Page One Introduction to: Qualifications of an Elder S 19-a A

Introduction to: Qualifications of an Elder

1 Timothy 3:1-7; Titus 1:5-9

A. We want to begin a study of the qualifications of an elder, the work of elders, and the duties of the congregation to elders.

Before we dive into the specific qualifications.
Lets first look at the matter of

Authority,
Organization of the local church
Approachs toward the qualifications of elders.

I. AUTHORITY all is from God

A. Jesus spoke with the authority given to him from God.

1. John 12:49-50 “For I did not speak on My own initiative, but the Father Himself who sent Me has given Me commandment, what to say, and what to speak. And I know that His commandment is eternal life; therefore the things I speak, I speak just as the Father has told Me.”

2. Matt.17:5 ...“This is My beloved Son, with whom I am well-pleased; listen to Him!”

3. Heb.1:1-2 God, after He spoke long ago to the fathers in the prophets in many portions and in many ways, in these last days has spoken to us in His Son, ...

4. 1 Cor.15:27-28 For He has put all things in subjection under His feet....

B. Jesus had been given all authority, people cold see this in Him.

1. Matt.7:29 for He was teaching them as one having authority, and not as their scribes.

2. Matt.28:18 ...“All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.

3. Eph.1:20-23 ...He raised Him from the dead, and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age, but also in the one to come. And He put all things in subjection under His feet, and gave Him as head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.

4. 1 Cor.15:24-26 then comes the end, when He delivers up the kingdom to the God and Father, when He has abolished all rule and all authority and power. For He must reign until He has put all His enemies under His feet. The last enemy that will be abolished is death.

C. CHRIST NOW HAS ALL AUTHORITY

1. King – Kingdom John 18:36

2. SAVIOUR - CHURCH Eph. 5:23

3. HEAD - BODY Col.1:17-18

D. Apostles.

1. John 14:25-26 “...the Helper, the Holy Spirit,... will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you.

2. John 16:12-13 “...when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth; for He will not speak on His own initiative, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come."

3. Acts 1:1-2 "The first account I composed, Theophilus, about all that Jesus began to do and teach, until the day when He was taken up, after He had by the Holy Spirit given orders to the apostles whom He had chosen.

4. Matt.10:40 “He who receives you receives Me, and he who receives Me receives Him who sent Me."

5. 1 Cor.14:37 If anyone thinks he is a prophet or spiritual, let him recognize that the things which I write to you are the Lord’s commandment.

E. Not One Apostle Greater Than Another; EQUAL IN AUTHORITY

1. Matt.20:25-26 But Jesus called them to Himself, and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great men exercise authority over them. It is not so among you, but whoever wishes to become great among you shall be your servant,

2. 1 John 1:3-4 what we have seen and heard we proclaim to you also, that you also may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father, and with His Son Jesus Christ. And these things we write, so that our joy may be made complete.

3. Rom.16:25-26 Now to Him who is able to establish you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery which has been kept secret for long ages past, but now is manifested, and by the Scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the eternal God, has been made known to all the nations, leading to obedience of faith;

4. 2 Tim. 3:16-17 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, [17] that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work.

II. Church Organization

A. Universal. Matt.16:18; Eph.1:22-23 No organization; it is spiritual relationship sustained to Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

B. Local. Acts 14:23 ...they ... appointed elders for them in every church,

1. Titus 1:5 ... set in order what remains, and appoint elders in every city as I directed you.

C. local church is organized.

1. So, authority comes from God to Christ to Holy Spirit to Apostles and prophets to elders.

2. It is possible for a local church to exist:

a. scripturally ---> without elders (no men qualified) with elders (men qualified and appointed)

b. unscripturally ---> without elders (men qualified and not appointed) with elders (unqualified men appointed as elders)

III. Preconceived ideas toward the qualifications

A. They effect our ability to establish qualified men, or establish unqualified men

H.E.Phillips, Scriptural elders and deacons, p.74-75: “One might ask, Why are preachers and church members in general so divided over the standard of God in forming the oversight of the church? To properly answer this question we must remove attention from the standard given in the Bible to the opinions and theories of man, because there lies the all important answer to this question. Man’s speculating has always led him to false premises in matters of faith, and certainly this is a subject of faith, and speculating is usually based upon some idea foreign to the plain revelation of God. A great mystery is why one man with great intellect and accomplishment will look at an apparently simple passage of Scripture and draw one conclusion, while another, equally intelligent and accomplished, will look at the same passage and draw an opposite conclusion. This fault cannot be attributed to the weakness of the Bible, nor can it be blamed on the inability of the Holy Spirit to adequately express Himself; the inefficiency must be charged to the man in spite of his intellect and learning. We are compelled to inquire, what is wrong with the man in his approach to the Bible that makes one interpret a passage one way and another man another way? The answer is inevitable: his attitude toward the passage colors his mind in favor of himself as he approaches it.

“Before a proper and thorough study of the qualifications can be successful, it is essential to look for a moment at the various attitudes toward these qualifications that have been exhibited by a number of outstanding preachers and writers of the past one hundred years. It must be said in fairness that not all these positions--for that matter very few of them--are proclaimed in dishonesty. Therefore, this exposition of error in attitude does not reflect on those who hold these positions, as to their integrity, but it is hoped that the proper attitude may be determined that all may approach the qualifications of the eldership to know the truth. Preconceptions on the part of the student always blind him to a thorough and accurate understanding of any passage of Scripture. Attention is now directed to the most prominent attitudes toward the qualifications of bishops that hinder a correct understanding.”

B. Must be careful of how we can set aside a part of a list of qualifications and bind other ones.

IV. Cannot Disregard The Qualifications Of Elders.

A. This is a disregard for the authority of Christ.

B. Appointing young men to the Eldership.

a. Great difference between youth and age.

b. The term elder does not signify the exact age one must be, but common sense would tell us that a twenty-one-year-old man is a youth rather than an elder.

C. If anyone does the work of an elder, he is an elder.

a. A glance at the list of qualifications tells us that is incorrect.

D. One may do the same kind of work, but has not the authority of an elder.

c. May do great work of teaching, but lack the experience age gives one to guide another.

d. May be able to teach what Bible teaches concerning the marriage and family relationship.

e. Yet be unmarried and so unqualified for the eldership and unqualified to really give the counsel and help needed to martial problems as an experienced married man could.

E. Cannot appoint the best we have, because we cannot find qualified men.

a. Not if they lack in any one of the qualifications!

b. However, if the best we have are qualified in all points, but perhaps not as well as we might desire.

c. Those men are qualified nonetheless and so may be appointed.

F. I fear the greater danger and lacking in the church is neglecting to appoint men because we demand more than the Lord does!

V. The Proper Prospective Toward The Qualifications

A. The qualifications do not demand a perfect, sinless man.

B. Few of the qualifications only apply to the Elders.

1. Most are required of all Christians.

C. Most of the qualifications are relative, which may be understood in terms of degree, but not all of them are relative.

1. Such qualities as: a man is not.

a. There is no degree of this quality.

b. He may be various kinds of a man, but he is either a man or he is not.

2. Ability to teach, blameless, holy, just, etc., are relative terms.

3. A relative qualification means a quality in degree as related to the standard.

a. An illustration: Each elder must be apt to teach, but one elder may be more apt to teach than another. But by comparing to the standard, both are qualified by being pt to teach in contrast to those who are not able to teach. One man may be tall as compared to other men in general, yet another may be taller than he. Every elder must have all the qualifications to a high degree (or, above the average degree?). One may be a qualified elder and still have room to “grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.”