The Duties of Elders

TEXT: Acts 20–28.

INTRODUCTION:

1. This is a very important topic.

2. We cannot really understand it without first understanding the mission of the church—and the importance of that mission.

(1)The work of the church—explained: to save souls.

a. Christ came to seek and save the lost—Lk. 19:10.

b. The church is the body of Christ (Eph. 1:22, 23) and is to carry on that same work.

(2)How this work is accomplished:

a. Stated in a “nutshell”: evangelism, “to make known the Gospel of Christ,” i.e., to be the “pillar and ground of the truth.” (1 Timothy 3:15).

b. How is EVANGELISM accomplished: by word and by deed.

(a)By word—by speaking or writing the word of God, or an explanation of that word. (Acts 8:4, 26–40; 17:22–31; 2:14–40.)

(b)By deed—by showing in one’s life (i.e., actual deeds performed) the principles of the Gospel. Note: Matthew 5:16; Acts 10:35; 2 Corinthians 3:1, 2; 1 Peter 3:1, 2; Philippians 1:27; Hebrews 11:13, 14.

(3)To WHOM is the Gospel to be made known?

a. The lost:

(a)Acts 2:14–41.—Jews on Pentecost.

(b)Acts 8:26–40.—Ethiopian eunuch.

(c)Acts 17:22–31.—Men of Athens.

(d)Acts 24:10–27.—Felix and Drusilla.

b. The Church:

(a)The faithful.

((1))Edification—for continued growth.

((2))Admonition—against falling.

(b)The negligent, lukewarm—Rev. 3:15.

(c)The apostate—2 Peter 2:20–22.

(4)By what means?—By every righteous (i.e., authorized by the Scriptures) means which is judged to be expedient:

a. Pulpit

b. Classes

c. Personal work

d. Newspapers

e. Tracts

f. Radio

g. Television

h. “Campaigns”, gospel meetings

i. “Exodus” movements

j. Debates

k. Etc.

*Note: All of these matters involve expediency.

3. What, then, are the duties of the elders in the face of this all-important work? THE ELDER faces the responsibility of:

I. SELF-DISCIPLINE:—Acts 20:28.

A. Before being appointed to be an elder, one faces the responsibility of QUALIFYING himself for this great work.

1. The Bible makes it clear that one must be qualified before being appointed as an elder.

(1)Titus 1:7—“For a Bishop must be …”

(2)I Timothy—“A Bishop then must be …”

2. God has not left it up to man to decide what the qualifications should be; these qualifications were set forth by the Holy Spirit through the Apostle Paul.

3. A man should feel certain that he is qualified before he will accept the work in the first place.

4. The congregation should be as certain as possible that a man is qualified before it appoints a man to the office or work of being an elder.

B. After being appointed an elder, one should regularly and honestly “take heed to …” to see if he has remained qualified.

1. The significance of “prosecho” (προσέχω) in this passage is: “Keep on taking heed” to yourselves (present imperative of “prosecho”).

2. The theory which holds “once an elder, always an elder” (i.e., without regard to qualifications) is false.

C. This constant (or regular self-examination relates to:

1. Bible knowledge.

(1)An elder must know the Bible well in order to be qualified to be appointed as an elder.

(2)And, he should continue to grow in Bible knowledge after being appointed. (Cf.: 2 Peter 3:18)

2. Character:

(1)This relates to what an elder is, within his own heart. (Proverbs 23:7)

(2)An elder must be clean himself before he is qualified to try to lead others into a life of cleanness.—(Cf.: 2 Peter 1:5–11; Philippians 4:8)

(3)An elder should be a person: (Matthew 22:35–40)

a. Who truly loves God.

b. Who truly loves his own family.

c. Who truly loves the church.

(a)The faithful.

(b)The unfaithful.—(Gal. 6:1)

d. Who truly loves the lost. (Lk. 19:10)

3. Practice:

(1)Having the right character will lead to right practices.

(2)Elders have no right to be regarded as leaders if they live ungodly lives.

a. Matthew 7:1–5.

b. Romans 2:17–29.

c. 2 Timothy 2:15.

(3)Elders are:

a. To be without reproach.

b. To have a good testimony from them that are without.

(4)Elders are to be examples:

a. Of faith.

b. Of Bible knowledge.

c. Of optimism and enthusiasm.

(a)Pessimism and lack of faith can be destructive:

((1))Israelites—Numbers 13; 14.

((2))Peter—Matthew 14:24–31.

(b)Optimism and great faith can be inspiring:

((1))Military leaders.

((2))Caleb and Joshua.

d. Of purity.

e. Of diligent work.

f. Of family life.

(a)Good relationship between husband and wife.

(b)Ruling his children well.

II. WATCHFULNESS OVER THE FLOCK:

A. They are not:

1. To be mere “watch-dogs” of the treasury.

2. To consume their time in matters which are inconsequential:

(1)50¢ or 75¢ for a door-stop.

(2)To buy this or buy that.

3. To be “popes” or tyrants over the church.

B. But they are to: (Acts 20:28)

1. Function in the oversight of the work and members of the church.

2. Watch in behalf of souls—Heb. 13:17.

(1)This is a fearful responsibility.

(2)It demands knowledge of the flock.

(3)They shall give account for the souls under their oversight.

a. Members living godly lives.

b. Members living ungodly lives.

(4)Note: “Overseeing” is not the same thing as “overlooking.”

(5)Elders must know the flock.

3. Administer spiritual food to the flock:

(1)An elder is a “bishop” (ἐπίσκοπος)—an overseer, a man charged with the duty of seeing that things to be done by others are done rightly (Thayer).

(2)He is to “feed” the flock—from “poimaino,” which carries the idea of seeing that the flock has adequate and proper food and oversight.

(3)So, elders have the responsibility of seeing that the flock has the opportunity to have wholesome and adequate spiritual teaching of God’s word—i.e., that “the whole counsel of God” is preached!

(4)This means that elders must be certain of the soundness of the teaching of:

a. All preaching.

b. All teaching in classes.

c. All lesson helps used in classes.

(5)It also means that elders must “stop the mouths” of gainsayers (i.e., of false teachers). (Titus 1:11).

a. Grievous wolves will enter in, not sparing the flock. (Acts 20:28–31).

b. Many false prophets in the world—(1 John 4:1 ff).

c. People have a tendency to heap to themselves teachers after their own lusts. (2 Timothy 4:1–5).

d. False teachers have the power to divide and destroy congregations, as has been seen in the cases of various “issues” which have faced the church:

(a)Anti-cooperation movement.

(b)Missionary Society.

(c)Instrumental music.

(d)Anti-located preacher movement.

(e)Anti-classes movement.

(f)Etc.

C. SUMMARY OF THIS POINT: Watching over the flock involves the function of shepherding the flock! This involves:

1. Knowing the flock.—(Cf. John 10:2–5)

(1)Their strengths.

(2)Their weaknesses; their needs.

(3)Their opportunities.

2. Teaching the flock.

(1)Elders are to be “apt to teach.”

(2)Elders are to “hold fast the faithful word,” “exhort in the sound doctrine,” and “convict the gainsayers”—(Titus 1:9).

(3)Elders must speak the word of God (Hebrews 13:7), and they must admonish to faithfulness (1 Thess. 5:12).

(4)This is not to say that elders must do all of the teaching—but they must do some of it.

(5)And, they must oversee all of it. They must see that a good job is done in the teaching program.

a. Must have a good plan for the Bible School.

b. And, they must properly execute the plan.

3. Leading the flock.

(1)One function of a shepherd is to lead the flock—John 10:3.

(2)Elders are to lead by being good examples—Hebrews 13:7; 1 Peter 5:3.

(3)Elders are to be examples in:

a. Attitude:

(a)Toward the church—love.

(b)Toward the lost—love.

b. Personal life:

(a)In family life.

(b)In work.

(c)In recreation.

(d)In leisure activities.

c. The Lord’s work:

(a)View it as more important than any other work in the world.

(b)Constantly considering ways to get it accomplished.

(c)Willing to be persecuted that the work might grow.

d. Qualities of leadership. To be a great leader, one must be a man:

(a)Who is able to see:

((1))Needs, problems.

((2))Solutions.

((3))Means to solutions.

((4))Possibilities for great accomplishment.

(b)Who is decisive—able to make a decision.

(c)Who makes decisions based upon God’s Word.

(d)Who understands and loves people.

e. Must ever keep before them the fact that they serve under “the chief shepherd.” (1 Peter 5:4).

4. Watching over the flock.

(1)Watching with reference to dangers: (Acts 20:28–31)

a. Dangers from without.

(a)Atheism, agnosticism.

(b)Modernism.

(c)False doctrine.

b. Dangers from within.

(a)Anti-ism.—1 Timothy 4:1–5.

(b)Modernism.

c. Note these passages:

(a)Hebrews 13:17.

(b)Titus 1:9.

(c)1 Samuel 17:34, 35.

(d)1 John 4:1 ff.

(e)2 Peter 2:1–3.

(f)Jude 3–19.

(2)Elders put their own souls in danger when they do not watch in the matters of false doctrines and wayward lives:

a. Note: Ezekiel 33:7–10.

b. Hebrews 13:17.

5. Helping the flock.

(1)“Help the weak”—Acts 20:35.

(2)They are to be “given to hospitality.”—1 Timothy 3:2.

(3)They must “take care” of the church of God—1 Timothy 3:5; Cf. Luke 10:34, 35.

III. OVERSEEING (RULING) THE FLOCK

A. The word “episcopos”—Acts 20:28.

1. Involves the idea of ruling.

2. It means: “one charged with the duty of seeing that work to be done by others is done rightly; guardian, superintendent.”

3. The word is also used in:

(1)1 Timothy 3:1.

(2)1 Peter 5:2.

B. The responsibility of ruling is emphasized in such passages as:

1. Hebrews 13:17

2. 1 Thessalonians 5:12.

3. 1 Timothy 3:5.

4. 1 Timothy 5:17.

5. Titus 1:7—the word “steward” is the translation of the Greek word “oikonomos” and means “administrator of God’s house.”

C. Elders bear the responsibility of making decisions (in matters of expediency) in matters which affect the church.

1. Elders have no authority at all in obligatory matters. For example:

(1)Baptizing for the remission of sins.

(2)Teaching necessity of repentance.

(3)Etc.

2. But, in connection with every obligation which a church has, there is an area of expediency, which involves human judgment.

(1)It is in this area (realm) of expediency where the authority of elders is exercised—i.e., in carrying out the laws (re obligatory matters) which God has made.

3. Elders should be concerned to learn the viewpoint of the congregation (i.e., regarding matters of expediency)—but, elders must make the decision regarding matters of expediency.

4. The Bible does not uphold:

(1)“Majority rule.”

(2)“Preacher rule.”

(3)“Deacon rule.”

(4)“Women rule.”

(5)“Individual rule”—(not even an individual among the elders.)

CONCLUSION—ELDERS HAVE DUTIES IN THE MATTERS OF:

1. Self-discipline.

2. Watchfulness.

3. Overseeing (ruling).

Warren, T. B. (1969). Duties and Authority of Elders (pp. 1–13). National Christian Press.