Sunday Morning Sermon

Preached by John Gaines at Leonard Street Church of Christ

May 4, 2003

1. One of the great tasks facing this church is the matter of providing for our leadership in the future. We have been fortunate to have a stable eldership for almost 50 years. We still have a good eldership, but the need to prepare for the future is evident. Our elders have decided that we will go through a procedure of selecting one or more additional elders over the next 2-3 months. You will have the opportunity to suggest names of men whom you believe to be qualified to be elders. Those suggestions will be evaluated by the elders and discussed with those who are proposed as elders. The elders will return to us then a list of the men they recommend who are willing to serve as elders. The church will have time to voice scriptural objections to any of those men. Finally, the church will have an opportunity to accept those men as bishops and pastors over the flock.

2. Before we are ready to make suggestions, it is critically important that we understand Bible teaching about the qualifications and work of elders. The elders have agreed that I should take the Sunday morning sermons during the month of May to discuss this vital topic. The lessons I am presenting have been reviewed in advance by the elders. They are in agreement with the statements I will be making about the work and qualifications of elders. Should any of you disagree with anything said during these lessons, the elders and I are ready and willing to meet with you privately, study with you from the Scriptures, and come to a conclusion based on Bible teaching. As always, the final standard for our faith and practice must be the inspired word of God [2 Timothy 3:16-17].

3. Understand first of all that the scriptural plan for church government calls for each congregation to have its own elders.

a. Acts 14:23 (NKJV) So when they had appointed elders in every church, and prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord in whom they had believed.

b. Titus 1:5 (NKJV) For this reason I left you in Crete, that you should set in order the things that are lacking, and appoint elders in every city as I commanded you;

c. The church in Jerusalem had elders [Acts 15:2]

d. The church at Ephesus had elders [Acts 20:17 ]

e. The church at Philippi had elders [Philippians 1:1] We should understand that the New Testament uses the words "bishops" and "elders" interchangeably.

(1) Paul met with the elders of the church in Ephesus [Acts 20:17], but addressed them as bishops or overseers [Acts 20:28]

(2) "Elder" and "bishop" is used interchangeably in Titus 1 -- v. 5 -- appoint elders in every city; v. 7 -- a bishop must be blameless

Let us now consider in detail the Scriptural qualifications for elders. As you consider different individuals and evaluate whether or not they would be good elders, measure them by the yardstick of Scripture.

(1) Choosing elders is not a popularity contest.

(2) There is not a certain number to be chosen. If we have a dozen qualified men who are willing to serve, we could have a dozen elders. So there is no competition involved in this selection.

(3) Each possible candidate is simply being evaluated "yes" or "no" with regard to the question, "Is he qualified according to the Bible?"

I. BIBLE QUALITIES ARE NOT OPTIONAL.

A. 1 Timothy 3:2 (NKJV) A bishop then must be blameless,. . . ..

1. Elders are not superhuman creatures who never commit sin [1 John 1:8 (NKJV) If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.] Elders, however, are walking in the light so that their sins have been forgiven in the blood of Jesus Christ [1 John 1:7 (NKJV) But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.]

2. There are extremes to avoid in the way we think of these qualifications:

a. Some view them so strictly that no human being would ever meet the qualifications. Remember, it is God's plan that every church have elders. That means He expects every church to have men qualified to be elders.

b. Other churches have been so liberal in interpreting the qualifications that they appoint scripturally-unqualified men.

II. PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS FOR MEN SERVING AS ELDERS:

A. Elders must be men of experience.

1. The church is the family of God [1 Timothy 3:15].

2. Overseers of God's family must have proven their ability to manage their own families [1 Timothy 3:4-5 (NKJV) one who rules his own house well, having his children in submission with all reverence 5 (for if a man does not know how to rule his own house, how will he take care of the church of God?);]

a. Elders are to be the husband of one wife [Titus 1:6 (NKJV) . . . the husband of one wife. . . .]

(1) Not a bachelor

(2) Not a bigamist or a polygamist

(3) Not unscripturally married

b. Having faithful children (believers in Christ) [Titus 1:6 (NKJV) . . . having faithful children not accused of dissipation or insubordination]

(1) This refers to offspring who have been properly trained [Proverbs 22:6]

(2) This is perhaps the most controversial and discussed qualification of all those set forth in Scripture. We should consider why this requirement for faithful children was included in the list. Unfaithful children reflect against a parent's ability. One writer has said, "If one be incapable of governing so small a society as his own family, but suffers his children to be disobedient and vicious, how shall he govern in a proper manner that greater and far more important family, the church of God?" An elder needs to have demonstrated that he has the ability to govern his family and bring up his children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. This experience serves him in good stead as he provides leadership to the household of God.

(3) "Children" does not require more than one child. It is a generic word referring to offspring. Genesis 21:7 quotes Sarah saying "Who would have said to Abraham that Sarah would nurse children? For I have borne him a son in his old age." Sarah nursed children, but the Bible makes clear that she gave birth to only one child.

B. Mature men

1. The term "elder" necessarily implies an older, more mature man. [presbuteros]

2. An elder is also to have spiritual maturity.

a. 1 Timothy 3:6 (NKJV) not a novice, lest being puffed up with pride he fall into the same condemnation as the devil. Novice [neophutos] -- new convert [NASB]. Someone not well grounded and experienced in the faith is not yet ready to be an elder.

b. Possessing the spiritual qualifications listed demands mature thinking and Christ-centered living.

C. Able men

1. An elder must have the ability to teach [1 Timothy 3:2 (NKJV) A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, temperate, sober-minded, of good behavior, hospitable, able to teach;]

2. He should be able to deal with false teachers [Titus 1:9 (NKJV) holding fast the faithful word as he has been taught, that he may be able, by sound doctrine, both to exhort and convict those who contradict.] He has to have solid knowledge of God's truth and know how to apply it to the situations leaders in the church face.

3. Elders need leadership ability.

a. This is inherent in the work of elders.

b. Elders must have vision in planning the work of the church.

c. An elder must be able to lead the flock, not push it. He is like the business executive who would never ask an employee to do something he wouldn't do himself. Elders do lead by example (although that is not the ONLY way they lead). Elders should set the proper example for the church by their lifestyles and behavior.

d. Elders must never become dictators over the flock [1 Peter 5:3 (NKJV) nor as being lords over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock;]

D. Knowledgeable men

1. An elder is to "hold. . . fast the faithful word as he has been taught," [Titus 1:9 (NKJV)]

2. Elders have as great a need for Bible knowledge as do preachers. Preachers are to "preach the word" but elders are to "feed the flock." Elders are responsible for what is taught [Acts 20:28 (NKJV) "Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood.] Elders have to watch for members' souls and must give account for them [Hebrews 13:17 (NKJV) Obey those who rule over you, and be submissive, for they watch out for your souls, as those who must give account. Let them do so with joy and not with grief, for that would be unprofitable for you.]

E. Men of good reputation

1. Solomon said, "A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches." [Proverbs 22:1 (NKJV)]

2. Elders must have a good reputation in the community [1 Timothy 3:7 (NKJV) Moreover he must have a good testimony among those who are outside, lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.]

CONCLUSION

We will continue this study next week by looking at the character traits expected by God from the men who serve as elders in His church.