"Elders And Our Duties Towards Them" by Michael Reed (Hebrews 13:17) January 29, 2012 a.m. (Click to Listen)

Hebrews 13:17
Obey your leaders and submit to their authority. They keep watch over you as men who must give an account. Obey them so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no advantage to you. NIV
WE ARE TO BE SUBMISSIVE...
Though elders are not mentioned by name they are the ones who "watch over your souls" - cf. Ac 20:28; 1Pe 5:12  
To be submissive (submit to them, NASB) Gr., hupeiko - "to resist no longer, but to give way, yield (of combatants); metaphorically to yield to authority and admonition, to submit" – Thayer
Not only obey in cases where no sacrifice of self is required, and where you are persuaded they are right (so the Greek, for 'obey'), But 'submit yourselves' as a matter of dutiful yielding, but also when your judgment and natural will incline you in an opposite direction."

Paul's Prayer For The Ephesians by Michael Reed (Eph 1:15-20) January 22, 2012 p.m. (Click to Listen)

Paul proceeds to reveal what sort of things he has been praying for on behalf the Ephesians. Paul does the same thing in his epistles to the Philippians and Colossians - cf. Php 1:9-11; Col 1:9-12 In noticing such prayers, I find it helpful to remember that Paul is writing by inspiration. I.e., the things mentioned were not just Paul's desire for his readers, but the desire of God as well! In most cases, what concerns are expressed in these prayers are just as applicable to us as they were to the original recipients of these epistles.
Ephesians 1:15-20
15 For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, 16 I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers. 17 I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. 18 I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, 19 and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength, 20 which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, NIV

Elders And Their Qualifications By Michael Reed (Titus 1:5-9) January 22, 2012 a.m. (Click to Listen)

The word 'elder' comes from the Greek word presbuteros...  Lit., an older person. Often used to describe "persons of ripe age and experience who were called to take part in the management of public affairs."  Applied to certain members of the Jewish Council (the Sanhedrin). Also applied to men appointed to positions in the church. What service did the elders render in the church? What qualifications were necessary to be appointed as an elder? In this sermon we will attempt to answer those questions.
1 Peter 5:1-2
To the elders among you, I appeal as a fellow elder, a witness of Christ's sufferings and one who also will share in the glory to be revealed: 2 Be shepherds of God's flock that is under your care, serving as overseers — not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not greedy for money, but eager to serve;

Just What Is An Elder? by MIchael Reed 1 Timothy 3:1 January 15, 2012 (Click to Listen)

The process of appointing elders is simply a process of acknowledging those who have been shepherding for a long time. It is recognizing those who have attracted others through the…
                       Genuineness of their lives
             Consistency of their service
             The authenticity of their relationship
A person officially becomes an elder when through one means or another, his flock says to the rest of the congregation “You to need this man to be your shepherd” and the rest of the congregation says “YES” shepherd us also.

The Lost Sheep by Michael Reed (Luke 15:1-7) January 8, 2012 (Click to Listen)

The "Pharisees" and "scribes" were among the Jewish religious leaders at that time
Jesus had often been seen in the company of "sinners"
He selected a tax collector to be one of His disciples, and did not hesitate to dine with other tax collectors - Lk 5:27-29.   Sinners would often linger around Him, to the consternation of the religious elite - Lk 7:36-39. Once again, this practice of Jesus associating with sinners brings a charge against Him. In response to this "murmuring" by the Pharisees and scribes, Jesus now tells three parables. 

The first of which is "The Lost Sheep",

RESOLUTIONS FOR THE NEW YEAR by Michael Reed January 1, 2012 (Click to Listen)

As a New Year begins, I am reminded of the fact that we are one year closer to...
The day of our death, or the day the Lord returns. That day when we shall stand before the Lord in judgment - 2Co 5:10.
That day when He will either say...

 "Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world" - Mt 25:34

"Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels" - Mt 25:41

Since we are one year closer to that day when our final destiny will be forever determined, let me use this opportunity...
To provoke your thinking as to how you have used this past year and to suggest some resolutions for the coming year