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Shepherd Or Hireling?
by Sandy Simpson
The Bible lays out the definitions of both an overseer (under shepherd) and a hireling. John 10:11-13 I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep. But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth: and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep. The hireling fleeth, because he is an hireling, and careth not for the sheep. (KJV) 1 Tim. 3:1-3 Here is a trustworthy saying: If anyone sets his heart on being an overseer, he desires a noble task. Now the overseer must be above reproach, the husband of but one wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not given to drunkenness, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. (NIV) Titus 1:7-13 Since an overseer is entrusted with God's work, he must be blameless-not overbearing, not quick-tempered, not given to drunkenness, not violent, not pursuing dishonest gain. Rather he must be hospitable, one who loves what is good, who is self-controlled, upright, holy and disciplined. He must hold firmly to the trustworthy message as it has been taught, so that he can encourage others by sound doctrine and refute those who oppose it. For there are many rebellious people, mere talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision group. They must be silenced, because they are ruining whole households by teaching things they ought not to teach-and that for the sake of dishonest gain. Even one of their own prophets has said, "Cretans are always liars, evil brutes, lazy gluttons." This testimony is true. Therefore, rebuke them sharply, so that they will be sound in the faith. (NIV) A hireling does not really care about being a watchman, but is more concerned with protecting his reputation, position and income. A true watchman will guard the flock against wolves from within (Acts 20:30) and without (Acts 20:29) no matter the cost to his reputation, position or income. Following is a little quiz you can take to see if you are a true Biblical under shepherd as a leader in your church, are becoming a hireling, or are one now.
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Featured Discernment Ministry
Guarding His Flock Ministries
Scripture compares spiritual leadership to that of shepherds and their sheep. Though employed in the Old Testament (Jeremiah 23:1-4), this metaphor of ministry primarily refers to Jesus and His followers, for as He said, "My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me" (John 10:27, NASB). Jesus referred to Himself as the Good Shepherd (John 10:11, 14), while Peter called Him the Chief Shepherd (1 Peter 5:4).
A shepherd's role is that of caring for the sheep, 24/7. A conscientious shepherd knew that if left unattended and unprotected, his sheep would not survive the dangers of being alone in the wilderness.
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DITC e-Newsletter
Volume 47, Issue 8 |
Dear Friends,
... "and all liars". --- Discernment is the definition of maturity in Christ! Please follow the guidelines on the donation link if you wish to help support this ministry. You can order products by clicking on them below! As always, you can see the DITC e-Newsletter archive here and sign up to receive this newsletter or unsubscribe there as well.
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by Jacob Prasch, 1/29/14
Caveats of the Olivet Discourse.
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Is Rick Warren's Claim that his book is the "Best Selling Non-Fiction Hardback Book in History", TRUE? |
by Perfect Peace Plan, 2/4/14
"BESTSELLING NON-FICTION HARDBACK BOOK IN HISTORY" (Publishers Weekly), the Purpose Driven Life has sold over 32 million copies" SOURCE: http://www.purposedriven.com/books/pdlbook/#purpose & http://media.zondervan.com/images/product/original/9780310329060.JPG
THE FACTS: THE BIBLE: 6 BILLION +
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| by The Berean Call, 1/29/14
TBC: Mormonism has never changed its unbiblical "gospel." Consequently, there is no "true brotherhood and sisterhood" between Mormonism and true Bible believers. "Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?" (2 Corinthians:6:14-15 "Shared love for the Lord Jesus Christ"? That would only be viable if the Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and the biblical Jesus were one and the same. No, the former is the spiritual brother of Lucifer, i.e., Satan, according to Mormon doctrine. Zacharias, rather than looking to Mormons for "moral" help, needs to obey the Scriptures: II John:1:9-10 "Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son. If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed".
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Creating Straw Men from Cognitive Dissonance |
by Crosswise, 2/4/14
This article will address two separate yet sometimes related phenomena witnessed in various online exchanges (and elsewhere), namely the straw man fallacy and cognitive dissonance. I'll explain them one at a time, and then I shall illustrate how the two are at times combined.
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As you know, if you are a frequent user of the DITC website, we offer thousands of FREE articles archived or linked from our site. You can also search for articles on our site and other excellent discernment sites, browse by topic and find the latest articles for the past two months. We also offer many apologetics DVDs, CDs, books and other materials for purchase using PayPal or by check/money order by mail.
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We now have a number of our DVD videos available for instant download via PayLoadz. To see which ones we have available you will find the following symbol next that item on the main pages of the ACT site as well as on the item order page. The DVD videos available with this feature are in MP4 format, playable on your computer or personal device as long as you have a program on it that can play back MP4s. Due to storage restrictions the instant download version of the DVD videos we have available in MP4 format are of slightly less resolution as the DVD version. However with this option you save shipping and handling and delivery time. The videos are $10. each and PayLoadz will send you to PayPal for payment. Just go to the page of the item you wish to download and if you see the logo above it will have a "Add To Cart" button where you can download the video immediately. So now you have a choice. I also now have downloadable MP3s available for the same MP4 videos at $3. each.
ACT BOOKS Bible Studies in Discernment - Book Idolatry In Their Hearts - Book Lessons In Forgiveness - Book Finish The Race! - Book The New Apostolic Reformation - Book Letters To The Church - Book Discernment Toolkit - Book ACT DVDs & CDs Updated! The First Nations Movement - 4 DVD Series "Christians" Who Try To Poke Holes In Sola Scriptura? UPDATED! The Question Of Dominion Shepherd Or Hireling? "Blasphemizing" The Bible Signs Of The Apostasy In The Churches In The End Times 2 DVD Series From Church To Emerging Church - 2 DVD Series A Whole Lot Of Wishful Thinking - 2-DVD Set The Responsibility of a Good Shepherd - CD What's Up With Christian Bookstores? - DVD The ElijahList - 2 DVD Series The Extreme Prophetic - DVD The New Apostolic Reformation - 6 DVD Series Emerging Church Tools + The Emerging Church - CD & DVD Discernment Toolkit - 3 DVD Series Spirit of Truth or Spirit of Error - Benny Hinn - DVD Living Water 2003 Conference - 3 DVD Set Discernment 2001 Conference - 6 DVD Set Bible Studies in Discernment - CD Click here to go to our ACT products page! |
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May the Lord bless you as you continue to be a Berean!
In His hands,
Sandy Simpson
Apologetics Coordination Team
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