10.25.2009 Ordination Service

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10.25.2009 Grace Summit Sermon - Ordination Service from Grace Summit on Vimeo.

10.25.2009 Grace Summit Worship - led by a team from H2OKent from Grace Summit on Vimeo.

Mike Marette: Today, we are ordaining two new elders to our church. There will be a lunch afterwards.
Let’s pray – then I’ll share, then Dick, then Jeff – then the ordination.
Lord, I thank You for Your this day – and the honor that we have to recognize the work you have done in Dick and Jeff’s lives – how they have served this church faithfully for so many years. Thank You for the kindness You have shown to us and what you have done in this church. Thank You for Your word – Use this service as a way of challenging us and encouraging us to be more like You.

We are going to go back to the Sea of Galilee – Last week we talked about Peter’s first calling. At the end of John 21 – Jesus has a special word for Peter.

This is after Jesus’ resurrection – and before the crucifixion – Peter’s last words to Jesus – “They all may leave, but not me – I will never desert you – I will die with you – just give me the chance” – and that was Peter – and he suffered for who he was – and then, they were standing in the courtyard – “Aren’t you one of his disciples?” no – YOU ARE! NO! and he starts cursing – and in Luke, it says that Jesus caught his eye. Just a few hours earlier – and now the moment of truth comes and you are cursing that you don’t know Him – and He looks at you…

The guys, at the end of John – and it is reminiscent of the first calling – “Have you caught anything? No. Throw it off on the RIGHT side of the boat – and immediately the nets were filled with fish – and John looks – and says – It is the Lord! – and there is a fire – Jesus is setting this up – Where did Peter deny Him? In front of a fire!

15 So when they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon, [son] of John, do you love Me more than these?" He said to Him, "Yes, Lord; You know that I love You." He ^said to him, "Tend My lambs." 16 He ^said to him again a second time, "Simon, [son] of John, do you love Me?" He ^said to Him, "Yes, Lord; You know that I love You." He ^said to him, "Shepherd My sheep." 17 He said to him the third time, "Simon, [son] of John, do you love Me?" Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, "Do you love Me?" And he said to Him, "Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You. "Jesus said to him, "Tend My sheep.

3 times Peter denied Jesus. 3 times Jesus gives the opportunity to affirm his love for Him. We don’t know it – this is probably the gravest sin someone can commit – to deny the Lord in front of Him. But Jesus is restoring Peter’s confidence – and confirming and validating his apostleship. Look – you denied Me – that is past – now get back to your original calling – you were called to lead my people and that is what I want you to do now. When you question yourself – Jesus is saying – yes you are. – No matter what you have done in the past – I believe in you now.

There is a lot of discussion in this passage about the word ‘love’ – but I don’t think that is as significant as it has been made. “If everyone else leaves – I will die with you” – But Jesus is saying – the motivation for any form of spiritual leadership is a love for Jesus. That has to be the motivation for what we do in ministry – it is easy to get excited about ministry – it can build your pride and make you feel good about yourself. For motivation for service – there is only one – a heartfelt, deep love for Jesus Christ. Any other motivation will collapse – if you are doing it for the cause – that will fail. If you are doing it for the glory – that will fail sooner! All He is concerned about is ‘do you love Me?’
The question today – as we enter this service – do you love Him? That is all. Do you love Jesus? And He tells Peter how to demonstrate that love – feed My sheep. He commands him to do what he has been called to do – to care for God’s people. This goes back to the Great Commandment – You shall love the Lord with your heart, soul, and mind – and the second is like it – to love your neighbor as yourself.
Today – we will appoint Dick and Jeff as elders –and they will share what led them to this – 4 weeks ago, I shared what this means – you can go online and see this. This is something they have been doing for years and we are formally recognizing what they have already been doing.
1 Peter 5:1 Therefore, I exhort the elders among you, as [your] fellow elder and witness of the sufferings of Christ, and a partaker also of the glory that is to be revealed, 2 shepherd the flock of God among you, exercising oversight not under compulsion, but voluntarily, according to [the will of] God; and not for sordid gain, but with eagerness; 3 nor yet as lording it over those allotted to your charge, but proving to be examples to the flock.

With Jeff and Dick – and Melissa and Sue – they have been in this church from the beginning – longer than me! They have been faithful to serving this church all those years – and they have sacrificed in many ways for the health and growth of this church. This church would not be here without the Yackleys and Coopers – yes, the Lord can do this – they are founding members.
Cindy and Sue went to high school together. Graduated in 83…
Dick has devoted a lot of time – he is here a lot. He has somewhat of a large family – and it has been a great sacrifice – and I appreciate all you have done. Dick is a man of great humility – if you know Dick – you know that. Dick has always said – if there is someone better than me – he can take it. As you see with our worship program, we have a lot of people involved and that is his humility – in giving others an opportunity. When you talk to Dick – you feel like you are a better person. That is significant.

For Jeff and Melissa – they have invested their entire married lives in this church –and as a family – they have served in this church in every way – in every position – and I really appreciate that. They have stood by this church in the tough times – and in some of the most difficult times, Jeff has stepped up to the plate for me and this church. There was a time when some suggested that this church be closed down – and Jeff and Melissa stepped up to our side. I will never forget that.

Jeff is an initiator – we had a website before there was a web – and I remember getting a call 15 years ago from Africa – Jeff was with Al Gore when the Internet was invented. You know his heart.

Dick Cooper: I’m not used to being up here without a guitar – this is a little awkward – but I’ll get through that.
Mike reminded me that the original word for elder means older.
I wanted to tell you my story –
Early in my life – my finances were set forever – I was highly recruited by the roller derby teams – not just for my skill but for my keen sense of attire (shows picture of himself at age 3 with roller-skates on) – I won’t go through day by day of my whole life –
I met Sue – and we got married – and through some interesting circumstances – I was willing to go to a Bible study – and was excited about it.
They had a series of verses – and I got this one verse –
Romans 3:23 – For there are some pretty bad people out there who have done some pretty bad things.
But then I realized what it REALLY said - For ALL have sinned. All. I stumbled across that one all morning – it dawned on me – God saw me as a sinner. Everyone who is here is a sinner. I may have thought I was close to God’s character – and I thought ‘if He is going to be that petty and see my sins…Well!
Then I continued on in the study:
Romans 6: 23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
The pastor kept referring to John 3:16 – I realized there were like 4 Johns in the Bible
16 "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life.
I realized that God saw me as a sinner – and that day – I didn’t know all the ins and outs – but I decided that day to follow Jesus.
A couple years later – another series of God events – and we started attending this church a few generations ago in Columbus – and I learned how great God is and how far short I fall. The chasm started to grow – I really fall short.
This point came – it was like God was speaking to me – Yeah, you did a lot of bad things – but I have forgiven you of those things and I don’t remember them any more.
Jeremiah 33: 34 "And they shall not teach again, each man his neighbor and each man his brother, saying, 'Know the Lord,' for they shall all know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them," declares the Lord, "for I will forgive their iniquity, and their sin I will remember no more."
We are all sinners – we are all capable of messing up – nothing shocks me – sometimes it motivates me to help – when I have been forgiven I can help others.

I don’t have 3 points – that’s all – Jeff?

Jeff Yackley: Oh, I have far more than 3 points. I am not going to go through each day of my life – but I will say – that at a young age, my mom instilled in me the desire to help others and to see where others are coming from – I haven’t always been good at it – but – oftentimes – if I would be critical of someone – she would say, “Oh honey, you don’t know what they have been through – if you had been through what they have been through you would make the same decision that they made.” – I really appreciate that about her – she has been a great example to me. I have had many great examples through the years: my mother-in-law, Betty, and Ken – and her mom – Melissa’s grandmother, who was a real prayer warrior and a great example – and I really appreciate the input that these have had into my life.
Let me start by saying –
1) This is just the beginning. – Dick and I being appointed – there are so many men in this church who fit the character qualifications of 1 Tim. 3 – and Titus 1 – let’s look at
TITUS 1: 5 For this reason I left you in Crete, that you might set in order what remains, and appoint elders in every city as I directed you,
Elders – it is plural – it is more than one – and we have had a desire in this church to have a plurality of leaders here - and as we grow, there will be opportunities for many other men to be raised up here.

2) This is a serious responsibility – I recognize that…
Heb 13: 17 Obey your leaders, and submit [to them]; for they keep watch over your souls, as those who will give an account.

That is sobering – when I stand before God – the things I have proclaimed from the pulpit – I will have to give an account for those. Peter says to speak as if speaking the very words of God – that is serious and I don’t take it lightly. I do want to include the next verse there:
Let them do this with joy and not with grief, for this would be unprofitable for you.
18 Pray for us, for we are sure that we have a good conscience, desiring to conduct ourselves honorably in all things. 19 And I urge you all the more to do this
Pray for Mike and Dick and I.

3) This is about you - I love you and want what is best for you and your relationship with God. However I can serve you in doing that – come and let us know how we can help.
Sometimes you see people making poor choices and your heart is grieved. You think – if only they would understand the Word better – you wouldn’t make these choices – yes, like my mom said – if you were in their circumstances, you would do the same thing – but at the same time – as they hear the truth of God’s word, it helps them to make better decisions. As I share the word, nothing gives me greater joy than to hear of changed hearts responding to the truth of God’s word.
3 John 1:4 I have no greater joy than this, to hear of my children walking in the truth.

4) This is about JOY - You are Jesus’ joy – you are my joy as well – I’m reminded of
1 Thess. 2: 19 For who is our hope or joy or crown of exultation? Is it not even you, in the presence of our Lord Jesus at His coming? 20 For you are our glory and joy.
I’ve been thinking a lot about the word JOY lately – In January – I remember thinking about
Matt. 13: 44 "The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure hidden in the field, which a man found and hid; and from joy over it he goes and sells all that he has, and buys that field.

It is the joy of the Lord that causes us to do what we do –
Another misunderstanding of this verse – I often think the field is like the Kingdom of Heaven – and we should give all to obtain it – but I realize that this is us – Jesus gave all He had to obtain us – when you look at Luke 15 – you see the Lost Sheep – the Lost Coin – and the Lost Son – that shows that God cares deeply for the Lost and we should as well.

Luke 15: 8 "Or what woman, if she has ten silver coins and loses one coin, does not light a lamp and sweep the house and search carefully until she finds it? 9 "And when she has found it, she calls together her friends and neighbors, saying, 'Rejoice with me, for I have found the coin which I had lost!' 10 "In the same way, I tell you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents."

This shows that God cares and He rejoices over bringing his children back to Himself.

In closing - I want to read from Hebrew 12 – in this, I am reminded of the first appointment we had here – was of a man who was a father to me when I was losing my own father – Dennis Knable – He went home to be with the Lord 4 and a half years ago –
I don’t want to forget Dennis – he was a trailblazer here and a great example for all of us.
Heb. 12:1 Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance, and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him (you are His joy) endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Thank you very much.

Dick & Jeff individually
Will you be loyal to the doctrine, discipline, and worship of Christ as this church has received them? And will you, in accordance with the beliefs of this church, live in submission with the other elders with whom you will share your work?

(I will)

Challenge to Congregation
Please stand (Congregation stands)

Dear friends in Christ, you know the importance of this ministry, and the weight of our responsibility in presenting Dick & Jeff for ordination as Elders.

Will you uphold them in this ministry?

Response (We will)

Let us pray. Lord, we thank You for this Church – that You have loved – the people you’ve loved and died for – the people you’ve called to serve of Cuyahoga Falls – Greater Akron area – thank You for Dick and Jeff and their commitment to this church and we pray that Your blessing would be upon them now as we appoint them as Elders.
Please be seated.

We will ask Dick and Jeff to kneel …
Dick & Jeff, the Church is the family of God, the Body and Bride of Christ, and the dwelling place of His Spirit. All followers of Christ are called to make Jesus Christ known as Savior and Lord and to share in the renewing of this world. Now you are called to work as elders to shepherd and teach the flock of God, together with your fellow elders, and to take your share in the councils of this church.

As elders, it will be your task to proclaim by word and deed the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and to fashion your life in accordance with its teachings. You are to love and serve the people among whom you work, caring alike for young and old, strong and weak, rich and poor. You are to preach to declare God’s forgiveness of sinners through Christ alone, to pronounce God’s blessing, to share in the oversight of Baptism and The Lord’s Supper, and to perform all other ministries entrusted to you.

In all that you do, you are to nourish Christ’s people from the riches of His grace and mercy, and strengthen them to glorify God in this life and in the life to come.

Jeff & Dick, do you believe that you are truly called by God and His Church to the role of Elder/Pastor?

(I do)

Do you now in the presence of this church commit yourself to this trust and responsibility?

(I do)

Will you respect and be guided by the counsel of your fellow Elders?

(I will)

Will you be diligent in the reading and study of the Scriptures, and in seeking the knowledge of such things as may make you a stronger and more able minister of Christ?

(I will)

Will you undertake to be a faithful Pastor to all whom you are called to serve, laboring together with them and with your fellow Elders to build up the family of God for their great joy and the glory of God?

(I will)

Will you do your best by the mercy of Christ to pattern your life and that of your household in accordance with the teachings of Christ, so that you may be a wholesome example to this, Christ’s flock of His people?

(I will)

Will you persevere in prayer, both in public and in private, to plead for the mercy and grace of Christ, both for yourself and for others, offering all labors to God, through the mediation of Jesus Christ, yielding to Him and trusting in His power alone, and in the sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit?

(I will)

May the Lord Who has given you the will to do these things give you the grace, mercy, and power to perform them. Amen

Consecration/Ordination
Elders and Deacons pray
Dave Brunelle: Heavenly Father, we thank You for these men. We admire them for their willingness to obey Your call to this office. We ask for a hedge of protection for them and their families. Father, let them cling to the grace and mercy of Jesus Christ – and may they look only to You for their strength for this task. We recognize that no one is equal to this task, but You give them the power to do it. So Lord, we ask that You would fill them with Your Holy Spirit for this task. Let them fix their eyes on You – and look to You, the Great Shepherd of our Souls, as they look to shepherd this flock, to which You’ve entrusted them.

Jason Slack: Lord, I pray that You would protect these men from how the enemy may attack the leaders – the shepherds – to scatter the flock. May they have an extra amount of Your grace in order to stand up for You in this time. I pray that these men would be refreshed in You – that, as Mike shared, would serve because they love You, Jesus. Sometimes we don’t see the fruit of our efforts, but when our goal is to love You – we see all the fruit in our hearts and lives and people here. So we pray that You would empower them and refresh them in You.

Doug Hare: Dear Heavenly Father, we thank You for the work You have been doing and will continue to do. On behalf of the church, I thank You for them and what You have done in their lives. We tell You today – we give them the honor and authority in our lives and the respect that is due to them – we support them. And thank You for their willingness to give their lives for us. We pray that You would bless them and that they would continue to grow to be the men that You want them to be.

Chad Frank: Lord, I agree with that and ask that You would help them to keep watch over their own hearts in addition to the flock that is being entrusted to them, Lord, that they may not lose their first love. Let them be drawn closer and closer to You as their hearts are molded into Your heart for these people. I pray in Christ’s name.

Rick Reynolds: Lord Jesus, thank You for raising up Dick and Jeff- for bringing them to work alongside with Mike. Bless their leadership times together as they confer with each other to guide us. We ask for blessings on them, their lives, their families, everything about them. Bless their lives and honor them with this service.
Mike Marette: We pray that You would bless us and cause Your face to shine upon Dick and Jeff, Melissa, Sue and their families and all who go here. May we understand that Jesus Christ loves us – and may we demonstrate that love together. We join together in unity to follow You – and to serve You. In Jesus’ Name we pray.

There is lunch after church - thanks to Gigi Montgomery for all the cooking she has done!