Category Archives: Ecclesiology

Church 2.0: Part 10.13: Selecting Elders, Part 2

Posted on December 17, 2015 by Jay F Guin

The job descriptions in the titles Next, some of the most helpful instructions for what an elder should look like are found in the titles given the position: elder, overseer, and shepherd. An “elder” was the ancient world’s equivalent of a … Continue reading →

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Church 2.0: Part 10.12: Selecting Elders, Part 1

Posted on December 16, 2015 by Jay F Guin

When I mention “elders” in a Church of Christ forum, I immediately receive a negative reaction, as though all elders in the Churches of Christ are just awful. There’s a desperate unhappiness within many of our congregations regarding whom we’ve … Continue reading →

Posted in Church 2.0, Ecclesiology, Elders, Uncategorized | 30 Comments

Church 2.0: Part 10.11: Congregational Autonomy, Part 5 (Next Steps)

Posted on December 15, 2015 by Jay F Guin

So what are the next steps? Teach grace sufficient to allow us to treat other denominations of Christians as saved. Teach a faith certain enough that we don’t treat non-Christians as Christians. Jews and Muslims aren’t part of this. Faith … Continue reading →

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Church 2.0: Part 10.10: Congregational Autonomy, Part 4 (FAQs, Part 2)

Posted on December 14, 2015 by Jay F Guin

Continuing to reflect on the NT example of one congregation per city. We’re so divided today, how could we ever achieve such a thing today? A couple of thoughts. First, we need to stop thinking of unity as something for … Continue reading →

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Church 2.0: Part 10.6.1: Ekklēsia in the NT, Part 4

Posted on December 13, 2015 by Jay F Guin

It occurred to me the other day that we may have missed an important element underlying Paul’s theology. I doubt I’m the first to have noticed this, but I don’t think I’ve seen this hermeneutical thought anywhere else. We know … Continue reading →

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Church 2.0: Part 10.9: Congregational Autonomy, Part 3 (FAQs, Part 1)

Posted on December 13, 2015 by Jay F Guin

For those of us with a restorationist bent, the idea that there was but one congregation in a given city during New Testament times is a disturbing conclusion, because the Churches of Christ operate in ways that are very contrary to … Continue reading →

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Church 2.0: Part 10.8: Congregational Autonomy, Part 2

Posted on December 12, 2015 by Jay F Guin

Ephesian elders and the Jerusalem church Now, consider Paul’s speech to the elders at Ephesus – (Act 20:17-21 NAS) 17 From Miletus he sent to Ephesus and called to him the elders of the church.  18 And when they had come … Continue reading →

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Church 2.0: Part 10.7: Congregational Autonomy, Part 1

Posted on December 11, 2015 by Jay F Guin

In the NT, ekklēsia is used in two senses: the church-universal and the local congregation. These parallel the use of ekklēsia in the OT to refer to all of Israel gathered at Mt. Sinai or in Jerusalem for worship, the … Continue reading →

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Church 2.0: Part 10.6: Ekklēsia in the NT, Part 3 (Judging Angels)

Posted on December 10, 2015 by Jay F Guin

Paul says, (1 Cor. 6:1-3 ESV) When one of you has a grievance against another, does he dare go to law before the unrighteous instead of the saints?  2 Or do you not know that the saints will judge the … Continue reading →

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Church 2.0: Part 10.5: Ekklēsia in the NT, Part 2 (Matt 18:17)

Posted on December 9, 2015 by Jay F Guin

We’ve considered church discipline in earlier posts, but there’s an interesting aspect brought up by Jesus’ use of ekklēsia in Matt 18:17 — (Matt. 18:14-17 ESV) should perish.  15 “If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his … Continue reading →

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