The Mississippi Enterprise

SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON
JANUARY 26, 1958
By Rev. Geo. A. Harper,
511 Avenue G.,
Greenwood, Miss.

ORGANIZATION OF THE CHURCH.
Acts 6: 1-7; Romans 12: 3-8; I Timothy 3; 5:17-22 Print Romans 12:3-8; I Timothy 3:1-10.

MEMORY SELECTION
Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over thee which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood. - (Acts 20:28.)

The Holy Spirit either directly or through the organized church appoints men to the position as leaders of God's flock. Those who are called to this position have a double responsibility, even first in relation to their own lives and conduct, and secondly, in relation to God's flock which are the Christian people. These saints are precious unto Christ because they have been redeemed through His precious blood which makes it a great responsibility for those who are shepherds over the flock. These leaders should exercise great care in relation to themselves and also to the flock, then pray much for themselves and God's redeemed sheep.

SOBER THINKING ENJOINED:
For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith. - High-mindedness is a definite obstruction to any person who tries to present himself a living sacrifice unto God in reasonable service.
Christians are to keep their estimation of themselves to a minimum; they are not to be high-minded or think themselves to be better than other people. On the contrary. Christians are to be sober thinkers, realizing that it is through the grace of God we are what we are.

CHRISTIAN MEMBERSHIP:
For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office - Another reason Christians are advised to think of themselves so highly is the fact that every Christian is but a member of one body. He is a part of the whole, but inasmuch as "the whole is greater than any of its parts and equal to the sum of all its parts." No one of its parts has preeminence over the others. "So we being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another" - There are many members which constitute the body of Christ, but each of them has its own function to perform. "Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith".
The position each of us occupies in the total membership and brotherhood has its own unique importance. Each function is necessary in the total operation of the church as a body. "Or ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he that teacheth, on teaching"
Ministering to the necessity of the saints as spoken of here means rendering service. "Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation; he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity: he that ruleth, with diligence: he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness." - It may seem a bit strange that these latter functions are considered by Paul as gifts, yet they may well be regarded as such. Effective exhortation is a gift and those who do not have it as a gift do not succeed in persuading others to accept or adopt the ideal life.

QUALIFICATIONS OF A BISHOP:
, "This is a true saying, If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work" - The term bishop had a high meaning even in the days of the first century Christian church as the context here proves. A bishop was a Christian preacher who served in the capacity of overseeing, as distinguished from the ministers who went about from place to place evangelizing communities, or the local brethren who served under the supervision of a bishop. "A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach" — To be blameless does not mean that one will not be criticized or maligned, but it does mean that he will be innocent of any evil charges made against him. He must be the husband of one wife: not having given a bill of divorce to one, and then taken another, or not having many wives at once, as was common among the Gentiles and Jews. "Not given to wine: but patient, not a brawler, not covetous" - These are some of the vices which can be a great handicap, even a snare, to a bishop who possesses them. Drunkeness, violence, and avarice, can spell defeat for any person who has such weakness. "One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity" — In the verse which follows the apostle explains why it is so important that a bishop be one who rules his own house well, for his home will no doubt set the example for the rest of the community. (For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?) - There is a certain consistency expected to be followed by the man of God. If he expects to supervise the lives of others, he must first demonstrate his ability to supervise and discipline the members of his own home. "Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil"- A bishop was required to be a seasoned man of much experience. A beginner in the ministry or a newly converted believer could not qualify to be a bishop. It was necessary for him to know his work and be able to command the respect and confidence of other people. "Moreover he must have a good report of them which are without; lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil" - The bishop of a Christian church must be a person with a good reputation, well respected and spoken of by those of the community.

QUALIFICATIONS OF A DEACON:
"Like wise must the deacons be grave, not double-tongued, not given to much wine, not greedy of filthy lucre"
These are some of the qualifications outlined for bishops, for these men performed their work in close connection with the bishops. Deacons, in this capacity, is another name given a certain class of ministers, according to some New Testament scholars, and is not to be confused with deacons as described in the sixth chapter of Acts. "Holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience" - It is not impossible or improbable that some will attempt to become deacons without even having the faith they represent to others. "And let these also first be proved; then let them use the office of a deacon, being found blameless" - The office of deacon is considered to be so important that it should not be entrusted to anyone who has not proved himself to be worthy and capable of the position.

PRACTICAL POINTS ON THE LESSON:
The growth of the early church was so rapid that it was necessary for others to be selected by the Church body to assist the Apostles with the work of enlarging Christian community.

The call to leadership in the Church is at the same time a call to Christian living. The church loses its influence with sinful men when its leaders are denying the power of the resurrection in their lives.