Sunday Morning Sermon

Preached by John Gaines at Leonard Street Church of Christ

May 25, 2003

1. 1 Timothy 5:17 (NKJV) Let the elders who rule well be counted worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in the word and doctrine.

2. In this study, we will look at the relationship between elders and the congregation over which they serve.

a. What responsibilities do elders have to the church they oversee?

b. What obligations does the church have to its elders?

I. ELDERS' RESPONSIBILITIES TO THE CHURCH.

A. They are to RULE.

1. The terms for elders used in the New Testament imply an inherent authority.

a. Episkopos (translated bishop or overseer) means "a superintendent, a man charged with the responsibility of seeing things which others are to do is done correctly." [Thayer].

b. Poimen (translated shepherd or pastor)

(1) To feed or shepherd the flock [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.]

(2) To give account to the chief Shepherd

(a) 1 Peter 5:4 (NKJV) and when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that does not fade away.

(b) 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.

2. Other New Testament passages teach that elders have authority over the congregations they oversee.

a. 1 Timothy 5:17 (NKJV) Let the elders who rule well be counted worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in the word and doctrine. The word translated "rule" means "to be over, to superintend, preside over" [Thayer].

b. Hebrews 13:7 (NKJV) Remember those who rule over you, who have spoken the word of God to you, whose faith follow, considering the outcome of their conduct. A different Greek word here . . . this word, ½ãÝïìáé, (hegeomai) means, according to Thayer, "to rule, command, to have authority over."

3. Some have questioned the authority of elders and maintain that elders can lead only by example. Some insist that the word exousia ["authority"] is never used in the New Testament in relation to the work of elders. That may be true, but it proves nothing since other words (rule, overseer) carry the idea of exercising power or authority.

a. It is certainly true that elders must lead by example.

(1) 1 Peter 5:3 (NKJV) ". . . being examples to the flock;"

(2) Hebrews 13:7 (NKJV) ". . . whose faith follow, considering the outcome of their conduct"

b. However, limiting the role of elders to merely being good examples limits them from having authority to fulfill their Biblical responsibilities. Elders are to stop the mouths of false teachers and troublemakers in the church [Titus 1:9-11 (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. 10 For there are many insubordinate, both idle talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision, 11 whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole households, teaching things which they ought not, for the sake of dishonest gain.] How can elders fulfill this duty without exercising authority?

c. It is true that some elders in some places have ABUSED THEIR AUTHORITY. That, however, does not invalidate the principle that elders have authority given to them by the Bible.

B. Elders are to RULE WELL.

1. They must be spiritually-qualified men. We have spent the last three weeks discussing those qualifications in detail. They are not optional. Qualified elders MUST meet the qualifications.

2. Elders must do the work assigned to them in the New Testament.

a. There are weighty obligations placed upon elders in the Lord's church. When those obligations are left undone, the work of the Lord suffers. The cost is souls which will not be in heaven. There is no way to overstate the importance of elders doing the work they are needed to do.

b. Elders must be willing to give the necessary time to the work.

(1) Busy schedules are no excuse for neglecting the spiritual work God has given to elders [Matthew 6:33 (NKJV) "But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.]

c. Elders must have the necessary dedication to seeing that the work is done well.

(1) Elders must SHEPHERD the flock [1 Peter 5:1-4 (NKJV) The elders who are among you I exhort, I who am a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that will be revealed: 2 Shepherd the flock of God which is among you, serving as overseers, not by compulsion but willingly, not for dishonest gain but eagerly; 3 nor as being lords over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock; 4 and when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that does not fade away.] What motivates elders to undertake this awesome responsibility?

(a) They serve willingly and eagerly.

(b) Not by compulsion -- nobody has to twist their arms and talk them into accepting the work.

(c) Not for dishonest gain

(d) Not for power -- not to be lords over those entrusted in their care

(2) Elders have to watch for souls [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. The literal meaning of "watch" (in "watch out for your souls" is "to be sleepless") It's the idea of a night watchman staying alert . . . keeping watch for danger which might put the flock at risk.

(3) Elders must be SLEEPLESS but not SLEEPY in their care for the church. Lethargy and laziness cannot be acceptable excuses for elders' failure to do their work.

(a) Elders cannot afford to put off visiting wayward members. Souls are at stake and the work needs doing today!

(b) Elders cannot turn a blind eye to sin, hoping that sheep will find their way home on their own without them having the uncomfortable experience of confronting erring members over their shortcomings. Elders must be willing to admonish those in their care [1 Thessalonians 5:12].

(c) Elders don't want to upset anyone's feelings, but they must not allow a fear of "rocking the boat" to keep them from doing the work God has assigned them to do.

II. THE CHURCH'S RESPONSIBILITIES TO ITS ELDERS.

A. Know elders [1 Thessalonians 5:12 (KJV) And we beseech you, brethren, to know them which labour among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you;]

B. Esteem elders highly in love [1 Thessalonians 5:13 (NKJV) and to esteem them very highly in love for their work's sake. Be at peace among yourselves.]

C. Imitate elders' faith [Hebrews 13:7, "whose faith follow"]

D. Submit to and obey elders [Hebrews 13:17 (NKJV) Obey those who rule over you, and be submissive, . . . .]

1. Elders do not have the authority to make laws for Christ. The only spiritual law we have is found in the New Testament.

2. Their authority resides in matters of judgment and expediency. On matters where the Bible does not speak, someone has to make decisions. Wise elders solicit input from the congregation, but the elders make the final decisions. Unless those decisions conflict with the teaching of Scripture, the church should submit to those decisions by the elders and obey them.

CONCLUSION

1. After the invitation, one of our elders will give you instructions about how the process of selecting more elders will take place.

2. Before that, it is appropriate that we take stock of ourselves and our standing before God.

3. Invitation