Transcript Eldership Issues - Church of Christ

Eldership Issues
December 2006
Assignment
 1. Is it scriptural for
one elder to serve?
 2. Discuss the
evangelists and elders
role in Church
Government
 3. Do we have any
other authorized role
taught by the
scriptures?
 4. Titus 1:6 In
regards to
qualifications of an
elder,

What constitutes
“faithful children”

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More than one but
possibly not all?
All faithful while at
home, but possibly
not later in adult life?
 5. If an elder’s wife
dies, is he required or
prohibited by his
office to marry again?
 6. Does “one wife”
mean one living wife
(at a time) thus
prohibiting polygamy?
State of Elderships-California
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Lodi
Fair Oaks
El Cajon
Stockton
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64th. St.
Yuba City
Manteca
Auburn
Elderships Today
 Vulnerable
 Sometimes successful 1st generation
 Rarely successful 2nd generation
Elderships Today
 No guarantee of strength and
longevity if have an eldership
 Ephesus
 Threats to our fellowship
Biblical Leadership is…
 Not intended to bring problems to the
congregations
 Not intended to bring problems to the
brotherhood
Biblical Leadership is
 Service with Responsibility
 Matt 20:25-27
25 But Jesus called
them unto him, and said, Ye know that the
princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion
over them, and they that are great exercise
authority upon them. 26 But it shall not be
so among you: but whosoever will be great
among you, let him be your minister; 27
And whosoever will be chief among
you, let him be your servant:
Biblical Leadership is
 NOT from a passion for power
 But from a passion to serve
Faithful Men
 2 Tim 2:2 And the things that thou
hast heard of me among many
witnesses, the same commit thou to
faithful men, who shall be able to
teach others also.
Faithful Men
Are not careless with the Lord’s church
Are not careless with the Lord’s truths
Are not thrill seekers needing a “feeling”
Do not seek “smooth things”
Love the brotherhood as a whole and seek
peace with all on a basis of truth
 Understand it is important to identify error
and stop it from spreading
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Today’s congregations
 Are perfectly organized for the exact
results we are achieving.
 We have worked hard to arrive where
we are.
Offices in the Church
 Apostles, Prophets, Evangelists,
Pastors (Elders), Teachers
 Eph 4:11 And he gave some,
apostles; and some, prophets; and
some, evangelists; and some, pastors
and teachers
Apostles, Prophets
 Eph 2: 20-22
20 And are built upon the foundation
of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself
being the chief corner stone; 21 In whom all the
building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy
temple in the Lord: 22 In whom ye also are builded
together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.
 Eph 3:3-5
3 How that by revelation he made
known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few
words, 4 Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand
my knowledge in the mystery of Christ) 5 Which in
other ages was not made known unto the sons of
men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles
and prophets by the Spirit;
Evangelists
 Acts 21:8
And the next day we
that were of Paul's company
departed, and came unto Caesarea:
and we entered into the house of
Philip the evangelist, which was
one of the seven; and abode with
him.
 2 Timothy 4:5 But watch thou in all
things, endure afflictions, do the
work of an evangelist, make full
proof of thy ministry.
Elders
 Acts 14:23
(This happened about 46-47
A.D.) And when they had ordained them
elders in every church, and had prayed with
fasting, they commended them to the Lord, on
whom they believed.
 Acts 15:2
When therefore Paul and
Barnabas had no small dissension and
disputation with them, they determined that
Paul and Barnabas, and certain other of them,
should go up to Jerusalem unto the apostles
and elders about this question.
 Acts 20:17 And from Miletus he sent to
Ephesus, and called the elders of the
church.
Elders
 1 Timothy 5:17 (This was written about 63-64 A.D.)
Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of
double honour, especially they who labour in the word
and doctrine.
 1 Timothy 5:19 Against an elder receive not an
accusation, but before two or three witnesses.
 Titus 1:5 (This was written about 63-64 A.D.) For this
cause left I thee in Crete, that thou shouldest set in
order the things that are wanting, and ordain elders
in every city, as I had appointed thee:
 James 5:14 14 Is any sick among you? let him call
for the elders of the church; and let them pray
over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the
Lord:
Elders
 1 Peter 5:1 The elders which are among you I
exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the
sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory
that shall be revealed:
 Philippians 1:1 (Introduces Bishop – a synonymous
term) Paul and Timotheus, the servants of Jesus
Christ, to all the saints in Christ Jesus which are at
Philippi, with the bishops and deacons:
 1 Timothy 3:1-2 1 This is a true saying, If a man
desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good
work. 2 A bishop then must be blameless, the
husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good
behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach;
Elders
 Titus 1:7 For a bishop (overseer) must be
blameless, as the steward of God; not
selfwilled, not soon angry, not given to
wine, no striker, not given to filthy lucre;
 1 Timothy 4:14
(Introduces Presbytery –
another synonymous term) Neglect not the
gift that is in thee, which was given thee by
prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of
the presbytery (older).
 Eph. 4:11 – Pastors (shepherds)
Teachers
 Acts 13:1
Now there were in the church that was at
Antioch certain prophets and teachers; as Barnabas,
and Simeon that was called Niger, and Lucius of
Cyrene, and Manaen, which had been brought up with
Herod the tetrarch, and Saul.
 Rom 12:6-8
6 Having then gifts differing according
to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let
us prophesy according to the proportion of faith; 7 Or
ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he that
teacheth, on teaching; 8 Or he that exhorteth, on
exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with
simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that
sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness.
Teachers
 1 Corinthians 12:28-29
28 And God hath set some
in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets,
thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of
healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues.
29 Are all apostles? are all prophets? are all teachers?
are all workers of miracles?
 Ephesians 4:11 And he gave some, apostles; and
some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some,
pastors and teachers;
 James 3:1 My brethren, be not many masters
(teachers), knowing that we shall receive the greater
condemnation.
Chief Men
 Acts 15:22 Then pleased it the
apostles and elders, with the whole
church, to send chosen men of their
own company to Antioch with Paul
and Barnabas; namely, Judas
surnamed Barsabas, and Silas, chief
men among the brethren:
Christ’s Delegated Authority
Apostles
with the authority of Christ to
Bind & Loose
Matt 16:19
Prophets –
Gift to edify, exhort, and comfort (1 Cor. 14:3)
And Reveal (Acts 13:1)
Other Positions of Responsibility
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Elders
Evangelists
Teachers
Deacons
Chief Men
Organizational Pattern
God the Father over all
1 Cor 11:3
Jesus the
Head of the Church
Col. 1:18
Congregation
Ruled by its own
Submissive
Leadership
Congregation
Ruled by its own
Submissive
Leadership
Congregation
Ruled by its own
Submissive
Leadership
Church Organization & Goals
Eph 4:11-16

11 And he gave some, apostles; and some,
prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors
and teachers; 12 For the perfecting of the saints, for
the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body
of Christ: 13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith,
and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a
perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the
fulness of Christ: 14 That we henceforth be no more
children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with
every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and
cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to
deceive; 15 But speaking the truth in love, may grow
up into him in all things, which is the head, even
Christ: 16 From whom the whole body fitly joined
together and compacted by that which every joint
supplieth, according to the effectual working in the
measure of every part, maketh increase of the body
unto the edifying of itself in love.
Carried out through individuals who
are part of a congregation of the
Lord’s Church
Congregations
w/ leadership
Congregations
w/ leadership
Evangelists
Congregation
Congregations
s w/
w/ leadershi
leadership
p
Congregations
w/ leadership
Local Congregation Organization
Congregation
Leadership
What we don’t need:
Dysfunctional Leadership
Congregation
Elders or
any
Leadership
Group
Local Congregation Organization
Congregation
Chief Men, Leading Men,
Faithful Men (Elders,
Evangelists, Teachers,
Deacons, Wise Men)
Can One Elder Serve?
Congregation
Chief Men, Leading
Men, Faithful Men,
(Elders, Evangelists,
Teachers, Deacons)
An Eldership is always at least two
Elders
 Examples
 One player from a basketball team is not
a team.
 One horse from a team of horses is not a
team.
 However, they are something:
 One player is still a player
 One horse is still a horse
Evangelists and Elders Role in
Church Government
 Both can exist in the same
congregation
 Evangelists are authorized to cross
congregational lines
 An elder is not an elder if he moves
to another congregation
 An evangelist is one wherever he
goes
Evangelists and Elders Role in
Church Government
 Evangelists can receive accusations
against Elders (1 Tim 5:19)
 Elders can receive accusations
against Evangelists (Acts 15)
 Evangelists assist congregations in
ordaining Elders (Acts 6:3, Titus 1:5)
 Elders assist congregations in
ordaining Evangelists (1 Tim 4:14)
Elders within the congregations, Evangelists within
the congregations and working between
congregations
Congregations
w/ leadership
Congregations
w/ leadership
Evangelists
Congregation
Congregations
s w/
w/ leadershi
leadership
p
Congregations
w/ leadership
Any other authorized role(s)?
 Yes, Teachers, Chief Men, Leaders as
previously discussed
Faithful Children
 Must an Elder have children?
 Yes – he must.
 How long are an Elder’s children an
influence on his leadership?
 Faithful – only to his father?
 Faithful – to God?
Faithful Children
 An Elder qualifies for his office several
ways:
 An Elder qualifies individually
 and collectively within his family
 and collectively within the
congregation.
Faithful Children to their father?
 The reasoning goes something like this: My children
are in subjection to me ---Which is proven because
they are not accused of riot or unruly---Therefore they
are faithful children.
 The word translated faith, “Pistos” can mean worthy
of trust or one who is a believer in God. 1 Cor 4:2
Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be
found faithful.
 It can be argued that the context demands a contrast
between the well-behaved nature of an elder’s
children with the reckless behavior of other children of
pagans
However, the primary emphasis appears to be
spiritual values exemplified in the family of the
Elder
 American Standard Version
1:6 if any man is blameless, the husband of one wife,
having children that believe, who are not accused of
riot or unruly.
 World English Bible
1:6 if anyone is blameless, the husband of one wife,
having children who believe, who are not accused of
loose or unruly behavior.
 Young's Literal Translation
1:6 if any one is blameless, of one wife a husband,
having children steadfast, not under accusation of
riotous living or insubordinate - Living Oracles: If anyone be without blame, the
husband of one wife, having believing children, not
accused of riotous living, not unruly.
Faithful means child of God…
 1 Cor 9:5 Have we not power to lead about a sister, a
wife (a believing wife – NKJV, NAS), as well as other
apostles, and as the brethren of the Lord, and
Cephas?
 1 Tim 5:16 If any man or woman that believeth have
widows, let them relieve them, and let not the church
be charged; that it may relieve them that are widows
indeed.
 1 Tim 4:10 For therefore we both labour and suffer
reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is
the Saviour of all men, specially of those that believe.
 1 Tim 3:11 Even so must their wives be grave, not
slanderers, sober, faithful in all things.
How many must be faithful?
 How many children does he have?
 How many children being unfaithful
does it take for him to have a child
that does not fit the requirement?
How long must they be faithful?
 When do my children cease to be my
children?
 When did Eli’s children cease to be an
influence on his leadership (1 Sam.
2)?
 When did Samuel’s children cease to
be an influence on his leadership (1
Sam. 8)?
If an Elder’s wife dies  Marriage is never required for a
Christian.
 Scriptural marriage is never forbidden
for a Christian.
 Does the new wife automatically
qualify as a woman who is faithful in
all things because she married an
Elder (1 Tim. 3:11)?
One Wife
 A one-woman man
 The statement both prohibits
polygamy and commands marriage.
 Not married only once, not a first
marriage only, but married
 May have been married previously
and widowed
 May have been married previously
and scripturally divorced
Qualifying Events
 An Elder’s child misses worship out of
a sinful choice. Immediate or?
 An Elder presents false doctrine.
Immediate dismissal?
 An Elder dies, leaving only one.
Immediate dismissal of the other
one?
 An Elder’s wife dies, immediate
dismissal?
Who has the right…
 If an Eldership ignores Evangelists who are
called by a congregation’s members to
investigate a problem and conclude there
are serious problems, does anyone care?
 If Evangelists ignore Elderships who
withdraw their recommendation of them to
the brotherhood because of serious
problems, does anyone care?
 Submission is always voluntary in the
Lord’s church. Acceptance of one another is
conditional.
The time to prevent problems…
 Is when you don’t have problems.
 Marriage preparation helps prevent
problems
 Elder preparation helps prevent
problems
 Evangelist preparation helps prevent
problems
Who are we anyway?
 Sound Teaching can help prevent many
problems and minimize the difficulty of
handling problems when they arise.
 If a young teacher suggests changing the
Lord’s Supper, we sit him down and explain
the truth to him, and if he doesn’t repent,
he continues to sit.
 What do we do when an Elder or Evangelist
does the same thing?
What does “Must be” mean?
 1 Timothy 3:2 & Titus 1:6
 Third person singular active present,
used impersonally
 Is both used of one time events –
John 3:7
 And of on-going events – Matt 23:23
 Thayer: Necessity in reference to
what is required to attain some end(Acts 9:6)