When I met our guests from Bermuda this 1st week of March this year led by Bishop Neville Smith, I mentioned that probably the Year 2012 is the Year of the Bishops at His Life Ministries (we have TWO Christian Bishop Guests this 2012 -- Bishop Neville and Bishop James).
We usually do not call our LEADERS. PASTORS and ELDERS "bishop" here in Negros Island. In Iloilo they have Christian Bishops already, same with Manila. But here in Negros we tend to not use the word "bishop".
Nevertheless, I believe that every PASTOR must think like a bishop -- in increasing coverage, responsibility and leadership (that is to train and lead many and multiple groups in discipleship).
WHY?
ANSWER:
FOR THE MULTITUDES TO BE REACHED, DISCIPLED and LED powerfully!
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Most pastors thinks "UNI". When I say "uni" -- I refer to the idea of being "so territorial" and sometimes "limited" (or self-limiting).
They are contented to be locked-in at a certain LOCALITY and FLOCK (of sometimes 45, 60 or even 85 people), instead of reaching and touching the FOLD (the unbelievers by the thousands of a city or region). ---------------------------
SO WHAT IS TO DO?
ANSWER: think like a BISHOP (not to be called one, or have a title of one). But to have the mind of an OVERSEER in an expanding world around us -- not just to be a preacher, to be a LifeGroup leader of ONE LifeGroup, but a LifeGroup leader of 100 LifeGroups (that is leading other LifeGroup Leaders) ! ! !
THEN and only THEN can YOU BE READY FOR THE MULTITUDE.
Will you make this your MOVE, Pastor?
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DEFINITIONS
(from www.gotquestions.org)
Question: "What is a bishop, biblically speaking?"
Answer: In the New Testament, a bishop is a person who functions as a teaching leader among a local group of Christians. The Greek term episkapos has also been translated as “episcopal,” “elder,” “overseer,” or “pastor.” All refer to the same office and are therefore synonyms.
In the earliest churches, its leaders were simply referred to as “elders.” For example, in Acts 20:17 we read, “Now from Miletus he sent to Ephesus and called the elders of the church to come to him.” In Philippians 1:1, Paul introduces his letter “to all the saints in Christ Jesus who are at Philippi, with the overseers and deacons.” Apparently, there were originally only two leadership positions in the church: elders and deacons.
In the Pastoral Epistles, Paul speaks twice regarding the qualifications of elders, those he considered the leaders of the local church (also notice that these elders generally served as teams rather than as single leaders).
In 1 Timothy 3:1-7 we read,
"The saying is trustworthy: If anyone aspires to the office of overseer (bishop), he desires a noble task. Therefore an overseer must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, sober-minded, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not a drunkard, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. He must manage his own household well, with all dignity keeping his children submissive, for if someone does not know how to manage his own household, how will he care for God's church? He must not be a recent convert, or he may become puffed up with conceit and fall into the condemnation of the devil. Moreover, he must be well thought of by outsiders, so that he may not fall into disgrace, into a snare of the devil."
From this list, we conclude several things.
First, the job is a noble task.
Second, the job is a limited task (male pronouns and references are used throughout.).
Third, integrity is critical (above reproach, committed to his spouse, clear thinking, self-controlled, well respected, friendly, not influenced by alcoholic drinks, not violent or argumentative, not greedy, caring for his children, and having a good reputation among the unchurched).
Fourth, he must have the ability to teach. (Deacons, whose requirements are listed in the next verses, are not required to have teaching ability.) Titus 1:5-7 shares a similar list for elders, but it adds the ability to rebuke false teaching. When Peter wrote to this group of church leaders, he called himself a “fellow elder” (1 Peter 5:1).
The earliest writings of the church fathers also seem to confirm this role of bishops as the teaching leaders who served alongside deacons to oversee the church. Both Clement of Rome (c. 95) and the Didache referred to elders and deacons from the late early first century to the early second century as the church’s leaders.
Over time, additional layers of leadership were added to the church. Eventually, the term bishop came to be applied to a regional church leader who administered many churches. At the Council of Nicea in A.D. 325, the church leader of each city or area represented his region’s churches. These leaders were referred to as “bishops.” Many Christian traditions continue to embrace this role of bishops today.
However, the biblical teaching is that elders and deacons lead local churches. The elder was also known as a bishop or pastor and functioned in that role. This does not make additional church leadership roles wrong (to meet important needs for regional or national leadership among groups of churches), but indicates that Scripture points to elders and deacons as the local church leaders.
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DEFINITIONS
(from an on-line Encyclopedia):
A bishop (English translation of the biblical Greek επίσκοπος episcopos "supervisor, protector") is an ordained or consecrated member of the Christian clergy who is generally entrusted with a position of authority and oversight. Within the Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox , Anglican, Old Catholic, Independent Catholic Churches, and in the Assyrian Church of the East, bishops claim apostolic succession, a direct historical lineage dating back to the original Twelve Apostles. Within these churches, bishops can ordain clergy including other bishops. Some Protestant churches including the Lutheran and Methodist churches have bishops serving similar functions as well, though not always understood to be within apostolic succession in the same way. It is the one ordained deacon, priest and then bishop who is understood to hold the fullness of the (ministerial) priesthood, given responsibility by Christ to govern, teach and sanctify the Body of Christ, members of the Faithful. Priests, deacons, and lay ministers cooperate and assist their bishop(s) in shepherding a flock.
The office of bishop was already quite distinct from that of priest in the writings of Ignatius of Antioch (died c. 108), and by the middle of the 2nd century all the chief centres of Christianity were headed by bishops, a form of organization that remained universal until the Protestant Reformation.[1]
This Write-Up is
Dedicated to My 12
As the given leaders of our church (at His Life), the KING’s MEN network must continue to serve, and move in the highest service we can all do for all the rest of the Networks—Women, Young Professionals, Youth and our Children.
From this perspective, I am giving you a vision to “BISHOP” people. This is a noble ambition (see the following words used in 1 Timothy 3:1)
- New International Version (©1984) Here is a trustworthy saying: If anyone sets his heart on being an overseer, he desires a noble task.
- New Living Translation (©2007) This is a trustworthy saying: "If someone aspires to be an elder, he desires an honorable position."
- Aramaic Bible in Plain English (©2010) This is a trustworthy saying, that if a man desires Eldership, he desires a good work.
- GOD'S WORD® Translation (©1995) This is a statement that can be trusted: If anyone sets his heart on being a bishop, he desires something excellent.
- King James 2000 Bible (©2003) This is a true saying, If a man desires the office of a bishop, he desires a good work.
- American King James Version This is a true saying, If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desires a good work.
- American Standard Version Faithful is the saying, If a man seeketh the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work.
I personally believe that we have to start as DEACONS (servants) -- then move on to greater service and responsibility … thus YOU ARE NOW TO HAVE THE FUNCTION OF BISHOP UPON YOUR MIND-SET. Don’t be called ONE, rather just function as ONE. This will be a noble goal if you really want to REACH THE MULTITUDES! There seems to be no other way! You have to CHANGE your MIND!
- YOU MUST HAVE NOT JUST 12 people, but must have 12 LifeGroups OVERSEEN by you! Go for the 144 LEVEL. It has to be in place!
- YOU MUST HAVE NOT JUST 1 or 2 SITES, BUT GO for 10 SITES, 10 REGIONS, 10 CITIES overseen by you and your wife. This is BISHOPPING!!! Remember what JESUS said ... now be in charge of 10 CITIES! Wow!
I know I could not do this alone. That is why a UNIFIED and PASSIONATE TEAM is a requirement. TEAMS make DREAMS work. And TEAMS make CATALYTIC movements ... it is also a powerful MULTIPLYER!
You MUST thing like a BISHOP!
To MY 12 -- lets pray together, preach together, disciple people together in the Vision and Values of His Life Ministries.
WOULD YOU HEED THE RESPONSIBILITY of BISHOPPING?
Will you make this your MOVE this 2012?
jr here :-)
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KINGSMEN IN THE VISION
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