Lord JesusChrist.

Delight thyself FIRST in the Lord

NURTURE your personal relationshipwith Jesus Christ FIRST, and the ‘soulwinning’ will follow.

Revelation 2:4-54 … thou hast left thy first love.5 Remember therefore from whencethou art fallen, and repent, and dothe first works

• Worship is about Christ –our STRENGTH and thePOWER

• If our lives, hearts, andminds, are centered onJesus Christ, everythingelse will fall into place,and we will mostcertainly live 'Christian'lives.

• We won’t have toemphasize our ability; wewill naturally follow Him,be more like Him.

CHRIST

Luke 10:41-42

41 And Jesus answeredand said unto her,Martha, Martha, thouart careful andtroubled about manythings:

42 But one thing isneedful: and Maryhath chosen that goodpart, which shall not betaken away from her.”

The Role of Pastors(Ephesians 4:11-16)

11 And he gave some, apostles; and some,prophets; and some, evangelists; andsome, pastors and teachers;

12 for the perfecting of the saints, for thework of the ministry, for the edifying ofthe body of Christ:

13 till we all come in the unity of the faith,and of the knowledge of the Son of God,unto a perfect man, unto the measure ofthe stature of the fulness of Christ:

14 that we henceforth be no more children,tossed to and fro, and carried about withevery wind of doctrine, by the sleight ofmen, and cunning craftiness, whereby theylie in wait to deceive;

15 but speaking the truth in love, may growup into him in all things, which is thehead, even Christ:

16 from whom the whole body fitly joinedtogether and compacted by that whichevery joint supplieth, according to theeffectual working in the measure of everypart, maketh increase of the body unto theedifying of itself in love.

FEED my sheep

John 21:17

Lovest thou me? … Feed my sheep.

How do we FEED the flock?

Jeremiah 3:15

… and I will give you pastorsaccording to mine heart, whichshall feed you with knowledgeand understanding

What is that knowledge?

2Peter 3:18

But grow in grace, and in theknowledge of our Lord and SaviourJesus Christ. To him be glory bothnow and for ever. Amen.

Christ Taught Himself To Others

Luke 24:27

And beginning atMoses and all theprophets, heexpounded unto themin all the scriptures thethings concerninghimself.

How much of our teaching actually CENTERS on the Lord Jesus Christ?

His BEAUTY

His EXCELLENCIES

His EXAMPLE

His WORK

His MINISTRY

In Preaching*

*By nature “preaching” means proclaiming the GOSPEL

The GOSPEL is the message of CHRIST’s work

Is it possible in the Lord’s church?

• To listen to an entire message and NOT hearthe name of Christ even ONCE (x3)?

• To attend an entire service and NEVER hearChrist EXALTED?

• To sing “Christian” songs in Christ’s churchwhere Christ is ABSENT?

There is a drought in churches today

Psalm 63:1

1 O God, thou art my God; early will I seek thee:my soul thirsteth for thee, my flesh longeth forthee in a dry and thirsty land, where no wateris;

2 To see thy power and thy glory, so as I haveseen thee in the sanctuary.”

CHRIST our THIRST QUENCHERhe that believeth on me shall never

thirst (John 6:35; Rev 22:17)

• Could we last longwithout water?

• How can peoples’spiritual thirst bequenched without Christbeing preached?

Jesus Christ is so much MORE …

BREADJesus said unto them, I am the bread

of life … (John 6:35)

• Would we go to workwithout eating? Whatwould happen?

• How can people eatspiritually without Christbeing preached? Howcan they be nourishedwithout Him?

LIGHTJesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world … (John 8:12)

• What happens when wewalk around in thedark?

• How can people seespiritually to knowwhich way to go in theirpersonal life withoutChrist being preached?

GOOD SHEPHERDI am the good shepherd … (John 10:11)

• We need people to leadus.

• If we have no leader, howwill we know whichdirection to go, or how toget to where we aregoing?

• How can believers be led,protected, comforted,and guided if Christ is notlifted up?

DOORI am the door: by me if any man enter

in, he shall be saved … (John 10:9)

• Can someone enter ahouse without a door?

• How can people enterthe kingdom of heavenwithout Christ beingpreached?

TRUE VINEI am the true vine … (John 15: 1, 5)

• If a branch is cut off fromthe bush it will wither anddie.

• How can believers thereforebe nourished without Christbeing exalted?

• How can they be nourishedapart from Christ by self-help messages, andmethods which promoteself-reliance?

RIGTHEOUSNESSFor he hath made him [to be] sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God

in him (2Corinthians 5:21)

• Can we as humans cleanourselves up enough tobe acceptable to God?

• How can people hearwithout teaching Christ;how shall they believein Him of whom theyhave not heard (Romans10:17)?

WISDOMChrist Jesus, who of God is made unto

us wisdom … (1Corinthians 1:30)

• When we face difficulties in life;when we don’t know what to do,we need wisdom.

• What did Jesus do; who is Jesus;what did He endure; what wasHis example; how can Hetransform; how can He lead us?

• No Christ, no wisdom!

WAY I am the way … (John 14:6)

• If we are traveling to a destination, and don’tknow how to get there, what happens?

• How can people know the way they should goin salvation and life decisions if Christ is notbeing taught?

TRUTH I am … the truth … (John 14:6)

• What happens to those who follow a lie?

• They get deceived and end up in a worsecondition.

• How can people know the truth if Christ is notbeing magnified?

LIFE I am … the life … (John 14:6, 11:25)

• If we don’t have life, we are dead.

• There are people who attend church meetings that donot know the Lord (c/w 1Corinthians 14:23-25).

• How can people hear the words of life if Christ is notbeing taught?

EXAMPLE Christ also suffered for us, leaving us

an example … (1Peter 2:21)

• We need role models.We seek idols, becausewe humans need tofollow someone – likesheep (Isaiah 53:6).

• How can believersfollow Christ’s perfectExample (1Peter 2:21) ifChrist is not being heldup?

HOPE … [the] Lord Jesus Christ, which is our

hope … (1Timothy 1:1)

• Without hope, people give up. Hope keeps us going.

• How can the people sitting in local churches be givenhope if the preacher does not share Him with them?

– Even after a 60-90 minute message and 10 points – theyare still without hope.

TREASUREIn whom is hidden all the treasures of wisdom

and knowledge … (Colossians 2:3)

• How can people sharethe treasure of JesusChrist if it hasn’t beenshared with them?

Revelation 3:17

Because thou sayest, I am rich, andincreased with goods, and have needof nothing; and knowest not that thouart wretched, and miserable, and poor,and blind, and naked:

Christ was good enough for Paul

1Corinthians 2:2

For I determined not to know anything among you, save Jesus Christ,and him crucified”

Our eyes need to be fixed on JESUS

Hebrews 12:2

Looking unto Jesus the author andfinisher of our faith; who for the joythat was set before him endured thecross, despising the shame, and is setdown at the right hand of the throneof God.

Christ must be FIRST in His church

Colossians 1:18

And he is the head of the body, thechurch: who is the beginning, thefirstborn from the dead; that in allthings he might have thepreeminence.

CHRIST in the CHURCH

Ephesians 3:21

Unto him be glory in the church byChrist Jesus throughout all ages,world without end. Amen.

No Christ = nothing

John 15:5

I am the vine, ye are the branches:He that abideth in me, and I in him,the same bringeth forth much fruit:for without me ye can do nothing.

Without Christ . . .

• Salvation, conformation to His image,maturity, or pleasing God can take place

• In fact, the name Christian means ‘littleChrist’ or ‘Christ one.’

• Therefore, it would make sense for JesusChrist to be the central and only focus ofour meetings.

It is essential that He be exalted(i.e. lifted up):

John 12:32

And I, if I be lifted up from theearth, will draw all men unto me.

Let Christ be exalted, and He will draw men to Himself.

• Let man be exalted and men will be drawn awayfrom Christ.

• One way we BENEFIT, the other way we SUFFER.

• NO Christ in teaching means NO Life, NO Light, NOBread, NO Way, NO Truth, NO Door, NO Shepherd,NO True Vine, NO Lamb of God, NO blood.

• EVERYTHING must relate to Christ where spiritualmatters are concerned.

Any teaching in which Christ does NOT have the

pre-eminence is NOT teaching according to our New Testament example.

Is it that some teachers/preachers believe that they have a better way

for people to become more SPIRITUAL and MATURE apart from

Christ?

Christians do NOT need more “points,” they need MORE

Sustenance, MORE Bread (of life).

Where is CHRIST in HIS Church?

Revelation 3:20

Behold, I stand at thedoor, and knock: ifany man hear myvoice, and open thedoor, I will come in tohim, and will supwith him, and hewith me.

THE END

Thank you for your kind attention!