KNOW YOUR ELDERS

Sunday Morning:  May 28, 2000

Text: 1 Thessalonians 5:12-13  "And we beseech you, brethren, to know [observe] them which labour [toil, be wearied among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish [warn by instruction] you;

13. And to esteem [regard] them very highly [beyond measure] in love for their work's sake. And be at peace among yourselves."

ELDER / BISHOP

Acts 20:17  “And from Miletus he sent to  Ephesus, and called the elders [presbuterov, presbyter] of the church.”

TALKING TO THE ELDERS

Acts 20:28  “Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers [episkopov, bishops], to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.”

ELDERS LEAD

1 Peter 5:1-4  "The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed:

TAKE THE OVERSIGHT

2. Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind;

NOT LORDING OVER THE FLOCK

3. Neither as being lords over God's heritage, but being ensamples to the flock.

4. And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away."

STANDARD FOR ELDERS

Titus 1:5-9  “For this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou shouldest set in order the things that are wanting, and ordain [appoint] elders in every city, as I had appointed [directed] thee:

6. If any be blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children not accused of riot [wasteful, excessive] or unruly [rebellious].

7. For (that is) a bishop [overseer, same as an elder] must be blameless, as the steward (household manager) of God; not self-willed (my way only), not soon angry, not given [addicted] to wine, no striker [quarrelsome], not given to filthy lucre (greed);

8. But a lover of hospitality (fond of guest), a lover of good men, sober (sensible), just (obedient to the word), holy (separate, devout), temperate [self-control];

9. Holding fast [present middle] the faithful word as he hath been taught [doctrine], that he may be able by sound doctrine [teaching] both to exhort and to convince [refute, expose] the gainsayers (contradictors).”

THEM WHICH LABOR

1 Timothy 5:1  Rebuke [chastise with words] not an elder, but entreat [exhort] him as a father; and the younger men as brethren;”

NOT ALL LABOR IN THE WORD

1 Timothy 5:17  "Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially they who labour in the word and doctrine. "

OVER YOU IN THE LORD

Hebrews 13:7  "Remember them which have the rule over you, who have spoken unto you the word of God: whose faith follow, considering the end of their conversation."

GREATER JUDGMENT

James 3:1  "My brethren, be not many masters [teachers], knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation [judgment]."

PASTOR / TEACHER

Ephesians 4:11-14  "And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;

Acts 6:4  "But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word."

12. For the perfecting (furnishing) of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying [building] of the body of Christ:

13. Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge [epignwsiv, exact knowledge] of the Son of God, unto a perfect (of full age) man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ:

14. That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;"

PREACH THE WORD

2 Timothy 4:2-5  "Preach the word; be instant [at hand, ready] in season [in time of need], out of season; reprove [convict], rebuke [censure or admonish], exhort with all longsuffering [patience] and doctrine [instruction].

Nehemiah 8:8  "So they read in the book in the law of God distinctly, and gave the sense, and caused them to understand the reading."

3. For the time will come when they (ruling over the elders) will not endure [put up with] sound [healthy, not sick] doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap [seek] to themselves teachers, having itching ears;

4. And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.

5. But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry."

SUBMIT FIRST TO GOD

James 4:7  "Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you."

SUBMIT TO THE ELDERS

Hebrews 13:17  "Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you."