| Section Overseers | ||
| World Harvest Church > About Us > Ministry |
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| A church with an apostolic dimension trains leaders to oversee members' progress. • A Section Overseer aims to form twelve Fellowship Cells of twelve members in each to multiply disciples for accomplishing the Great Commission. 1. Overseeing spiritual condition A Section Overseer keeps watch over the spiritual progress of members. From Miletus, Paul sent to Ephesus for the elders (Gk. presbuterous) of the church … Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers (Gk. episkopous). Be shepherds (Gk. poimainein) of the church of God, which he bought with his own blood (Acts 20:17, 28 NIV). • 'Elders', 'shepherd', and 'overseers' are mentioned together in one scripture to describe the three roles of a spiritual leader. The term 'pastor' recognizes his function. He provides spiritual food for members' spiritual progress. • Poimen, a shepherd, is used figuratively as a person whom the Holy Spirit has made to guide and feed the 'flock' (speaks of church members), keeping watch on their spiritual condition to make sure that they are progressing healthily (see Acts 20:17, 28; 1 Peter 5:1-4; Hebrews 13:17). Poimenas in Ephesians 4:11 is translated as 'pastors', means herdsmen, figuratively refers to people called by God to oversee members of a church. • Members with this vocational calling and have proven themselves in faithful service will be ordained or recognized as Pastors. The term 'overseer' recognizes his leadership. An overseer or bishop keeps watch on members' spiritual condition. • Episkopoi means 'overseers', which is also translated as 'bishops', are people chosen on their leadership and character to care and supervise the members of a church (see also Titus 1:5, 7). The term 'elder' recognizes the leader's experience. • 'Elders' (presbuteros) often used in the New Testament in plural, implies a church can have as many overseers appointed in proportion to its total membership (see Acts 11:30; 14:23; 15:2-4, 6, 22; 16:4, 20:17, 28; 1 Timothy 3:1-7; 5:17; Titus 1:5-9; James 5:14, and 1 Peter 5:1-4). • 'Elders' are people whom the Holy Spirit has made 'overseers' to 'shepherd' a church in team work. The elders who are among you I exhort, I who am a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that will be revealed: Shepherd the flock of God which is among you, serving as overseers, not by compulsion but willingly, not for dishonest gain but eagerly; nor as being lords over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock (1 Peter 5:1-3 NKJV). • The principal jobs of a spiritual overseer are: preaching the Word, protecting the members, and sets an example. 2. Serving as a preacher A Section Overseer is like a shepherd finding pasture to feed the flock. He feeds the members by preaching. • To preach is to give proclamation, urging people to accept or abandon an idea or a course of action (see 2 Timothy 1:11). a. Impart scriptures you practice Preaching is giving scriptures that you have first put into your life. But God has shown us these things through the Spirit … And we speak about these things (1 Corinthians 2:10a, 13a NCV). • Paul preached what God has spoken to him through the Holy Spirit. So if you break the smallest commandment and teach others to do the same, you will be the least in the Kingdom of Heaven. But anyone who obeys God's laws and teaches them will be great in the Kingdom of Heaven (Matthew 5:19 NLT). • The 'kingdom of Heaven ' or 'kingdom of God ' is God's ruling in your life as you obey what God has spoken. God's authority flows strongly through what you preach from your practice. People will respect the preaching. • Preach only the word of faith The Word that has changed your life will transform lives when it is preached. So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word (Gk. rhema) of God (Romans 10:17 NKJV). • Rhema (literally is 'the spoken Word of God') means a scripture that has spoken to you personally. Preaching of rhema builds faith into the members. But what does it say? "The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart" (that is, the word of faith which we preach) (Romans 10:8 NKJV). • Paul adhered to the practice of preaching only 'the word of faith'. 3. Serving as an overseer A Section Overseer is like a shepherd protecting the sheep from dangers. Obey those who rule over you, and be submissive, for they watch out for your souls, as those who must give account (Hebrews 13:17a NKJV). • 'Those who rule over you' are those who 'watch out for your souls' to ensure you are in good spiritual condition and are making progress. a. Train believers to be strong Train every member adequately to stay spiritually fit and competent. So we continue to preach Christ to each person, using all wisdom to warn and to teach everyone, in order to bring each one into God's presence as a mature person in Christ (Colossians 1:28 NCV). • 'To warn and to teach everyone' is to bring members to reach spiritual maturity. • 'Warning' means providing preventive teaching. 'Teaching' is giving systematic teaching. By giving both preventive teaching and systematic teaching, you can establish members to become spiritually fit and competent in spiritual ministry. b. Pray for believers to stay strong Intercede for members to remain strong spiritually. Epaphras, who is one of you, a bondservant of Christ, greets you, always laboring fervently for you in prayers, that you may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God (Colossians 4:12 NKJV). • Intercession is providing continuous prayer covering for members so that they may always live right before God and do His will. • Section Overseers provide daily 'prayer shield' (intercessory covering) to protect the leaders, interns, founding members, and members of all Fellowship Cells under their mentoring and the friends in all Discovery Cells. • Pray especially for the urgent needs reported promptly by the Cell Leaders. We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers, remembering without ceasing your work of faith, labor of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ in the sight of our God and Father (1 Thessalonians 1:2-3 NKJV). • The 'work of faith' (means practicing faith), the 'labor of love' (means practicing love), and the 'patience of hope' (means fixing hope on God alone). • Intercede for their lives and ministries to be motivated by faith, hope, and love. 4. Serving as an example A Section Overseer is like a shepherd serving the sheep willingly. • Serving 'willingly' and 'eagerly' is put in contrast with 'by compulsion' and 'for dishonest gain'. Only with a pure motivation you can serve willingly and eagerly. a. Motivated by eternal reward Eternal reward is the chief motivation for serving willingly. • Build a conviction of wearing 'the crown of glory that does not fade away' as the highest motivation in life (see 1 Peter 5:4). • All that you have sacrificed for the ministry will be richly rewarded now and in eternity (see Mark 10:30). b. An example to members Pure motivation moves a spiritual leader to be a good spiritual model. Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ (1 Corinthians 11:1 NKJV). • Paul challenged the believers to follow his way of living and ministering that was imitating after Christ. Don't let anyone think less of you because you are young. Be an example to all believers in what you teach, in the way you live, in your love, your faith, and your purity (1 Timothy 4:12 NLT). • Role model 'in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity' for members to pattern after. • Be an example also in prayers, worship, meditating the Word, and exercising faith. • Be a model in evangelism, training disciples, and running cell groups. • Be an example in leadership (see 1 Timothy 5:17; Titus 1:5-9; 1 Corinthians 14:40), teaching (see 1 Timothy 3:2), and ministering (see James 5:14-15). • Be an example in godly conduct, family relationships, and all relationships (see 1 Timothy 3:1-7; Titus 1:5-9). |
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