Hi guys!
Some readers will smile @ a Scouser defending human authority as laid down in the Bible for church government
Paul wrote what is known as the pastoral epistles - 1 Timothy 3:1-13 & 2 Tim 2 & Titus 1-2 talk about the shepherding work of elders & deacons & overseers of the church
1 Timothy 3
Overseers and Deacons
1Here is a trustworthy saying: If anyone sets his heart on being an overseer,[a] he desires a noble task.
2Now the overseer must be above reproach, the husband of but one wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach,
3not given to drunkenness, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money.
4He must manage his own family well and see that his children obey him with proper respect.
5(If anyone does not know how to manage his own family, how can he take care of God's church?)
6He must not be a recent convert, or he may become conceited and fall under the same judgment as the devil.
7He must also have a good reputation with outsiders, so that he will not fall into disgrace and into the devil's trap.
8Deacons, likewise, are to be men worthy of respect, sincere, not indulging in much wine, and not pursuing dishonest gain.
9They must keep hold of the deep truths of the faith with a clear conscience.
10They must first be tested; and then if there is nothing against them, let them serve as deacons.
11In the same way, their wives
are to be women worthy of respect, not malicious talkers but temperate and trustworthy in everything.
12A deacon must be the husband of but one wife and must manage his children and his household well.
13Those who have served well gain an excellent standing and great assurance in their faith in Christ Jesus.
Footnotes:
1 Timothy 3:1 Traditionally bishop; also in verse 2
1 Timothy 3:11 Or way, deaconesses
2 Timothy 2 (New International Version)
New International Version (NIV)
Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society
2 Timothy 2
1You then, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.
2And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable men who will also be qualified to teach others.
3Endure hardship with us like a good soldier of Christ Jesus.
4No one serving as a soldier gets involved in civilian affairsâ€â€he wants to please his commanding officer.
5Similarly, if anyone competes as an athlete, he does not receive the victor's crown unless he competes according to the rules.
6The hardworking farmer should be the first to receive a share of the crops. 7Reflect on what I am saying, for the Lord will give you insight into all this.
8Remember Jesus Christ, raised from the dead, descended from David. This is my gospel,
9for which I am suffering even to the point of being chained like a criminal. But God's word is not chained.
10Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they too may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus, with eternal glory.
11Here is a trustworthy saying:
If we died with him,
we will also live with him;
12if we endure,
we will also reign with him.
If we disown him,
he will also disown us;
13if we are faithless,
he will remain faithful,
for he cannot disown himself.
2 Tim 2
A Workman Approved by God
14Keep reminding them of these things. Warn them before God against quarreling about words; it is of no value, and only ruins those who listen. 15Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.
16Avoid godless chatter, because those who indulge in it will become more and more ungodly.
17Their teaching will spread like gangrene. Among them are Hymenaeus and Philetus,
18who have wandered away from the truth. They say that the resurrection has already taken place, and they destroy the faith of some.
19Nevertheless, God's solid foundation stands firm, sealed with this inscription: "The Lord knows those who are his,"[a] and, "Everyone who confesses the name of the Lord must turn away from wickedness."
20In a large house there are articles not only of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay; some are for noble purposes and some for ignoble.
21If a man cleanses himself from the latter, he will be an instrument for noble purposes, made holy, useful to the Master and prepared to do any good work.
22Flee the evil desires of youth, and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.
23Don't have anything to do with foolish and stupid arguments, because you know they produce quarrels.
24And the Lord's servant must not quarrel; instead, he must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful.
25Those who oppose him he must gently instruct, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth,
26and that they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will.
Footnotes:
2 Timothy 2:19 Num. 16:5 (see Septuagint)
Titus 1
5The reason I left you in Crete was that you might straighten out what was left unfinished and appoint[a] elders in every town, as I directed you.
6An elder must be blameless, the husband of but one wife, a man whose children believe and are not open to the charge of being wild and disobedient.
7Since an overseer is entrusted with God's work, he must be blamelessâ€â€not overbearing, not quick-tempered, not given to drunkenness, not violent, not pursuing dishonest gain.
8Rather he must be hospitable, one who loves what is good, who is self-controlled, upright, holy and disciplined.
9He must hold firmly to the trustworthy message as it has been taught, so that he can encourage others by sound doctrine and refute those who oppose it.
10For there are many rebellious people, mere talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision group.
11They must be silenced, because they are ruining whole households by teaching things they ought not to teachâ€â€and that for the sake of dishonest gain.
12Even one of their own prophets has said, "Cretans are always liars, evil brutes, lazy gluttons."
13This testimony is true. Therefore, rebuke them sharply, so that they will be sound in the faith
14and will pay no attention to Jewish myths or to the commands of those who reject the truth.
15To the pure, all things are pure, but to those who are corrupted and do not believe, nothing is pure. In fact, both their minds and consciences are corrupted.
16They claim to know God, but by their actions they deny him. They are detestable, disobedient and unfit for doing anything good.
Footnotes:
Titus 1:5 Or ordain
Titus 1:7 Traditionally bishop
Ephesians 4:11-13 talks of apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors & teachers working together to equip all God's people for works of service
Ephesians 4:11-13 (New International Version)
11It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers,
12to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up
13until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.
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O man..
do forgive this ex-pro Scouse entertainer for constantly lightening & livening things up by such constant training, by practice, to see the funny side of things as a sense of proportion..
y'know..
"Laughter is like medicine"
&..
"He who is of a merry heart has a continual feast"
W-E-L-L..
DID YOU NOTICE THERE THAT 3 PASSAGES RANK US 'END-OF-THE-LINE, BOTTOM-OF-THE-HEAP EVANGELISTS HIGHER THAN PASTORS??
& to think how many of those naughty, naugty pastors go out of their way to malign us! 
:
I mean..
S-O-O-O insubordinate of 'em, eh?? 
:
& here's me, like Paul, never charging for my services to the whole of my Acts 1:8 region - my 'Judea'
As Paul, I've never been on anyone's payroll for proclaiming the great & glorious good news gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ
Jesus said, 'Freely you have received: freely give'
Yet, as Paul, I uphold the right of those who 'teach them to observe all things that I (Jesus) have taught you' to receive financial support from their churches, so that they can devote themselves to the preaching of the word
Here's me, emphasising, all thru my 41 years of creative evangelism, that all the big epistles were addressed to ALL the saints in their respective cities
When I preach, as I've so often shared, I sign off 'Pentecostal churchES' - as I don't know what towns, counties or countries my hearers are from - I just know that the liveliest, most fruitful churches in practicallly every city & town worldwide are the Pentecostal/Charismatics
So, when I lived in Southport, I promo'd the 1st-Sun-eve monthly youth multimedia whichever of the 18 Southport Evangelical Churches Together hosted it
http://www.tfh.org.uk links all the Merseyside evangelicals, & locals have heard me promo events in 4 different churches on different times & days/nights @ this busy time of year
Hence I also recommend http://www.Christianforums.net as being 24x7 - whenever folk have stuff bothereing 'em, there is always online help & support here
& regular readers know I promo all kinds of evangelistic & teacing/training events here
1 leader type asked me why I need a study Bible: kowing of my online activities
I preach & teach 3 hours a day, as anyone checking thru my posting times can see - obviously not knowing what will be asked & what will be breaking news at any moment
I just have time to share a long-term vision
Churches need to establish rooms with PCs so teams can do online evangelism & teaching
If any living on reasonably high ground in Merseyside want to offer me a paid job doing that, it would be a wonderful witness, at my age & with my health record, to prove that I am 'fruitful into old age', yes?
1 Corinthians 12:7-11 talks @ the various spiritual gifts, & 1 Cor 12:28-31 talks of apostles, prophets, teachers..those able to help others, those with gifts of administration...
1 Corinthians 12:7-11 (New International Version)
New International Version (NIV)
Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society
7Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. 8To one there is given through the Spirit the message of wisdom, to another the message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, 9to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, 10to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues,[a] and to still another the interpretation of tongues. 11All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he gives them to each one, just as he determines.
Footnotes:
I'll let you read them
Can't recall, in the noise here, where Paul talks of obeying those set over you in the Lord &v making their task a joy & not a burden
Put it this way: if we need teachers/mentors/leaders in other spheres of life..
But, as a good Scouser, I can't close without emphasising the Berean principle of Acts 17:11
& the principle of what kind of Govt God authorises, in Romans 13:1-7
Jesus is Lord
As Benny Hinn said recently, "If I say one thing & the Bible says another, don't believe me: believe the Bible"
Can't resist giving you another good laugh... 
:
I've had folk in leadership, in 3/4 Pentecostal churches, no less, asking me to worship more quietly: & I'm only 5'11, 40" chest, & there's been guys in the 2 with @ 250 folk, that are 6'2" & 6'4" with bigger chests & more lung, power than I :multi:
My reply?
Each time, I remind them that Jesus was asked, "What is the 1st & most important commandment?"
He said, "Love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind & all your strength"
In other words, passionate, wholehearted worship is God's top-priority, prime-directive :angel:
"If 250 folk were giving God their all in worship, they wouldn't hear me", I say
Usually adding, "It's OK..
I'm Pentecostal..
Have you not seen the word 'Pentecostal' over the door here?..
I can thoroughly recommend it!"
The main 2 it happened in both had 5/6 singers miked up, yet folk in front can still enjoy my beasutiful Roy Orbison range of harmonies! :-D
I'd deliberately go to the back &/or not stand right behind anyone, & lift my head up to direct my harmonies to the 'Audience of One'
& every church I've been in, in my gospel bands, '60s/'70s & in the 10 towns where I've lived, I've told 'em how my mum was saved thru hearing beautiful worship
She sat sunbathing on the church steps, stayed to hear the message, & the preacher said, "There's someone within the sound of my voice.U know that you've never asked Jesus into your heart as Saviour & Lord & you know you need to now"
When I went to Northampton with just 8 other guys, in a Jesus Army van, last month, their singing balanced me fine!
& none of 'em were giants..
(tho 1 had been a body-builder & had a classic barrell chest!)
10 girls & 2 guys in an African Pentecostal church were much louder than me on their mikes: it's ace!
Now is the time of year when we can open the windows in church
Also when we can take worship & praise & gospel tapes to glorify the Almighty Creator in the midst of His creation
Many folk go to beauty spots with things on their minds
Some even go planning suicide
I've just returned from a glorious 2.5 hours preaching tour of the best acoustics in Chester
"Has YOUR spring sprung to life yet?
"Let the sunshine of God's love chase away the cold, wet wind in your heart..
whatever the weather!!!
& it's great weather for fishing...
@ http://www.Christianforums.net
So..
enjoy the fishing..
@ @ http://www.Christianforums.net
Pentecostal churches: God bless you!" 
Next 3 days are forecast showery
But Friday is forecast fine
Make it a Good Friday :angel:
See UK-wide http://www.walkofwitness.net - @ a town near you, as local churches join together @ lunchtime & end up in an open-air celebration of the glorious good news gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ
Any going to the Jesus Army HQ weekend in Northampton @ http://www.jesus.org
£10 inc food & transport is an excellent chance to train in evangelism & passionate worship
C U there?
Must go!
Ian