Joseph Swartz's Comments

Joe,

there are at least 10 simple/organic gatherings in the Columbus area. How many have you visited nearby, and what have you found among them?

Marshall Diakon

diakon2@gmail.com

Joe,

if you will, write me direct by e-mail for contact information.

diakon2@gmail.com

blessings!

Marshall Diakon

to "leadership" and "oversight", a significant adjustment from the traditional would be in how these are recognized. Saints leading are recognized in their faithful leading; those overseeing are understood as overseeing by their faithful demonstration of oversight. Acts 20:28, where the Holy Spirit (not politic) appoints and no one watching would doubt as they see Him enable His choice(s). To contrast, the religious system western-styled "office" positions are rapidly falling away.

To Hebrews 13, with help from the Concordant translation: "Be remembering those of your leaders who speak to you the word of God, contemplating the sequel [what follows] of their behavior, whose faith [faithfulness] be imitating. ... be persuaded by your leaders, and be deferring to them, for they are vigilant for the sake of your souls, as having to render an account, that they may be doing this with joy, and not with groaning, for this is disadvantageous for you."

observing that I Timothy 3 is becoming better understood as a caveat. In other words, anyone who thinks he will be overseeing or as a shepherd to the flock of God, and that man is flagged via I Timothy 3 or Titus 1 content, we know together how he is on-course to failure. as example, if a man who is not known hospitable thinks himself to act today in supervision with the ekklesia, the saints are most unlikely to regard his well-meaning effort. Instead, they will promptly encourage him to first seek from God a grace in hospitality.

I Peter 5 presents an invitation-encouragement-admonition for elders (olders) to move in/toward "shepherd the flocket of God". Not all elders will be able or prepared to shepherd in His flock. (Seeing more clearly now that it is elders (olders) who are ideally appointed as overseers, shepherds, deacons...)

While there are a few small groups who, for fear or misunderstanding, set aside the possibility of "leading" to be occurring in the ekklesia, the broader transformation is in how leading, serving, and supervising manifest. We're shedding the old for the new (that's really older still).

Hi Joe, hope you are having a good day. I thought I had sent a reply to this post, but I dont' see it. Not sure if it got to you or not. I also sent you a message through Facebook about meeting next week. Let me know if that will work for you. Hope you guys have a nice evening. Talk to you soon.