Elders - An Office

TEXT: 1 Tim. 3:1;  Acts 14:23;  Phil. 1:1

INTRODUCTION:

A.      GREEK WORDS AND THEIR TRANSLATIONS:

          1.       presbuteros, elder, or presbyter.

          2,       episcopos,  overseer, or bishop.

          3.       poimen,  shepherd, pastor.  Carries the idea of tending sheep.

B.      ALL THREE WORDS USED INTERCHANGEABLY.

          1.       Acts 20:17-28.

          2.       Titus 1:5-7.

          3.       1 Pet. 5:1-3.

I.      THE WORK OF ELDERS.

A.      Acts 20:28-32.

          1.  Take heed,  2.  Bishop( see ftnt. ),  3.  Watch,  4.  Commend to the word, 

                   5.  Laboring to help the weak.

B.      1 Pet. 5:1-5.

          1.  Tend,  2.  Exercise the oversight,  3.  Willingly,  4. According to the will of God, 

          5.  Nor for filthy lucre,  6.  ready mind,  7.  Not lording it over,

          8.  Setting an example.

C.      Titus 1:9.

          1.  Holding to the faithful word,  2.  Exhort in sound doctrine,  3.  Convict the gainsayer.

D.      Heb. 13:17.

          1.  Watch,  2.  Give account,  3.  Authority, Words( Ez. 3:16-21 ).

E.      1 Thess. 5:12.

F.      LIMITED JURISDICTION( Acts 14:23;  20:28;  1 Pet. 5:2 ).

II.     OUR ATTITUDE:

A.      Heb. 13:17.

B.      1 Thess. 5:12-13.

C.      1 Tim. 5:1, 17-22.

III.    DEACONS.

A.      SERVANTS, MINISTERS - diakonos, USED MANY TIMES UNOFFICIALLY.

B.      JOB IMPLIED IN THE MEANING OF THE WORD.

C.      Acts 6:1-6.

          1.       Serve tables - a specific job.  Must be a job connected with the office.

          2.       Under guidance of the elders( see elders word ), relieving them of

                   administrative work.

IV.   THEIR APPOINTMENT.

A.      APPOINTED BY EVANGELISTS( Titus 1:5 ).

          1.       In accord with qualifications revealed.

          2.       Not the "evangelist's men."

B       CHOOSING INVOLVES THE MEMBERS OF THE CHURCH( Acts 6:1-3 ).

          1.       The evangelist's job is to teach the truth.  He is to teach what the Bible says

                   about elders.

          2.       The congregation is to "look ye out from among you" those qualifications.

          3.       They must do the choosing, but in accord with the qualifications.

          4.       What if there are no qualified men?

CONCLUSION:

A.      WE NEED TO LEARN ALL WE CAN ABOUT THIS OFFICE.

B.      ( James 1:5 )WE NEED TO PRAY FOR WISDOM.