Commissioning Jeremiah Nortier as an Elder

Good evening. Good evening.

Man thank y 'all for coming out tonight. I know the weather is not ideal. It's dark. It's it's rainy. It's foggy but it means a lot to us to know that we have a church family that understands the weight and the gravity of what's taking place tonight and this is this is a Historic night for our church, you know, we've we've been.

Growing out of infancy as a church. And as you look around you see. You see God at work. You see God at work in an individual's lives. You see people coming and being a part of this body. You see all the blessings that that God has has bestowed on us his people.

And one of those blessings over the past two years has been pastor Jeremiah and his wife Ally.

Amen.

Amen they have been a tremendous blessing God has been has been so gracious in bringing them into our path and and over the past two years We have we've have treated and looked to pastor Jeremiah as that that very thing as a pastor as an elder of 12 -5 church.

I've I don't think I've made a single decision in this church that I've not Run by you and talked through and and we've made that decision together and so from a practical perspective God has just has been faithful through that but during that we we took this process of getting to tonight very seriously.

Pastor Jeremiah has gone through a rigorous process over the past two years. All of the books that got piled on him to read all of the all of the things that he had to write the things that He had to answer.

We did quite a due diligence in his life and I'm so grateful that he was willing to walk through that process and Continue to serve here without the title. If that makes sense that shows me the heart of this this man that has been serving us So faithfully and diligently and and miss Allie Sacrificing hours and evenings and mornings and nights and and and weeks and days and all the things that she she lets us have him and.

So, thank you for that. That's a tremendous blessing and we honor that. And so we are so grateful I want to make sure that you know that tonight is not as you would typically understand an ordination service.

For pastor Jeremiah has been ordained. He is an ordained minister into the ministry of God. What tonight is is tonight is an official official? commissioning of him being identified marked and acknowledged by us the people of the church as the second elder of 12 -5 church and so I have the privilege tonight of Introducing and many of y 'all have gotten to meet pastor Jerry.

Pastor you've known me since I was what about that tall. That's right his daughter put me in a garbage can that's how long he's known me. So I'm so honored to have have you here and then Aaron Johnson you look in the back I know y 'all have gotten to meet them.

These men have traveled a thousand miles to be here for this event for this night because Because pastor Jerry and the other elders at River Bend a church that has been in our corner since day one. That has supported us that has come alongside us that has has been a tremendous help In the life of this church.

They are invested in this because all those books and all those papers and all those things got to be sent to those elders and they got to sit and read through it and evaluate and and see Pastor Jeremiah's life from a distance and so we get to have them here Helping us commission him, but I would like to introduce pastor Jerry if you come up He wants to share a few words with us about leadership and eldership as we get tonight started.

It's a special treat for me to be here because it's like coming home. Now I went to school at Arkansas State for four years Graduated and went off into the army ended up Eventually coming back to ASU and worked in the athletic department there for 20 years and I Only lived about a mile from this location.

So I have a vested interest. I've spent Close to a third of my life investing in this area not only Raising a family and all that but spiritually. So it's a special treat. You know, I'm married a girl from Jonesboro.

I Adopted a girl in Jonesboro. I Had another girl daughter in Jonesboro. So this is a special place for me and I used to drive through these areas before there were even roads here, I think and Some of you may remember back there, but it's this is fun.

So this is really a treat for me. I'm now at River Bend. Started there with pastor Roy Hargrave Nathan's dad who became one of my best friends and Pastor Roy was the pastor at Philadelphia Baptist north of Jonesboro.

When I started dating the girl I married that was her home church, so that's how I got the connection and It's been a long road and pastor Roy told me one time he said Someday, I'm going to invite you to be on my staff and sure enough he did so He had me ordained and sent me through the mill learning doctrine and So I have been serving as an elder at River Bend in Norman Beach, Florida for the last 29 years.

So it's it's fun to be back home. I have to put on these glasses or I won't see my notes. Pardon me as pastor Nathan said we're here to commission formally Jeremiah as an elder in this church. I've spent a little time with him most of today and A couple of times when he's been in, Florida And gotten to know him and I'll tell you this if he's not listening.

He's the real deal. If you've heard him preach and teach you've been around him. You know that don't you I? Don't have to say that to you. I just want to stress the seriousness of what this is tonight.

What we're doing. The office of elder is a sacred office. The Bible does not take it lightly and it's up to the church in this case 12 -5 church. To guard the office of elder you don't just take someone off the street and put them in there and say go to it.

It's someone Who God has called and he has proven himself and that seems to be the case with Jeremiah. The character and effectiveness of any church is Directly related to the quality of the people who are its elders.

Who are its leaders? The biblical norm for any church is Plurality of elders each elder contributing a lot to what goes on in the church. In fact, it's the only pattern for church leadership that is given in the church given in the New Testament.

That the church be done this way. Nearly every reference to the church in the New Testament mentions elders. And Nowhere, do we really find a local church in scripture or in church history? That has Proved to be what it could be if it's not run or governed by eldership.

You probably know that the term elder originated in the Old Testament goes back to the days of Moses. When he had 70 tribal leaders who made decisions served as judges resolved conflicts just exercise general oversight.

The word elder in the New Testament is used 70 times and about half of those refer to an office in the church. The others refer to someone like me who is elderly. In fact at Riverbend, they call me the eldest elder.

Also the laying on of hands which we will do at the end tonight Comes from the Old Testament sacrificial system. When people were offering a sacrifice back in the Old Testament days They would place their hand on the sacrifice to signify that it was from them to make it official.

They identified with it and that's what Will happen tonight. You having your representative up here to lay hands on Jeremiah will identify with what's going on in describing the qualifications the Apostle Paul focuses on the character of The elder not the function of the elder.

This is important. A man is qualified because of who he is and what he is. Not because of what he does or what he has done his character it's all about character. A Man should never be an elder unless these three things are true.

First his greatest love has to be the Lord and the Word of God. The Lord and the Word of God. He needs a deep faith and passion for both of those. Psalm 138 to says the psalmist is saying to the Lord you have exalted above all things.

Your name which refers to his character and your word very important. A man should never be an elder unless he loves the church with unquestioned loyalty because an elder Actually serves for the rest of his life.

Matthew 16 18 Explains that the church is the only institution of the four institutions God created. It's the only one That will be sustained forever. The church is who Jesus will come back for. Also, the church is the only earthly earthly expression of what heaven is like and if you look at the New Testament Much of what is written in the New Testament is to churches or to?

Pastor elders of churches. And the third thing a man should never be an elder unless he believes he is called by God. There has to be a calling on his life. And if this is true, he can't be successful at anything else as as he would be as an elder.

And if God calls someone God will see that he meets the qualifications. Otherwise, it's not really a calling. Seminaries can help equip people for positions. Boards and committees can help prepare people for opportunities.

But only God can call a man and make him fit and if God calls someone to eldership God will get him qualified. Every elder of every church, especially the elders of the twelve five church Will give an account for how he conducts his eldership his ministry.

The very high standards in Scripture are not negotiable. The Bible is the gauge on what an elder is and if he is really called. So why did God set these standards so high? Because whatever the elders and leaders of a church are the church and its people will become Prophet.

Hosea said in chapter 4 people will be like their priest. Jesus said in Luke 6. Everyone after they are fully trained will be like their teacher. I've been in 11 churches in my life and I can Unequivocally say that is true.

I have seen that. The way the elder the way the pastor the way the Overseer the way the bishop the way it goes. That's the way the church way He goes is the way the church goes in Scripture. We have four different words.

You know, I'm sure y 'all understand this but the word elder the word bishop the word overseer and the word pastor. Synonyms, they all refer to the same office the same person. This really kind of depends on the.

The translation you're looking at in some cases first Peter 5 kind of brings three of these terms together. I want to read that passage verses 1 2. Therefore I exhort the elders among you as your fellow elder and witness of the sufferings of Christ and a partaker of the glory that is to be revealed shepherd or pastor the flock of God among you exercising oversight.

Not under compulsion. Voluntarily according to the will of God and not for sordid gain, but with eagerness first Timothy 3 1 through 7. I'm sure you've had studies that outline the spiritual qualifications of men in leadership.

Especially elders. There's a parallel passage in Titus 1. Just in summary. I want to mention these to you and then I want to come back to one of these for a little deeper explanation. Above reproach, that's the one we're going to come back to you.

Remember these are qualifications of an elder. Think of pastor Jeremiah as. These are read and see if you do not define him. With these terms the husband of one wife, which means he is a sexually pure M a L E male.

Read this passage. There are no no such thing as female elders nine times. The pronoun is he. There's never a mention of it or she it's always he. He's sober minded, which means he never lets anything cause his mind to get unclear.

Because at any time he may need to make a decision and if his mind is not clear He'll have trouble doing that. Self-control this means he's prudent and self-disciplined. Respectable means that he's orderly steadfast and systematic.

And I've seen some of these qualities and in pastor Jeremiah today. Hospitable, you know what that word means. Loves strangers. If you think you're hospital and hospitable and you don't love strangers and you don't have the right definition that may not be your gift.

Able to teach. I've already heard from some of you you appreciate his teaching. Someone mentioned While ago that back there in the back about his. Teaching on apologetics has been so outstanding. Not a drunkard or addicted.

In other words, he doesn't frequent bars. He doesn't have a drinking lifestyle. Not violent means he avoids fights. Never gotten into a fight.

Okay.

He's gentle which means he has a forgiving spirit. He easily pardons mistakes by human nature. Not quarrelsome. Means he's a peacemaker. Not a lover of money. He has no greed in him. He's not covetous.

He manages his household. Well, I understand he has a brand new child. I'm gonna hold that child up. Hey. And what's the child's name. JJ, okay. Not a recent convert a mature Christian with growth and spiritual wisdom.

I'll tell say this in talking with pastor Jeremiah today. He is mature beyond his years. He has a better concept of Spiritual things and a lot of people my age and I'm way up there. He has a good reputation he is well thought of by people outside the church that's very important.

A walking testimony of integrity. So there are in this passage there are 15 qualifications and I want to focus on. The one that says must be above reproach. I Means in the in that verse verse 2 1st Timothy 3 the verb note the verb must be Must.

If you translate the word must it means required. No exceptions allowed. No exceptions allowed. That means it's excuse me. Absolutely necessary and the helping verb there be that's present tense. That means now.

Above reproach means he is of unquestionable character he is living in a state of Blamelessness. There's nothing in his life that would indict him against scripture. It's not just actions, but also attitude.

This does not mean he is a perfect person. It just means that he has no obvious lingering character character. Issues that he does not take care of. He is a model of godliness. He sets the example. His life brings honor to the Lord.

Is this a picture of pastor Jeremiah? Richard Baxter an English Puritan pastor from the 1600s. Must have been thinking of Jeremiah when he listed these three things. These are pieces of wisdom. Take heed.

Wow take heed lest your example contradict your doctrine. Sure, you've heard that. Then he said don't unsay with your life. What you say with your tongue do so and you become the greatest hinderer of your ministry.

And.

Then Baxter said one proud surly word one needless contention one covetous action may cut the throat of many a sermon or lesson taught and Blast the fruit of all you have been doing. You know, what are you saying?

Practice what you preach and I'll say this to pastor Jeremiah When something goes wrong People are gonna jump on it and blame you. You you probably already know that you. I'm sure you've been through some of that in 29 years.

I've seen a lot of it. The elder is one of the chief targets of Satan and trying to undermine a church. He goes after the leadership then he goes after families which was one of God's institutions that he created.

Elders must carefully guard against wrong thoughts because those thoughts lead to actions. The elder must be resolute and unashamed Regardless of what is thrown at him. Now, how does an elder protect himself from the onslaughts of the enemy?

Three tools and I'm speaking to pastor Jeremiah here. The rest of you just get to listen. Okay. The first tool is the scripture. Psalm 119 11 your word have I treasured in my heart that I may not sin against you.

The psalm is speaking to the Lord. The embedding scripture guards us against. Yielding to temptation doesn't guard us against the temptation, but it will help us put up a defense. Against yielding to it and a daily dose of scripture will help.

Us.

Prevent from prevent ourselves from becoming complacent. Which is easy to do in the ministry and that's Satan's goal is to implant complacency in the heart and lives. People who are supposed to be leaders because then it carries over to everyone else.

So the second tool is prayer. You should always have the Lord at the forefront of your heart so he can be the first thing off your tongue. When some someone needs to be interceded for and you don't have to ask an elder for prayer.

All you have to do is let him know a problem you have and that's one going to be one of the tools he uses. To help you through that situation the elder Needs to issue himself a declaration of dependence on God.

And this happens through yielding in prayer. Real humble submissive continual praying Doesn't mean you pray all the time. It means you're ready to pray at a moment's notice. Regardless of the need and fellowship is the third tool.

It's hard not to help someone When you are like family with them. Isn't that true? Isn't that true with your family? Realizing that teamwork and ministry togetherness is a byproduct of doing your eldership properly.

Above reproach does not mean That you are perfect. If it did there would be no elders. Because no one would be qualified. It just means that you are a man who strives to have unpeachable integrity. There must be no sinful blight that taints one's reputation if he is an elder or his character Gets put into question.

There are a lot of things. And some of these you may have already experienced. I just want to share some of the things that i've experienced. As an elder that I never expected the middle of the night phone call from people when they're having a problem and you have to.

You know get out of bed go to their home and help help them through it if you can. Being subpoenaed to a courtroom because of conflicts between two people. Stopping a fight between a dad and a stepdad over where their Daughter was going to go to school.

And.

Getting marked up a little bit and in the struggle. Being told I'm going to get you and i'm going to get your job if you don't baptize my daughter. I didn't want to baptize the daughter because she didn't understand salvation.

She didn't even understand what sin was. Yet I got that threat. I was accused once of Illegal drug use. Never used drugs in my life. Praise the lord. I've learned how to do church discipline. Matthew 18 is the lead passage in that.

And.

A lot of people when you do that, you know, you're trying to get someone to Come to repentance over a problem in their lives. That affects not only themselves, but other people. And you're seeking repentance.

You're not trying to kick people out of the church. You go through three steps before. You get to the excommunication process. And 99 of all of those cases end up in repentance. The bible is foolproof.

It works. Even in something like that I'm sure jeremiah in your role of counseling with people. Uh who are who are near death or have families like that? You've held the hand of people dying. Uh the first time you do that, that's that's a strange experience.

But it means something. To that family it means something to that person. Right before that happens. Uh, I was accused once of embezzling money. And I've I know of another man who was accused of that as well.

And it proved to be false. People will do anything to attack someone. Who is in that role of elder? So Just remember that the future of the church Depends on the quality of the leadership. The elder is one of the leaders from what I can tell you should be.

You should consider yourself blessed. That you have someone like jeremiah to join up with nathan. And there may be some more of you who feel the call later. But that their characters both fit well for this church.

Jeremiah jeremiah will have five pieces of instruction for you. Number one stay true to the gospel no matter what anybody says no matter what pressure is put on you. Because you're going to answer to god whether you did or not.

Shepherd the flock of god. Treat them as though you would treat yourself and your own family intercede for the people. And you know of a need. Take it to the lord first. Be a caretaker. Be a volunteer.

Whenever there's a need in someone's life. And you recognize it your role as an elder is to go take care of that need whether you're asked to or not and then protection protection from Naysayers. People outside the faith who would try to sway people away from the truth happens all the time.

It's happened in this town. I've seen it myself. I've seen it in florida. I've seen it everywhere. That is your role. You have to be a great protector and you do that by throwing the scripture in satan's face.

And saying i'm standing on this. And you'll not sway me. And to 12 -5 church, I would say this. Be submissive to pastor jeremiah and to pastor nathan. They're here out of a calling from god to serve you, but ultimately they serve the lord first.

If you do something that wants to make them go astray they're sticking with the lord. I can tell you that. So you be submissive to them clothe yourselves in humility. Get to know the word of god and you'll get to know that you should follow these guys.

And allow them to serve you with joy. Don't give them all kinds of headaches give them support and encouragement. That's what they need. So I thank you for allowing me to be here and just to share with you a little bit about What an elder is and what an elder is all about and to encourage you to be supportive and Our church wanted me to present this book to jeremiah.

So i'll have this. Up here. We'll give that to him later. It's the book on leadership by dr. John mcarthur. You may have studied that book. If you already have one of these you can give it to somebody else.

Okay. So all these people might fight over who gets it. All right. So Let's pray and then We'll move forward. All right. Father thank you for this time that we have shared together. I pray lord that you would Bless this church beyond its own imagination.

We thank you for The way that you have taken it for from scratch and moved it to People who love you and who are supportive of the leaders. And who are willing to stand on your word? May that be something that never changes and we pray lord that you would usher pastor jeremiah into this role formally.

And.

I pray lord that He will stand true to you And not be wavered by all those Onslaughts that are going to be coming his way. In jesus name we pray. Amen.

Great truth in that word and that reminder. It's always encouraging to me. And I know i've spoken with some of you when we hear from the guys at riverbend and know that we have brothers and sisters that that Are in support of what god is doing here.

And I couldn't help but think as as you were up here speaking the process of how god uses Pastors and overseers of people's lives like yourself in my life. And god teaching me through that and that example.

And I know as i've spoken with pastor jeremiah He's had men that he's been able to look to And and and glean from and god has used a shepherd and helped mold him. But at this time what I would like for us to do is I know most of you have heard Uh pastor jeremiah's testimony in his life.

But I would like for him to come up here and just for a moment to share with us and lay out The calling that god has placed on his life both coming to to the lord. But then also the process of god calling you into this office.

So, uh, we'd love to hear from you pastor jeremiah.

Well, I just want to begin by thanking you all for being here on a very special evening. Um, like you said a little bit about my testimony begins, uh when I was 14 years old I really feel like that is the the moment where god awakened me to receive his gospel of grace.

And so I was 14 years old. But I don't feel like there was a lot of sanctification going on in my life at the time. Until I turned 21 I was in college. I was going through a major change in my life. And I praise god because I think he really started to grab hold of my heart and begin that wonderful road of sanctification.

And so during that summer when I turned 21, I went off to camp canna cook that was one of the best things that ever happened to me because I didn't know anyone. I was in a place that I was unfamiliar.

And so I was forced to spend alone time in the word of god and deep prayer. And to meet with other like-minded christians going through similar stages of life. And so god used that In a mighty way and that momentum came back with me when I went back into college and so I began my junior year in college.

And I found myself just loving the study of the word of god. I wanted to not only know what the word of god said. But I wanted to study it to know what it means in my life. And I mean I was in those financial classes.

And I couldn't tell you one thing the professor was saying I was I was studying the sermon on the mount. You know, I mean so I know that was by the providence of god and I started to feel that call To ministry and it scared me to death because I hated public speaking.

I couldn't have imagined a context like this just sharing my my heart with a room full of people. And so I was starting to go through that like man I love going to be with the people of god to be in situations of discipleship.

I loved Listening to sermons and to lectures and it was just this new profound thing in my life and I was like lord I think you're calling me to ministry because I was I was that student in college that changed my major like seven times I could not Figure it out.

I was like mom dad i'm gonna get these General education classes out of the way and then hopefully it'll land and so the only thing that stuck in with me was something that Pastor jerry was saying is I couldn't see myself doing anything else other than pursuing after ministry in some way.

Right, and so I believe that was when the big the calling to ministry began was in my junior year. In college and that's where I started dating my lovely bride ally and I told you very on early on I was like I feel the call to ministry and you're just like hey, I want to support you in that whatever it looks like.

So you have meant the absolute world to me ally in this whole process and so Um as I graduated college, we got married and I started working at academy part-time but it was it was meant to be temporal to Begin because in my in my heart I was like, okay, I think i'm supposed to go to seminary.

That's the next step in being called To ministry and I remember I bumped into a local pastor in academy and he invited me out to lunch. We had a wonderful time and he let me know they were looking for a youth pastor.

And I told him that's cool and all but I feel like I should go to seminary before I start doing Ministry work like that. He just said man We'll come in and mold you and be there with you and we'll do this together and I was like, hey i'm all in.

And so that was my first step into the realm of ministry. And I really am so thankful for that time. I could tell where my heart first began Was just bible study connecting with youth students discipleship but just being in the word being the word and preaching a sermon just seemed like There's no way I could do that.

So we'll we'll figure that out down down the road. And so in this church, I made wonderful connections relationships and I had so many ministry opportunities. Then things started to happen.

Um.

That was so confusing to me because there were there were trials even on the back side of ministry people weren't getting along. There were problems.

And.

Allie and I I talked with her about all these things and it's like I think it's time to go we can no longer be At this church, but something stood out to me during this this trial I knew this is exactly where god wanted me to be at was to be in ministry and serving in the church.

And so that was really good because I think those types of things really make or break if this is your calling or not. Oh, I didn't sign up for all the problems that come with ministry. But you know, I kind of had that misperception like maybe it's all roses and we just all get together and do all these things.

No, there's real life problems that you have to suffer alongside with with people in and so that moved us to another church. Where I had an opportunity to also minister to the youth and this is where um.

Just over time I started really thinking man. I need to be more than just the the theological mind I need to start learning how to be engaged with the people of god and so this is where I think the calling of being a biblical elder started to form in my heart not just somebody that loves to Study the word of god and then talk about it openly in the group people and that's wonderful.

And so I was able at in this particular place go through eldership training. And really refine some of those points that it's like it's not only an inward desire that has to be present. That must be a qualification for someone who's above approach, but you also have to aspire for that.

And so what was what was so wonderful as I was getting these? confirmations that those external disciplines are manifested in your life generally and so really that that heart that calling of god with the Men that I look up to so much affirming those external disciplines saying oh, yeah.

These are expressions of who your your character is and so In that situation just really becoming an elder for the first time and understanding these things. Once again, another big problem happened in a church and kind of broke my heart in the process.

But once again, it confirmed this is exactly where god has called me to be. And so then by the providence of god I was able to come alongside With pastor nathan in the church plant of 12 -5 church, and I was here the second sunday that 12 -5 officially launched but I believe my heart was with 12 -5.

And the partnership of nathan before 12 -5 was even a church. So I just look back and I am so thankful For everything that god has done in my life and has been shaping me and molding me. And I just want to thank you so much 12 -5 I love y 'all so much.

Y 'all are my church family and We're here to live life together and do this with one another and so just thank you again so much for this opportunity.

Do I keep this microphone? Hang on to that one. Keith. Oh, you already got this one going on. You can grab a stool here. It's gonna get serious. Now we um y 'all Y 'all know pastor jeremiah's theological um depth.

I should say, um, we all know that but we we want to uh as we take this evening very seriously we want Uh to take a moment. And i've i've come up with three questions kind of ranging across the board.

Thank you. Can you see us? Ranging across the board of some uh, some things that I would like to present and I would like to ask. Uh that pastor jeremiah can give a response to it as as. Is you the people?

Affirming pastor jeremiah as an elder here. You see that this man not only aspires to the office. Not only lives a life that is above reproach. But as a man who who is a student of the word of god. A man that can give an account.

Right a man that is ready in season and out of season. And so this is what this practice is all about and I want Us as a family to be able to be a part of this. So my first question pastor jeremiah, it comes from a category.

We call theology Theology proper right and the the question is list and explain some of god's communicable attributes. And why it's important to distinguish those.

Right. So the communicable attributes of god are things like love. Mercy compassion things that we as image bearers of god. We also have those things, right? You can all think about loving Relationships that you have with one another.

Well, that's a communicable attribute meaning that god also loves right? We know in first john 4 that god is love. Okay, so that's something that we can strongly relate to. But we have to understand that there's also Incommunicable attributes right and so those are things like god being omnipotent all powerful god is omniscient.

He is all knowing. Those are things that we can't do because we are created creatures finite. Right, so that even helps us inform the communicable attributes that we have with god because even our love is a finite love.

It's a created love. It's an impure love. And so I think when we start thinking about who god is he is the creator Of all things and so we're creatures, right? We're created in his image. And so when we have a good grasp of who god is and his transcendence and his holiness.

Yes, we can communicate relationally with him very similar how we communicate with one another but this puts us in our proper place. What we worship the one who knows all things who created this world and spoke it into existence and so understanding communicable attributes, I think Further drives our worship to who god is and it keeps going because he's trying you and he is a community In a and of himself and he's created us for community in that way.

That's so good. How'd I do for that? I think you did. All right, right. Now some of you may be thinking well, what does that have to do with tonight? That's kind of kind of out there different question.

You got to understand for someone to to be able to help shepherd the people of god into godliness Into the life that god has called them to be. These are the these are the things even some of the nuanced things in scripture the things about god.

A man of god needs to be able to give an answer to so that's why we're asking these. So thank you for that answer. My next question comes from a category. We refer to as pneumatology. This is the study of the holy spirit.