This past Sunday we talked about church leadership - specifically the overseer of I Timothy 3. As we ran through numerous NT passages we saw that:1) The Overseer is male - the authority in the church
2) The term Overseer is used interchangeably with Elder and Shepherd/Pastor - all descriptions of the same office in the church
3) The local church had a plurality of elders/overseers/shepherd-pastors
There was not a single LEAD pastor but a group of equals who worked together
4) The primary responsibility – not the only – but the primary responsibility of this group of men was to guard the true gospel of Jesus Christ. All other duties of prayer, teaching, and leadership are tied to their gospel leading.
These men are the Guardians of the Gospel - leading in the gospel - loving the Bride of Christ - working, striving, and sacrificing to see her nourished and growing in the gospel.
