Small Group Questions: Week of 2/6/22

The specific practice of ordination is not present in the New Testament like the ordinances of baptism and the Lord’s Supper. It is something we practice that reflects the heart of two things: the setting apart someone for ministry (affirming their qualification) and the laying on of hands. We participate in this as a testimony of the Lord’s faithfulness in calling sinners such as us to be used by Him for the spread of gospel ministry and equipping the saints.

In our church tradition, we believe that the responsibility for accountability is contained within the congregation itself. We do not look to outside authority. Christ is our head, the elders are his undershepherds, and the members exercise the keys of the kingdom we find in Matthew 16. Therefore it is our responsibility to hold our elders to the biblical standard of elder qualification we find in 1 Timothy 3 and Titus 1. The second charge is to submit the leading of God’s chosen pastors in our midst. It is only in the context of the church that we find this ultimate, beautiful picture of accountability and submission.

Questions:

• Review the biblical standards of elder qualification found in 1 Timothy 3:1-7 and Titus 1:5-16, is there anything that stands out?
• If you grew up within a Christian context, did your church have elders? If not, do you remember the leadership structure of the church? Were you impacted by that in any way (negatively, positively, or not at all)?
• Why do think it is important for a church to have a plurality of elders? 
• Spend some time together praying for the elders of Cross Fellowship and their families.