Fit to Represent, Vision for Discipleship Seminar

144 Fit to Represent: Vision for Discipleship Seminar ▪

The Communal Context of Authentic Christian Leadership

Rev. Dr. Don L. Davis

Cell

Cell

Cell

Cell

Presbuteros “Elder” - depth, maturity, and spiritual experience

Acts 20.28; Titus 1.5-7

Cell

Cell

Cells are the incubators of personal discipleship, where believers gather to worship, share their gifts, be nurtured in the Word of God, bear one another’s burdens, and share the gospel. Cells multiply when facilitated by spiritually mature disciples.

Congregation

Congregation

Poimen “Pastor” - Protect and Feed

Episkopos “Bishop” - To give watch over, oversee

Locale Church

Eph. 4.11; Acts 20.28; 1 Pet. 5.1, 2

Acts 14.23; 20.17; Phil. 1.1; Titus 1.5; James 5.14

Vital cells gather regularly together for mutual support, large group praise and worship, biblical teaching, fellowship, and sharing resources in mission. Healthy congregational life demands godly pastoral care and oversight of the cells interacting together.

Individual local churches and their pastors, regardless of their vitality, need loving and strategic interaction with others of like mind, heart, and vision. Multiple congregations in a given locale prosper greatly when supplied with solid bishop oversight.

“Presbuteros, “an elder” is another term for the same person as bishop or overseer . . . . The term “elder” indicates the mature spiritual experience and understanding of those so described; the term “bishop” or “overseer,” indicates the character of the

work undertaken. According to the divine will and appointment, as in the NT, there were to be bishops in every local church, Acts 14.23; 20.17; Phil. 1.1; Titus 1.5; James 5.14.” - Vines Expository Dictionary