Elders in the church

Sermon • Submitted 4 years ago

0 ratings

· 11 views

In the NT a group of leaders responsible for managing and teaching a local church. As the name implies, they were normally men of experience and maturity. Although women played a very significant part in early Christian ministry, there is no specific NT evidence for women as elders.

Notes

Transcript

Elders in the Jerusalem church

Acts 15:4 LEB

And when they arrived in Jerusalem, they were received by the church and the apostles and the elders, and reported all that God had done with them.

See also Ac 11:30; Ac 15:2; Ac 15:6; Ac 15:22–23; Ac 16:4; Ac 21:18

Elders are also called “overseers”

Ac 20:28 In Ac 20:17 they are described as “elders”. Here they are “overseers”.

Elders are appointed by apostles or their delegates

Ac 14:23 Here, as always in the NT, people are appointed to a joint eldership. There is no NT example of a single elder leading a church.

Qualifications for elders

Tt 1:6–9 As in Ac 20:17,28, “elder” is here synonymous with “overseer”.

The role of elders

As leaders

1 Timothy 5:17 LEB

The elders who lead well must be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who labor by speaking and teaching.

As teachers

1 Timothy 5:17 LEB

The elders who lead well must be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who labor by speaking and teaching.

As pastors and guardians against false teaching

Acts 20:28–31 LEB

Be on guard for yourselves and for all the flock among which the Holy Spirit has appointed you as overseers, to shepherd the church of God which he obtained through the blood of his own Son. I know that after my departure fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock. And from among you yourselves men will arise, speaking perversions of the truth in order to draw away the disciples after them. Therefore be on the alert, remembering that night and day for three years I did not stop warning each one of you with tears.

In the healing ministry

James 5:14 LEB

Is anyone among you sick? He should summon the elders of the church and they should pray over him, anointing him with olive oil in the name of the Lord.

The remuneration and correction of elders

1 Timothy 5:17–20 LEB

The elders who lead well must be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who labor by speaking and teaching. For the scripture says, “You must not muzzle an ox while it is threshing,” and “The worker is worthy of his wages.” Do not accept an accusation against an elder except on the evidence of two or three witnesses. Reprove those who sin in the presence of all, in order that the rest also may experience fear.

Elders are to receive respect and submission from church members

Heb 13:17 “leaders” is an alternative term for “elders”.

The twenty-four elders in heaven

The elders are seated on thrones

Re 4:4 These elders may be angelic beings corresponding to the 24 orders of Levites (1Chronicles chapters 24-25) or symbolise Israel and the church (compare Rev 21:12-14).

The elders worship God and the Lamb

Revelation 4:10–11 LEB

the twenty-four elders fall down before the one who is seated on the throne and worship the one who lives forever and ever, and put down their crowns before the throne, saying, “You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, because you have created all things, and because of your will they existed and were created.”