Sermon Tone Analysis
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Intro
Elders are a biblical term seen as important for leadership in the church since before the early church:
Illus: Thomas Chalmers (1780-1847) pastor of Tron church in Glasgow
It was a standard practice and rule that pastors would visit their people once a year in rural churches
He vowed to visit every family in the church within the year
11,000 - 12,000 souls
visits end up being brief and had little substance.
Not even time for prayer.
When asked by one little lady why he didn’t spend time and pray with her he replied: “If I were to pray in every house I entered, it would take me ten years to get through the work.”
His view of the elder changed.
He realized he could not shepherd by himself so he started using his elders as they should be.
He took them with him and trained them and then they became the ones visiting and spending time shepherding the church
Elders are shepherds of God’s people in the church.
It is not:
An office for men who are unqualified
who are only influential in town, but not spiritual leaders and who meet the qualifications in
An office that should be viewed as less than the pastor
It is:
A biblical ordained office
A name for the men who govern the church and shepherd the people, of which the pastor is one
17 Let the elders who rule well be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in preaching and teaching.
Biblical Eldership, Alexander Strauch: “First among equals.”
point is that elders/ministers are one office with differing functions.
Shepherds with different roles
Spoken and unspoken expectations
realistic and unrealistic expectations
Biblical Principles
Shepherding: (19) Paul obviously desired to Shepherd the elders (His Flock)
What you should expect from your elders:
Elders serve:
Leading by example
(17-19) serving with humility
Paul- lived among them.
He didn’t think more highly of himself
willing to suffer with them
(20-21) by teaching the gospel
spoke the truth with boldness
One who teaches without partiality
Leading people to repentance
accountability
(22-23) walk by faith
Led by the HS
willing to take risks and lead God’s people
(24-28) walk with integrity
willing to serve
puts the gospel above all else
teaches the whole counsel, not just the things that comfortable or helps them only
remind the flock of Jesus Christ
Shepherd the flock
(29-30) by protecting them
from false teaching
admonish them
(31-32) by admonishing them
pleading for them to live according to God’s truth
building up and encouraging them in the faith
(33-35) by giving to them
not coveting the sheep’s money or status
work hard for Jesus
Serve by giving themselves to the flock
Spend time with the flock
(36) relational
relating to
praying with and for
loving them
(37) well loved
miss them when they are gone
spend time with them while they are here
Conclusion
Elders are to serve with all of these things in mind.
Congregation:
These should be the standards that we hold our elders to:
nominate and vote for men who fit these qualifications and standards
avoid setting other expectations on your elders
Pray with and for your elders often
Dilemma in the church:
Pray for the next generation of elders within the church
Generation Z
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