E-Note 7/22: The Farewell at Miletus

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

One of the most poignant farewells in Church history is found in Acts 20 where the apostle Paul calls for the elders of Ephesus to meet him near the harbor of Miletus. There, close to the docks, Paul gave a farewell speech that Luke and the Spirit reproduce for our edification. In that speech Paul made a critical charge to the elders of the Church that has clear, though indirect, implications for the Church he leaves behind: "Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God, which he bought with his own blood" (20:28).

Though the charge is directed to the elders there are obvious implications for the Church in those words - and for Thetford Baptist Church too.

(1) You are the flock of God. You are of the Church that belongs to God. You are his possession by purchase, a purchase made with his own blood. One can not help conclude that Paul speaks the way he does here in order to remind the elders that the Church is a flock they do not own. They are tending the Lord's flock. They are in His service. They are not masters of any sort. They are slaves to Christ. Paul wants to remind Church leaders that the Church is no place for sloth, self-promotion, power-trips or entrepreneurialism. It is God's flock.

But surely this truth is a double-edged sword. Just as the flock is not the possession of her shepherds, neither is the flock the possession of the flock. The Church of God is not a democracy. The Church does not exist or gather because of the consent of the flock. It does not organize or re-organize according to its own inventions. The flock exists and gathers only because of the radical mercy of her sovereign Lord who bought her with his own blood. He alone calls her to worship, to organize diaconal care, to pray, to fast, to listen, to shepherd and to be shepherded by those whom the Holy Spirit has made overseers. The Church is not a town, something to be mutually possessed and mutually administered. The Church belongs to God and receives ministerial care and direction as God has determined. "For he is our God and we are the people of his pasture, the flock under his care" (Psalm 95:7).

(2) This leads to the second major implication of Paul's parting words for the Church, the saints of TBC: You are to be shepherded. You are to be under the care of (as the ESV translates it) those overseers appointed by the Holy Spirit. This Sunday I will preach more specifically about what this looks like, but for now we can say this much: A Christian bought by the blood of the incarnate God takes on peculiar relationships in this life that those outside of Christ do not take on. In short, a Christian has elders in his or her life. The Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit will it to be so, for you are the flock of the thrice holy God's possession. But unlike worldly overseers, the overseers appointed by the Holy Spirit for the Church's eternal blessedness are men who minister the Word of God. The overseer has no authority but that which is derived from Holy Scripture. As one church leadership manual wisely puts it: "All church power is only ministerial and declarative, for the Holy Scriptures are the only infallible rule of faith and practice. No church judicatory may presume to bind the conscience by making laws on the basis of its own authority..." (emphasis mine). This is truly wonderful news for those who are eager to be led and kept in the ways of God. God has provided you, through His Spirit and constrained by His Word, the very kind of leadership soft and humble hearts need to walk in the truth.

With that said, I would now like to comment, in the Spirit of Romans 16, on each of the elders at TBC who shepherd you into the immediate future. I do this so you can give thanks to God for them and take confidence in them and pray for them according to scripture and so be blessed under their care.

First, I commend to you Jim Mauchly. Jim has been worshipping, growing and serving as a member of TBC since 2004. He and Berni have a gift of hospitality and friendship-making that is rare in the Upper Valley. Even now they are boarding Dartmouth student April Daigle and have been a home-away-from-home for International students for a couple years now. As an elder Jim has grown significantly. He has become courageous in dealing with difficult situations and speaking the truth in love. He has a godly sense of what smacks as fake and he resists, for us all, hypocrisy. He has taken the Lord's command, "Let love be sincere" to heart. Pray for Jim as he strives to grow in biblical and theological knowledge (Phil. 1:9). Pray and give thanks for him and he will be an even a greater blessing to you.

I also commend to you Bob Hammond. Bob has been faithfully worshipping, growing and serving at TBC since 1994 when he and Nancy became members. By God's grace Bob has exercised, these many years, his gift of giving - and that with generosity! TBC has flourished in many ways because of this. Bob has also been a faithful man of prayer for TBC and takes great care in preparing when he leads corporate prayer. Bob remains devoted to reading the scriptures and other works of theology that contributes biblical soundness to his leadership. God has graciously used Bob's international experience in missions and business to keep our eyes looking outward. Pray for Bob as he seeks to balance his love for his family and grandchildren with his love for Christ's church (Gal. 6:10). He is much needed by both. Pray and give thanks for him and he will be an even a greater blessing to you.

I also commend to you John Schwartz. John has been worshipping, growing and serving as a member of TBC since 2006. He has served in key positions at both Woodstock Congregational Church and Valley Bible Church. We are so pleased the Lord led him to TBC! John is a peacemaker (blessed are the peacemakers!) John is marked by his humility, gentleness and theological depth. John is what you would expect from a man who has spent decades listening to biblical preaching and participating in small group Bible studies - he is an oak of truth and righteousness. God be praised for his service at TBC. John has also benefited TBC by bringing his 30-plus years at DHMC Finance to TBC. Under Bob and John our financial stewardship has maintained godly integrity. What a joy for us all to see John receive from God the blessing of Caron, his wife-to-be. Pray for John that he would stand firm in the faith as a man of courage and strength (1 Cor. 16:13). Pray and give thanks for him and he will be an even a greater blessing to you.

I also commend to you Doug Gernhard. Doug has been worshipping, growing and serving as a member of TBC since 2002. At TBC Doug has been remarkably productive with his hands. In the midst of his career with the Air Force he has managed to build the east parking lot, the children's play structure ("The Two Towers"), and paint, paint, paint. What a gift from God he and Jennifer are to TBC! They labor in love and joy, motivated by an eagerness to see the gospel of Christ reach the community. Doug has also blessed TBC through his eagerness to learn. Taking theology courses through independent study, Doug has gained a solid footing in the best theology our tradition. He loves the Word. Pray for Doug that he, together with you all, may have power to grasp the majestic dimensions of Christ's love (Eph. 3:18). Pray and give thanks for him and he will be even a greater blessing to you.

Lastly, I commend to you Roger Berger. Roger has been worshipping, growing and serving as a member of TBC since 1987. Roger is a prince of a man. Genial and admirable in all his dealings. How kind the Father is to return Roger to the elder board this next season. Roger too is a peacemaker. He is thoughtful and careful and always moved by the winds of the Word of God. He and Chris have the rare gift of being without guile when they look out upon us all. By God's grace Roger and Chris have been wondrously freed from those love-limiting things that still plague many of us. May their example compel all of us who are, well, a little more suspicious and stingy with our love and concern. Pray for Roger that he would continue to please the Lord in every way and grow in the knowledge of God (Col. 1:10). Pray and give thanks for him and he will be an even a greater blessing to you.

And lastly, "Pray also for me, that whenever I open my mouth, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel,...pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should." (Eph 6:19).

Yours in Christ, John