Cross- Pollination

Several months ago the brothers in our fellowship began to examine the question of how we make decisions as a group. Eventually this led to agreement on elder guided consensus. Although we have men who are doing what elders do (shepherd, teach the Word, guard against false teaching & wolves) we, as with most house churches with whom I am familiar, haven't examined the NT process for how to recognize elders. While I could have taught this myself, I felt it better to ask someone from outside our group to do this. We settled on a humble, Biblically literate, godly young brother named Nathaniel. It took several months to put it all together but last Sunday he and his wife Eden came to our group. Nathaniel gave a detailed, mature understanding of the need for elders (what they do), their qualifications, and a three part process (initiation, consideration, conclusion) of how to recognize and come to consensus on who they should be. Asking him to do this honored him, utilized gifting and experience that the Lord gave to him, and provided an introduction to our group, many of whom did not know him. We call this cross-pollination, and for those in small, often isolated home groups, I consider it vital for spiritual health. It isn't very efficient but the fruit is good. If we can get to know one another and develop trust and relationship, then we can pool our varied gifts and experience together to build the kingdom.
"For I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to strengthen you- that is, that we may be mutually encouraged by each other's faith, both yours and mine." (Paul the apostle Romans 1:11-12 ESV)