ELDERS
1. This past week I discovered that there are special attorneys for the elderly.
2. Many of these lawyers work on behalf of nursing home clients.
3. The official names for these lawyers is “Nursing Home Abuse Lawyers” and “Elder abuse attorneys.”
4. If residents in a nursing home do not think they are being treated well, they can sue.
5. There are attorneys to take their cases.
I CAME ACROSS THIS INFORMATION WHILE LOOKING AT SOME INFORMATION ON THE WORD “ELDER.”
A. Last week we touched on the subject of church leadership because Acts 6:1-5.
B. The first Christians had a complaint and the matter was taken to the apostles.
C. The apostles are dead but God has provided us with a plan for church leadership.
D. Some of the positions in the church were limited to the first century.
E. The role of apostle was one of these functions.
F. Other parts of church leadership were designed to last until the earth ends.
G. The church was given a permanent head.
H. Col. 1:18 says Jesus is the head of the church.
2. Underneath the Lord is a function which is described by various words.
3. This position, if we may refer to it as such, is an eldership.
4.
Acts
5.
1 Tim. 3:5 says elders “take care of the
6. What does “taking care of the church” mean?
7. Heb. 13:7 explains. The writer said elders watch out for our souls.
8. 1 Pet. 5:2 says they “shepherd” (tend) “the flock.”
9.
This is why the Hebrew writer said elders “have the
rule over us” (Heb.
A. Elders have been given the authority to guide and direct a local congregation.
B. They are charged with making decisions on the local level which are consistent with the Bible.
C. It is their job to keep us directed (pointed) to God and His will.
10. The type of person who should be an elder is described in 1 Tim. 3 and Tit. 1.
11. We should expect to find information in the New Testament on how can be an elder.
A. If Jesus is the head of the church, the church is important.
B. The Lord does not want His body being directed by any old person.
C. He wants good people who meet His approval so certain criteria has been given.
12. When a congregation operates with elders it is distinct from the religious world.
A. In most religious groups the authority rests with the preacher.
B. This fact is so well known even non-religious people understand it.
C. When people from the world call the building they ask me to make decisions.
D. Most are shocked to find out that I do not have the authority to do what they want done.
13. One of the most visible examples of this is benevolence cases.
14. People call up and say, “We’re broke, hungry, and need some utility bills paid.”
15. “Can you cut me a check?”
16. Friday afternoon someone called and asked me to provide an instant answer for them.
17. Another man called yesterday thinking I could give him and his wife free bus tickets.
18. I can take the information and offer some recommendations but I have no authority to pass out cash.
19. The treasury and the use of contributed funds is under the direction of elders.
WHEN WE LOOK AT THE NEW TESTAMENT IT BECOMES APPARENT THAT ELDERS WERE GIVEN A PROMIENT PLACE IN CHRIST’S CHURCH.
A. This is suggested by the passages previously cited.
B. Another indication of how important elders are is found in how they are described.
C. The New Testament uses three different words to explain about elders.
D. Translators have taken these three words and translated them in six different ways.
E. In the Greek Bible there are three words; in English translations we have six different words.
F. Tonight we want to look at the 3 words used by New Testament writers.
G. The first of these terms is elder.
H. In the language of the New Testament this word is presbuteros.
I. This term points to age.
J. At least one religious group has elders who are in their teens.
K. Bible elders are not people who are in their youth.
L. This word (presbuteros) is the word found in Acts 14:23—elders in every church.
M. It is also found in the next chapter of Acts and this verse needs to be read.
2. It is important because Luke joined the apostles with the elders.
3. Connecting the apostles and elders points to what the previously cited passages directly say.
4. That is, elders are the leadership of the church.
5. READ Acts 15:6.
6. Here elders are portrayed as working with the apostles on a doctrinal matter.
7. This was an important issue; it was not something for kids.
8. The question in Acts 15 (circumcision and Christianity) shows the need for seasoned judgment.
9. Knowledge and judgment take some time to attain so church leaders are described as “elders.”
10. Other well known passages which use this word are Tit. 1:5 and Jas. 5:14.
11. The word presbuteros can be translated as either “elder” or “presbyter.”
A. We have introduced one word (elder and presbyter), so let’s look at the second.
B. The second term, if we give its equivalent spelling in English, is episkopos.
C. Pronounce.
D. This single word is also rendered two different ways in our English versions.
E. It sometimes is translated “bishop.”
F. There are also places where it is rendered “overseer.”
12. Neither idea is wrong, and both translations are helpful because they make different points.
13. What do elders do? They “oversee” a congregation.
14. The word “bishop” points to authority; rule; power. Elders, just like Hebrews 13 says, have authority.
15. This second term points out a fallacy in modern religious thinking.
16. It is not uncommon to find groups to view “bishops” as some type of special priestly order.
17. The New Testament carefully describes elders and shows this idea is contrary to the scriptures.
A. Elders are, according to our second word (episkopos), superintendents (guardians)—overseers.
B. My best illustration of this point comes from the Bible.
C. The word episkopos is used in Acts 20:28.
D. Paul spoke of the bishops (overseers) caring for the flock (church).
E. READ Acts 20:28.
F. If you have the KJV the text does not say “bishop.” It says “overseer.”
G. Either translation is perfectly fine.
18. A long time ago W.E. Vine wrote a nice book on New Testament words.
19. I do not use this source all the time, but it has some good information.
20. Here is what he said about the two words that have been introduced:
21. The word elder (or presbyter) describes men of mature spiritual experience and understanding.
22. The second word (episkopos), which is translated bishop/overseer, describes what these men do.
A. The New Testament uses two different words to describe the eldership.
B. Translators have complicated things a bit by giving us more words than we need.
C. Yet, even with the extra words the information is understandable.
23. The third is poimen.
24. This term usually describes shepherds who care for sheep.
A. One of the key places this word is found is Eph. 4:11.
B. Here it is translated “pastors.”
C. At the present time, most typically use the word “pastor” to describes a preacher.
D. This is not what the Bible says.
E. This word is another term for an elder. They are “pastors and shepherds.”
F. This is not my say so; this is what God’s word says.
25. I want to present you with two passages that are probably the most important references regarding elders.
26. If you know these two verses, you know more about church leadership that people with theology degrees.
A. The two passages I am about to announce have all three of the words I described.
B. The first is found in Acts 20; the second is located in 1 Pet. 5.
C. In Acts 20 we need to combine two verses (17, 28).
D. Our subject is introduced in verse 17 and further described in verse 28.
27. If you have found this reference let’s look at it together.
28. READ Acts 20:17
29. The “elders of the church” are being described (presbuteros).
30. Let’s move to verse 28 – READ
31. The Holy Spirit had made these men “bishops” (episkopos).
32. The KJV uses the second word (“overseers”).
33. What were the elders/bishops/overseers to do? They were to “feed” the flock.
34. The word is feed is poimen, the word from which we get “pastor” or shepherd.”
35. Did Paul believe in pastors? He certainly did.
36. Did he believe preachers are pastors? No.
37. He specifically referred to elders and described them with three different words.
38. He left no doubt that a Bible pastor is an elder.
39. It is now time for our 1 Pet. 5 reference.
40. We want to look at the first two verses in this chapter.
41. Like Acts 20, each of the three words being discussed are in the text.
42. READ 1 Pet. 5:1-2.
A. The is a reference to “elders” (presbuteros/presbyter).
B. In this passage the word “elder” is used twice.
C. We find the second term in the word “tend” (KJV: “feed”).
D. This is poimen (pastor/shepherd).
E. Peter said, “If you are an elder, pastor. Be like a shepherd who takes care of the sheep.”
43. In the denominational world this job is passed off to a preacher.
44. It is common for pastors to complain about caring for the flock.
45. I have heard denominational pastors whine that they cannot study or get anything done.
46. It is too much for one man to take care of an entire congregation.
A. These men are exactly right; it is too much of a burden.
B. When we look at the Bible we find den. pastors have taken on a role God never intended for them.
C. Elders are to pastor the flock of God.
D. This is further expressed in 1 Pet. 5 with the word “oversight” in verse 2.
47. Here is the third word (episkopos). They are to be the bishops and overseers.
48. Peter and Paul knew there were three different words to describe elders.
49. They may have used different words to offer a full description of elders.
50. This is information we need to know and share.
51. This morning we spoke of words which are familiar to us but perhaps unfamiliar to others.
52. Tonight we have another example of this.
53. These are words we need to know and share.
54. This is God’s plan for church leadership in our day and time.
55. God has other plans too. He has a plan for every aspect of our life.
56. The plan begins with salvation and then moves to faithful Christian living.
57. Are we obeying His plan for our life? Are we members of the church Jesus built?