1 John 2:5-6 English Standard Version

5 but whoever keeps his word, in him truly the love of God is perfected. By this we may know that we are in him: 6 whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked.

1 Corinthians 13:5b English Standard Version(in part) [love] It does not insist on its own way;

Continuing from yesterday. What we learned about this self-proclaimed teacher was that he was very insistent on having his own way. He had not learned to let love lead the way. That does not mean that he was not saved, or gifted, only that the love of God did not take first place in his heart.

Eldership has a responsibility to God and to the congregation to see to it that no one is put up before them in service that has not been examined. That is order and structure, which a church will find itself crumbling under the weight of error.

Do all churches operate in this way? I don’t know, I’ve only been a member of three different churches. In each one I learned these lessons for which wisdom might be extracted.

Paul was the architect of the church and the Word of God tells us how to behave. One thing Paul made very clear was that teachers should be held to a higher standard than the rest of us.

Titus 2:7-8 English Standard Version

7 Show yourself in all respects to be a model of good works, and in your teaching show integrity, dignity, 8 and sound speech that cannot be condemned, so that an opponent may be put to shame, having nothing evil to say about us.

The newborns in Christ are placed in the hands of teachers and if they are to grow up in Christ and mature properly, they must have the best of the best teaching them sound doctrine. Apostle may call, shepard may protect, prophets might warn but it is the teacher that builds up the body of Christ in the bond of unity.