Elders

1. Elders God’s Qualifications I Tim. 3:1-7 Titus 1:5-9

2. Can a man who is a Christianever qualify? • A Resounding YES! • God has not placed qualifications for men • To serve in His church which no man • Can meet! • Elders are saints…so are all Christians! • Elders are men…some men will have more • Ability than others.. • Men who are appointed as elders must have • These qualifications.

3. ELDERS • God wants Elders in every church (Acts 14:23) • God wants Elders in every city ( Titus 1:5-9) • God wants a plurality of Elders in every • Church in every city! • God’s Work is to be done! (John 9:4) • He has • organized His church as He wills!

4. I Tim. 3:1-7 • 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; • 3 Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous; • 4 One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity;

5. 5 (For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?) • 6 Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil. • 7 Moreover he must have a good report of them which are without; lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.

6. Titus 1:5-9 • 5 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: • 6 If any be blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children not accused of riot or unruly. • 7 For a bishop must be blameless, as the steward of God; not selfwilled, not soon angry, not given to wine, no striker, not given to filthy lucre; • 8 But a lover of hospitality, a lover of good men, sober, just, holy, temperate; • 9 Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers.

10. A Man • 1. This is a true saying, if a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work. • 2. Desire - Want to serve, willingly I Pet. 5:2 Not begged ,shamed into doing it, • --’to stretch out.. in order to grasp” • 3. A good work…It is work. God’s work! (Acts 20:28)

11. Blameless- I Tim.3:2 andTitus 1:6 Not open to censure, no evil proved against him.. irreprovable • Luke 1:6 And they were both (Zacharias & Elisabeth)righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless • 1 Corinthians 1:8 Who shall also confirm you unto the end, that ye may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. • Philippians 2:15 That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world; • 1 Thessalonians 5:23 And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. • 2 Peter 3:14 Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless.

12. Elders Husband of One Wife “a woman” “a wife” “a male” “a husband” “A One Woman Man” “A One Wife Husband” “only one”

13. Vigilant- I Tim. 3:2 ‘sober,temperate’ • 1 Timothy 3:2 A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach; • 1 Peter 5:8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:

14. Sober I Tim.3:2;Titus 1:8 (serious minded) • 1 Thessalonians 5:6 Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober. • 1 Thessalonians 5:8 But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation. • Titus 2:2 That the aged men be sober, grave, temperate, sound in faith, in charity, in patience. • Titus 2:4 That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children • Titus 2:6 Young men likewise exhort to be sober minded. • Titus 2:12 Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; • 1 Peter 4:7 But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer.

15. Elders Of Good Behavior His life is be orderly, organized and dignified. His clothing His language His recreation His work His home The Christian is to have all these things!

16. Of good behavior : I Tim.3:2 • I Tim.3:2 1 Timothy 3:2 A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach; • Titus 2:3 The aged women likewise, that they be in behaviour as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things; • 1 Thessalonians 2:10 Ye are witnesses, and God also, how holily and justly and unblameably we behaved ourselves among you that believe: • 2 Thessalonians 3:7 For yourselves know how ye ought to follow us: for we behaved not ourselves disorderly among you; • 1 Timothy 3:15 But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.

17. Elders Hospitable “Hospitable, generous to guests.”

18. Given to Hospitality I Tim.3:2 andTitus 1:8 • I Tim. 3:2 ..of good behaviour,given to hospitality” • Romans 12:13 Distributing to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality. • 1 Peter 4:9 Use hospitality one to another without grudging. • Heb. 13:2 Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares. • 1 Timothy 5:10 •  Well reported of for good works; if she have brought up children, if she have lodged strangers, if she have washed the saints' feet, if she have relieved the afflicted, if she have diligently followed every good work.

19. Elders Able to Teach “Apt and skilful in teaching.” A suitable teacher. NOT Assumptions, opinions, conjectures, philosophy– These lead to divisiveness! Titus 1:9 ~ “. . . that he may be able, by sound doctrine, both to exhort (encourage to faithfulness) and convict (refute false teachers) those who contradict (truth).”

20. Apt to teach – I Tim.3:2;Titus 1:9 • 1 Timothy 3:2 A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apttoteach; • Titus 1:9 Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers. • Matthew 28:19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Acts 5:42 And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ. Galatians 6:6 Let him that is taught in the word communicate unto him that teacheth in all good things. Colossians 3:16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.

21. 2 Timothy 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. 2 Timothy 2:24 And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient, Hebrews 5:12 For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat.

22. Elders Not Given to Wine “Not subject to wine.” “Bible Wines” (Wm. Patton, pg 111), “Literally, not at, by, near, or with wine.” All Christians are warned About what wine can do!

23. Not given to wine I Tim.3:3; Titus 1:7 • Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous; • Proverbs 20:1 Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise. • Proverbs 23:30 They that tarry long at the wine; they that go to seek mixed wine. • Ephesians 5:18 And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;

24. Proverbs 23:31 Look not thou upon the wine when it is red, when it giveth his colour in the cup, when it moveth itself aright. • Luke 1:15 (Regarding John the Baptist) For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink; and he shall be filled with the Holy Ghost, even from his mother's womb. • Ephesians 5:18 And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;

25. No Striker (not violent) I Tim. 3:3;Titus 1:7 • 1 Timothy 3:3 Not given to wine, nostriker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous; • 2 Samuel 22:49 …thou hast delivered me from the violent man. • Job 20:19 Because he hath oppressed and hath forsaken the poor; because he hath violently taken away an house which he builded not; • Psalm 140:1 Deliver me, O Lord, from the evil man: preserve me from the violent man; • Matthew 11:12 And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force.

26. Elders Not Violent “A bruiser; ready for a blow, a pugnacious, contentious, quarrelsome person.” An elder must be a peaceable man (Matt 5:9). God wants all Christians to be Peaceable!

27. Elders Not Greedy for Money “Not loving money, not materialistic.” Obsessed with having/getting more. Willing to obtain money in unscrupulous ways 1 Tim 6:10 ~ Root of all evil

28. Not guilty of Filthy Lucre I Tim.3:3Titus 1:7 (not greedy for money) • 1 Timothy 3:3 Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthylucre; • 1 Peter 5:2 Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthylucre, but of a ready mind; • Matt. 6:19-21  Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: • 20 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: • 21 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

29. Patient (I Tim. 3:3)‘long suffering’ • I Tim. 3:3 ..but patient • Romans 12:12 Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer; • 1 Thessalonians 5:14 Now we exhort you, brethren, warn them that are unruly, comfort the feebleminded, support the weak, be patient toward all men • 2 Timothy 2:24 And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient, • James 5:7 Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord • 1 Peter 2:20 For what glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God.

30. Elders Gentle / Not Quarrelsome “Not contentious, abstaining from fighting.” “Seemingly, suitable, , fair, mild”

31. Not a Brawler (I Tim.3:3) • 1 Timothy 3:3 Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous; • Titus 3:2 To speak evil of no man, to be no brawlers, but gentle, shewing all meekness unto all men.

32. Not Covetous (I Tim. 3:3)(without self-indulgence) • 1 Timothy 3:3 Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler,not covetous; • Luke 12:15 And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth. • Luke 16:14 And the Pharisees also, who were covetous, heard all these things: and they derided him. • Ephesians 5:5 For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. • Hebrews 13:5 Let your conversation be without covetousness;

33. Elders Father of Faithful Children Having ‘faithful’ (believing) children Has children 2 or more Believing children

34. Married,Father of Faithful Children in subjection (I Tim.3:4,5;Titus 1:6) • I Tim. 3: 4 One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity; 5 (For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?) • Titus 1:6 the husband of one wife, having faithful children not accused of riot or unruly.

35. Elders Not a Novice “Newly planted, a new convert.” Because: “being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation as the devil.” I Tim.3:6

36. Good Report of them that are without (I Tim. 3:7) • 7 Moreover he must have a good report of them which are without; lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil. • This is the desire of every Christian!. • Matt. 5:16

37. To Titus …not self willed • “Self-pleasing, self-willed, arrogant.” • Not “Lord Over” (1 Pet 5:3) • Not a Diotrephes (3 Jn 9-10) • Titus 1:7  For a bishop must be blameless, as the steward of God; not selfwilled, not soon angry, not given to wine, no striker, not given to filthy lucre;

38. Not soon angry • Titus 1:7  For a bishop must be blameless, as the steward of God; not selfwilled, not soon angry, not given to wine, no striker, not given to filthy lucre; • “Prone to anger, quick-tempered” • HOT-HEADED • Prov 15:18 A wrathful man stirreth up strife: but he that is slow to anger appeaseth strife. • Prov 15:1 A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger.

39. A lover of good men. Titus 1:8 • 8 But a lover of hospitality, a lover of good men, sober, just, holy, temperate; • Fond of good, promoter of virtue, • ..glad to be with fellow Christians… • --Bible Study, Worship…. • I Cor. 15:33 ‘’Be not deceived ..evil communications corrupt good manners.”

40. Just (Titus 1:8) • 8 But a lover of hospitality, a lover of good men, sober, just, holy, temperate; • “in a judicial sense, passing just judgment on others without partiality .. (if a person is guilty, • Who ever he may be, an elder will correct him/her) • Prov. 11:1 A false balance is abomination to the Lord: but a just weight is his delight. • Jas. 2:1 My brethren, have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect of persons.

41. Holy (Titus 1:8) • 8 But a lover of hospitality, a lover of good men, sober, just, holy, temperate; • “Free from wickedness..pure, holy . He is a holy man to do a holy work! • 1 Thessalonians 5:27 I charge you by the Lord that this epistle be read unto all the holy brethren. • 1 Timothy 2:8 I will therefore that men pray every where, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting.

42. 1 Peter 1:15 But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; • 1 Peter 1:16 Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy. • 2 Peter 3:11 Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness,

43. Temperate (Titus 1:8) • Titus 1:8 But a lover of hospitality, a lover of good men, sober, just, holy, temperate; • (self control over one’s self; self disciplined) • 1 Corinthians 9:25 And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible. • Titus 2:2 That the aged men be sober, grave, temperate, sound in faith, in charity, in patience.

44. God’s Qualified Men!