I.        INTRODUCTION

A.      The New Testament pattern for the Lord’s church is for each local congregation of Christians to be ruled by a qualified group of men known as elders, overseers, or shepherds.

B.      For our edification and instruction, let us consider the office of elders, their qualifications, and their rule within the church of Christ.

II.      TERMS AND FUNCTIONS

A.      The various terms used to describe the office of elders also describe their function.  Consider Acts 20.

                                                             1.      In verse 17, Paul called the elders of the church of Ephesus to meet him at Miletus.

                                                             2.      In verse 28, he described them as “overseers to shepherd the church of God.”

                                                             3.      In these two verses, we find three terms to describe a single office: elder, overseer, and shepherd.

B.      The term “elder” emphasizes the qualities of experience and spiritual maturity needed for the office.

                                                             1.      “Elder” is the same word as “presbyter,” which means “an older man.”

                                                             2.      This term was borrowed from the Jews, who had elders as heads of the tribes and families.

C.      The term “overseer” describes the leadership and guidance that must be exercised from the position.

                                                             1.      The word “overseer” is sometimes translated as “bishop” (from Latin).

                                                             2.      To call one an overseer indicates his work of managing a local church to see that the work of the church is being done and that its members are faithful to the Lord.

D.      The term “shepherd” indicates the protection and care that must be provided by those who hold the office.

                                                             1.      The term “pastor” is often misapplied to preachers, but it means “shepherd” and describes the same office in the church that is called elder or overseer.

                                                             2.      Just as shepherds tend, protect, and feed the flock, so also shepherds in the church must spiritually tend, protect and feed the flock over which they are appointed, which is the local church.

III.   QUALIFICATIONS

A.      The qualifications for elders are listed in two primary passages, 1Timothy 3:1-7 and Titus 1:5-9, with some insight given in 1Peter. 5:1-4 and Hebrews 13:7, 17.  Let us consider these together.

                                                             1.      An elder, overseer, or pastor must be a man (1Tim. 3:1; Tit. 1:6).  Women are not eligible to serve as elders.

                                                             2.      He must desire the office of an elder (1Tim. 3:1).  He must accept the work voluntarily and not under compulsion (1Pet. 5:2).

                                                             3.      He must be above reproach or blameless, meaning that he must not be accusable of wrong-doing (1Tim. 3:2; Tit. 1:6).

                                                             4.      He must be the husband of one wife, which indicates that he is lawfully (Scripturally) married to one woman (1Tim. 3:2; Tit. 1:6).

                                                             5.      He must be temperate or self-controlled (1Tim. 3:2; Tit. 1:8).  He must be able to control himself if he is to exercise control over the church.

                                                             6.      He must be prudent or sober minded (1Tim. 3:2; Tit. 1:8).  He must be grounded and serious in his thoughts.

                                                             7.      He must be respectable or of good behavior and a lover of what is good (1Tim. 3:2; Tit. 1:8).  He must present an example that the church can imitate (1Pet. 5:3; Heb. 13:7).

                                                             8.      He must be hospitable (1Tim. 3:2; Tit. 1:8).  He is benevolent toward others in his own home.

                                                             9.      He must be able to teach (1Tim. 3:2).  He must hold fast the faithful word, exhort others in sound doctrine, and refute those who contradict (Tit. 1:9).  This is absolutely necessary for him to exercise guidance over others according to God’s word.

                                                          10.      He must not be addicted to much wine (1Tim. 3:3; Tit. 1:7).

                                                          11.      He must not be pugnacious, contentious, quick-tempered, or violent, but he must be gentle (1Tim. 3:3; Tit. 1:7).  An elder will have to display the selfless character of Christ and not return evil for evil.

                                                          12.      He must not be a lover of money or sordid gain (1Tim. 3:3; Tit. 1:7).  Because he will be entrusted with authority over the congregation, he must trustworthy not to abuse that trust for his own gain.

                                                          13.      “He must be one who manages his own household well, keeping his children under control with all dignity” (1Tim. 3:4).  The way in which a man manages his own household is an indication of how he will manage the household of God.

                                                          14.      He must not be a new convert (1Tim. 3:6).  He could become conceited because of his authority.

                                                          15.      He must have a good reputation with those outside the church (1Tim. 3:7).  As one who has authority within the church, an elder represents the Lord’s church to others.

                                                          16.      He must have children who believe (Tit. 1:6).  This indicates his ability to manage his own home and impart and exemplify the word of God to those under his care.

                                                          17.      He must be a steward of God (Tit. 1:7).  He must recognize his responsibility and accountability as he is entrusted with God’s abundance.  He will have to give an account for the souls under his watch (Heb. 13:17).

                                                          18.      He must not be self-willed (Tit. 1:8).  He must submit to the will of Christ and not lord his authority over the church (1Pet. 5:3).

                                                          19.      He must be just (Tit. 1:8), meaning that he is unbiased and fair in all of his dealings.

                                                          20.      He must be devout or holy (Tit. 1:8).

B.      If there are two or more men within a congregation who meet these qualifications, then it God’s will and design that those men should be appointed as elders over that congregation.

IV.    APPOINTMENT

A.      The Holy Spirit makes elders, overseers, and shepherds of men.

                                                             1.      Paul told the Ephesians elders that “the Holy Spirit has made you overseers” (Acts 20:28).

                                                             2.      Christ only has the authority to appoint elders over his church through the Holy Spirit.

B.      In the New Testament, inspired men made the appointments according to the direction of the Spirit.  Today, we also make these appointments according to the direction of the Spirit through His Word.

                                                             1.      Examples of elders’ appointments are seen with Paul and Barnabas (Acts 14:23) and Titus (Tit. 1:5).

                                                             2.      Although we are not inspired by the Holy Spirit as they were, we have the direction of the Spirit through the Word He has given regarding the qualification for men to serve as elders.

V.      RULE

A.      The rule of elders is according to the authority of Christ, who is the Head of the church.

                                                             1.      The authority of elders is not derived from themselves, the congregation, or the preacher.  It comes from Christ.

a.       Christ has all authority in heaven and on earth and in the church (Matt. 28:18; Eph. 1:22-23).  Whereas elders serve as shepherds in the Lord’s church, Christ is the Chief Shepherd over all the churches (1Pet. 5:4).

b.       Elders have this authority collectively, not individually, as no one man is ever appointed to serve as a ruler of the church by himself.

                                                             2.      Christ, who selects elders according to the qualifications revealed by the Holy Spirit, gives authority to the elders to rule in His church.

a.       Notice that elders have “charge over you in the Lord” (1Thess. 5:12).

b.       Elders are to “take care of the church of God” (1Tim. 3:5).

c.        Elders are to “rule” (1Tim. 5:17) and lead (Heb. 13:7, 17) in the church.

d.       Elders are to exercise oversight in the church (Acts 20:28; 1Pet. 5:2).

                                                             3.      Because elders have authority from Christ, submission to Christ includes submission to them.

a.       We are commanded to obey our leaders and submit to them (Heb. 13:17).

b.       This is not to say that elders have absolute power, for their authority is limited to the will of Christ.  However, as they act according to the will of Christ, it is a Christian’s responsibility to submit to their rule.

c.        It is every Christian’s responsibility to make the elders’ rule as easy and joyful as possible.

i.         We are commanded to let the elders watch over our souls “with joy and not with grief” (Heb. 13:17).

ii.        We are told to appreciate and highly esteem the elders because of their work (1Thess. 5:12-13).

B.      The rule of elders has the purpose of implementing the will of Christ in the local congregation.

                                                             1.      Elders are constrained by the Scriptures (Tit. 1:9).  Their authority is not legislative (they do not make the rules) but executive (they enforce the rules).

                                                             2.      The authority of the elders is limited to the local congregation (“shepherd the flock among you,” 1Pet. 5:2).  There is no Scriptural arrangement of one group of elders overseeing multiple congregations.

                                                             3.      Elders are just one part of all that Christ gave to the church for its work (Eph. 4:11-12).  They are to guide the church in its work, but not to do all of the work for the church.