A question I’ve been reflecting on about church buildings

dms1972 said:

Leadership involves spiritual gifting.

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Jesus did ***give*** "some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers" (in Ephesians 4:11). But then was when no one was a mature saint with decades of maturing and experience. And so . . . possibly . . . this is why our Apostle Paul does not list any "gift" as a qualification to be a "bishop" >

1 Timothy 3:1-10.

This includes the person being "the husband of one wife" > ***a family man*** > "who rules his own house well, having his children in submission with all reverence (for if a man does not know how to rule his own house, how will he take care of the church of God?)".

How he takes care of his own children can show how he would take care of God's children . . . in our Father's family caring and sharing way.

***So . . . leading is not only hierarchical or "particular", but p~e~r~s~o~n~a~l.***

"nor as being lords over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock." (1 Peter 5:3)

An example needs to be someone you know personally, so you can feed on that person's example . . . of how the person really is and how the person relates.

We see how Paul and Silvanus and Timothy were personal examples to the Thessalonians >

"we were gentle among you, just as a nursing mother cherishes her own children" > in 1 Thessalonians 2:7 >
"we exhorted, and comforted, and charged every one of you, as a father does his own children" > in 1 Thessalonians 2:11.

And this comes with first trusting in Jesus so we are trusting Him by submitting to Him in us. Jesus is the Lord of all; and we most benefit from how Jesus is ruling, by obeying how in us He rules us with His very own peace > we are commanded to obey how God rules us in His own peace > "in one body" > every one of us >

"And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful." (Colossians 3:15)

So, in God's one church God Himself is personally ruling every one of us in His own peace. This is personal of God, Himself . . . in our "hearts" > very personal, indeed.

And because this peace is God's own peace, this peace has God's own almighty power which makes Him Himself immune to howsoever evil would affect and control and hurt Him > this peace, also, "will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus", our Apostle Paul guarantees . . . while we pray the way God's word says to pray >

"Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God;" (Philippians 4:6).

Therefore, while we obey God in His peace, we share with Him in His own immunity almighty . . . as our Apostle Peter also says >

"And who is he who will harm you if you become followers of what is good?" (1 Peter 3:13)

And in this peace, which is of God's ***all-loving*** love in us > we also share with our Creator in His creativity for how to love any person, and how to relate with one another who are submissive to God in His peace >

"submitting to one another in the fear of God." (Ephesians 5:21)

So, in ruling by example, there is this mutually submissive relating, included . . . "and personal".

And our Apostle Paul wrote >

"For there must also be factions among you, that those who are approved may be recognized among you." (1 Corinthians 11:19)

What I get from this is that Paul knew there would be wrong influencers. But he also knew how Jesus' sheep can hear His voice . . . so we can tell the difference between the fakers and the ones who are "approved". Sheep also have the sense of smell, so that, no matter how cleverly someone can talk, we can *s-m-e-l-l* the difference > with maturity we have "senses exercised to discern both good and evil", we have in Hebrews 5:14.

So, this is basic, included in what we need to trust God for, in prayer requests for all which is possible with God.