Elders And the Local Church

Elders And the Local Church

1. The Organization of the Local Church (Philippians 1:1)

The Organization of the Local Church (Philippians 1:1)

Elders

Deacons

Saints

Elders And the Local Church

1. The Organization of the Local Church (Philippians 1:1)
2. The Responsibilities of Elders to the Local Church

The Responsibilities of Elders to the Local Church

1. To Examine Themselves And the Flock (Acts 20:28)
1. “Take Heed to Yourselves”
2. “And to the Flock” �

The Responsibilities of Elders to the Local Church

1. To Examine Themselves And the Flock (Acts 20:28)
2. Shepherd/Feed the Flock
1. “Shepherd the Flock” (1 Peter 5:1-2)

“Shepherd the Flock” (1 Peter 5:1-2)

1. "ποιμαίνω^b: (a figurative extension of meaning of ποιμαίνω^a ‘to shepherd,’ 44.3) to lead, with the implication of providing for—‘to guide and to help, to guide and take care of.’ ἐκ σοῦ γὰρ ἐξελεύσεται ἡγούμενος, ὅστις ποιμανεῖ τὸν λαόν μου τὸν Ἰσραήλ ‘from you will come a leader who will guide and help my people Israel’ Mt 2:6." (Louw & Nida)
2. “Feed” (NKJV)

The Responsibilities of Elders to the Local Church

1. To Examine Themselves And the Flock (Acts 20:28)
2. Shepherd/Feed the Flock
1. “Shepherd the Flock” (1 Peter 5:1-2)
2. “Shepherd the Church of God” (Acts 20:28)

The Responsibilities of Elders to the Local Church

1. To Examine Themselves And the Flock (Acts 20:28)
2. Shepherd/Feed the Flock
3. Set An Example For the Flock (1 Peter 5:3)
1. “Nor As Being Lord Over Those Entrusted to You”
2. “But Being Examples to the Flock”

The Responsibilities of Elders to the Local Church

1. To Examine Themselves And the Flock (Acts 20:28)
2. Shepherd/Feed the Flock
3. Set An Example For the Flock (1 Peter 5:3)
4. Admonish the Flock (1 Thessalonians 5:12)
1. “Admonish”

“Admonish”

1. “To Counsel About Avoidance Or Cessation of An Improper Course of Conduct, Admonish, Warn, Instruct”(BDAG)
2. “Putting Sense Into the Heads of People” (A.T. Robertson)

The Responsibilities of Elders to the Local Church

1. To Examine Themselves And the Flock (Acts 20:28)
2. Shepherd/Feed the Flock
3. Set An Example For the Flock (1 Peter 5:3)
4. Admonish the Flock (1 Thessalonians 5:12)
1. “Admonish”
2. Done By…

“Done By…”

1. Setting A Proper Example
2. Selecting Sound Teachers And Preachers to Publicly Instruct
3. Give Personal Instructions to Each Member As Needed

The Responsibilities of Elders to the Local Church

1. To Examine Themselves And the Flock (Acts 20:28)
2. Shepherd/Feed the Flock
3. Set An Example For the Flock (1 Peter 5:3)
4. Admonish the Flock (1 Thessalonians 5:12)
5. Rule And Exercise Oversight

Rule And Exercise Oversight

1. “Who Rule Over You” (Hebrews 13:17)
1. Rule “To Rule Over, With the Implication of Providing Direction And Leadership - ‘To Rule Over, to Order, to Govern, Government, Rule” (Louw & Nida)
2. “Elders Who Rule Well” (1 Timothy 5:17)

Rule And Exercise Oversight

1. “Who Rule Over You” (Hebrews 13:17)
2. The Limitations of the Rule of Elders (1 Peter 5:1-4)
1. “The Flock of God Which is Among You”
2. “Not By Compulsion But Willingly”
3. “Not For Dishonest Gain But Eagerly”
4. “Nor As Being Lord Over Those Entrusted to You” �

The Responsibilities of Elders to the Local Church

1. To Examine Themselves And the Flock (Acts 20:28)
2. Shepherd/Feed the Flock
3. Set An Example For the Flock (1 Peter 5:3)
4. Admonish the Flock (1 Thessalonians 5:12)
5. Rule And Exercise Oversight
6. Watch Our For the Souls of the Flock (Hebrews 13:17)

Watch Our For the Souls of the Flock (Hebrews 13:17)

1. The Work - “They Watch Out For Your Souls”
2. The Seriousness of the Work - “As Those Who Must Give Account”
3. The Attitude Behind the Work - “Let Them Do So With Joy And Not With Grief”

The Responsibilities of Elders to the Local Church

1. To Examine Themselves And the Flock (Acts 20:28)
2. Shepherd/Feed the Flock
3. Set An Example For the Flock (1 Peter 5:3)
4. Admonish the Flock (1 Thessalonians 5:12)
5. Rule And Exercise Oversight
6. Watch Our For the Souls of the Flock (Hebrews 13:17)
7. Pray For the Sick And See to Their Needs

Pray For the Sick And See to Their Needs

1. A Responsibility of Us All (Matthew 25:36, 43)
2. Elders Particularly Are to Be Called (James 5:14)

Elders And the Local Church

1. The Organization of the Local Church (Philippians 1:1)
2. The Responsibilities of Elders to the Local Church
3. The Responsibilities of Members to Elders

The Responsibilities of Members to Elders

1. Recognize the Elders (1 Thessalonians 5:12-13)
1. Translations:

Transaltions

1. “We Urge You, Brethren, to Recognize Those Who Are Over You In the Lord” (NKJV)
2. “We Beseech You, Brethren, to Know Them Which…Are Over You In the Lord” (KJV)
3. “We Request of You, Brethren, That You Appreciate Those Who…Have Charge Over You In the Lord” (NASB)
4. “We Ask You, Brothers, To Respect Those Who…Are Over You In the Lord” (ESV)

The Responsibilities of Members to Elders

1. Recognize the Elders (1 Thessalonians 5:12-13)
1. Translations:
2. What Does It Mean?

What Does It Mean?

1. We Must “Know the Elders” - Be Familiar With Them - Like Sheep Know the Shepherd (John 10:2-3)
2. We Must “Appreciate” Or “Recognize” the Elders

The Responsibilities of Members to Elders

1. Recognize the Elders (1 Thessalonians 5:12-13)
2. We Must “Esteem Them Very Highly In Love” (1 Thessalonians 5:13)
1. “Esteem”

“Esteem”

1. “To Lead the Mind Through A Reasoning Process to A Conclusion, And So to Think, to Estimate” (Vincent)
2. “To Lead Before the Mind” (Vines)
3. In 1 Thessalonians 5:13 It Means “To Consider, Deem, Account, Think… To Esteem One Exceedingly” (Thayer)

The Responsibilities of Members to Elders

1. Recognize the Elders (1 Thessalonians 5:12-13)
2. We Must “Esteem Them Very Highly In Love” (1 Thessalonians 5:13)
1. “Esteem”
2. Three Descriptions of Our Esteem
1. “Esteem Them Very Highly”
2. “In Love”
3. “For Their Works Sake”

The Responsibilities of Members to Elders

1. Recognize the Elders (1 Thessalonians 5:12-13)
2. We Must “Esteem Them Very Highly In Love” (1 Thessalonians 5:13)
3. Be Subject/Obey the Elders
1. “Obey Those Who Rule Over You” (Hebrews 13:17)
2. We Might Not Always Agree With the Decisions They Make - But As Long As Truth is Not Violated We Must Obey/Submit

The Responsibilities of Members to Elders

1. Recognize the Elders (1 Thessalonians 5:12-13)
2. We Must “Esteem Them Very Highly In Love” (1 Thessalonians 5:13)
3. Be Subject/Obey the Elders
4. Be At Peace Among Yourselves (1 Thessalonians 5:13)

Be At Peace Among Yourselves (1 Thessalonians 5:13)

1. Found In Context About Responsibilities Towards Elders
2. Is Difficult For Elders to Lead A Flock When the Sheep Are Always Fighting
3. When the Church is At Peace - the Elders Can Devote Themselves to What is Truly Important (Acts 6:4)

The Responsibilities of Members to Elders

1. Recognize the Elders (1 Thessalonians 5:12-13)
2. We Must “Esteem Them Very Highly In Love” (1 Thessalonians 5:13)
3. Be Subject/Obey the Elders
4. Be At Peace Among Yourselves (1 Thessalonians 5:13)
5. Remember And Imitate Their Faith (Hebrews 13:7)

Remember And Imitate Their Faith (Hebrews 13:7)

1. Elders Are to Set An Example For the Flock (1 Peter 5:2)
2. We Must Note And Follow Their Example (Philippians 3:17)

The Responsibilities of Members to Elders

1. Recognize the Elders (1 Thessalonians 5:12-13)
2. We Must “Esteem Them Very Highly In Love” (1 Thessalonians 5:13)
3. Be Subject/Obey the Elders
4. Be At Peace Among Yourselves (1 Thessalonians 5:13)
5. Remember And Imitate Their Faith (Hebrews 13:7)
6. Do Not Receive An Accusation Against An Elder By the Mouth of Two Or Three Witnesses (1 Timothy 5:19)

Do Not Receive An Accusation Against An Elder Except By the Mouth of Two or Three Witnesses (1 Timothy 5:19)

1. Don’t Believe Everything You hear (Matthew 11:19; Proverbs 18:17)
2. Before You Believe An Accusation Against An Elder - Make Sure There is Evidence to Support It
3. Elders Can Sin And Must Be Dealt With When They Do (1 Corinthians 10:12)

Elders And the Local Church