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7 Epistles of John with the same Revelation
~ A.D. 95 – from Patmos:

John, Pastor and Elder of the Church at Ephesus

As we observed in our chronology of ACTS of the Apostles, the Disciple John was a young man when he followed Jesus.

The Elder John and Leadership of the Church

Now, the Apostle has outlived the other Eleven, Paul, beloved family and many other first generation Christians.

The Elder John wrote the three short Epistles we are studying about ten years ago, but today we are looking ahead at John’s brief revelation to seven churches.
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I suppose you may not have thought of the introduction to 'The Revelation of Jesus Christ to John' as — SEVEN pointed epistles to 7 different churches. 
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~ A.D. 80’s – 90’s – a Cultural context for JOHN’s 10 Epistles

The Greco-Roman world at the close of the first century A.D. was in a state of cultural, philosophical, and religious ferment. Religious syncretism and inclusivism.. ‘the combination of various ideas and beliefs from different sources to form new or aberrant religions. This was the age of developing mystery religions, the age of the occult, the age of the proliferation of Gnostic sects.’

The MacArthur New Testament Commentary 1-3 John

Throughout Italy and the broader empire, new challenges arose: major earthquakes in Campania, famine and pestilence in Rome, and volcanic eruptions ranging from Mount Etna to the cataclysmic destruction of Pompeii and Herculaneum by Vesuvius in AD 79.

The Julio-Claudian dynasty—embodied by Tiberius, Caligula, Claudius, and Nero—witnessed both grand construction projects (like the amphitheater at Alba Fucens) and notorious episodes of tyranny and scandal. .. After Nero’s fall in AD 68, civil war engulfed the empire until Vespasian founded the Flavian line, ushering in reconstruction efforts (such as the Colosseum) and culminating in the more stable governance of Nerva and Trajan by century’s end.

source: RomanHistory.net

an A.D. First Century culture of 7 Asian churches

Do you remember from back in Acts of the Apostles how the Spirit, at first, had instructed Paul NOT to preach in Asia?

Acts on Mission to Macedonia

And do you recall that Ephesus (in Asia) became a major city for Christian worship where later Paul had appointed Timothy as Pastor of the Ephesian Church?

PLACE AND TIME OF WRITING.

–The best authorities among the Fathers state that John was exiled under Domitian (IRENAEUS [Against Heresies, 5; 30]; CLEMENT OF ALEXANDRIA; EUSEBIUS [Ecclesiastical History, 3.20]). VICTORINUS says that he had to labor in the mines of Patmos. At Domitian’s death, A.D. 95, he returned to Ephesus under the Emperor Nerva. Probably it was immediately after his return that he wrote, under divine inspiration, the account of the visions vouchsafed to him in Patmos ( Rev 1:2, 9 ). However, Rev 10:4 seems to imply that he wrote the visions immediately after seeing them.

source: Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Introduction to Revelation
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Ἀποκάλυψις Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ ἣν ἔδωκεν αὐτῷ ὁ θεός δεῖξαι τοῖς δούλοις αὐτοῦ ἃ δεῖ γενέσθαι ἐν τάχει καὶ ἐσήμανεν ἀποστείλας διὰ τοῦ ἀγγέλου αὐτοῦ τῷ δούλῳ αὐτοῦ Ἰωάννῃ
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The Revelation of Jesus Christ

which God gave Him
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The Disciple who knew the Lord best refers to GOD THE FATHER simply, as God.
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to show His servants

that is, the saints or followers of JESUS, bond-servants redeemed by His blood on the Cross

—things which must shortly take place.

The Elder writes this same introduction to ALL seven churches who John has shepherded in the Way of Christ Jesus.

What he means by ‘shortly‘ is much debated in the immediacy of what these beloved saints have endured through the end of this A.D. first century. — Or perhaps God intends this epistle of revelation more millennially for all saints of every age.

Christ makes certain that Christians know the cost of faith until the unknown Day of His return.

He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John, who testifies to everything he saw—that is, the word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ.

Revelation 1:1b-2 NIV

The risen and ascended Lord Jesus Christ sends an apokalypsis via and angelic messenger to John on Patmos — and the Elder to these seven churches consequently, by his apostolic duty, sends out this same ‘disclosure of divine things formerly unknown’ and testifies to the truthfulness of what is to follow.
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It makes little difference if John had opportunity to send it from Patmos with a human messenger much in the way the Apostle Paul sent epistles to his churches OR if the Elder would have written it later upon John's return to Ephesus. 
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“Who is worthy to open the scroll and to break its seals?” – Question of the angel messenger in Revelation 5:2

a Book Sealed within: Addressed to 7 mortal Elders

What does John’s epistle enjoin each Elder to do?
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Set aside for a moment the imagery of the apocalypse with its angels, seven stars and seven candlesticks — the Elder John is FIRST to address issues of his own current church. 
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Most Christians know both exhortation and encouragement offered to the seven churches.

Which ones speak to YOU with some urgency (and hopefully, perhaps, to any Elder of your local church? (So which church looks like yours?)

Ἐφεσῖνος – Ephesus
- “I know your works, your labor, and your endurance,
- and that you cannot tolerate evil people.
Of course, John knows all this personally.

And does the Elder imply that the Ephesians will not be inclusive of those who insist on evil works opposed to Christ’s love?

You have tested those who call themselves apostles and are not, and you have found them to be liars.

Revelation 2:2 CSB

And do your Elders test the theology and witness of your church leaders and members?
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And the pattern of this pointed epistle for each church now turns to exhortation and rebuke demanding repentance. 
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“But I have this against you:

You have abandoned the love [agapē] you had at first.
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Look it up.. IF you don't quite remember what agape love is.
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“Remember then how far you have fallen;

repent, and do the works you did at first.

Do YOU? Do christians ever repent more than once (that time we claim to have come to Christ)?

OR will He return to say, “I never knew you…?’

“Yet you do have this: You hate the practices of the *Nicolaitans, which I also hate.

*Revelation 2:6 CSB

“Let anyone who has ears to hear listen to what the Spirit says to the churches.
To the one who conquers,
I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.
Revelation of Jesus Christ to John 2:7 CSB

Σμύρνῃ – Smyrna
- “I know your affliction and poverty,
- but you are rich.
- I know the slander of those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan.
Do YOU know any who avoid the Name of Christ? Do some swear to be Jew or Christian while afflicting others? Who then, do they truly worship?

“Don’t be afraid of what you are about to suffer.

Does your prosperity preacher dare suggest suffering for the Lord Jesus Christ? OR REMIND of the Lord’s Judgment of all?

The one who conquers will never be harmed by the second death.

Πέργαμος – Pergamum

“I know where you live — where Satan’s throne is.

.. where Satan lives. [Another mention of the nearby Nicolaitans]

But I have a few things against you.

You have some there who hold to the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to place a stumbling block in front of the Israelites: to eat meat sacrificed to idols and to commit sexual immorality.
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Again, the common issue *even of this era is worship of idols and fornication. 
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In the same way, you also have those who hold to the teaching of the *Nicolaitans. So repent!

Otherwise, I will come to you quickly and fight against them with the sword of my mouth.

Revelation 2:15-16

“Let anyone who has ears to hear listen to what the Spirit says to the churches.
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Doesn't this even sound like the preaching of JESUS? 
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I AM the Bread of Life

To the one who conquers, I will give some of the hidden manna…

Revelation 2:27b

Θυάτειρα – Thyatira
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Just a REMINDER of Who Is speaking:
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Thus says the Son of God,

the one whose eyes are like a fiery flame and whose feet are like fine bronze:

Revelation of Jesus Christ to John 2:18b CSB
- “I know your works —
- your love, faithfulness, service, and endurance.
- I know that your last works are greater than the first.
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Quite an encouragement and blessing to believers.
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“But I have this against you:
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This one thing of importance to the Lord Jesus Christ
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Jezebel

You tolerate the woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess and teaches and deceives my servants to commit sexual immorality and to eat meat sacrificed to idols. I gave her time to repent, but she does not want to repent of her sexual immorality.

Revelation 2:20-21 CSB

WHY is this issue of idolatry so important (in addition to God’s prohibition in the Ten Commandments of worshiping other gods)?

Ἰεζάβελ – Jezebel – the symbolic name of a woman who pretended to be a prophetess, and who, addicted to antinomianism, claimed Christian liberty of eating things sacrificed to idols.

Of Hebrew origin אִיזֶבֶל (H348) (used as a synonym of a termagant or false teacher):—Jezabel.

אִיזֶבֶל

Jezebel recalls the opposition to the LORD’s prophet Elijah.

Jezebel = “Baal exalts” or “Baal is husband to” or “unchaste”

queen of Israel, wife of Ahab, daughter of Ethbaal (King of Tyre)

It’s a contest of serious consequence between the LORD God and the false gods, false prophetesses, false priestesses — brash and shameless sinners claiming sin as worship of their gods.

This disaster happened because the people of Israel sinned against the LORD their God who had brought them out of the land of Egypt from the power of Pharaoh king of Egypt and because they worshiped other gods.

They abandoned all the commands of the LORD their God. They made cast images for themselves, two calves, and an Asherah pole. They bowed in worship to all the stars in the sky and served Baal.

2 Kings 17:7,16 CSB

And it all goes back to Ahab and Jezebel in 1 Kings.

Ahab also made an Asherah pole. Ahab did more to anger the LORD God of Israel than all the kings of Israel who were before him.
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Just one last application from Revelation, the mention of Jezebel, the Nicolaitans and (from a theological definition {above}) - antinomianism.
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Antinomianism is the belief or teaching that since believers are saved by grace through faith, there is no further obligation to follow any moral law or command.

.. At its core, antinomianism proposes that under the New Covenant, Christians are completely exempt from all moral guidelines because divine grace supersedes any need for abiding by commandments.

source: Biblehub.com

Σάρδεις – Sardis

I know your works; you have a reputation for being alive, but you are dead.

Revelation 3:1b CSB
- “Be alert
- and strengthen [guard] what remains, which is about to die,
- for I have not found your works complete before my God.
- “Remember, then, what you have received and heard;
- keep it, and repent.
- If you are not alert, I will come like a thief, and you have no idea at what hour I will come upon you.
“But you have a few people in Sardis who have not defiled their clothes, and they will walk with me in white, because they are worthy. In the same way, the one who conquers will be dressed in white clothes, and I will never erase his name from the book of life but will acknowledge his name before my Father and before his angels.

Revelation 3:4-5

And the Lord Jesus again seals His warning to the Sardinian church calling on the MANY to follow the example of the FEW.

“Let anyone who has ears to hear listen to what the Spirit says to the churches.

Revelation 3:5 CSB

Φιλαδέλφεια – To the Church in Philadelphia

Permit me first to remind you that simply as the name, Christian, witnesses the Name of Christ; Philadelphia or Philedelphos φιλάδελφος witnesses [From φίλος (G5384) and ἀδελφός (G80)]as a FRIEND and BROTHER.

“I know your works.

Look, I have placed before you an open door that no one can close because you have but little power; yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name.

Quite a compliment of Christian LOVE of these saintly brothers and sisters in Christ.

“Note this: I will make those from the synagogue of Satan, who claim to be Jews and are not, but are lying — I will make them come and bow down at your feet, and they will know that I have loved you.

A.D. first century followers of the Messiah Jesus considered themselves to be true Jews, who have now been redeemed. And the love they hold in Christ will include Romans (like much of the population of this city of Philadelphia) and Hellenists, Greeks or gentiles as they worship God in truth side by side.

“Because you have kept my command to endure, I will also keep you from the hour of testing that is going to come on the whole world to test those who live on the earth.

Revelation 3:10 CSB

Λαοδίκεια – Laodicea

And to the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write,

‘These things says the Amen, the Faithful and True Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God:

the Revelation of Jesus Christ to John 3:14 NKJV
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an urgent CAUTION, perhaps, for many a 21st century Common Era christian church claiming Jesus in some lesser way than in Truth.
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“I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot.

Revelation 3:15 NKJV

“So then, because you are lukewarm,

and neither cold nor hot,

I will vomit you out of My mouth.
Laodicea: Lukewarm Prosperity
- Banking hub, black-wool trade, renowned medical school with eye powder.
- Water arrived by aqueduct, lukewarm by the time it reached town.
- After the AD 60 quake, the city rebuilt itself without Rome’s help—boastful self-sufficiency reflected in the church.
Source: BibleHub.com commentary
Because you say…

“I am rich

and have acquired great wealth,

and need nothing,”

but do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind, and naked,

take my advice

and buy gold from me refined by fire so you can become rich!

Buy from me white clothing so you can be clothed and your shameful nakedness will not be exposed,

and buy eye salve to put on your eyes so you can see!

Revelation 3:17-18 New English Translation

Do you know of a Common Era Church like this — so in need of taking this advice from the risen and returning Christ Jesus ?

LISTEN! Hear His Voice. Open the door of your lukewarm heart. Allow the Lord to give you manna and living water of eternal life.

Sit on His Throne with Him.. just as He too conquered and sat down with His Father on His throne.

“Let anyone who has ears to hear listen to what the Spirit says to the churches.”

the Revelation of Jesus Christ to John 3:22 CSB

Next: INTRO — 3 Letters (10 yrs earlier) from the Apostle John
April 3, 2026
Credentials for Christ
It seems I am unqualified by all measures for employment in the service of Christ.

I have no Doctor of Divinity. I’ve never been on a church staff or even served time as a youth pastor. My vocations have been beyond the walls of the church in the everyday lives of common men. My family life has been less than exemplary and my pedigree is more related to the place where I came from than my zeal for the Lord.

(And after all, why would your church hire a tent maker to answer phones or schedule your meetings?)

Suppose your church needs some help with its important ministry. You draw up a job description (which we will get to later) and a man applies with credentials not suited to what you had in mind. In fact, his resume reads like he was either paid to work by some rather ungodly organizations or volunteer to learn pastoring from some rather hypocritical religious types.

Saul of Tarsus

Resume:

Occupation: Tent maker
- I’m from a foreign city, a Roman city; not Israel or Judah – certainly not Jerusalem (though I studied with officials as a religious apprentice for a while).
- formerly I was a blasphemer, persecutor, and insolent opponent.
- “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners”—and I am the worst of them all.
- I persecuted this Way to the death, binding and delivering into prisons both men and women.
- References:
1. a lesser known Christian you may not have heard of
2. a former corrupt tax collector
3. a former boat owner and hot-headed sailor
Okay, our search committee doesn’t particularly agree that this guy from Tarsus of Cilicia is a good fit.

How about a local candidate who fascinates our religious and political rulers? He has a religious following of his own and good teaching credentials. Let’s go hear a sermon of his. (Maybe he will join our staff.)

⁷But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them,

“You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? ⁸Bear fruit in keeping with repentance.

Alright, maybe this Baptizer is not the best guy for our seeker-friendly church. (Too bad we can’t find a faithful minister like those proven Prophets of the Old Testament.)

When Ahab saw Elijah, Ahab said to him, “Is it you, you troubler of Israel?” – 1 Kings 18:17

On the other hand, Elijah was opposed to the leaders of Israel. The King sought to kill him. Besides, Stephen, who Saul had heard testify, had asked:

Which of the prophets did your fathers not persecute?

NO. I don’t think our Pastor wants a Prophet in the pews. Forget a guy like John the Baptist greeting our newcomers. Matthew and all government officials are definitely out of contention. An unemployed fisherman who is ready to draw the sword at the first sign of opposition won’t work. (And who ever heard of this reference, Ananias, other than this Saul of Tarsus candidate?)

Choosing ministers for the work of the church is not as easy as we might think.

So what are the qualifications?

A first qualification is from the Lord:

“Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” – John 3

A Christ follower and leader of the church must be changed. (Have we even asked or witnessed evidence of the Holy Spirit?)

Returning to the record of scripture, we know, of course that Paul was appointed by Christ Jesus and approved by Peter.

After many years of preaching, teaching and persecution, the Apostle Paul instructs the church by pastoral letters to other church leaders.

1 Timothy

5 The aim of our charge is love that issues from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith.

Pray for All People

2 First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, ²for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. ³This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior,⁴who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.⁵For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, ⁶who gave himself as a ransom for all, which is the testimony given at the proper time. ⁷For this I was appointed a preacher and an apostle (I am telling the truth, I am not lying), a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth.

Qualifications for Overseers

3 The saying is trustworthy: If anyone aspires to the office of overseer, he desires a noble task. ²Therefore an overseer must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, sober-minded, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable,able to teach, ³not a drunkard, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. ⁴He must manage his own household well, with all dignity keeping his children submissive, ⁵for if someone does not know how to manage his own household, how will he care for God’s church? ⁶He must not be a recent convert, or he may become puffed up with conceit and fall into the condemnation of the devil. ⁷Moreover, he must be well thought of by outsiders, so that he may not fall into disgrace, into a snare of the devil.

Qualifications for Deacons

⁸Deacons likewise must be dignified, not double-tongued, not addicted to much wine, not greedy for dishonest gain. ⁹They must hold the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience. ¹⁰And let them also be tested first; then let them serve as deacons if they prove themselves blameless. ¹¹Their wives likewise must be dignified, not slanderers, but sober-minded, faithful in all things.¹²Let deacons each be the husband of one wife, managing their children and their own households well. ¹³For those who serve well as deacons gain a good standing for themselves and also great confidence in the faith that is in Christ Jesus.

NOT qualified

Who then may be qualified?

Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God;

Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.

Second letter of Paul to the Corinthians 2:3:5-6 KJV

Grace: such a loving kindness of the Lord.

It is only by the grace of Christ Jesus that any man should serve the church in obedience to the will of the Lord. It is by grace that we are saved. It is by grace we should be called to lead. It is by grace that through our own acts of mercy and grace that another soul might come to know the surpassing grace of Christ Jesus, our Lord and Savior.

By grace and discernment of Christ’s love we humbly draw near as a church of forgiven souls seeking to share the Gospel of the grace of the Cross of Christ Jesus. May the Lord lead us with an open heart and willing walk to follow those who walk alongside our church in the roles of leadership.

Peace, grace and mercy be with you, beloved brother, dear sister in the Lord.
October 10, 2015
PK’s, EK’s, DK’s: Our kids; God’s kids – 3
The purpose of my instruction is that all believers would be filled with love that comes from a pure heart, a clear conscience, and genuine faith. – 1 Timothy 1:5 NLT

Continuing in the series of (our Saturday posts) our focus is on ‘Preacher’s Kid’s, Elder’s Kids and Deacon’s kids and the focus of scripture from Paul’s letter to Timothy.

Why is the integrity of leadership in the pulpit and authority behind the pulpit important?

Think about your preacher (minister, priest, rector, brother, pastor… whatever you and your church would like to call the man in the pulpit). Why would ANYONE in the church listen? Why would anyone from outside of your church family want to listen to this man, a mere mortal? (And I accept and include some pretty good preaching I have heard from godly women.)

WE, the people of Christ’s church, recognize the Authority of God and Christ Jesus inherent in the office of the Pastor of our church.

Our LORD stands behind the authority of the pulpit.

Yet IF NOT… IF a church leader of any office: Pastor, Elder, Deacon, even a mere member representing your church and claiming Christ; IF ANY Christian does not preach the gospel with the integrity of our life, Christ Jesus is maligned in our soiled image of claiming His Name in vain.

The world has retorted our faith with stories enough of the evil of priests and pastors and hateful ‘christians’ with a cause more self-righteous than our own lives.

We would ALL do well to think of ourselves as being in the spotlight of a ‘Preacher’s Kid’ and modify our witness (behavior) in front of others accordingly. Please allow me one personal example.

A number of years ago a young man in high school met two new students who turned out to be the son and daughter of the new Pastor of his church. These two ‘Preacher’s Kids’ were both well-dressed, well-behaved, more intelligent than most. It did not take long for everyone to learn that they were the new “PK’s.” This label always preceded everything they accomplished and anything they wanted to do.

Although he hardly spoke to the new boy and the new girl at school, the young man was more than pleased to participate with them on Youth Sunday along with his ‘church friends’ of the youth class at church. Unfortunately (as often happens in real families who do not live next door to the church), his family was a little late. After the service the new pastor, “Reverend ___,” asked by young man’s mom into a room to talk, closed the door, and talked to his mom at some length (no doubt a continuation of his angry exhortation about lateness in front of everyone as they all hurried into the ‘Youth Sunday’ service.)

After that, this Christian young man no longer wanted to go to church.

Pastors have to practice EVERYTHING they preach, don’t they? We expect this.

And as for the Preacher’s Kids: imagine how well they had witnessed such things before, knowing many of the incidents like these in their biological father’s life (by their dad, who happened to be the preacher). Imagine their embarrassment when later it was found out that Reverend ___, their dad, was having an affair with the church secretary!

Such stories are all-too-common for leaders of the church. The gossip ruins lives, in addition to the sins of the flesh of a mortal ‘preacher’ of the word. In a greater sense, we are all preacher’s kids. Jesus Christ made no such mistakes as are so often brought to light by the enemies of the Gospel. “See? Christians are no different,” they say.

That’s right. We are ALL sinners – even the preacher – and even the preacher’s kid’s, like you and me. Jesus Christ is our preacher, God is our Father and in that familial sense, we are ALL preacher’s kids saved by grace.

Never-the-less, scripture holds the leaders of Christ’s flock to a higher standard. You can see why.

Paul points his ‘Preachers Kid’ in the faith, Timothy, to these higher standards for choosing his own children who will help him with the leadership of the church. You can see why.

Once again (and without designation of ‘pastor, elder, deacon, preacher’s kid, elder’s kid, deacon’s kid, our kids, your kids, their kids…) let’s consider the higher standards of God for leaders of Christ’s flock:

1 Timothy 1:

8 Now we know that the law is good, if one uses it lawfully, 9 understanding this, that the law is not laid down for the just but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and sinners, for the unholy and profane, for those who strike their fathers and mothers, for murderers, 10 the sexually immoral, men who practice homosexuality, enslavers, liars, perjurers, and whatever else is contrary to sound doctrine, 11 in accordance with the gospel of the glory of the blessed God with which I have been entrusted.

Paul is not yet speaking of those called to lead the church, but of those who we hope to draw to Christ by our righteousness in the Law. Yet sadly, in these last days, we need to point to a scripture directed toward the world which has not been heeded even by those who train our preachers, fill our pulpits, appoint our church leaders and then are ‘shocked’ to discover scandals by those who do these things even before and while they claim Christ.

Paul goes on to point out what a sinner he was BEFORE he was saved and came to Christ Jesus in obedience to the Gospel.

1 Timothy 2

First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, 2 for kings and all who are in high positions…

8 I desire then that in every place the men should pray, lifting holy hands without anger or quarreling; 9 likewise also that women should adorn themselves in respectable apparel, with modesty and self-control…

11 Let a woman learn quietly with all submissiveness. 12 I do not permit a woman to teach or to exercise authority over a man; rather, she is to remain quiet.

[This is NOT to say that a woman should not preach or teach – a topic we will not approach here.]

1 Timothy 3

English Standard Version (ESV)

Qualifications
- must be above reproach,
- the husband of one wife,
- sober-minded,
- self-controlled,
- respectable,
- hospitable,
- able to teach,
- not a drunkard,
- not violent but gentle,
- not quarrelsome,
- not a lover of money. (Though) He must manage his own household well,
- with all dignity keeping his children submissive
- He must not be a recent convert (Young perhaps; but not new to Christ)
- dignified,
- not double-tongued,
- not addicted to much wine,
- not greedy for dishonest gain.
- 9 They must hold the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience. (We will not elaborate here.)
- 10 And let them also be tested first…prove themselves blameless.
- 11 Their wives likewise must be dignified,
- not slanderers,
- sober-minded,
- faithful in all things.
- gain a good standing for themselves
- great confidence in the faith that is in Christ Jesus.
It’s a long list of higher standards to which we should hold the leaders of our church. I do not even qualify.

Do you? Do your church leaders? Does your pastor?

In deed and in witness we are like: Preacher’s Kids, Elder’s Kids, Deacon’s Kids.

It’s just like when our kids are somewhere else people look at them and say: “We know you are ‘Roger’s kid’ {or Lissette’s kid…or Roger and Lissette’s kid}. They may as well have said, “We know your parents. Why are you acting like THAT?”

So I ask us:

If we are children adopted into the Royal and Holy Household of GOD our Heavenly Father,

WHY are we calling CHRIST JESUS our LORD, while our worldly witness does NOT stand up to these HIGHER STANDARDS of a “Preacher’s Kid?”

Do we call a man to the pulpit or to church leadership without holding him, his wife and his family to the higher standards of the loving family of God?

Dear Preacher’s Kid, of the family of God and Christ Jesus:

Repent! and return to the loving Father, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ who seeks and finds even the lost sheep within the church — the loving Father who runs to meet the prodigal son… (or prodigal daughter…) and would welcome you home.

He has trained you up in the way you should go.

Now come home, beloved child of God.

Pray also for me.

Roger
July 5, 2014