AM Scripture Reading: Titus 1.4-9 Sermon Series: Keeping The Church Strong & Growing Brent T. Willey Lesson #2: GOD’S APPOINTED LEADERS IN THE CHURCH Introduction: “For this reason I left you in Crete, that you should set in order the things that are lacking, and appoint elders in every city as I commanded you” (Titus 1.5). Why? The local church will always be in need of leadership! Notice how the apostle Paul addressed the Philippian church: “To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are in Philippi, with the bishops and deacons” (Phil. 1.1). DEFINING THE BIBLICAL DESCRIPTIONS The Eldership: […]

PM Scripture Reading: 1 Peter 2.4-10 Brent T. Willey THE VALUE OF THE OIKOS FAMILY (Not the Yogurt Variety) Introduction: The OIKOS family is an important grouping of words found in the New Testament Greek and the Septuagint (LXX). OIKOS “denotes (a) a house, a dwelling, e.g., Matt. 9.6-7; 11.8; it is used of the tabernacle, as the house of God, Matt. 12.4…; (b) by metonymy, of the members of a household or family, e.g., Luke 10.5; Acts 7.10…” (Vine). OIKODOMEŌ “literally, to build a house [a house; dome/w, to build], hence to build anything, e.g., Matt. 7.24; Luke 4.29; […]