"THE CHURCHES RESPONSIBLITY TO THE ELDERS"

How is the church to be run?

Congregational

Elder Rule

Elder Lead

Pastor Lead

Proposition - As we look to the the Word of God this morning we are going to see what the churches responsibility is the elders.

interrogative question - in what ways are you fulfilling your responsibility to the elders of our local church?

1. The churches Responsibility to Honor the elders - vs. 17-18

1 Timothy 5:17–18 NASB95

17 The elders who rule well are to be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who work hard at preaching and teaching. 18 For the Scripture says, “You shall not muzzle the ox while he is threshing,” and “The laborer is worthy of his wages.”

“who rule” - (proistemi) - verb, perfect, active, participle, plural, nominative, masculine - attributive participle - lead; rule over; manage -

Sense: to lead (authority) - to be in charge of

Notice the other way that this word is used in 1 Timothy -

1 Timothy 3:4 (NASB95)

4 He must be one who manages his own household well, keeping his children under control with all dignity

1 Timothy 3:5 (NASB95)

5 (but if a man does not know how to manage his own household, how will he take care of the church of God?),

1 Timothy 3:12 (NASB95)

12 Deacons must be husbands of only one wife, and good managers of their children and their own households.

“well” - (kalos) - adverb - adverb of manner - well; rightly; correctly -

Sense: well (good) - in a good or proper or satisfactory manner or to a high standard; sometimes sarcastically so.

Galatians 5:7 (NASB95)

7 You were running well; who hindered you from obeying the truth?

Philippians 4:14 (NASB95)

14 Nevertheless, you have done well to share with me in my affliction.

1 Timothy 3:4 (NASB95)

4 He must be one who manages his own household well, keeping his children under control with all dignity

1 Timothy 3:13 (NASB95)

13 For those who have served well as deacons obtain for themselves a high standing and great confidence in the faith that is in Christ Jesus.

“Honor” - (time) - noun, genitive, singular, feminine - genitive of reference - honor; value; price -

Sense: compensation - something given or received as payment or reparation (as for a service or loss or injury.)

1 Timothy 1:17 (NASB95)

17 Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.

1 Timothy 5:17 (NASB95)

17 The elders who rule well are to be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who work hard at preaching and teaching.

1 Timothy 6:1 (NASB95)

1 All who are under the yoke as slaves are to regard their own masters as worthy of all honor so that the name of God and our doctrine will not be spoken against.

1 Timothy 6:16 (NASB95)

16 who alone possesses immortality and dwells in unapproachable light, whom no man has seen or can see. To Him be honor and eternal dominion! Amen.

2 Timothy 2:20 (NASB95)

20 Now in a large house there are not only gold and silver vessels, but also vessels of wood and of earthenware, and some to honor and some to dishonor.

2 Timothy 2:21 (NASB95)

21 Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from these things, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified, useful to the Master, prepared for every good work.

“double” - (diplous) - adjective, genitive, singular, feminine - attributive adjective - double; two-fold -

Sense: double - twice as great or many

Notice the use of this word in the OT

Exodus 22:1–9 (NASB95)

1 “If a man steals an ox or a sheep and slaughters it or sells it, he shall pay five oxen for the ox and four sheep for the sheep. 2 “If the thief is caught while breaking in and is struck so that he dies, there will be no bloodguiltiness on his account. 3 “But if the sun has risen on him, there will be bloodguiltiness on his account. He shall surely make restitution; if he owns nothing, then he shall be sold for his theft. 4 “If what he stole is actually found alive in his possession, whether an ox or a donkey or a sheep, he shall pay double. 5 “If a man lets a field or vineyard be grazed bare and lets his animal loose so that it grazes in another man’s field, he shall make restitution from the best of his own field and the best of his own vineyard. 6 “If a fire breaks out and spreads to thorn bushes, so that stacked grain or the standing grain or the field itself is consumed, he who started the fire shall surely make restitution. 7 “If a man gives his neighbor money or goods to keep for him and it is stolen from the man’s house, if the thief is caught, he shall pay double. 8 “If the thief is not caught, then the owner of the house shall appear before the judges, to determine whether he laid his hands on his neighbor’s property. 9 “For every breach of trust, whether it is for ox, for donkey, for sheep, for clothing, or for any lost thing about which one says, ‘This is it,’ the case of both parties shall come before the judges; he whom the judges condemn shall pay double to his neighbor.

Deuteronomy 25:1–4 (NASB95)

1 “If there is a dispute between men and they go to court, and the judges decide their case, and they justify the righteous and condemn the wicked, 2 then it shall be if the wicked man deserves to be beaten, the judge shall then make him lie down and be beaten in his presence with the number of stripes according to his guilt. 3 “He may beat him forty times but no more, so that he does not beat him with many more stripes than these and your brother is not degraded in your eyes. 4 “You shall not muzzle the ox while he is threshing.

1 Corinthians 9:9 (NASB95)

9 For it is written in the Law of Moses, “You shall not muzzle the ox while he is threshing.” God is not concerned about oxen, is He?

Leviticus 19:13 (NASB95)

13 ‘You shall not oppress your neighbor, nor rob him. The wages of a hired man are not to remain with you all night until morning.

Deuteronomy 24:15 (NASB95)

15 “You shall give him his wages on his day before the sun sets, for he is poor and sets his heart on it; so that he will not cry against you to the Lord and it become sin in you.

Matthew 10:10 (NASB95)

10 or a bag for your journey, or even two coats, or sandals, or a staff; for the worker is worthy of his support.

Luke 10:7 (NASB95)

7 “Stay in that house, eating and drinking what they give you; for the laborer is worthy of his wages. Do not keep moving from house to house.

1 Corinthians 9:14 (NASB95)

14 So also the Lord directed those who proclaim the gospel to get their living from the gospel.

2. The churches Responsibility to Protect to the elders - vs. 19

1 Timothy 5:19 NASB95

19 Do not receive an accusation against an elder except on the basis of two or three witnesses.

3. The churches Responsibility to Confront sin of the elders - vs. 20

1 Timothy 5:20 NASB95

20 Those who continue in sin, rebuke in the presence of all, so that the rest also will be fearful of sinning.

The churches Responsibility to Uphold God’s Word - vs. 21 - 25

1 Timothy 5:21 NASB95

21 I solemnly charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus and of His chosen angels, to maintain these principles without bias, doing nothing in a spirit of partiality.

Consistency no matter the cost - vs. 21

1 Timothy 5:22 NASB95

22 Do not lay hands upon anyone too hastily and thereby share responsibility for the sins of others; keep yourself free from sin.

Patience for biblical leadership - vs. 22-25

1 Timothy 5:23–25 NASB95

23 No longer drink water exclusively, but use a little wine for the sake of your stomach and your frequent ailments. 24 The sins of some men are quite evident, going before them to judgment; for others, their sins follow after. 25 Likewise also, deeds that are good are quite evident, and those which are otherwise cannot be concealed.

SO WHAT?

in what ways are you fulfilling your responsibility to the elders of our local church?