Untitled Sermon (66)

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A minister who once preached from this passage borrowed his title from one of its key phrases in this text. The sermon was supposed to be called “Above Reproach: The Qualifications of Elders.” When the bulletin came back from the printer, however, it stated that elders were “Above Approach” rather than “Above Reproach.”“Above Approach”—the phrase reflects the way Christians sometimes feel about their spiritual leaders……Somewhere along the way…..we like the church bulletin have missed what God meant when he set up order in his church with Elders…God has given two offices in the church One this week Elder and Deacons next week..but Elders…What do they do? Who are they??…See I think most think Elders are those who are just old in the church (Nope), the good old boys, those who are just successful in business, they are just liked by everyone…Elders are those who just meet once a week to talk finaces of the church, and talk about property…..The good news this morning is none of those thing is who or what a Elder primarily does…..The good news this morning is God has given us a chief shepherd Jesus…who died for the church…and its His church and he has not left us without…direction of who should steward and love His church..my aim is to correct the miss understand by showing you that when it comes the the office of Elder lets ask the question what the Bible says we need in an elder..this is especially important to us as we currently have no Elders besides myself..hear in this church..also these traits all of us should strive for so don’t check out….…..so first thing we need in an Elder…..

We need Elders who have character over competency (1-7)

EX: Notice I didn’t say Elders who have no competency….we will get two where they need some competency…ILL:.but I remember…sitting in a church planting class…once and the professor started listing all of these qualities in a Elder….and he said out of the 15 characrstics/qualifications which ones have to do with competency and character…only.…One….able to teach…maybe two hospitable….has to do with competency….His point….

The Bible says a lot more about who an Elder should BE than what He should do.

….yet we often flip it….and that when we get in massive trouble.. “the usefulness of an elder will depend in the long run more on his character than on his gifts and knowledge.”…..so verse 1….The saying is trustworthy: (emphasis)..If anyone aspires to the office of overseer, he desires a noble task…before we dive into a first character trait…lets briefly unpack that word overseer..greek word episkopos…meaning engaging in oversight..supervision..But what is fascination in the word overseer…and the world Elders (presbuteros)..were we get our name Presbyterian…meaning we are ruled by elders…AND get this pastor (poimen)..which meant shepherd….are all used interchangeably throughout the NT…a pastor is and elder who is and overseer…for example….1 Peter 5:..so I exhort the elders (presbuteros) among you as a fellow elder and a witness of the suffering of Christ as well as a partaker in the glory that is going to be revealed..shepherd (poimanio) which is the verb form for poimen..pastor…the flock of God that is among you exercising oversight (episkopeo) verb form of overseer (episkopos)…not under compulsion but willing…three words same office…you see thing same thing in Tit 1:5-9, Acts 20:17…..

Pastor, Elder, Overseer are used Interchangeably throughout the N.T.

…every church in which leadership is referred to in Asia Minor, either under Paul and is associates or even under Peters ministry everyone of them has a plurality of leadership. Acts 14, Acts 20, 1 Tim 3, 1 Tim 5, Ephesnis 4, 1 Peter 5…etc the key churches of aciaua and Macedonia..have leadership of a plurality of elders. Philip thesonlica and Corinthin. And the island of Crete and communities written to by James and hebrews no the same pattern….ok..have the words…and most churches were ran by elders..but who are they….#1..they are those who want the office (desire a noble task)…1 Peter 5…not under compulsion but willing..the book are men are reading right now…is workers for your joy….

The prospect of submitting to an elder drastically changes when you know he isn’t pursing his own private advantage but genuinely seeking yours

….He wants to not for power…but joyful desiring it for the reason of working for your joy in christ..now lets get into the specific characteristics…and you can categories these Private, public, and person life…verse 2 …

Approve reproach (public)

:..this is at the start of the list because it sums them up, “Being above reproach means that an elder is to be the kind of man whom no one suspects of wrong doing or immorality. People would be shocked to hear this kind of man charged with such acts..Next….the

Husband of one wife

(private)…this one has caused a lot of confusion…it doesn’t mean if you have ever been divorced/or widowed and healing has happened and you remarry u can’t be in the office or…that if you aren’t married (that would disqualify Paul and Jesus)…The greek actually reads..a one-women man….what it means is that Elders married are faithfull to their wife..honor the covent of marriage…….men this has effect on what you watch, where you go, what we do on our phones, computer ….are we faithful to our wives…before we have business of leading others…we have to lead and love our wives…praying for them…proprieties time..with them over work, hobbies, or even others…… The next three link together (personal) …

Sober minded

( clear headed..not going to every new wave of cluture..not thinking of himself to highly)

Self-controlled

…..which is a fruit of the spirit which means he can keep his appetite (flesh) in control…one specific fleshy desire he mention in this text is alcohol…good example…he isn’t a

Not a drunkard

drunkard….can stay self controlled and disciplined in life..which leads to he is

Respectable

…you can honor him….going to come back to the next two in the next point……not violent but gentle (personal)….one famous proverb says, “When the elephants fight, the grass is trampled….likewise when Elder are

Not violent but gentle

….he must

Not quarrelsome

…meaning he doesn’t lay down with though times comes but he doesn’t go searching out comfirtation for fun…..Are you gentle or heavy handed? Are you a peacemaker or fire starter? Do you listen well or talk over others to express your options…App: Ask others?…..

Not a lover of money

(personal)…does’t say money isn’t important but money isn’t what you live for…App: You understand what has been given to you is a gift…so you don’t hold…but give back to God what is his…Then a big (private life) one because he spends a lot of time hear on this one…verse 4..

He must mange his household well

, with all dignity keeping his children submissive, for if someone does not know how to manage his own household, how will he car for God’s church?..this doesn’t not mean you have perfect kids…who sit in the front row with their greek new testaments…..But you understand your family…is your first church…puritans say that the family is a little church….You are a man…that disciples his kids with dignity..that the key word….means your not always…angry and inconsistent with discipline…but Shepard and gaining the heart of your children…leading them through praying and surrendering your own wants and time to nuntrue and cultivate them…WHY?…because…if you can’t do it for them…..you won’t do it for your congregation…The home is the testing ground of an Elder…..ILL:..I remember my pastor told me…the church has every right to ask of you to work hard care for people…they don’t have the right to have you sacrifice your family on the alter of the church…..you want to be an elder start in the home APP:….model repentance (ask forgive), prioritize time with them, read scripture, pray…….all the while daily failing on his grace when you fail……finally..

He must not be a recent convert

Well thought of by outsiders

..or will be puffed up with conceit and fall into the condemnation of the devil….recent covert is this word meaning newly planted…a plant needs time for the roots to grow..deep wither the storm of trials…and repentance….doesn’t mean by the way that and elder can’t be young in age…they can’t be young in their walk with Christ….why because there is a certain temptation as was at the root of satan of pride….put notice….Elder are under attack by the enemy…so pray pray pray for the future elders….and leaders of the church….

II. We need Elders who joyfully serve the word

EX: So who They are but what do they do…..they feed the word…Titus 1:9..he may be able to give instruction in sound doctrine and also to rebuke those who contradict it…

Elders feed and lead.

through the word….they need to be students of the book…..being able to guard this good deposit…by teaching the word to children, small groups, Sundays school…..In the book we are reading in mens group on elders..he ILL by asking if you were to die sat night..and had to have one or two other men in your church teach the Bible for the church who would it be?…Men soak in the scriptures..as a way of leading others in truth and protecting it form our culture…which you don’t teach without prayer…………also

Hospitable literally means a love for strangers

….he goes out of his way to open up his table to the outcast broken, and in need…sharing what he has with the hope of loving that person with the heart of Christ…….One elder book the mens group has read…talks about how the shepherd should smell like the sheep…Elders should be were the sheep are…inviting them in..going where there at.

III. We need Elders who are sit under the true shepherd.

In conclusion…If you are anything like me men…I get done with this list..and think whew…Lord have mercy..and that’s the point….Jesus is the only true Shepard..the one who is going to hit these standards perfectly…which doesn’t give us an excuse to through out these standards out the window….but if you are discourage this morning..and you feel completely off in an area….then repent turn….soak in his grace ask God for the strength and wisdom to desire more of him..to purse growing in the vine (Jesus) in him which produce these fruits…..But church also lets pray….that we would lovely pray and encourage our elders…when that day comes..our assessment for elders would be the word of God……knowing that the reason why God takes this leadership so seriously…is because this is Jesus bride……he died for the church…..and he longs for the purity of the gospel to be projected….the gospel that