Interviews & Events
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[4:14] but at the same time their leaders could be gathered together and addressed as the oversight of the church in that place. They were united in their interdependence under the apostolic teaching.
[4:29] And this interdependence and mutual accountability was especially important in the issue of recognizing and accepting genuine Christian teaching ministry.
[4:44] Which of course had to be consistent and true and trusted throughout all the churches. So in Acts chapter 16, for example, when Paul chose Timothy as his co-worker, we're told that Timothy had the approval and the support of, quote, the brothers at Lystra and Iconium.
[5:05] That is a plurality of churches and their leaders. In 1 Timothy 4, we're told that it was a body of presbyters, a body of leaders from these various churches who laid hands on Timothy along with Paul himself to ordain him and thus to publicly recognize him and enable him for his ministry throughout these many churches.
[5:29] And all of this is bound up in the matter of authority and accountability. To be ordained like that by a group of leaders is to be accountable to them.
[5:47] Because these men are responsible for conferring that pastoral office and that task. And that's why Paul is able later on to write to Timothy and to encourage him in his calling and to appeal to his ordination.
[6:03] Because that ordination creates a relationship of accountability. And tied up with that accountability, of course, is also the very important thing which is authority in ministry.
[6:19] As the centurion remarked to Jesus, it's those recognized to be under authority who can carry authority and exercise authority among others.
[6:32] And so, Timothy is told he is to teach the truth, rebuking, reproving, and exhorting, whether what he says proves popular or not among those to whom he is sent.
[6:43] And he can only do that because his authority is recognized to come from beyond simply the congregation he happens to be ministering to at the time.
[6:55] Where many people perhaps will not want to hear the things he says. If his authority is confirmed only from within that congregation, if, in other words, the pulpit is entirely controlled by the pew, then when he teaches what is unpopular and unwanted, the pew can simply remove him.
[7:19] And alas, that is very often the story when church government is entirely congregational, entirely independent, with no recognition at all of the essential interdependence of ministry, that really there must be among those who claim the apostolic heritage.
[7:40] No, churches must know that their teachers have authority and that they therefore must heed that teaching and submit to that teaching. But at the same time, part of the trust involved in that is that they also know that their teachers are held accountable.
[7:58] Accountable to a body of peers who keep them and who keep one another accountable to biblical truth and to genuine apostolic faith.
[8:09] And they need to know that if their pastor and teacher is in error in his life or his doctrine, that others beyond himself will also hold him to account. And they will also need to know that as he does walk in godliness and truth, that he will have the support and indeed the force of others behind him.
[8:31] Since he may well have to, in the course of his ministry, confront error in life and doctrine in the church among them, both for their good and the good of their own church life, but also for the common good of all truly gospel-believing churches.
[8:45] And that, in essence, is the value that such extra-congregational accountability, beyond the local congregation, that it brings to the life of the church.
[9:02] A real unity and therefore effective accountability, comes not from structural unity, which can often be very deficient, but it comes from unity in the truth of the apostolic gospel.
[9:14] And as the statement of the West of Scotland Gospel Partnership puts it, gospel unity can only be effective and meaningful when there is clear agreement on core truths, such as the person and work of Jesus Christ, the grace of God in salvation, and the inerrancy of scripture.
[9:35] And so, as part of that West of Scotland Partnership, we have bind ourselves with others locally in such gospel unity. And, as a congregation here in the Tron, we've also for some time had a council of reference, a body of presbyters in Scotland and beyond, in fact, to whom we often look for counsel and for accountability.
[9:55] There's nothing in the New Testament anywhere to limit such accountability to a small geographical locality or even to a single nation. In fact, it's quite the reverse.
[10:06] New Testament churches were utterly international in their relationships. And so, of course, today, with all the benefits of modern communication and modern travel, it is wonderful to be part of a truly worldwide fellowship, sharing bonds that are real, and therefore accountability that is real and realistic in our ministries together.
[10:26] But also, in recent years, we've become very closely bind together with a number of churches who have shared our own recent journey as a church, as well as sharing a very important heritage and ethos in Bible teaching ministry here in Scotland.
[10:45] And with so much in common, we've felt that it's right to be thus united in a small, but we trust, growing body, which we've called the Didasco Fellowship. Didasco is just a Bible word meaning teaching.
[10:58] And this close family, I think, already has proved a vital help in bringing support and stability and strength among congregations in times of significant challenge and transition.
[11:11] And we feel sure that it will help foster such strengthening and growth also in the future. So that's why this ordination this evening is not merely a congregational matter, but we might say a presbyterial one.
[11:26] We have with us this evening a body of presbyters, a body of pastor, teachers. They're all sitting here on my left. They're people who know us and who are at one with us in the gospel. And so together, we will act publicly to ordain our brother Paul to the ministry of Christ's church.
[11:45] And it will be a ministry that they all recognize and that they all share a part in. So we're glad to welcome brothers from the Didasco Fellowship and also from the West of Scotland Gospel Partnership and also from our own Council of Reference, along with others who are partners with ministry in us here and elsewhere.
[12:05] And they will stand alongside the senior pastors of our own congregation here in this ordination this evening. So I'd like to invite you to come forward and for Paul to come forward and stand before us as we together support him in his ordination.
[12:23] Paul is well known to most of us. He is somebody who stands before us this evening as recognized and respected not only in our own congregation, but also among all of us here as Christian leaders.
[12:37] He's somebody who's already proved himself to be a workman of God who rightly handles the word of truth. Paul was first an apprentice with us here at the Tron and then a minister in training and now that he has completed five full years of being fitted for the ministry of Christ's church, we come to this point of his ordination.
[12:59] And Paul, I can say personally that in these recent years it's become a great joy of mine to be standing not up here, but sitting down there and listening to you as you stand here and proclaim the truth of God to us.
[13:11] And so it's a great joy for me personally to join with these other brothers in your ordination this evening. And so in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, the sole king and head of the church, who being ascended on high has given gifts for the edifying of the body of Christ, we're met as a body of pastor teachers to ordain Paul Brennan to the office of the holy ministry by prayer and the laying on of hands by presbyters to whom it belongs and to confirm him in his appointment as associate minister in this congregation, the Tron Church.
[13:50] In this act, the church, as part of the holy Catholic or universal worshipping church of one God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, the church affirms anew its belief in the gospel of the sovereign grace and love of God, wherein through Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord, incarnate, crucified, and risen, he freely offers to all people upon repentance and faith the forgiveness of sins, the renewal of the Holy Spirit and eternal life and calls them to labor in the fellowship of faith for the advancement of the kingdom of God throughout the world.
[14:28] The Tron Church and the Didasker Fellowship acknowledge the word of God written in the scriptures of the Old and New Testaments to be the supreme rule of faith and life and avows the fundamental doctrines of the Catholic faith founded thereupon.
[14:44] It holds as its subordinate standard the Westminster Confession of Faith containing the psalm and substance of the faith of the Reformed Church, recognizing such liberty of opinion on points of doctrine as do not enter into the substance of the faith.
[15:00] And for the avoidance of doubt, the substance of our faith does include everything contained in the Didasker Fellowship Covenant and in the statement of belief of the West of Scotland gospel partnership.
[15:11] So Paul, would you stand before us and let me put these questions to you which are in our leaflets before us so all of us can see what you are binding yourself to and all of us standing at the front here as ministers of the Word of God remind ourselves what we likewise along with you are bound to.
[15:36] Do you believe in one God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit and do you confess in you the Lord Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord? I do. Do you believe the Word of God that is the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments to be the supreme rule of faith and life?
[15:54] I do. Are you persuaded that the Holy Scriptures contain all doctrine required as necessary for eternal salvation through faith in Jesus Christ?
[16:04] And are you determined out of the said Scriptures to instruct the people committed to your charge and to teach nothing as necessary to eternal salvation but that which you shall be persuaded may be concluded and proved by the Scripture?
[16:20] I am so persuaded and have so determined by God's grace. Will you be ready with all faithful diligence to banish and drive away from the church all erroneous and strange doctrines contrary to God's Word and to use both public and private monitions and exhortations to the sick as to the whole as need shall require and occasion shall be given?
[16:46] I will. The Lord do my help. Will you be diligent in prayer and in reading the Holy Scriptures and in such studies as help to the knowledge of the same laying aside the study of the world and the flesh?
[16:59] I will endeavor to do so for the Lord being my helper. Will you be diligent to frame and fashion your own self and your family according to the doctrine of Christ and to make both yourself and them as much as in you lies wholesome examples and patterns to the flock of Christ?
[17:19] I will apply myself there too the Lord being my helper. Do you believe the fundamental doctrines of the Christian faith contained in the confession of faith of this church and do you acknowledge the government of this church to be agreeable to the Word of God?
[17:33] I do. Do you promise to be subject in the Lord to those to whom is committed the charge and government over you following with glad mind and will their godly admonitions and submitting yourself to their godly judgments?
[17:48] I will do so the Lord being my helper. Do you promise to seek the peace and unity of this church to uphold its doctrine worship government and to cherish a spirit of love to all your brothers and sisters in Christ?
[18:03] I do. Are not zeal for the glory of God love to the Lord Jesus Christ and a desire for the salvation of man so far as you know your own heart your great motives and chief inducements to enter the office of the holy ministry?
[18:25] Do you engage in the strength of the Lord Jesus Christ to live a godly and circumspect life and faithfully, faithfully, diligently and cheerfully discharge the duties of your ministry seeking in all things the advancement of the kingdom of God?
[18:47] Almighty God who has given you this will to do all these things, grant also unto you strength and power to perform the same that he may accomplish his work which he has begun in you through Jesus Christ our Lord.
[19:04] Amen. You're now required to sign the formula as a seal of the vows that you have made. The formula states I believe the fundamental doctrines of the Christian faith contained in the Didasko Fellowship Covenant and the statement of belief of the West of Scotland Gospel Partnership.
[19:25] I declare that I believe the scriptures of the Old and New Testaments to be the supreme rule of faith and life and I accept the system of doctrine of the Westminster Confession of Faith as a subordinate standard of this church and will uphold these teachings and proclaim them to the church and the world.
[19:42] I acknowledge the government of this church to be agreeable to the word of God and I promise to observe the order of worship and the administration of all public ordinances as the same or I may be allowed in this church.
[19:58] Paul, would you kneel? That's when you gather around. Let us pray. God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, you call us in your mercy.
[20:12] You sustain us by your power. Through every generation, your wisdom supplies our need. You sent your only Son, Jesus Christ, to be the Apostle and High Priest of our faith and the Shepherd of our souls.
[20:28] By his death and resurrection, he has overcome death and having ascended into heaven has poured out his Spirit making some apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers to equip all for the work of ministry and to build up his body, the church.
[20:50] and so we pray you now. Pour out your Holy Spirit upon this your servant Paul, whom we now in your name and in obedience to your will by the laying on of hands ordain and appoint to the office of the Holy Ministry within the one holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church, committing to him authority to minister your word and sacraments and to share in the government of your church.
[21:21] Give him joy in serving you. Give him patience in affliction. Keep him faithful in prayer that he may be kept strong in your service until with all your servants you bring him to share in your eternal joy.
[21:39] through Christ who died for us rose again and lives now and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit one God now and forever.
[21:52] Amen. We stand. And so Paul now I declare you to be ordained to the office of the Holy Ministry and in token of this we now give you the right hand of fellowship.
[22:08] God bless you my brother. Go down there. Paul we present you this book the most valuable thing this world affords.
[22:24] Here is wisdom here is the royal law here is the lively oracles of God. Now as we stand and as we with the congregation stand Mark Ellis is going to lead us in prayer.
[22:43] Let's pray together. Our Father how we thank you that you have filled our hearts with joy and we want to thank you for all that you have done for us through your son Jesus Christ and this evening how we celebrate and thank you for your goodness to us in being able to set apart Paul for ministry and how we thank you for Paul and Steph for Jesse and Ollie and we pray for Paul that he would always remember that he is your child before he is anything else that he would stabilize him and strengthen him with the knowledge that there is nothing he can do that would make you love him more or love him less and that you would give him that deep deep assurance that he belongs to you and the freedom that that therefore gives to serve others may Paul always serve you and your people out of that security not seeking approval from others but wholly dependent on you through your son and please may all Paul does in this church family be an overflow of the joy that he has in being united to Jesus Christ please give Paul a tender heart that he would be sensitive to your word and the work of your spirit in his life give him grace and humility daily to put into practice what he reads and studies help him to keep his eyes super glued to Jesus Christ so that the more he looks to Jesus the more he becomes like Jesus and the more he is an example to others that they might imitate him even as he imitates
[24:15] Christ and give Paul courage to preach your word in season and out of season to look at a fractured and sometimes hostile world and gently but firmly hold out your truth and the hope of the gospel please give Paul a deep passion for those who do not yet know Christ that he with this fellowship would be cut to the heart for the sake of those who do not yet know you and please we pray strengthen Paul through tough days that will come anchor him in you and in in your character as the one who is loving and strong who is gracious and sovereign help him that in all he does he would be a faithful under shepherd willing to protect the flock and nourish them and care for them and please father may Paul and Steph together know the comfort of your love for them and your care for them as a family and their future bless Steph too richly that she may know that same security in Christ that same assurance of your love and good purposes for her that same comfort of your grace that together and in their family life together with Jesse and Ollie that would be a place where the aroma of Christ is made real and beautiful and that you would be glorified in them as they help each other and the members of this church family to see and savor Christ and so father bless and keep them may your face shine upon them and be gracious to them lift up your countenance upon them and give them peace and father we pray too for the church that meets here at Kelvin Grove for this congregation thank you for the way that you have brought them together and bless them with a godly pastor in Paul and we know the evil one would love to get in and disrupt such fellowship and so we pray for your protection that as your people draw close to you you would draw them close to one another that the members of this fellowship would be quick to forgive to bear with one another and please keep and guard your sheep from wolves and thieves who would desire to destroy and father we pray that you would pour out your spirit in a special way that you would give the people here hearts of flesh that they would desire you to walk in your ways give them please teachable hearts eager to hear your word eager to work with Paul to submit to his leadership and grow for the sake of your glory and please would you add to this number many who do not yet know Jesus Christ as saviour and lord father too we do pray for the church across Scotland and for the growing group of didasco churches may it be we pray our deepest desire to see Christ honoured and glorified not to build a reputation for ourselves but to see people from across our nation coming to Christ and how we pray for Scotland that you would not give us what we deserve that you would not allow a famine of the word of God that you would not withhold your spirit our only hope is that you would be merciful and we pray that as a group of churches as the didasco fellowship and many others represented here that we would stand together to build up your people and to hold out the beauty of the gospel of the lord
[27:33] Jesus Christ to a broken world and so father we commit our prayers to you thanking you for all your goodness through the gospel and we commit Paul and Steph and the family we commit this fellowship and the church across Scotland to you for the sake of your glory and we ask these things in the strong and loving name of our lord and saviour Jesus Christ amen oh may thy soldiers faithful true and bold fight as the saints who nobly fought of old and win with them the victor's crown of gold hallelujah as we stand we sing our final hymn stay here look at the grief .
[28:28] Manchester of valves always vocal struggle likeMart and others weANT have he said courtesy God to tunes hear our strengthened Thank you.
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[33:20] That together we may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. And may the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God the Father and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all now and always.
[33:39] Amen.