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Business Meetings: Authority For and Principles Applied Introduction:
A question pertaining to “business meetings” was recently submitted. We want
to look at the following questions: What authority do we have for having
business meetings? Why do
congregations have business meetings? What
principles should guide those meetings? Let
me make a general observation, I have never heard anyone say, “I really miss
those business meetings.” Most
consider them necessary evils and those view them as being unscriptural. I)
More Observations A)
Christians in the first century met together in local congregations 1.
The church at 2.
Each congregation was automous meaning they had their own leadership, work,
treasury, and membership. Philippians
1.1 B)
God’s charge to Paul was to establish elders in every church, Acts 14.23 1.
Paul instructed Titus to appoint what was lacking, Titus 1.5 2.
An eldership can only exist if there is a plurality of qualified men a.
1 Timothy 3.2-7 notice the word must
b. Titus 1.6ff we see the list stated again C)
Congregation existed for a time without elders in the first century 1.
Until Acts 14.23 those congregations
established earlier did not have elders 2.
Therefore they had to have a way to make decisions. a.
Acts 11.29-30 decision had to be made
as to who would take the contribution b.
1 Corinthians 16.1-3 we have a
collection being taken up but again they had to decide who would take the gift. 2
Corinthians 8.16-19; Acts 20.4 c.
Philippians 4.15 who made the
decision to help Paul? 3.
Decisions had to have been made in each congregation before they had elders.
The same for today. a.
Some decisions are mundane and made once in a while.
Time of services, color of carpet, etc. b.
Some decisions are more urgent in
regards to physical matters, see Acts
6.1ff. c.
Some decisions are spiritual in nature; hiring a preacher, who to fellowship,
etc. D)
How they did not organize 1.
Pastoral system – preacher oversight. Acts
6 the disciples were told to choose those that were qualified.
Paul told the churches to choose their own messengers.
Real problem in some congregations of the preacher taking the lead and
oversight of the congregation thereby becoming a one man eldership. 2.
Dictatorial rule – 3 John 9-10 3.
Adopted elders, choose elders of another congregation to rule oversee your
congregation, 1 Peter 5.2 4.
Unscriptural elders, select men that are unqualified and hope they develop the
character. II)
Principles to Apply A)
All things should be done in an orderly and decent fashion, 1 Corinthians 14.40 1.
Business meetings should never disintegrate into a shouting match or unruly mob.
2.
Those walking away should have clear idea of what was decided. B)
Make decisions by God’s word 1.
1 Corinthians 4.6 and
2 John 9-11 there is a difference in deciding how to best do what the Bible
says and going beyond what the Bible says. a.
There is a difference in deciding the best way to handle a matter of discipline
and deciding whether to discipline the erring. b.
There is a difference in deciding whether to purchase a baptistery and whether
to baptize for the remission of sins. 2.
We can not legislate for God either as elders or in business meetings. 3.
In matters of judgment we must strive to have unity, Philippians 2.1ff 4.
Decisions should be made in order to edify the body, 1 Corinthians 14.26 5.
Decide ahead of time how decisions are to be make? a.
Some believe in majority rule b.
Some believe in minority rule c.
Each has advantages and disadvantages. Majority
rule may neglect matters of individual conscious.
Minority rule may allow one or two people to stop anything from being
done. d.
Not everyone is going to be happy all the time. III)
Keys to A Good Business Meeting A)
Make decisions – some
decisions are never made B)
Make clear decisions -- Should
be able to tell your wife what was decided. C)
Be able to back up decisions with Bible authority; book, chapter, and verse D)
Stress the spiritual over the physical 1.
Easy to take hours on the color of the carpet, what type of lawn mower to
purchase, new trays, whether to place a clock in the auditorium, etc. 2.
Those are not fundamentally important decisions. 3.
The work of the church is spiritual,
Romans 14.17 a.
Spend time on spiritual matters. Church discipline, teaching program, helping
needy and suffering, evangelism, etc. E)
Put self on the shelf -do
not use “carnal tactics” to get your way F)
Communicate with those not in the meeting, talk to your wife, 1 Corinthians
14.35 G)
Consider the needs of those not in the meeting
– the widow women, singles, young, etc.
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