An Elder Led Church (Titus 1:4-11)
Gary McManus, 09/08/2013Part of the God's Word is Life series, preached at a Sunday Morning service
DCC Elders met with the Elders from Pendleton
CC on Thursday, August 29th. It led me to today’s
message. It is important.
Eldership; biblical Eldership. What was the design
and what happened to that design?
First, the phrase “appoint elders”: Acts 14:23, Titus 1:5
Paul wanted Elders in place for the church. (in EVERY town)
[FYI :190 references to Elders in the Bible, most refer to the Elders of Israel. It is usual for the church to utilize terms and structures (even some practices) from Jewish tradition.
However, in every case, the Christian use of those was and is always unique.]
See 1 Peter 1:1 with 5:1.
There were even elders in the churches in the city of Jerusalem where the Apostles served. (Acts 15:2, 15:4, 15:6)
Jesus gave Elders (see Ephesians 4:11-13).
O.K. but what did those Elders do?
--shepherds (pastors) SHEPHERDING :
(Ephesians 4:11, John 21:16, Acts 20:28).
--elder-shepherds are charged with oversight.
1 Peter 5:2, 1 Timothy 3:1-2, 5:17(!) ).(govern well!)
From Darrin Patrick’s book: Church Planter:
the man, the message, the mission
PLURALITY OF ELDERS: see Acts 14:23; 15;
20:17, 28, 1 Timothy 5:17 Phillipians 1:1 Titus 1:5 James 5:14, 1 Peter 1:1, 5:1
What does an elder oversee? Elders oversee people.
"Take care. . .and direct."
Remember, in the ancient church, there were no books —not even a Bible. The Elders served as the church’s textbook and manual (see 1 Peter 5:2-3).
What happened ? Problems. (see 1 Timothy 1:3-5, 18-20 2 Timothy 4: 9, 14-18, 3 John 1:9-10, 2 Peter 2:1) (Jesus predicted: Matthew 24:11,24 and Mark 13:22)
Despite ALL the potential for things to go WRONG
with the Elders and the Eldership, the church and the Apostles NEVER gave up the design of having Elders rule and govern and shepherd the church of Jesus Christ.
These are just the problems WITHIN the church!
The Elders had to deal with persecution.
Until 325 A.D. when the Roman Emperor Constantine converted to Christianity, the church suffered.
Jesus knew, the Bible knew there would be persecution and the church structure in place to deal with that was an Elder-led church.
The potential problems the APOSTLE knew.
But the Apostle didn’t say not to do it because of the dangers.
“Appoint Elders in the town as I directed you
. . .this is the reason I left you there. . .”
Amen
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