Eldership: Stewards of God’s Household
Saved to Serve • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
0 ratings
· 8 viewsLiving in a democratic republic, it is easy to think of our elders as if we elected them to represent us and run the church as we think they should. We tell them what we want and how we think things should operate. However, this is not the picture we get from the New Testament. The apostles taught that the elders are more like household managers. We are all part of God’s household (which means family, but also like a family business). The elders are the household managers, who oversee things on behalf of God.
Notes
Transcript
My dad is about to become an elder
So, I’ve been thinking a lot about elders and their role of shepherding
But let me ask you a question…
How often do you think about our elders and their role in your life?
How often do you think about our elders and their role in your life?
Probably only when there’s a…problem
A personal/family problem
A (perceived) problem with the way things are being done
A problem with another member
We tend to see the elders as our problem solvers
The United States is a democratic republic
which means we elect representatives
we send them to the capital to solve our problems for us
we only think about them when there is a problem
Here are some things we need to realize…
the elders do not represent YOU
they don’t work for YOU
their role is not to solve your problems or make you happy
what does this have to do with our series?
We’ve been talking about
saved to serve
everything is a stewardship from God
One of the uses of “steward” in the NT
pertains to elders
and it should shape how we think of the elders
and their role in our lives
Paul’s letter to Titus
5 This is why I left you in Crete, so that you might put what remained into order, and appoint elders in every town as I directed you— 6 if anyone is above reproach, the husband of one wife, and his children are believers and not open to the charge of debauchery or insubordination.
Above Reproach
blameless
“unquestionable integrity” (AMP)
“without fault” (CEB)
“good reputation” (CEV)
“free from all charge” (Darby)
Family contributes to reputation
7 For an overseer, as God’s steward, must be above reproach. He must not be arrogant or quick-tempered or a drunkard or violent or greedy for gain, 8 but hospitable, a lover of good, self-controlled, upright, holy, and disciplined.
Same word Paul used in 1 Corinthians 4:1 to describe his ministry
Stewards
οἰκονόμος, ου, ὁ - manager of a household or estate, (house) steward, manager
Exalting Jesus in 1 & 2 Timothy and Titus Understand the Nature of Your Calling
We are given a description of our calling as “God’s administrator” or a steward of God. It refers to a household manager responsible to and accountable to God. Ultimately we please Him, serve Him, and obey Him…
4 He must manage his own household well, with all dignity keeping his children submissive, 5 for if someone does not know how to manage his own household, how will he care for God’s church?
How does it make God look?
if a reproachable man is managing his household?
it dishonors God and the entire household
If the elders are the stewards or managers of the household, how should we think about ourselves?
children
servants
under the oversight of the managers
households were not just families, but also small businesses
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. 10 For there are many who are insubordinate, empty talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision party.
We fully support the elders right to
instruct
rebuke
…other people
We don’t care for them instructing and rebuking us
we assume we don’t need shepherding
we all assume that
we think shepherding is for someone else
11 They must be silenced, since they are upsetting whole families by teaching for shameful gain what they ought not to teach. 12 One of the Cretans, a prophet of their own, said, “Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons.”
13 This testimony is true. Therefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith, 14 not devoting themselves to Jewish myths and the commands of people who turn away from the truth.
What if the elders came to you and said…
We’ve seen what you’re posting online
You’re are obviously being discipled by political commentators
It’s affecting your faith
Would you listen?
Peter apparently served as an elder
1 So I exhort the elders among you, as a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, as well as a partaker in the glory that is going to be revealed: 2 shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you; not for shameful gain, but eagerly;
3 not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock. 4 And when the chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory.
Do you think of yourself like this?
under the oversight of the elders?
a sheep being shepherded by them
in their “charge”
Your stewardship is under the oversight of their stewardship
17 Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you.
In the same way that a shepherd could, entrust sheep to a servant
your soul (life) has been entrusted to the shepherds
they will have to give an account for how they faithfully they carried out their stewardship
You can either
make that easy through obedience and submission
make that difficult through disobedience and resistance
We have to remember
who the elders work for
who they will answer to
The elders have a responsibility to guard our holiness, not always our happiness.
The elders have a responsibility to guard our holiness, not always our happiness.
Their service is a stewardship
they are managing God’s household
they don’t have to keep us happy, but they have to keep us on the path of holiness
Listen, Submit, Obey
Not just when there is a problem
Be proactive about submitting to them
