1 Timothy 5:7-21

B4 Support the ministry

C1 Elders and honorarium

D1 Unless agreed upon, there should be some honorarium given for the time served.

D2 Especially for those laboring in word (Scriptures) and teaching.

D3 It takes time to prepare and time to present.

D4 Scripture supports this:

E1 Deuteronomy 25:4 NRSV You shall not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain.

E2 Luke 10:7 NRSV Remain in the same house, eating and drinking whatever they provide, for the laborer deserves to be paid. Do not move about from house to house.

D5 An honorarium is not to make the elders rich.

D6 That there is a honorarium needs to be known to the congregation.

C2 Elder misdeeds/sins

D1 This deals with the leaders, not individual Christians as Matthew 18.

D2 The accusation needs to be 2 or more witnesses. See also: 2 Corinthians 13:1-2 NLT This is the third time I am coming to visit you (and as the Scriptures say, "The facts of every case must be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses"). 2 I have already warned those who had been sinning when I was there on my second visit. Now I again warn them and all others, just as I did before, that next time I will not spare them.

D3 The word elder would include pastors, deacons, and deaconesses.

E1 Spiritual respect carries responsible for Biblical morality. There is honor and influence, hence the higher standard expected of them. Honor:

F1 Romans 16:2 NLT Welcome her in the Lord as one who is worthy of honor among God's people. Help her in whatever she needs, for she has been helpful to many, and especially to me.

F2 1 Thessalonians 5:12 NLT Dear brothers and sisters, honor those who are your leaders in the Lord's work. They work hard among you and give you spiritual guidance.

E2 Pastoral abuse is rampant.

F1 These fake pastors love money. Beware of pastors who are at frequent conferences. Just saying.

F2 And often love power. 1Pe 5:3 ESV not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock.

F3 When people start questioning what they are doing, they abuse to shut them up.

F4 They have a certain respect, so they love to cover up their evil. John 3:19-21 “This is [the reason for] the judgment, because light is come into the world and people loved darkness rather than light, because their actions were evil. 20 “Everyone who does evil hates the light and doesn’t come to the light, so that his actions may be discovered and reproved [discovered and reproved is one word in Greek]. 21 “But the one who does the truth comes to the light, so that his actions may be plainly seen that they are done for God.”

F5 Imagine an abused person or even a child coming to meet their sexual molester, rapist, or abuser in private (Matthew 18). This would be a very great evil, and it MUST not be allowed.

D4 The rebuke needs to be public, not private. Public means to everyone in the congregation and outside it.

D5 Rebuke is needed.

D6 Fake pastors will not be ashamed or in godly fear. They will not repent or confess their sins usually.

D7 Some articles:

E1 Our pastor has sinned. The elders will not take action. What should we do? (I know nothing about this site).

E2 Lesson 18: Church Leadership: Keeping It Godly (1 Timothy 5:19-25)

E3 Nine Ways Church Elders are to be Held Accountable (I’m not familiar with this site).

C3 Both of these activities must be without prejudice or favoritism.

C4 God, the Lord Jesus Christ, and the elect angels are watching and will testify against us if we do otherwise.

C5 Questions:

D1 How can church leaders take advantage of the brothers and sisters?

D2 Why is exposure of the evil actions of church leaders necessary?

D3 Why do a number of pastors work to cover up evil and start a campaign to silence those who reveal their evil?

D4 Does this rebuke rarely happen today?