Sermon Tone Analysis

Intro

Why this image?

Intro

Intro

More of a Teaching Sermon

More of a Teaching Sermon

A Necessary Series

Why?

3 Core Convictions

Acts

We must implement or sustain biblical leadership, therefore we must identify it, therefore we must

1 tim 3:16-17

2 Tim 4:2

Spiritually Practical Reasons

Biblical leadership is necessary in order to...

To Cultivate Discernment

To Pursue Faithfulness

Rev 3:8

To Be Healthy

To Experience Fullness of joy

To Pursue Glory

To See Glory

To Pursue Joy

that Jesus gave as gifts to men (i.e. the church) the apostles, the prophets, the evangelist, the shepherds and teachers (or Shepherd-Teachers).

Rev 19:7

Biblical Leadership: A lost Gem

Today the dominant mentality toward leadership is distrust, because of corruption, lust for power, and the abuse of authority.

Ignatius implemented a 3 tier

Ignatius

V-formation Uplift

Read excerpt from “Elders and Leaders, God’s Plan for Leading the Church”- Gene Getz: p 23-24

Historically wide-spread corruption in the church leadership when Ignatius (Christian writer and Bishop of Antioch) deviated from the biblical model of leadership, and implemented his own 3-tier system of leadership -Bishop>Elders>Deacons, which he later expanded to place himself as the highest bishop over the bishop’s of Ephesus, Smyrna, and Rome.

This deviation from the biblical model continued to spiral out of control in the church and continues to be practiced in the catholic church and some protestant denominations.

Bishop-Elders-Deacons

Despite the corruption that exist because of the historical deviation from biblical leadership we must not throw the baby out with the bathwater.

We must rediscover biblical leadership!

Bishop’s grew to possess inappropriate “thus says the Lord” authority, and ensuing abuses continued, and still formally exist in some denominations.

So what were leaders in the NT church called?

Elders/Overseers and Deacons.

Hang-ups

“This is just politics, I want nothing to do with it or I could care less!”

Google Definition of Politics: the activities associated with the governance of a country or other area, especially the debate or conflict among individuals or parties having or hoping to achieve power.

reminds us that Christ is the head of the church and must remain preeminent.

Politics in the church exist in the church when Christ no longer seen as preeminent and people start viewing themselves as heads of the church

A Reminder from the Lord Jesus

Servant Leadership

Pray

Elders/Overseers

Elders/Overseers

“Elders” [Grk “presbuteroi”] English Presbyter

“Overseer” [Grk “episkopos”] English Bishop

Their Emergence

In Israel

“Elders” - Term familiar to Jews

Men selected to represent various segments of the people (e.g.

tribes, nobility, religious sects).

In the time of Jesus every major town had a Sanhedrin composed of 23 elders.

In Jerusalem 70 men comprised the “Great Sanhedrin” - priest, wealthy, scribes, pharisees, sadducees; all called “elders”

Ex 3

NT

In the time of Jesus every major town had a Sanhedrin composed of 23 elders.

In Jerusalem 70 men comprised the “Great Sanhedrin” - priest, wealthy, scribes, pharisees, sadducees; all called “elders”

NT

The function of Elders in Israel was quite different than Elders in the NT church

In the Church

“Elders”

A.D. 45: Barnabas and Paul (then called Saul) transported a gift of money from the church in Antioch which they delivered “to the elders” in Jerusalem ().

A.D. 45-47: James the half brother of Jesus, primary leader among the Jerusalem elders encouraged believers to “call for the elders of the church” to pray for the ill ().

A.D. 47: Paul and Barnabas appointed “elders” in the churches in Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch ().

A.D. 49: The “apostles and elders” in Jerusalem functioned as a team to resolve the law/grace controversy ()

A.D. 49-52: Paul, Silas, and Timothy “traveled from town to town” and “delivered the decisions reached by the apostles and elders in Jerusalem for the people to obey” ().

“Overseers” - Term familiar to gentiles (episkopos - a superintendent or leader of a colony).

A.D. 58: Interchangeably by Paul in the same passage/context

A.D. 63: “Elder & Overseer” Used interchangeably by Paul throughout ;

A.D. 63: Peter

A.D. 65: Paul to Titus

Their Qualifications

Their Function

Their Appointment

Appointment By Biblical Qualification

;

“Anyone aspires”

no special revelation, apostolic succession, or unique calling; no spiritual gifts required- just a desire serve as an elder/overseer.

“He”

reinforced in “I do not permit a woman to teach or exercise authority over a man...”

The Maturity Profile

Should be true of every believer, but must be exemplified in an elder/overseer

Not merely what

To everyone: Assess your maturity and be challenged toward biblical maturity

To those men who desire to lead as an elder/overseer: Would those in the community, and those closest to you characterize you this way?

1 Tim 3:2

“be”

Grk “eimi - to have the quality of being

characterized by.

The emphasis is on the consistency of being, not isolated incidents of doing.

“Above Reproach” same in Titus 1:6

“a

same in Titus 1:6

Not a requirement to be perfect

blameless, unable to be accused, a good reputation.

This is a overarching trait.