Elders' Meeting 5-14-24

Our Central Pastoral Duty:

Throughout the New Testament, extraordinary emphasis is placed on the centrality of teaching God’s Word. Jesus, the Good Shepherd, was preeminently a teacher, and He commissioned others to teach all that He had taught. — Alexander Strauch

Matthew 28:18–20 (ESV)

18 And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.

19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,

20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you...

John 21:17 (ESV)

17 He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Peter was grieved because he said to him the third time, “Do you love me?” and he said to him, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep.

Acts 2:42 (ESV)

42 And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.

Acts 5:42 (ESV)

42 And every day, in the temple and from house to house, they did not cease teaching and preaching that the Christ is Jesus.

Acts 15:35 (ESV)

35 ...Paul and Barnabas remained in Antioch, teaching and preaching the word of the Lord, with many others also.

1 Timothy 4:13 (ESV)

13 Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation, to teaching.

Notice the order:

1 Corinthians 12:28 (ESV)

28 And God has appointed in the church first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, helping, administrating, and various kinds of tongues.

1 Timothy 3:2 (ESV)

2 Therefore an overseer must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, sober-minded, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach,

Titus 1:9 (ESV)

9 He must hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught, so that he may be able to give instruction in sound doctrine and also to rebuke those who contradict it.

2 Timothy 2:15 (ESV)

15 Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.

James Orr:

“If there is a religion in the world which exalts the office of teaching, it is safe to say that it is the religion of Jesus Christ.”

Think about primacy assumed:

1 Timothy 5:17 (ESV)

17 Let the elders who rule well be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in preaching and teaching.

Acts 20:20 (ESV)

20 how I did not shrink from declaring to you anything that was profitable, and teaching you in public and from house to house...

Acts 20:27 (ESV)

27 for I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole counsel of God.

Strauch:

The elders protect, guide, lead, nourish, comfort, educate, and heal the flock by teaching and preaching the Word. Indeed, many pastoral needs of the people are met through teaching of the Word. The failure of church elders to know and teach the Bible is one of the chief reasons doctrinal error floods churches today and drowns the power and life of the church. — Strauch. Biblical Eldership

2 Timothy 4:1–2 (ESV)

1 I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus...

2 preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching.