A Charge to Elders, Deacons and the Church

We are recognizing that as we as the body of Christ, we're recognizing the important role these men play in the support of the ministry, in support of the gospel, in service of the gospel, in ministry to the gospel and us and one another. The gospel is first and foremost our responsibility, and then secondly, to each other, and to recognize that the church comes second only to the gospel in everything that we do. [00:02:52] (39 seconds)  #GospelThenChurch

Elders are to seek God's will and seek his vision in order to effectively teach and preach the word of God so that it never runs dry, so that it never runs cold. Elders are given the responsibility of discipling others into mature faith. The bible uses words like elder, overseer, and pastor in in a similar context, in the same role. It's about caring, pastoring, leading, and overseeing. [00:09:14] (32 seconds)  #LeadToMatureFaith

And there are things that are happening behind the scenes in my life that you don't know about, things that are that are stressing or depressing or that is that is a burden over my life that that you don't know about. And that's why it's so very important to be praying for your elders, to be praying for your pastor, to be praying for your staff, to be praying for those who have been given the responsibility to oversee, lead, and to care for you. [00:11:47] (25 seconds)  #PrayForLeaders

We are responsible for sound doctrine. And so one of the one of the things that the elders are responsible toward is to be able to step in whenever we recognize that something is being taught within the body of Christ that is not sound doctrine. And it is so difficult to do, especially amongst family and friends, especially amongst those that we love so dearly. But it is the responsibility of the elder to be able to speak to that and to be able to teach and to be able to share what that sound doctrine ought to be. [00:12:39] (31 seconds)  #GuardSoundDoctrine

Again, it's not the responsibility of the elders to stand before you and say, this is what we're going to do. You know, lot you know, love it or don't. No. It it it's for us to be able to lovingly be able to present to you why we feel so convincingly so that this is what God is calling us to do. Again, this is the responsibility of the elders to be so connected with the Lord that whenever he speaks that we hear. But at elders, if our prayer life personally and our prayer life corporately does not include seeking out the will of God, then what is the point of being an elder? [00:14:02] (34 seconds)  #PrayerfulLeadership

this year, my prayer for the elders is that we take our role and responsibility more eagerly and more humbly as ever, that we treat this this year to take on more urgent prayer, that we engage in in in urgent prayer, seeking God's will for this church like never before, and he'll give it. He promises that if you ask, you will receive. [00:16:07] (29 seconds)  #SeekGodsWillInPrayer

So my challenge for 2026 is to this is this, jump into ministry. My challenge to all of us is this, don't just sit and watch, get involved. Get involved in Awana, get involved in the student ministry, get involved in greeting people at the door, get involved in the care ministry, get involved in making phone calls and visits, get involved in the food pantry, get involved in one of our local school events, get involved in hosting a bible study at your home, at school, or at work. My challenge for 2026, just as these men have taken on the charge charge to get involved, is that we all get involved. [00:23:58] (41 seconds)  #JumpIntoMinistry

``We must commit ourselves to the ministry to see heaven crowded. Again, our first responsibility is the gospel. Our first responsibility is the gospel of Jesus Christ. Our first responsibility is the very thing that saves. What best puts a church in alignment with God's will? It's a church where God's word is rightfully taught, where people pray for God's will to be done, where people are mobilized to minister and serve, and where the lost are coming to Christ. [00:24:45] (40 seconds)  #GospelFirst