Category Archives: Elders and Deacons

Don’t Muzzle An Ox

Posted on March 12, 2025 by Bryan Hodge

“You shall not muzzle an ox while it treads out the grain” (Deuteronomy 25:4 cf. 1 Corinthians 9:9; 1 Timothy 5:18). This may concern a rented or borrowed animal. Consider these words, “There are two basic options for the identity … Continue reading →

Posted in animals, Elders and Deacons, law of moses, Preachers | Tagged 1 Corinthians 9:11, 1 Corinthians 9:9, 1 Timothy 5:18, animals, borrowing, care of animals, context Deuteronomy 25, Deuteronomy 25:4, does Paul quote Moses out of context?, dont muzzle an ox, justin taylor, laborer is worthy of his wages, Luke 10:7, Matthew 7:12, ox, Proverbs 12:10, rented or borrowed ox?, scripture, thegospelcoalition | Leave a comment

Busy Leaders

Posted on September 26, 2023 by Bryan Hodge

Colin Powell once said, “Leadership is solving problems. The day soldiers stop bringing you their problems is the day you have stopped leading them. They have either lost confidence that you can help or concluded you do not care. Either … Continue reading →

Posted in Elders and Deacons, leadership | Tagged 1 Corinthians 6:5, answering questions, book my american jouney, busy leaders, chloe, colin powell, daughters of zelophehad, David, deacons, elders, eleazar, esther, ezra, helping others, helping soldiers, intermarriage problem, James 5:20, Jesus, leadership, leadership quote, maternity dispute, miracle on the way to a miracle, mordecai, moses, nehemiah, paul, pick up sticks on sabbath, resolving disputes, settling disputes, Solomon, solving problems, usury, woman of tekoa | Leave a comment

Choosing to be a Leader

Posted on September 12, 2023 by Bryan Hodge

“Some are born great, some achieve greatness, and some have greatness thrust upon them” (William Shakespeare, Twelfth Night Acts 2 Scene 5). The meaning? (1) Some men are born great. They do not have to work for it. The inherit … Continue reading →

Posted in Elders and Deacons, leadership | Tagged 1 Peter 5:2, 1 Timothy 3:1, 2 Corinthians 12:15, 2 Corinthians 5:14, book shepherds wake up, choosing to be a leader, compulson, deacons, desire to lead, ego, elders, hard work, Jesus was a servant, jj turner, leadership, love, money, Philippians 1:15-16, prayer warriors, preachers, shakespeare, some have greatness thrust upon them, some men acheive greatness, some men are born great, song leaders, teachers, twelfth night | Leave a comment

Great Leadership

Posted on August 29, 2023 by Bryan Hodge

What are some qualities of great leadership? Here are some things that the Bible says. 1. Serve. Great leaders serve. Jesus said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and those who are great exercise … Continue reading →

Posted in Elders and Deacons, Example, leadership, Priorities | Tagged 1 Corinthians 10:24, 1 Corinthians 12, 1 Corinthians 6:20, 1 Peter 4:10, 1 Thessalonians 2:4, 1 Thessalonians 5:11, 1 thessalonians 5:14, 2 Corinthians 5:9, 2 Timothy 2:15, 2 Timothy 2:2, 2 Timothy 2:4, Acts 6, apostles needed help, book 20 years of the problem page, book principles amd perils of leadership, church is a body, clear priorities, deacons, delegate, Deuteronomy 1:38, Deuteronomy 3:28, dwight d eisenhower, Ephesians 4, example, Exodus 18, Ezekiel 34, franklin camp, Galatians 1:10, Galatians 4:6, Gatians 6:1-2, James 5:20, job for all members, joshua, leadership, Matthew 20:25-28, Moses needed help, Numbers 27:18-20, pleasing God, prepare for future, priorities, Romans 12, Roy Lanier sr, serve, train | Leave a comment

Three Roles to Consider

Posted on April 7, 2023 by Bryan Hodge

I want to highlight three roles which are mentioned in the book of Ezekiel. These roles are: the watchman, the hearers, and the shepherds. 1. The Watchman (Ezekiel 3, 33). The prophet or preacher is compared to a watchman. It … Continue reading →

Posted in Church Organization, Elders and Deacons, Preachers, prophets, Textual study | Tagged 2 Kings 9:16-20, 2 Samuel 18:24-33, attendancecare for the weak, bishops, book principles amd perils of leadership, city walls, corrupt leaders, duty, elders, Ezekiel 22:23-31, Ezekiel 3, Ezekiel 33, Ezekiel 34, failure of leadership, franklin camp, fruitful church, guard flock, hearer, hearing, individual needs, Isaiah 56:9-12, Isaiah 9:16, Israel and Judah's failed leadership, james rowe, Jeremiah 23:11, Jeremiah 6:13-14, Jeremiah 8:10-11, judges, kings, lead not drive, leaders, Micah 3:11, milk and meat, pastors, preacher, priests, prophet, protect the flock, respect of church in community, responsibility, shepherds, song you never mentioned Him to me, three roles to consider, value of being a christian, walls, warning the sinner, watchman, what to do with the message | Leave a comment

Misused Passages (Part 2)

Posted on May 8, 2020 by Bryan Hodge

This series concerns passages which are commonly misused. Specifically, this series concerns passages misused by brethren (later we will deal with passages misused by others). 6. “Do not lay hands on anyone hastily” (1 Timothy 5:22). This passages is … Continue reading →

Posted in Bible Study, Elders and Deacons, Faith, heaven, hermeneutics, Word Study | Tagged 1 Corinthians 2:9, 1 Timothy 5:22, 2 Timothy 2:15, appointing elders, asv, bible study, correcting an elder, david lipscomb, denny petrillo, dub mcclish, Endurance, eye has not seen or ear heard, faithful until death, faithful unto death, handling aright the word, heaven, Isaiah 64:4, kjv, laying on hands, laying on hands hastily, measure twice cut once, mishandling scripture, nasb, orthotomeo, partaking in other men sins, Revelation 2:10, rightly divide the word of truth, rush to judgment, spoudazo, study to show thyself approved unto God, vincent's word study, wayne jackson | Leave a comment

The Church: God’s Field, God’s Building and God’s Flock

Posted on June 27, 2017 by Bryan Hodge

“You are God’s field” (1 Corinthians 3:9). Paul was writing to “the church of God which is at Corinth” (1 Corinthians 1:2). He referred to them as “God’s field” (1 Corinthians 3:9). Why is the church metaphorically referred to as … Continue reading →

Posted in Chruch, Church Organization, Elders and Deacons, Textual study, Type/Antitype | Tagged 1 Corinthians 3:9, 1 Peter 5:1-2, albert orsborn, care and provision, church, church series, dwelling place for God, elders, eliza hewitt, following Jesus, foundation of church, fruitfulness, God's building, God's field, God's flock, Guy N. Woods, harry d. clarke, Holy Spirit, j.w. mcgarvey, living stones, mytonymy, ownership, paul and apollos, robert taylor jr., sanctuary, sheep, shepherd, song: into my heart, song: let the beauty of Jesus be seen in me, song: sanctuary, song: where he leads I'll follow, song: who will follow Jesus standing for the right, tabernacle, temple, tom m. jones, w.a. ogden | Leave a comment

Five Faithful Sayings

Posted on May 24, 2016 by Bryan Hodge

Paul verbally highlighted five points for emphasis sake in the books of 1 & 2 Timothy and Titus. These are five things which should be remembered. 1. “This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus … Continue reading →

Posted in Elders and Deacons, Endurance, Example, Faith, Phrase Study, Priorities, Textual study | Tagged 1 Timothy 1:15, 1 Timothy 3:1, 1 Timothy 4:7-9, 1 Timothy 4:9-10, 2 Timothy 2:11-13, bodily exercise, bodily exercise profits little, Christ came to save sinners, figure of speech, five faithful sayings from 1 Timothy and 2 Timothy and Titus, godliness, godliness is profitable in all things, good works in 1 Timothy and 2 Timothy and Titus, he cannot deny himself, if a man desires the position of a bishop he desires a good work, if we are fithless he remains faithful, if we deny him he will deny us, if we die we shall live, if we endure we shall reign, life that now is, life to come, maintain good works, paradox, paul chief of sinners, profitable, profitable to men, promise of life that now is and that which is to come, saul's conversion, savior of all men especially of those who believe, suffer reproach, the living God, those who believe should be careful to maintain good works, Titus 3:8, to this end we labor, trust-worthy sayings, we trust in the living God, works, worthy of all acceptance, worthy of all acceptation | Leave a comment

So, You’ve Got A Little Power!

Posted on May 11, 2015 by Bryan Hodge

In Psalm 82 God addressed the judges of old. He referred to them as “the might,” and even as “gods.” Why are they referred to as “gods”? The word “god” has reference to might, strength, authority, or position. Some have positions of … Continue reading →

Posted in Death, Elders and Deacons, Ethics, Family, Government, Marriage, Parenting, stewardship, Textual study | Tagged 1 Peter 3, abuse of authority, Acts 5, bribes, Colossians 4, emplyer and employee, Ephesians 5, Ephesians 6, fathers provoke not, husbands love wives, judges, masters treatment of servants, men called gods, power corrupts, prejudism, Psalm 82, rebuke of gods, submission, use authority for good, use od authority, ye are gods, you shall die like men | Leave a comment

Various Instructions for New Converts

Posted on April 30, 2014 by Bryan Hodge

The church at Thessalonica had not existed very long when Paul wrote his first letter to them. He closed the letter with various instructions for these recent converts. These instructions are valuable for every convert. Let’s notice… 1. Comfort and Edify … Continue reading →

Posted in Bible Study, christian growth, Elders and Deacons, Fellowship, Holy Spirit, Love, Prayer, Textual study, Unity | Tagged 1 Thessalonians 5, abstain from every form of evil, affliction, be at peace among youselves, comfort and edify one another, despise not prophecy, esteem and love those who labor among you, hold fast to what is good, instructions for new converts, persecution, prove all things, quench not the spirit, rejoice and pray with thanksgiving, song oh the depths and the riches, test all things, tillit s. teddlie | Leave a comment