BECAUSE WE ARE MEMBERS

by Wayne S. Walker

In Ephesians 5:30 Paul wrote, "For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones." I am sure we would all agree that when one becomes a Christian he becomes a member of the body of Christ, the universal church. "And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved" (Acts 2:47). But the Bible also teaches the need for Christians to be members of a local congregation. In Acts 9:26 Saul of Tarsus, now a follower of Christ, "assayed to join himself to" the Jerusalem church. As His children, God wants us to associate with each other and help one another. Thus we have responsibilities to our brethren because "we are members of his body."

One thing we need to understand clearly is that there is no such thing in the scriptures as "floating membership." Some people have the idea that they can attend regularly in one place but have no responsibility there because there "membership" is somewhere else. Others feel that they can be just a "member of the church" in general, attending first one place then another as they please, with no local membership and thus no local responsibility. The truth is that one's membership in a congregation is not a piece of paper in some filing cabinet. You are your membership and, in reality, you are a member wherever you attend regularly. However, there is additionally a need to make it know, publicly and officially, that you do desire to be a member of the congregation so that everyone may be aware of it. This is what we commonly refer to as "placing membership" or "identifying" with a congregation.

I seriously doubt that God recognizes Christians [at least for any length of time] who are not identified with a local church. They are not under the oversight of any eldership. They are not truly working with any group of Christians in doing the Lord's will. They are not using their talents properly in teaching or public worship. But the saddest thought is that this attitude is evidence that they look upon the church as merely a place to go on Sunday--like a club or a lodge. However, the local church is actually a relationship between people who are trying to serve God. And that relationship imposes certain duties upon us. What are some of those duties.

We must work together, since Christians are to be "zealous of good works." This includes converting the lost (Acts 8:1-5); strengthening members who are weak or lax (1 Thessalonians 5:14); and restoring our unfaithful brethren (Galatians 6:1-2). We should grow together in knowledge (2 Peter 3:18); in love for one another (John 13:34-35); and in the unity of the Spirit (Ephesians 4:1-3). We ought to exert the proper influence among those with whom we come in contact. The Bible calls us "the salt of the earth (and) the light of the world" (Matthew 5:13-16); "in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation...holding forth the word of life" (Philippians 2:15-16). In order to accomplish this, we must have our "conversation honest among the Gentiles" (1 Peter 2:12). Finally, we have to give our whole-hearted support to the church. This we do by our attendance (Hebrews 10:24-25); our liberal giving (1 Corinthians 16:1-2); and our submission to the elders (Hebrews 13:17).

Furthermore, the teaching and admonishing that we can do for each other in our relationship together (Colossians 3:16) helps to give us the strength that we need in accomplishing these goals for the Lord. So, what kind of member are you? Are you one that is working, growing, living right, and helping in every way you can? Or are you lazy in serving the Lord, indifferent, careless in your life, and negligent? These are questions which everyone of us needs to answer before judgement day if we hope to be prepared! (---taken from Faith and Facts; October, 1979; Vol. 7, No. 4; pp. 20-21)

THREE EXCUSES

by Wayne S. Walker

This article is not intended to be an indictment of all churches and individual Christians in general. But in my personal experience I have seen too many of us sitting around and doing practically nothing in trying to win the lost. How do we attempt to justify ourselves? The three most common excuses for not doing anything are, "It costs too much . . . . It takes too much time. . . . and, It won't work."

Why do we not start a weekly radio program? "Do you know what they charge for air time per minute? It costs too much!" Why do we not mail out a first principles bulletin to the lost in our community? "Don't you know how much we'd have to spend for printing supplies and postage? It costs too much!" In view of the fact that one soul is worth more than the whole world (Matt. 16:26), 1 wonder if anything really costs "too much."

Well, let us try some things that do not cost as much. What about having an extra gospel meeting or two during the year? "Everyone has so much to do. It takes too much time." Let us start a personal work program one night a week. "Everybody is so busy. It take too much time." Since we are to seek God's kingdom and righteousness first (Matt. 6:33) and redeem our time (Eph. 5:16), 1 really doubt that it would "take too much time" to put in a few extra hours to seek the lost.

When all else fails, there is still one excuse left. Someone suggests that we go door to door and try to set up home Bible studies. "People don't want to be disturbed and they aren't interested anyway. It won't work." Somebody else proposes to send a Bible correspondence course to everyone in the local area. "We've tried that before. It won't work." When the gospel is the power of God unto salvation (Rom. 1: 16), how can anyone claim that "it won't work"?

I realize that we must stay within our budgets when planning our work. I recognize that members do have other obligations at work and home in addition to church-related responsibilities. I know that not all people whom we contact are going to respond favorably. But we must not allow these to become excuses which cause us to throw up our hands and quit. We must continue being active in spreading the truth to others. And if we are truly committed and dedicated to Christ, we will find says to do exactly that!

(---taken from Guardian of Truth; November 20, 1986; Vol. XXX, No. 22; p. 687)

WAYS WE CAN WIN OTHERS FOR JESUS

by Wayne S. Walker

In a sermon that I preached several years ago, I asked the congregation where I was located if anyone could recall how many people had been baptized so far that year? I told them not to answer out loud but to think about the question and try to answer in their minds throughout the sermon, through-out the day, and throughout the following week. I assume that it is the goal of every faithful congregation of God's people, as well as every individual child of God, to see the Lord's church grow both in spirit and in number. Of course, in order for numerical growth to occur, there must be conversions, people added to the Lord and his body through faith, repentance, and baptism.

But even before this will take place, Christians must grow spiritually to the point of seeing the need of working to save the lost and doing something about it. I would like for us to notice something that David wrote in Psalm 51:13. This is a psalm of repentance. But after he had made sure that his own life was in harmony with the Lord, he said, "Then I will teach transgressors your ways, and sinners shall be converted to you." The purpose of this article is to encourage us so that we will teach transgressors and sinners will be converted to Christ.

In one survey, large numbers were asked how they originally became interested in the church where they attended. The results were as follows:

21.1% were invited by friends & relatives

16.6% were visited by members of the church

7.6% were visited by leaders of the church

5.3% were children invited by friends

3.5% became interested through gospel meetings

29.6% were contacted by various other advertisements

Note that 50.6% came by personal contact and of that 43% was made by someone other than so-called "church leaders" — just "ordinary members." This survey shows that personal work is our best means of converting people. Yet, it is perhaps the least relied on of any other means.

Also, the Los Angeles Executive Club published some extremely interesting facts about salesmen's calls. Eight percent of all sales are made after the fifth call back. Yet48% of all salesmen make one call and quit, and 25% make three calls and quit. In other words, the great difference between selling and failing to sell lies in the number of calls! It is so hard to get some Christians to visit. It is even harder to get them to revisit. And yet, this revisiting insures success in both selling campaigns and church visitation.

There is no substitute for personal contact. It benefits both the caller and the person called on. We like people better and they like us better as we really get to know each other. By repeated visiting our understanding is increased. Being persistent is the road to success since very few will respond on the first call. So the answer is visit, visit, visit, and then visit again. Apparently, both selling and visiting are discouraging to many people. All salesmen would like to sell every product on the very first call. But remember that experience indicates that this will not be done. Again, 80% of those eventually sold will be sold after and not before the fifth visit. Are we willing to work this hard to save some lost soul?

But the question now becomes, what can we do to try to reach others? Not everyone has the same abilities and opportunities. Some can teach a home Bible study and others cannot. Some live in a neighborhood where people are willing to study and others live in areas where people will not even talk to them. However, somewhere, there is something that each person can do. So, in this article, we want to discuss some ways that we can win others for Jesus.

First, there are some things that we can do alone (Mark 16:15; James 5:20). Each Christian has a personal, individual responsibility to preach the gospel and seek to convert the sinner, regardless of what anyone else is doing. For example, we can use tracts. We might keep some in our car, purse, etc. to give whenever an occasion arises. Or we might keep some handy at the door to give to everyone who calls, especially religious workers like the Jehovah's Witnesses. Also, we might mail a carefully selected tract every so often to a particular group of friends. And we might leave them in barber or beauty shops, restaurants, laundromats, waiting rooms, terminals, or other places where reading material is provided for people. (Be sure that some name and address, either personal or congregational, is on the tract if a person reading it would want to make contact.)

Of course, as suggested earlier, we can and should visit — but whom to visit? We can visit new people in the neighborhood; acquaintances who are sick or in the hospital; someone we know bereaved by the loss of a loved one; a family with a new baby; a newly married couple; people who have lost possessions in a fire, storm, flood, or other tragedy; an elderly person who is lonely or shut-in; members who are weak or fallen away; and all visitors to the services of the church. Here would be a good place to add that every visitor who attends services should be given a visitor's card to fill out so that his or her name and address will be available for follow-up. This is something else that each individual can do as a personal responsibility.

Another thing we can do is to use the telephone. We can make appointments to talk to people about the gospel or set up classes for others. I knew a lady who, after she was no longer able to attend services due to health, began calling her friends on the telephone and asking to set up home Bible studies for the preacher and elders. A few were converted as a result of her efforts. We can call to invite people we know to regular services or gospel meetings. And we can call members who miss services and see if we can help in any way.

Then there are some other things that we can do as individuals. We can invite a friend or neighbor into our house to share a meal with us and then try to get a Bible discussion started. We can encourage new members by having them into our homes for a meal too (Mark 9:41). We can send a card with an appropriate message to those who are sick, are in hospitals, are newly married, have a new baby, have a birthday, have an anniversary, are shut in, or have some other special need or occasion. We can use tapes of sermons to share with others. And we can send a good gospel paper to friends or loved ones outside of Christ.

Secondly, there are things we can do with others (Luke 10:1-3). While there are some things that we can do all by ourselves. God never intended for us to do all our work by ourselves. We can take another Christian and go to a nursing home, hospital, retirement center, or jail to talk with people there. We can take another Christian and pass out gospel literature from door to door or to people on the street. We can take another Christian with us and visit prospects, visitors to the services, new Christians, weak and wayward members, and so forth. Or with another family in the church, we could invite a few couples who are not Christians to a get-together and try to start a Bible discussion.

Thirdly, there are things that we can do to promote the work of the church (1 Cor. 12:12-14; Eph. 4:15-16; 1 Tim. 3:15). We can call our friends' attention to the activities of the church — radio or television programs, bulletins, Diala-Bible Message, home studies, filmstrips, gospel meetings, regular services, newspaper ads or articles, and correspondence courses. Some people just get several of the latter and start handing them out to people — good examples are the John Hurt, Sewell Hall, and Jule Miller course.

We can participate in a canvass of the community to take a religious survey that might produce new contacts by offering such services as correspondence courses, home studies, and filmstrips; or to pass out literature and announcements. If a person does not feel capable of teaching a home Bible study himself, he can start home Bible studies for the local preacher and other members who can teach them. We can ask our friends if they would like to see some filmstrips — e.g., the Jule Miller Cottage Meeting filmstrips, Winston Atkinson's Fundamentals of the Faith film strips, and Neil Lightfoot's How We Got the Bible film-strips. Some of these are now available on video cassette too. Or we just set up a regular class to study the Bible in a neighbor's home. J.T. Bristow's Knock on the Door, Ivan Stewart's From House to House, and Homer Hailey's Let's Go Fishing for Men, all have excellent suggestions on how to do this. And we can have a Bible class in our own home, with a few members and selected non-member friends and neighbors attending.

Or we can give names of all new families in the neighborhood that we know of to be sent a packet containing information about the church. And we can issue invitations. We can invite people personally to attend regular services. It is good to put forth a special effort to do this at least once a week with one particular person in mind. We can especially invite everyone we know to come to our gospel meetings. And if necessary, we can use our cars to bring these people with us. Then once people are present, we can make a special effort to welcome warmly all visitors to our services. This is one area where most congregations probably need to be doing more. I know that it is difficult for mothers with small children, elderly, and others with special problems to get back and greet visitors, but each one of us needs to let our visitors know personally how much we appreciate their being with us. Through the years I have heard some people complain that there were not enough people at the door to greet visitors. Yet, while this is not always the case, usually the ones who complain the loudest are nowhere to be seen when visitors come thru the door.

And we can support heartily every soul-winning effort of the local congregation. We can teach in a vacation Bible school or other classes where we might instruct children in the truth and maybe open doors to lost parents. We can attend and encourage services in hospitals, nursing homes, jails, and so forth, conducted by the local church if it has any. We can participate in a personal work class or visitation program if the congregation has one. (Why is it that everyone agrees that we need to be doing more personal work, but when you announce a personal work class to help us get started and do it better, only a small few show up?) And whenever we see something that needs to be done, we can do it with all our might (Eccl. 9:10).

Finally, we must be genuinely converted, whole-heartedly dedicated, and enthusiastically zealous Christians. In Titus 2:11-14, Paul wrote of Christ, "Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for himself his own special people, zealous for good works." If this is true of each of us, then we should not have any trouble finding things to do. The fact is that we have been saved to save others.

In January, 1975, Sewell Hall wrote an article entitled "Seeking the Lost," in which he made the following observations: "When conversions are few it is easy to blame our failures on the times, the hardness of heart among people of our community, or the opposition of adversaries. In some instances these are legitimate reasons for failure. Jesus and the apostles sometimes failed be-cause of indifference or hostility. The `Parable of the Sower' describes a type of soil that is hard and cannot be penetrated with the seed of the kingdom. Paul also warns of a time when `men will not endure sound doctrine.' These times appear to be now.

"But we cannot legitimately claim these as the reasons for our failures until we are sure we have given the people of our community every opportunity to hear and reject God's truth. This is not accomplished by merely building a building and advertising. `Here it is; come get it!' There are a hundred counterfeit offers of this kind for every sound one. How is the public to know the difference? Jesus said go! The responsibility is ours to see that they have the message brought to them personally.

"It was recently reported to me concerning an active and successful congregation, `The elders plan to succeed and if an effort fails, they examine it and make several changes before they will abandon it.' No wonder this congregation is successful; they plan it that way. Other congregations expect to fail and they reach their expectations. Efforts are only half-hearted and when they bog down there is no particular disappointment . . . We can excuse ourselves by saying, `We have tried everything and nothing works.'

"If the same kind of thought, planning energy, and dedication were put into our efforts to save the lost that we put into promoting our business we would be successful ... True, many congregations will never be aroused to their responsibility and potential. But . . . how many . . . things ... can be done by individuals regardless of what the church does or does not do? There is no excuse! And if we love the Lord and the lost, why should we seek and excuse? Better to seek the lost" (Vanguard; Vol. 1, #2). What brother Hall wrote nearly twenty years ago is just as true today as it was then.

We have a choice to make, both as individual Christians and as congregations. We can sit around and do nothing, the result of which is that local churches will dwindle and eventually die, and we will be lost. Or we can all get to work doing the best that we can to seek and save the lost. And even though the church might end up not growing in spite of our efforts, we shall still please the Lord and can be saved. And ultimately, that is all we can do and that is all that he expects of us. (---taken and slightly adapted from Guardian of Truth; August 4, 1994; Vol. XXXVIII, No. 15; p. 8-10)

WORKING IN THE CHURCH

by Wayne S. Walker

Jesus promised to build His church (Matthew 16:18). He did this on the day of Pentecost following His death and resurrection; for beginning on that day it is said that "the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved" (Acts 2:47). We know that the church is "his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all" (Ephesians 1.22-23). Christ placed the church on earth for a purpose and gave it a mission to accomplish: to be "the pillar and ground of the truth" (1 Timothy 3:15). It is not a social club but an evangelistic society. Its mission can and will be performed as each local congregation (cf. 1 Corinthians 1:2) does its own work according to its own ability and opportunity, since such is the only functioning unit [collective] of God's people aside from the individual Christian.

God provided the local church with all the equipment it needs to do His will. "And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers" (Ephesians 4:11). Another passage that mentions some of God's provisions for the congregation says, "Paul and Timotheus...to all the saints in Christ which are at Philippi, with the bishops and deacons" (Philippians 1:1). The apostles and prophets completed their efforts in the first century, and we no longer have or require living ones today since their work is accomplished through the written word (Ephesians 3:4-5). But we do need evangelists, pastors or bishops, deacons, and teachers. Congregations can exist scripturally for a time without some of these. But in order for a church to operate smoothly and at its peak efficiency as God would have it, it needs men to fill these "offices" and do the tasks that God assigned each one.

Elders

Those who oversee the affairs of the congregation are commonly known as elders. In Acts 20.17-28, Paul summoned the elders of the church at Ephesus, called them overseers (bishops) over the flock, and told them to feed (shepherd or pastor) the church. The word "elder" basically refers to the qualifications of the office (found in 1 Timothy 3:1-7 and Titus 1:5-9), indicating that one who thus serves must be a man of maturity, experience, and wisdom. The term "bishop" denotes the authority--they are to serve as managers or superintendents over the affairs of the church. And the concept of "pastor" indicates their purpose, that of tending and caring for the flock so as to build it up and perfect it.

The work of elders is plainly set forth in scripture. According to Acts 20:28, they are to take heed to themselves and to the flock--they must know those over whom they are elders, as well as their own strengths and weaknesses. Paul says they are to be overseers, i.e., they rule over us (1 Timothy 5:17)--not as lawmakers or lords over God's heritage, but as those authorized by Him to direct the congregation in its work. And they are told to feed the flock by providing the teaching necessary for spiritual growth. They watch for the member's souls (Hebrews 13:17), and should take the lead in exhorting, rebuking, restoring, and disciplining (Titus 1:9). In 1 Peter 5:3, Peter added that they are to be examples to the flock. They have special duties such as seeing to members who are sick (James 5:14), encouraging beginning preachers (1 Timothy 4:14), and taking charge of benevolence (Acts 11:30).

The Bible tells us that it is God's will to have elders in every church (Acts 14:23). Because of their position and authority they are to be respected and obeyed (Hebrews 13:17). But the eldership is more than just an office to be held--it is a labor to be performed (1 Thessalonians 5:12). It is indeed a work. Many congregations in the past have drifted into apostasy, or divided over trivial matters, or just died on the vine simply because there were no elders to guide the flock or because there were men who were listed as elders but did not actually do the job of elders. Nothing can help a congregation grow any more than a good eldership. But few things can hinder it more than an ineffective or inactive one.

Deacons

The word "deacon" means minister or servant. Deacons have qualifications also (1 Timothy 3:7-13), but no work for them is specified as it is for the elders. Instead, they are simply appointed to be special servants for the church under the oversight of the elders. To accomplish their own work, elders should not "leave the word of God, and serve tables" (Acts 6:2). There is so much in a congregation that deacons can do to free the elders for their work. Deacons may be responsible for supervising building cleanup and repair, taking care of property and grounds, ordering supplies and class materials, looking after the financial affairs of the congregation, asking men to serve in worship, seeing to the preachers' house if the church owns one, providing for members who are in need, making sure the Lord's supper is ready, etc.

The above are activities that the elders should not have to take time from their duties of teaching, strengthening the weak, restoring the unfaithful, and correcting those in error, to attend to. To be a deacon, one must meet the qualifications of scripture. And if he can do that, he is sufficiently trustworthy for the elders to turn over to him whatever of those responsibilities they feel he is able to be assigned and to have faith in his judgment to buy our use anything he needs to do the job--within reason, of course. If they cannot do that, he ought not to be a deacon to begin with. Certainly the elders, in their responsibility as overseers, should maintain accountability to see that the work is finished and done properly. But a good deacon is a man to be trusted.

It is so easy for a congregation to fall into the wrong track. The preacher, whose primary responsibility is to preach the word, is expected to do the work of elders--visiting the members and seeing after their spiritual needs. The elders end up doing the work deacons should be doing--taking care of the building, grounds, finances, etc. And the poor deacons are left with nothing to do! Let it not be so. Let us utilize our deacons to the utmost of their ability for the advancement of the cause of Christ and the building up of the Lord's church.

Evangelists

The word "evangelist" is translated from the same Greek root as the term "gospel" meaning good news, and thus means a bearer of glad tidings (Romans 10:15). To evangelize is to spread the gospel (Matthew 28:18-20, Mark 16:15-16). Other terms used to describe this function are "preacher" (1 Timothy 2:7, 2 Timothy 1:11) and "minister" (Ephesians 3:7, Colossians 1:23). While "evangelist" indicates his message, "preacher" denotes what he actually does. A preacher is a herald, proclaimer, a public announcer. And "minister" (lit. "servant") defines his purpose. He is a minister of the gospel; he serves God by applying the gospel message to the lost that they might be saved and to the saved that they might be strengthened. Biblically, the local preacher is nowhere ever referred to as "the minister," as though he were some kind of congregational workhorse or "chief cook and bottle washer" for the church. All Christians are "ministers" because we are all to serve others (Matthew 20:26). The preacher is simply a minister also; he is a servant of Christ (Romans 1:1) and not just of the church.

The work of a preacher is summed up by Paul in 2 Timothy 4:2. "Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine." His basic obligation is to proclaim the truth. The importance of his work is seen in that he is to be urgent at all times and under all circumstances. The accomplishment of this requires reproving, rebuking, and exhorting (that includes a lot of "negative" preaching when necessary). And his attitude must be one of longsuffering and patience. When an evangelist does his work well several benefits will result. Brethren will be edified (1 Timothy 4:6), souls who take heed to his teaching will be saved (1 Timothy 4:16), those in error will be corrected (2 Timothy 2:22-26), and false teachers will be rebuked (Titus 1:10-12). In addition, when the preacher practices what he preaches, he will be an example to all (1 Timothy 4:12). Practically, there are many means a preacher can use to do these things: sermons from the pulpit, teaching Bible classes, a bulletin, using radio-TV-newspaper communications, holding studies inhomes of both members and non-members, etc.

But having the knowledge and ability to do this necessitates the preacher's giving attendance to reading, developing his gifts, meditating on spiritual things, and giving himself wholly to the word (1 Timothy 4:13-15). Simply, he is going to have to spend much time in preparation by studying, researching, contemplating. However, there are many activities that are often "expected" of the preacher which, though not wrong in themselves, can take away from his study time if he is not careful. These including running to the hospital every time someone goes in, dropping in on members for social visits, taking care of all church correspondence, making sure the older folks are looked after, seeing to the physical needs of the church's property, etc. (all because the rest of the members "work every day for a living" and the preacher appears to be "free"). Of course, a preacher has individual responsibilities as a Christian and a member of the local congregation, and most are willing to do whatever they can along this line. And no one believes that the preacher should shut himself up in the office away from society. Certainly, he needs to get out and meet people for opportunities to teach the truth. But he also needs to be adequately prepared to use those opportunities. Someone once said that there is nothing gained by a preacher doing "personal work" to get people to come to church services if he does not spend time to make sure that he has something worthwhile worked up to tell them when they come. Each preacher must be aware of his own abilities and needs, and budget his time accordingly. The congregation should require no more of him than that. A preacher can get so wrapped up in these other activities that he really does not have time to do what God actually told him to do. Remember, his primary work is to "preach the word."

Teachers

From Acts 13:1 and Ephesians 4:11, we learn that there was a special class of people in the early church known as teachers. Now, there is a sense in which every Christian is to be a teacher, sharing the gospel with others as his abilities and opportunities allow. But the word is used in the afore-mentioned passages in the sense of a "public" (i.e. oral) instructor. There are several ways in which we can use both men and women who are able to teach: Sunday morning and Wednesday evening Bible classes (for adults and children), vacation Bible schools, ladies' classes (Titus 2:3-4), classes in members' homes, and other special weekly classes. The latter is one area in which we are sorely lacking. Many churches feel that they can provide all the spiritual instruction that the members need in the three regular assemblies. But the church in Jerusalem met daily for the apostles' teaching (Acts 2:42, 46). We could well benefit from having more classes during the week to meet the needs of specific groups--new converts, young people, those looking for advanced Bible knowledge, men who want to serve better in public worship or develop preaching abilities, improving our singing, etc.

To be a teacher, one must meet certain qualifications. To teach necessarily requires that one know what he is teaching, and hopefully more about it than those who are being taught (1 Timothy 1:7). The Hebrew writer lamented to some that, "When for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again" (Hebrews 5:12). A new Christian cannot be expected to become a proficient teacher right away. He needs time to "desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby" (1 Peter 2:2). But as he grows in grace and knowledge (2 Peter 3:18), the time should come that he has developed sufficiently to be able to teach others in some fashion or another. Each develops on his own level and has his own abilities, but if that time does not eventually come, something is wrong. A teacher must also practice what he teaches. "Thou therefore which teachest another, teachest thou not thyself?" (Romans 2:19-21). It is a grievous mistake for a church to use in its public teaching program those whose lives do not measure up to the standard revealed in God's word. In addition, a teacher must have a general knowledge of people, be able to communicate intelligently, exhibit a winsome personality, and seek to develop a rapport with his students. And most importantly, he must teach truth (1 Timothy 1:3, 2 Timothy 4:3, 2 Peter 2:1).

The prime work of teachers is, obviously, to teach (2 Timothy 2:2). Yet, this is not always the case in many Bible classes. The "teacher" may be nothing more than a moderator to call on people to answer the questions in a workbook or a "traffic director" to control the discussion and see that it does not get out of hand. But teaching involves more than that. Certainly workbooks can be helpful and asking/answering questions is a valid method of teaching. Open discussion is good from time to time and even necessary for the teacher to receive feedback from the class. Teachers should always be willing to listen to the students and learn from them. And using the lecture method exclusively can be boring. But let us remember what a class is--a teacher/learner situation--and let the teacher do what he is supposed to do, namely, teach. Teaching is an awesome responsibility. "Be not many of you teachers, my brethren, knowing we shall receive heavier judgment" (James 3:1). But a job well-done deserves great reward.Conclusion

Men have a tendency to organize, disorganize, and then reorganize. This is true of all human institutions and often finds its way into the church. Denominations for centuries have had their inter-congregational organizations (councils, synods, conferences, associations, etc.) as well as their intro-church groups (elected boards, standing committees, ladies' aid societies, etc.), each with its various officials. Even among churches of Christ which have gone along with modern unsound institutional practices, this penchant for overorganizing is becoming increasingly popular. No longer is one just a preacher; he may be a "pulpit minister" or "a minister of visitation" or " a minister of music" or "a youth minister." Others can choose to be a Bible class superintendent, bus director, ladies' activity coordinator, or some such title. And all of this is done in an attempt to increase the working ability of the church! But why do men continually pursue the mistaken notion that they can improve on God's simple yet successful organization of the local church?

Let the elders oversee the congregation and feed the flock in accordance with the instructions of the apostles and prophets contained in God's word. Let the deacons be assigned those taks they are capable of performing so as to allow the elders to give themselves to watching for souls. Let the evangelists preach the truth unhindered by men's concept of the "pastor system." Let the teacher use his abilities, opportunities, and whatever materials are available to instruct the brethren inwhat they need to know that they might grow and the church be strengthened. And let each member look around, see what needs to be done, and do it faithfully. In this way, the Lord's church "may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh the increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love" (Ephesians 4:15-16). (---taken from Faith and Facts, ; Apr., 1980; Vol. 8, No. 2; pp. 53-59)