True Journey Church

06/18/2026

While we will not be gathering in person this Sunday, we invite you to join us for our Zoom Bible Study tonight at 8:00 p.m.!

Come be encouraged by God's Word, connect with others, and grow in your faith from the comfort of your home.

📖 Zoom Bible Study
🕗 Tonight at 8:00 p.m.
📩 Message us for the link

We look forward to seeing you online!
— True Journey Church

06/13/2026

While our pastor will be away for a weeks, Brother Deandre Fowler will be in charge of the service. We invite you to worship with us!

We’re gathering this Sunday, June 14— @ 10:30AM 🎉
Come worship with us and grow in the Word. No matter where you’ve been or what your week looked like, there’s a seat for you. 💛
Let’s lift Jesus and expect God to move. See you Sunday! 🙏🔥

06/05/2026

We’re gathering this Sunday, June 7— @ 10:30AM 🎉
Come worship with us and grow in the Word. No matter where you’ve been or what your week looked like, there’s a seat for you. 💛
Let’s lift Jesus and expect God to move. See you Sunday! 🙏🔥

05/29/2026

We’re gathering this Sunday, May 31— @ 10:30AM 🎉
Come worship with us and grow in the Word. No matter where you’ve been or what your week looked like, there’s a seat for you. 💛
Let’s lift Jesus and expect God to move. See you Sunday! 🙏🔥

05/29/2026

Does a Bishop Have Spiritual Authority Over a Pastor?

There is much confusion and misunderstanding among believers regarding the biblical role of a bishop. Today, many people carry the title “bishop,” and often these bishops exercise authority over pastors, with pastors submitting to their leadership. But is this pattern truly biblical?

The word “bishop” appears four times in the KJV Bible:

“This is a true saying, If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work.”
— 1 Timothy 3:1 (KJV)

“A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach;”
— 1 Timothy 3:2 (KJV)

“For a bishop must be blameless, as the steward of God; not selfwilled, not soon angry, not given to wine, no striker, not given to filthy lucre;”
— Titus 1:7 (KJV)

“For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.”
— 1 Peter 2:25 (KJV)

The Greek word for “bishop” is “episkopos”, which means “overseer” or “guardian.” This is why many modern Bible translations (ESV, NASB, NIV, etc.) use the word “overseer” instead of “bishop.” A bishop, therefore, is simply an overseer.

But who does an overseer have authority over?

According to Scripture, overseers have spiritual oversight over a congregation—not over multiple pastors and churches.

Notice how God entrusted the church to elders:

“And when they had appointed elders for them in every church, with prayer and fasting they committed them to the Lord in whom they had believed.”
— Acts 14:23 (ESV)

“Let the elders who rule well be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in preaching and teaching.”
— 1 Timothy 5:17 (ESV)

“So I exhort the elders among you, as a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ…”
— 1 Peter 5:1 (ESV)

When we examine these passages together, we can see that “elder” and “overseer/bishop” refer to the same office. The term “elder” emphasizes spiritual maturity, while “overseer” describes the function of leadership and care within the church.

In other words:

* An elder is an overseer/bishop.
* A bishop is an elder.
* A pastor, elder, and overseer describe the same office from different perspectives.

This becomes even clearer in Acts 20.

When Paul was in Miletus, he called for the elders of the church at Ephesus:

“Now from Miletus he sent to Ephesus and called the elders of the church to come to him.”
— Acts 20:17 (ESV)

Then Paul said to those elders:

“Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood.”
— Acts 20:28 (ESV)

The word “overseers” here is the Greek word “episkopos” (bishop). The phrase “to care for” comes from the Greek word “poimaino”, which means “to shepherd” or “to pastor.”

So in one passage, the same group of men are called:

* Elders
* Overseers/Bishops
* Pastors/Shepherds

This clearly shows these are not separate offices with different levels of authority. They are different descriptions of the same role.

We see the same pattern in Titus chapter 1.

Paul left Titus in Crete to establish order in the churches:

“This is why I left you in Crete, so that you might put what remained into order, and appoint elders in every town as I directed you…”
— Titus 1:5 (ESV)

Then, while still discussing the qualifications for elders, Paul says:

“For an overseer, as God’s steward, must be above reproach…”
— Titus 1:7 (ESV)

Notice that Paul uses “elder” in verses 5–6 and then uses “overseer” in verse 7 interchangeably. In the KJV, the word “bishop” is used instead of “overseer.”

This demonstrates again that elder, pastor, and bishop refer to the same office.

So what does all of this mean?

A bishop is simply a pastor. An elder is a pastor. A pastor is an overseer. These are biblical descriptions of the same leadership office within the local church.

Therefore, bishops do not possess a higher spiritual rank or authority over pastors. A pastor is not biblically required to submit to a bishop as though the bishop occupies a superior office. Scripture presents pastors/elders/overseers as equal in authority under Christ, the Chief Shepherd.

When Paul wrote, “If a man desires the office of a bishop…” (1 Timothy 3:1), he was speaking about overseeing a local congregation—not ruling over multiple churches and pastors.

All faithful pastors in the body of Christ stand equal before God. No pastor or bishop is spiritually above another pastor.

05/24/2026

✨ Reset Sunday ✨ MAY 24

This Sunday we will not be gathering in person as we take time for RESET SUNDAY!

We can't wait to gather next week!!

Until next Sunday, stay blessed and enjoy this reset. 💛

05/22/2026

05/19/2026

Sow Into the Anointing?!?

God is not for sale.

Today, many pastors, evangelists, teachers, apostles, and prophets tell their congregations to “sow into this anointing.” Often, after preaching a message, a speaker will say things like, “Sow into this anointing,” or “Seal this message with an offering.” The idea being taught is that if you give money to a certain ministers “anointing,” you will receive financial blessings or even receive the same “anointing” that person has.

But is this biblical?

The Greek word for “anointing” is chrisma. Chrisma (from chrio, meaning “to anoint” or “to smear with oil”) literally refers to something that has been spread upon, such as ointment or oil. In the Greek translation of the Old Testament, this word was used in connection with the anointing of priests, the tabernacle, and its furniture (Exodus 29:7; 40:9).

But how is chrisma used in the New Testament?

1 John 2:20 says:

“But you have been anointed (chrisma) by the Holy One, and you all have knowledge.” (ESV)
In this verse, John explains that true believers have been anointed by Jesus Christ, and this anointing gives them spiritual discernment so they will not be deceived. This stands in contrast to the “antichrists” who departed from the covenant community (1 John 2:18–19). The anointing teaches and preserves believers in the truth of God’s Word. It gives us spiritual knowledge concerning Christ.

The word chrisma appears again in 1 John 2:27:

“But the anointing (chrisma) that you received from him abides in you, and you have no need that anyone should teach you. But as his anointing (chrisma) teaches you about everything, and is true, and is no lie—just as it has taught you, abide in him.”
Notice that the text says the anointing “abides in you” and “teaches” you. Clearly, this anointing refers to the Holy Spirit. Jesus said in John 14:26:
“But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.”

This means every true believer is anointed because every true believer has the Holy Spirit. There is no elite class of Christians with a higher spiritual anointing than the rest of the body of Christ. All believers possess the same Holy Spirit, though God gives different spiritual gifts according to His will.
If we followed the logic of those who teach “sowing into the anointing,” then technically we could sow into any believer because all believers possess the anointing. Giving money to someone because you believe they possess a “special anointing” is not supported by Scripture. Giving to a preacher will not guarantee you a special harvest, financial breakthrough, or spiritual power. God’s Word is already established forever in heaven, so there is no need to “seal the message with an offering.”

You also cannot sow money into someone’s ministry in order to receive their spiritual gift or “anointing.” Many false teachers claim, “If you sow into this prophetic anointing, you will receive this prophetic spirit.” But spiritual gifts cannot be bought with money.

Some teachers even say things like, “Sow a seed for your loved ones to be saved.” This is a dangerous, unbiblical teaching and borders on blasphemy. Salvation is the work of God’s grace, not the result of financial giving.
Acts 8 gives us a clear warning about this mindset. Simon the Sorcerer witnessed Peter and John laying hands on the Samaritans, and they received the Holy Spirit. Simon then offered them money in exchange for this power.

Scripture says:

“Now when Simon saw that the Spirit was given through the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money, saying, ‘Give me this power also, so that anyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit.’ But Peter said to him, ‘May your silver perish with you, because you thought you could obtain the gift of God with money!’” (Acts 8:18–20 ESV)
God’s gifts cannot be purchased. You cannot buy an anointing, spiritual gift, miracle, prophecy, or salvation with money. Peter rebuked Simon severely because he believed the gift of God could be obtained financially. Peter told him, “May your silver perish with you…” Simon the Sorcerer was on his way to hell.

Sowing money to receive an anointing—or preaching that people can buy spiritual power—is a serious sin before God. Money will never purchase the gifts of the Holy Spirit.
If you hear a preacher teaching these things, one word of advice: run.

05/15/2026

We’re gathering this Sunday, May 17— @ 10:30AM 🎉
Come worship with us and grow in the Word. No matter where you’ve been or what your week looked like, there’s a seat for you. 💛
Let’s lift Jesus and expect God to move. See you Sunday! 🙏🔥

05/08/2026

We’re gathering this Sunday, May 10— @ 10:30AM 🎉
Come worship with us and grow in the Word. No matter where you’ve been or what your week looked like, there’s a seat for you. 💛
Let’s lift Jesus and expect God to move. See you Sunday! 🙏🔥