Lessons From Acts Elders Elders in Acts Acts

Lessons From Acts Elders

Elders in Acts • Acts 11: 27 -30 – Multiple (v. 30) – Leadership (distribution of relief sent to Judea) • Acts 14: 21 -23 – 1 st Missionary Journey – Multiple (v. 23) – Appointed in every church

Elders in Acts • Acts 15 – Vs. 6 - Came together with the Apostles to consider the matter – Vs. 7 - Much dispute/debate (among themselves) – Delivered a single letter (came together) • Acts 16: 4 -5 – Message delivered from the “Apostles and Elders in Jerusalem”

Elders in Acts • Acts 20: 17, 27 -31 – Ephesian elders – – – Multiple (V. 17) Paul encouraging and reminding them Received the whole counsel of God from Paul Take heed to yourselves and to all the flock you oversee Shepherd (feed and tend) the flock among you (Holy Spirit) • I Peter 5: 2 – Shepherd the flock among you – Watch for wolves – Watch for those from among them who will draw men to themselves

Elders in the Epistles • Names – – Elders (all through Acts) – Advisor, ruler Overseer (Acts 20: 28) - Ruler Shepherds, Pastor (Eph. 4: 11) – Caretaker Bishop (1 Tim 3) – Ruler, overseer, etc … • Plurality – Singular only when speaking of John or Peter – 1 Tim 5: 19 Do not receive an accusation against an elder except from two or three witnesses.

Qualifications • 1 Tim. 3: 1 -7 -- Desires a good work n n n n n blameless, the husband of one wife, temperate, sober-minded, of good behavior, hospitable, able to teach; not given to wine, not violent, n n not greedy gentle, not quarrelsome, not covetous; rules his own house well having his children in submission n not a novice n good testimony among those who are outside

Qualifications of Elders • Titus 1: 5 -9 – In every city n blameless, n the husband of one wife, n Having faithful children (not accused of insubordination) n Not self willed n Not quick tempered n not given to wine, n not violent, n n n n not greedy Hospitable, Lover of good men Just Holy Self controlled Holding fast to the word By sound mind – exhort and convict those who contradict

Work of the Elders • Watch for those who will cause trouble (Acts 20: 29 -30; Titus 1: 10 -16) – From inside and outside – Insubordinate, idle talkers and deceivers – Mouth must be stopped – subvert whole households • Oversee – rule the affairs of the church they oversee • Feed the flock – see the flock is taught the Word • Discipline/Instruct/Warn ( 1 Thess. 5: 12 -13)

Work of the Elders • 1 Peter 5: 1 -4 – One elder (apostle) exhorting other elders – Shepherd the flock which is among you – Overseers – not by compulsion but willingly • Not for dishonest gain – Don’t lord over the flock – lead by example • Hebrews 13: 17 – They will give an account for the souls they oversee

Our Responsibility • 1 Pet 5: 5 Likewise younger people, submit yourselves to your elders. • Heb 13: 17 Obey those who rule over you, and be submissive, for they watch out for your souls, as those who must give account. Let them do so with joy and not with grief, for that would be unprofitable for you. • 1 Thess. 5: 12 -13 – Recognize them – Esteem them very highly for their work’s sake – Be at peace among yourselves

Our Responsibility • 1 Tim. 5: 17 -20 – Those who rule well are worthy of double honor – Can be paid (labor in the Word and doctrine) – Don’t not receive and accusation against and elder without two or three witnesses • Titus 1: 10 – Don’t be insubordinate, idle talker or deceiver