2 Timothy 2:2, “And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable people who will also be qualified to teach others.”
The role of the church in preaching the gospel is two-fold; first, to train up soul winners and send them out to preach and second, to disciple and teach the new believers. Every good church should have elders and deacons who oversee this process of rising up, sending out, and training new believers.
Luke recorded in Acts 14:23, “Paul and Barnabas appointed elders for them in each church and, with prayer and fasting, committed them to the Lord, in whom they had put their trust.” These new elders were to lead the church in making disciples that would make new disciples. Also, Paul commanded Timothy in 1 Timothy 3:10 to appoint deacons to serve with the elders, “They must first be tested; and then if there is nothing against them, let them serve as deacons.” Thus, deacons are considered the assistants or the helpers of the elders.
Though the deacons are under the authority of the elders, both elders and deacons are to be filled with the Holy Spirit (Acts 6:3), empowered with the nine spiritual gifts (1 Corinthians 12:7), and active in one or more of the five ministerial gifts (Ephesians 4:11).
When we truly have a church functioning the way God intended it to we can receive Jesus’ promise to build His church and the gates of hell will not overcome it, Matthew 16:18! Therefore, let us all, “Reach one, to teach one, to reach one… and repeat it until Jesus comes back!”
Reflection
Are you committed to a good church with godly elders and deacons?
Action
- Prayerfully join a good church if you haven’t already.
- Get trained up and sent out to preach the gospel.
- Bring the new believers your reach to the church to be trained and mentored by the elders and deacons so they can be sent out to preach!
