Scripture Reading: Ezekiel 34:23-31

Elders in Every Church

Intro.

1. God promised & delivered “one shepherd” to feed His sheep: Christ (Jno. 10:11, 14; Heb. 13:20; 1 Pet. 2:25; 5:4).

2. The Chief Shepherd has revealed His will that there be elders in each church doing His work as shepherds of His sheep – 1 Pet. 5:1-3.

3. Sometimes brethren do not want to have elders:

a. It changes the “status quo.”

b. New order & obligations, expectations & willingness to submit.

c. Lack faith in the Lord’s design for the local church.

4. Some know the need but are apprehensive of the process. We must have faith in the Lord’s way of doing things – it works.

5. Time of appointing elders does not / should not be a time of rancor, dissent, contention & division. If that occurs, somebody is sinning & needs to repent!

6. When a church can have elders & won’t, it is sinning & not pleasing to the Lord (Acts 14:23).

I. EACH CHURCH NEEDS THE ORGANIZATION THE LORD HAS ARRANGED FOR IT. Authority for elders is established by…

A. Commanded – Titus 1:5.

B. Approved Example – Phil. 1:1.

C. Necessary Inference – Acts 14:23 (1 Cor. 4:16; 1 Ths. 2:14).

II. EACH CHURCH NEEDS SHEPHERDS –Eph. 4:11 (cf. Jno. 10:1-6, 11-15).

A. To Lead Us – Heb. 13:7.

1. Rule (hegeomai – to go before; to be a leader):

a. Oversee the congregation’s work – cf. Acts 11:30; 15:4, 6, 22-23; 21:18-26; Jas. 5:14.

b. Have authority from God to decide & guide – We are to follow (Heb. 13:17).

2. Examples for us to follow – 1 Pet. 5:3; Heb. 13:7.

-Watch for our souls – Heb. 13:17 (cf. Ezek. 34)

B. To Feed Us – 1 Pet. 5:2; Acts 20:28.

1. Feed the church the word of God – Heb. 5:12-14.

2. With urgent warnings, comforting encouragement, helpful support & enduring patience – 1 Ths. 5:14.

C. To Watch for Our Spiritual Safety – Heb. 13:17.

1. From doctrinal error – Acts 15:23-24; Titus 1:9-11.

2. From moral decline – Acts 20:29-31.

III. EACH CHURCH NEEDS MEN WHO ARE QUALIFIED & WILLING TO DO THE WORK – Acts 14:21-23.

A. Men Must be Qualified & Willing to Serve – 1 Tim. 3:1, 2-7, 11; Titus 1:5-9.

1. Willing to give an account – Heb. 13:17.

2. Willing to accept the responsibility of tending for souls.

B. We Must not Expect (Demand) Men to be Sinless in Order to Qualify – 1 Pet. 5:1.

1. Peter knew he was a sinner – Lk. 5:8. He had “minded the things of men” (Matt. 16:23); lied, cursed & denied Jesus (Matt. 26:69-75); been a hypocrite (Gal. 2:11-14).

2. Some, in an over-zealous &/or misinformed attempt to assess a man’s qualification would wrongly conclude Peter couldn’t be an elder by saying he was:

a. Not “blameless” (1 Tim. 3:2; cf. Gal. 2:11).

b. Violent (1 Tim. 3:3; cf. Jno. 18:10).

c. Not self-controlled (Tit. 1:8; cf. Matt. 26:74).

3. With this approach, nobody would ever qualify!

C. Men who Serve Must be Honored for their Work – 1 Ths. 5:12-13; 1 Tim. 5:17.

1. Brethren who will not willingly obey qualified elders in doing scriptural work are sinning – Heb. 13:17.

2. Such honor helps them do their work with joy (Heb. 13:17).

Conclusion

1. Our need for elders exists & should be met with faith in the Lord’s will and ways.

2. Will this church work together out of love for Jesus, His truth & one another to appoint qualified men to serve as elders (& thus accomplish this part of our work as a congregation)? – Eph. 4:2-6, 11-12