Elders & Deacons

1. Introduction Elder- older Bishop- overseer Pastor- shepherd Deacon-wait on
2. Qualifications
   1. Elder I Tim 3:2-7
      I Tim. 3.3 Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous;
      I Tim. 3.4 One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity;
      I Tim. 3.5 (For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?)
      I Tim. 3.6 Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil.
      I Tim. 3.7 Moreover he must have a good report of them which are without; lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.
      
      Titus 1:6-9
      Titus 1.6 If any be blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children not accused of riot or unruly.
      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;
      Titus 1.8 But a lover of hospitality, a lover of good men, sober, just, holy, temperate;
      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.
   2. Deacon I Tim 3:8-12
      I Tim. 3.8 Likewise must the deacons be grave, not doubletongued, not given to much wine, not greedy of filthy lucre;
      I Tim. 3.9 Holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience.
      I Tim. 3.10 And let these also first be proved; then let them use the office of a deacon, being found blameless.
      I Tim. 3.11 Even so must their wives be grave, not slanderers, sober, faithful in all things.
      I Tim. 3.12 Let the deacons be the husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well.
3. Duties
   1. Elders I Peter 5:1-4
      I Pet. 5.1 The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed:
      I Pet. 5.2 Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind;
      I Pet. 5.3 Neither as being lords over God's heritage, but being ensamples to the flock.
      I Pet. 5.4 And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.
   2. Deacons Acts 6:1-4
      Acts 6.1 And in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplied, there arose a murmuring of the Grecians against the Hebrews, because their widows were neglected in the daily ministration.
      Acts 6.2 Then the twelve called the multitude of the disciples unto them, and said, It is not reason that we should leave the word of God, and serve tables.
      Acts 6.3 Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business.
      Acts 6.4 But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word.
   3. James 5:14-15
      James 5.14 Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord:
      James 5.15 And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.
   4. Eph 4:11-12
      Eph. 11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;
      Eph. 4:12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:
4. Elder, Bishop, and Pastor are the same office.
   
   1. Qualifications the same
      
   2. Duties the same
      
   3. PHI 1:1 Paul and Timotheus, the servants of Jesus Christ, to all the saints in Christ Jesus which are at Philippi, with the bishops and deacons:
      
      
5. Examples in Acts
   Acts 6.8 And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and miracles among the people.
   Acts 6.9 Then there arose certain of the synagogue, which is called the synagogue of the Libertines, and Cyrenians, and Alexandrians, and of them of Cilicia and of Asia, disputing with Stephen.
   Acts 6.10 And they were not able to resist the wisdom and the spirit by which he spake.
   
   Acts 14.23 And when they had ordained them elders in every church, and had prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord, on whom they believed.
   
   Acts 15.1 And certain men which came down from Judaea taught the brethren, and said, Except ye be circumcised after the manner of Moses, ye cannot be saved.
   Acts 15.2 When therefore Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and disputation with them, they determined that Paul and Barnabas, and certain other of them, should go up to Jerusalem unto the apostles and elders about this question.
   
   Acts 15.4 And when they were come to Jerusalem, they were received of the church, and of the apostles and elders, and they declared all things that God had done with them.
   Acts 15.5 But there rose up certain of the sect of the Pharisees which believed, saying, That it was needful to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the law of Moses.
   Acts 15.6 And the apostles and elders came together for to consider of this matter.
   
   Acts 15.22 Then pleased it the apostles and elders, with the whole church, to send chosen men of their own company to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas; namely, Judas surnamed Barsabas, and Silas, chief men among the brethren:
   Acts 15.23 And they wrote letters by them after this manner; The apostles and elders and brethren send greeting unto the brethren which are of the Gentiles in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia:
   
   Acts 16.4 And as they went through the cities, they delivered them the decrees for to keep, that were ordained of the apostles and elders which were at Jerusalem.
   
   Acts 20.17 And from Miletus he sent to Ephesus, and called the elders of the church.
   Acts 20.28 Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.
   Acts 20.29 For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock.
   Acts 20.30 Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them.
   Acts 20.31 Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears.
   Acts 20.32 And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified.
6. Desire the office
   1. I Tim 3:1 "This is a true saying, If a man desire the office of a Bishop, he desireth a good work."
   2. Hebrews 6:1 "Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ let us go on then unto perfection; "
   3. Titus 2:14 "Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works."
7. Conclusion
   1. Need for Elders
      Titus 1:5 "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:"
   2. We all play a part
   3. Start preparing as a young man
   4. Young women

Gospel