3. INTRODUCTION
There are two words in the New
Testament rendered as administration.
Both words have a pastoral care
overtone.
DIKANOIA – is translated six times as
“ministration.” In a military sense, the
word was used for those who have
authority to command others.
KUBERNĒSIS - is used only once and is
translated as “government.” (KJV)
4. Diakonia gets its root from the same
word translated as “minister” and
“deacon.” The word has a strong
implication of a life of a servant. But
this servanthood carried with it the
authority to led. It was associated with
those who, by the command of God,
proclaim and promote Christianity to
the masses. They executed their
calling by setting good examples and
giving clear directions for others to
follow.
5. Kubernēsis is related to the verb
kubernaō meaning “to steer a ship.”
It referred to the “art” of the
helmsman who guided the ship
safely into harbor. The helmsman
had the knowledge of the harbor
and its terrain. As the root meaning
of steering a ship implies, it is
actually guidance and control over
the course of events. That is the
ultimate purpose of administration.
6. The church has often been
compared to as ship on the ocean.
Sometimes the water is rough
because of storms. But a ship just
cannot “Pullover” and get off the
ocean; it must weather the storm
and sail on. The helmsman's jobs
is to keep the ship aloft. This
sometimes means stirring the ship
directly into the face of the storm.
7. Since the idea of administration has
to do with pastoral care, the three
Pastoral Epistles will be the major
resource of the messages this
month. The special letters were
written by the Apostle Paul to Titus
and Timothy, who were two young
pastors Paul had mentored. Paul
wanted them to be prepared to
“steer the ship” of the church in an
effective and efficient manner.
8. On a ship there are three types of
crew members:
1. Those who trim the sails
2. Those who handle the oars
3. The one who holds the rudder
The helmsman’s responsibility is to
hold the rudder steady and guide
the ship. The trimmers’ job is to set
the sails. The oarsmen’s job is to
roe.
9. WHAT CAN WE LEARN?
1. There are no passengers
on the OLD SHIP OF ZION.
Crew member, just Do
YOUR Job!
2. If you are not a crew
member, you are just
cargo.
