In his closing argument for the state, Cal Rerucha suggested that McKinney and Henderson pretended to be gay to lure Matthew Shepard out of the bar. He described the two men as like two wolves watching a lamb. He discounted the fact that meth had much to do with crime. By then, Shepard was heavy into drugs. The ministry of pastoring involves doing what a shepherd does for his sheep: He knows them (John 10:14); he leads them (John 10:3-4); he feeds them and guides them into the rich pastures of Gods Word (John 10:9; 1 Thess. Later that year, Matthew moved back to Wyoming and attended in classes at the local community college in Casper. 1. All rights reserved. Others (including the R.T.) take the reading of several good manuscripts, , and understand to be an ellipse for , the phrase used in Romans 8:32; and so render it "which he purchased by the blood of his own Son." To the chief prosecutor, it was mainly a drug-driven crime. Biblical Theology and Shepherding : 9Marks As already mentioned, the church is not a democracy. In Acts 20:28, Paul tells the Ephesian elders that they are among the sheep. In Acts 20:28, Paul tells the Ephesian elders that they are among the sheep. In 1 Peter 5:2, he reminds the elders of the church that they live in the midst of the flock (i.e., "among you"). The fact that elsewhere St. Paul invariably speaks of "the Church of God" (e.g., 1Corinthians 1:2; 2Corinthians 1:1; Galatians 1:13; 1Thessalonians 2:14, et al. And devout men carried Stephen to his burial, and made great lamentation over him. A little bit later in the text we read these words: Therefore those who were scattered went everywhere preaching the word (Acts 8:4). More insights from your Bible study - Get Started with Logos Bible Software for Free! 5:12; 1 Tim. He said of his confinement, I belong here for what I did. McKinney is less remorseful. None of these things are easy or pleasant. President Obama signed the Matthew Shepard Act into law in 2009. Thats an entirely different thing than church politics! Rejoice when they unfold the Scriptures without shrinking back. Fourth Sunday of Easter - The Episcopal Church At a press conference the day after the beating, Sheriff Gary Puls, in response to a question, agreed that Matthew might have been the victim of a hate crime. It is the first responsibility of the pastor to make sure that the sheep under his care are fed, nourished, and nurtured by the whole counsel of the Word of God. This term points to a man who is spiritually mature enough to discern spiritual dangers and to guard and guide the flock into spiritual growth. Let your heart rejoice when they eschew worldly affirmation for the pleasure of God. To prevent these problems, we need to answer from the Bible, Who is in charge of the church?. Russell Henderson remains in prison, but is not bitter. 4:11), where Paul says that God has gifted some as pastors and teachers, the two concepts being tied together. However, as we continue with this third missions trip with the apostle, we yet have yet some very important lessons to learn. All rights reserved. Who Shall Shepherd the Flock? | Desiring God It took me a moment to realize that he was a pastor and not a coach for a sports team or some sort of motivational speaker/CEO type. I finally figured out that coach was his way of saying pastor and that the story he was directing was somehow a metaphor for life. The church father Gregory of Nazianzus (329-390) outlined this . That feeding is given at the responsibility of thepastor. John 21:16). A primary preposition denoting the channel of an act; through. Still in sight of homes, in a field of sagebrush and prairie grass by a rail fence, they stopped. Acts 20:28 NKJV - Therefore take heed to yourselves and - Bible Gateway Henderson was charged with interfering with a police officer and released. Thus as elders humbly walk with God in their own homes (1 Tim. Where are there differences? .If youre going to base a civil rights movement on one particular incident, youre asking for trouble, because events are more complicated than most politicians or activists want them to be. (Journalist Andrew Sullivan, quoted by Stephen Jiminez in The Book of Matt. a popular meeting, especially a religious congregation. It belongs to Jesus Christ who alone is the Head (see Eph. An hour or so later, McKinney and Henderson showed up at the Fireside and took seats at the bar, four or five seats from where Matthew was sitting. 27 Bible Verses about Shepherds, As Church Leader - Online Bible The Cody bartender, who was straight, claimed Shepard made repeated sexual overtures. King James Bible Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath . ), and never "the Church of the Lord," may be allowed, from one point of view, some weight as internal evidence in favour of the Received reading; while from another it may be urged that it might have tempted a transcriber to substitute a familiar for an unfamiliar phrase. He drank and used drugs heavily. To feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.--It is clear that the words as they stand in the text are of immense importance, as bearing their witness to the belief of the Apostolic Church at once in the absolute divinity of Christ and in the nature of His redemptive work. Our church has over 130 widows who have various degrees of needs . Who is in charge of the church? Our Acts 6 Ministry exists to serve widows in our church body and was founded on the biblical principle outlined in Acts 6 to oversee their care. Deacons should seek to help, aid, and be of service to pastors (lead ministers) by functioning as ministry leaders who meet the needs of the church. And on the anniversary, we thought of all days, it would be a perfect opportunity for us to elevate the message that more needs to be done around police oversight. Jesus three times gave the mandate to Peter to feed His sheep to tend the flock. A law that allow federal prosecution of assaults based on the race, sex, religion, national origin, disability, or sexual orientation of the victim. Christians who isolate themselves are endangering their own spiritual growth by avoiding biblical accountability or counsel. Later, McKinney would say later he first struck Shepard after he reached over and grabbed his leg. Can We Pray for Illumination in Our Lives? A forensic psychiatrist who examined Henderson concluded he was scared to death of McKinney. To that end we have elder candidates fill out an extensive personal questionnaire to learn about their walk with God, their home life, etc. It is the responsibility of the church to seek the Lord (Paul fasted and prayed, Acts 14:23) to discern which men meet those qualifications and are willing to devote themselves to that ministry, and to recognize them as elders. The prosecution case did not include many surprises. McKinneys meth and cocaine, however, came from Laramie suppliers, not Shepards Denver-based drug operation. Before doing so, he looked at the black pickup and noticed botanical evidence on the hitch that made him suspect McKinney was involved in the Shepard beating. He faced charges of murder, kidnapping, and robbery. An expert witness testified that the drug can produce both paranoia and hyperactivity, and a potentially dangerous cocktail of emotions. But he would die, just over five days later. (1 Tim. Women may serve on the staff of a local church as pastors and teachers of other women (Titus 2:2), but not over men. What Is Baptism? Characteristics of Shepherding Deacons . The Shepard case, as well as The Laramie Project and the work of the Shepard family, provided impetus to the push for a hate crime law. According to Henderson, it was during this conversation that McKinney brought up robbing Shepard. Shepard was still alive and breathing heavily when he was found. Acts 20:28 NKJV - Therefore take heed to | Biblia The prophets promise that a future son of David will come and shepherd . . And he was out of drugs. Church Leaders Lead Through Shepherding - Be a Shepherd He hung out at the bar until sometime after 6:00, when he left to attend a meeting of the campus LGBTA, where plans were being made for the following weeks events celebrating Gay Awareness Week. View our current career opportunities. McKinney responded by striking Henderson in his face with his gun. The verb is used of church leaders in several places (John 21:16; Acts 20:28; 1 Pet. Philippians 1:1 Paul and Timotheus, the servants of Jesus Christ, to all the saints in Christ Jesus which are at Philippi, with the bishops and deacons: 1 Timothy 3:2 A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach; 1 Timothy 5:17 Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially they who labour in the word and doctrine. We will cover this in more detail when we get to these verses. It would be a long time coming, but it happened. They frequently spent time together as a foursome with their girlfriends. Russell Henderson, in contrast with McKinney, seemed an unlikely candidate to be involved in a murder. The defense attempted to show that McKinneys meth use was the cause of the violent beating. 5:2.) Although Henderson never struck Shepard, he followed McKinneys order and tied Matthew to the fence. Accepting that reading, the words not only confirm the great truths of the Church's creed, but give an implicit sanction to the language of theology or devotion, when it applies to the divine nature of our Lord predicates that belong strictly to the human nature which was associated with it. The term is always used in the plural with regard to a single local church (see Acts 14:23; 20:17; Phil. in which the Holy Ghost set you as watchers. In a Today Show interview, his father called him The Bad Karma Kid.. There are two main terms used interchangeably in the New Testament to describe church leaders: elders and overseers (Titus 1:5, 7; Acts 20:17, 28). Copyright 2002-2023 Got Questions Ministries. On October 2, after paying $1100 in cash for a limo ride with his good friend Tina Labrie to the Tornado, a Fort Collins dance club. Sheep without food soon grow thin, weak, emaciated, and . But Matthew reminded her of a frail mouse and McKinney, she said, was the cat.. 3:1-2) looks at the nature of the work. In the first place, to be a shepherd over the flock of sheep means that it is the shepherds responsibility to lead the sheep. Isaiah 40:11 He shall feed his flock like a shepherd: he shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom, and shall gently lead those that are with young. In contrast, Acts tells us about Simon the Magician who wanted occult 11:14) and there is wisdom in sharing the responsibility and authority in the church, so that no single person will dominate without accountability. This means that the elder who is supported as the teaching pastor (1 Tim. In October 2009, President Barrack Obama signed the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr. It must also be remembered that shepherds are part of the fold and not above it. Neither is the church viewed as a democratic organization, where the members are free to vote their own minds on issues. 4:11-16). Those who teach must also come under the weight of their own messages (Acts 20:28;1 Timothy 4:6). 28 Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. First Lesson: Acts 4:5-12 Pastoral Care (1): Definitions and Background - The Gospel Coalition McKinney wrote, When we got out [to the truck], [Matt] tried to get on me and I started kicking his assAt no time did we know he was gay until he tried to get on me., On the morning of October 8, Henderson, and the two mens girlfriends were questioned separately at the sheriffs office. The Bible does not make room for leaders that are aloof, unengaged, and arrogantly unsympathetic to the lives of the sheep. (Acts 20:28; 1 Pet. We are here demanded today that all police chases in Akron, Ohio and abroad ends today. But servant leadership is not soft leadership. The only page missing was the one for listings under the letter M.. Therefore, shepherds in the church must remember that they are under-shepherds to the flock under the supreme headship of the Chief Shepherd (1 Peter 5:4). Of "the other sheep," Jesus said, "I must bring them also.". Shepard drove his Ford Bronco to the Fireside Lounge sometime between 10 and 10:30 PM. Elders (Greek, presbyteros; see also 1 Pet. This was set forth with great emphasis in Jesus' discourse with Peter after the resurrection, when He inquired of Peter's love for his Master. TEXT Vs. 28-31 {28} "Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the HolySpirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which Hepurchased with His own blood. In addition, he drove the vehicle in which he anticipated a robbery would take place. The Christian leader is one who follows Christ and inspires others to follow Him as well. I dont know.. Shepard's parents, Judy and Dennis, established a foundation in Matthew's name, which continues its pro-LGBT . WASHINGTON (Gray DC) - Hundreds of demonstrators traveled to Washington, DC on Tuesday to demand justice for Jayland Walker, one year after he was killed by eight Akron, Ohio police officers. . . You should be shepherding your own family, setting an example in your own home. Scripture's story of shepherding begins in earnest when God brings his people up out of Egypt, guides them through the wilderness for forty years, and leads them safely into their own land. Acts 20:28 Be on guard for yourselves and for all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood. But they are not to lord it over those allotted to their charge, but to be examples to the flock. How tting that we should study this portion of the Word of God onFather's Day But its not necessarily the biblical way. Meth was a big part of the club scene, and Shepard began working for a Denver family involved in a drug distribution route running up I-25 from El Paso to Denver through Fort Collins, and then over to Laramie. The prosecution would have to proceed without the testimony of Henderson, who reversed an earlier decision, probably out of fear. Judge Voights ruling on November 1, cutting off the defenses main argument, meant the case went to jury the next day. Or it might have been that he knew too much. Matthew was taken by ambulance to Poudre Valley Hospital in Fort Collins. So when the congregation faces difficulties and trials, their faith is made more resilient through scriptural refinement. Two suspected killers were quickly apprehended. But a good shepherd weans his sheep from the elemental principles of milk that is given to babes, and he gives them a diet that will cause them to become strong and fully equipped to do the ministry of the gospel. Elders have charge over the flock and are accountable to the Lord. Shortly after I came here, I had lunch with a denominational executive who advised me, Youve got to build your power base as a new pastor in a church. I didnt reply, but I thought to myself, Im sorry, but Im not into building a power base. If you operate that way, youre simply trying to manage and manipulate a bunch of self-willed people expressing their wishes through majority rule. They fail dismally on this front. Also, every time elders are mentioned in the New Testament, they are men, not women. It is the chief responsibility of the pastor, who is the shepherd, to lead thesheep. Remember, an organism is not the same as an organization, but an organism is highly organized. Shepard attended Catawba College in North Carolina in the fall of 1995, where he developed his first close same-sex relationship. (Its possiblemaybe likely--that McKinney knew of Shepards scheduled drug run that day and expected to find a large amount of cash.) Kristen Price, Aarons girlfriend, told police [Aaron and Russ] just wanted to beat him up bad enough to teach him a lesson, not to come on to straight people. Not much of Prices story seemed credible to Detective Ben Fritzen who told her, It sounds like you guys stories are pretty well rehearsed. Price answered, Yeah, they are. Chastity Pasley, Hendersons girlfriend, also suggested to police the beating had something to do with Shepards sexual orientation. From that moment on, for most people following the Shepard case, the beating turned murder was a hate crime, plain and simple. Verb - Present Imperative Active - 2nd Person Plural. Journalist Andrew Sullivan, himself a gay man, observed, If youre going to base a civil rights movement on one particular incident, youre asking for trouble, because events are more complicated than most politicians or activists want them to be. The real world is messier than our myths. ** He began doing crystal meth and made money working as a male escort. After a Summit County Grand Jury declined to bring charges against the eight officers in April, 27 civil rights groups wrote a letter to the U.S. Department of Justice to urge it to open a pattern and practice investigation into APD. Mr. And Shepardfor some reasonsaid that he could. Paul tells Titus (1:9) that an elder must be able both to exhort in sound doctrine and to refute those who contradict. There are times when certain practices among Gods people must be prohibited and wrong doctrines must be confronted. Ephesians 4:11 McKinney told Henderson to take a dirt road past a subdivision on the edge of town. It also may be that one elder, especially the one supported to preach and teach (1 Tim. But Durand was not there. Thus the basic principle of church government is that Christ is the Head of His church. A little flock. This humility, for Paul, was a pastoral strength that had been sheathed in the scabbard of meekness. Twenty-one years after beating Shepard into . Acts 6 Ministry - The Shepherd's Church In many ways this reflects the character of God. You. Thank you., The judge asked the Shepards if they wished to say anything. I thought we were at a pastors conference and now this guy with a client base is waxing on about directing people in some vague story. Those, he explained, are the members of the congregation. Paul didnt hold elections; he appointed elders. Amen. Note one final thing: In 1 Timothy 3:1 Paul says that a man should aspire for and desire the office of overseer. Elders should shepherd God's flock. What was said inside the bathroom is not known. From 1977-1992 he was the pastor of Lake Gregory Community Church in Crestline, California. A church that has a mutual affection for her leaders is a blessed union. The Christian leader is also a feeder and a nourisher of the sheep, and the ultimate "sheep food" is the Word of God. The word shepherd is the same as pastor. The work of pastoring is shared by the elders. Acts 20:28 - MESSAGE | MEANING | REFLECTION Daniel Ploof How would you respond if you made the biggest mistake of your life? So was it a hate crimeor was it something entirely different, a crime that was all about drugs and money? Henderson got to know McKinney when they began working together as roofers in Laramie.
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