Sermon: Elders Serve By Leading

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Have you ever wondered what a Pastor-Elder is?Or what Jesus calls them to be and do for him?Or even what benefit it is for the church to have faithful elders? Last week, we kicked off our Diakonos sermon series by looking at how Jesus defined true greatness for those who lead in his kingdom: being a servant. This week, we will look at how Elders Serve by Leading. In 1 Peter 5, Jesus’ apostle encourages elders to care for Jesus’ people looking forward to Jesus’ eternal reward. In particular, Pastor-Elders serve by leading like Jesus for the good and health of his church.

Mark 10.35-45_Who is the greatest? How can it be me? _ These are the last questions we’d expect to hear the disciples were asking Jesus ... or at least we’d hope they wouldn’t. But they did ask them, and those questions are often on our minds, too.This week, as we begin our sermon series called _Diakonos_, we’ll hear Jesus’ answer and see the beautiful truth that HE is the greatest servant, “who came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.

This Sunday, we’ll bring our sermon series, "God’s King", to a close as we complete the Book of Samuel. When the book began, God’s people were being led poorly and desired a king like the nations. As the book ends, though a broken man himself, God’s King David is on the throne, confessing his sin, saving his people, and there’s a promise ... a promise that he’d have a son, God’s True King, who will rule God’s kingdom eternally for the people’s good.

Mark 16.1-8Early on Sunday morning, the Sunday after a Friday filled with the shocking, brutal, and gruesome death of Jesus followed by his burial ... and after a Sabbath filled with a certain confusion and sadness, the same women who looked upon Jesus at his death went to his tomb. As they spoke of the need to roll the stone away, they noticed it was already there and heard news that changes everything, "He has risen." This Easter Sunday, we'll celebrate this great news that changes everything

Last words are important and telling. More specifically, they tell what a person thinks is important. In this Sunday’s sermon, we’ll hear David’s final words ... words that God spoke to him and through him as God’s King. As a king who has seen the highest of highs and the lowest of lows, King David’s last words will point us to a crucial reality that a just ruler is a blessing to his people.

The Melrose staff talk about Good Friday, Easter, a checkers game controversy, upcoming sermon series we will hear on Sundays, a typo about the Spring Cleaning and Work Day, April's Connections Breakfast, an upcoming Women's Retreat in New Hampshire,  and how a new Goodreads feature could help some our staff. Listen to get up-to-date and laugh with (and at) us! Deacon of Care Info:https://www.sevenmilemelrose.com/deaconWomen's Retreat Info and Sign Up: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSd-wH-dTCz8IR-rvN8Km20sm95bcVRkBCNyHwOFFYZg39ZbWw/viewform?usp=sharing&ouid=117628007985786467489  

I call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised, and I am saved from my enemies.Over and over in the book of Samuel, we have seen how the Lord God delivered his chosen king from every battle, assassination attempt, coup, and rebellionBecause of that, David praises the God who saved him from all his enemies.To a greater extent, the Lord God not only saved King Jesus from the cords of death but, through him, saves us from all our enemies as well.Because of that, we can also say I call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised, and I am saved from my enemies

2 Samuel 21-22.1What have we done? How do we defeat our enemies?These two questions loomed large in the minds of God's people as David became king and they didn't stop. These questions were there before David and the answers marked much of his reign. Yet, as he nears the end of his life what stands out most isn't that he answered them, but that God delivered him. God delivered his king ... and his people!

We have no portion in DavidWith these words, Sheba initiates a rebellion against David and divides his kingdom. David’s kingdom can only be fully re-established with the defeat and death of Sheba, signaled by the trumpet blast of Joab.This Sunday, we will see that in this moment, Israel’s unity comes at the cost of one rebel’s life. This points us to the greater reality of God’s grace to us in Christ, who defeated his enemy by giving his one precious life for all rebels who come to him in faith.