Overseers and Deacons 3 May 2009 Elders Concepts

Overseers and Deacons 3 May 2009

Elders • Concepts regarding the Church – Christ is the Head of the Body of Christ – Christ is the Keystone/Cornerstone of the building of which we are the building blocks – Christ is the Chief Shepherd of the flock

Elders • Elders appear in the Old Testament – Part of the Israelite culture in Moses time (go and assemble the elders) – Hebrew word means ‘bearded’ not necessarily ‘oldest’ – Part of the New Testament era – ‘Chief Priests and Elders’

Elders • Elders in the NT Church – Presbuteros and Episkopos translated Elder, Bishop, or Presbyter interchangeably in the KJ translation

Elders • Is it an Office or a Gift or both? – It is an office, it is never mentioned amongst the gifts (c/f apostle, prophets, teachers etc) • Number? – Appears to be a plurality (Paul called the elders of the Church. . at Ephesus) – Paul tells Titus …appoint elders in each Church. .

Elders • Hierarchy? – No evidence of this. Peter calls himself a “fellow elder” – John refers to himself and an elder

Elders • What do they do? – Elders are to oversee – Be under-shepherds who Shepherd/ feed/ tend in Christ’s physical absence – To feed/ care for the Church – Be pray-ers

Elders • How are they selected? – Holy Spirit made you overseers: Acts 20: 28 – They were ‘appointed’ in the NT Church by the apostles or their delegates – The word used for appointed could mean: – stretched out hand – to appoint by show of hands – to appoint or elect without regard to the method – Most believe it would have been by “laying on of hands”

Elders Selection criteria • Self-controlled • Hospitable • Able/apt to teach • Not violent but gentle • Not quarrelsome • Not a lover of money • Not a recent convert • Has a good reputation with outsiders • Not overbearing • Not quick tempered • Loves what is good…… (continued…)

Elders Continued… • Disciplined • Above reproach (blameless) • Husband of one wife • Temperate • Respectable • Not given to drunkenness • Manages his own family well • Sees that his children obey him • Does not pursue dishonest gain • Holds to the deep truths of the faith

Elders • When you look at this list it is an overall view of a person’s: – personal life – Domestic (ie home/family life) – human relationships – financial affairs – spiritual maturity – teaching ability

Elders • What do we do? – be prepared to submit to their oversight – don’t entertain accusations against them unless there are 2 or more witnesses – honour them – pay for them – & please pray for them!

Deacons • Greek word is ‘diakonos’ which means – helper – servant – to minister (diakoneo)

Deacons • Where do they appear in the New Testament? • Philippians 1: 1 & (… together with the overseers and deacons) • 1 Timothy 3: 8, 10, 12, & 13 • The “Seven” who were selected to wait on tables in Acts 6: 1 -6 are not referred to as Deacons but some argue that they were the first deacons • Process here – choose 7 men full of the Holy Spirit and Apostles laid hands on them

Deacons • How selected? – We don’t know – Some point to the “seven helpers” in Acts 6 • What do they do? – by inference from their title, they help the elders in serving and overseeing the Body

Deacons Selection criteria? • Above reproach (blameless) • Husband of one wife • Temperate • Respectable • Not given to drunkenness • Manages his own family well • Sees that his children obey him • Does not pursue dishonest gain • Holds to the deep truths of the faith • Sincere • Tested

End