Church Elders:  Why, Who, What?
1 Timothy 3:1-7
Everything rises and falls on leadership
Everyone follows someone   -self, or someone else!
 
A leader always emerges when another leader disappears
-lack of preparation can lead to poor/wrong leaders
 
God has appointed Jesus to lead the church
-Jesus is the Chief Shepherd!
 
God calls out men to lead under Christ’s authority
-1 Peter 5:1-3  Elders, Shepherds, Overseers
-Sometimes called “Under-Shepherds”, under THE Shepherd
 
Local churches are led by Elders/Shepherds/Overseers
 
Why?  The reason for elders
Biblical Reason:  New Testament Pattern
-Titus 1:5  Paul instructed Titus to appoint elders in every church
 
Practical Reason:  Someone has to lead!
-Unspiritual leaders may emerge- incompetent, unspiritual, wolves!
 
Who?    1 Timothy 3:1-7 qualifications (see also Titus 1:5-9)
Above Reproach-  overall above average character
Faithful in Marriage- one woman man
-for sure means not married to more than one woman
-could mean not divorced and remarried, a common interpretation
-it does mean everyone agrees he is faithful to marriage!
Self-controlled- temperate, balanced life
Sensible- prudent, wise,
Respectable- the dignity and respect of his peers
Hospitable- loves strangers, isn’t into cliques, associates with all
Able to Teach- skilled at teaching, not necessarily a “preacher”
Not addicted to wine-  not interested in alcohol, self- controlled
Gentle (not a bully)- doesn’t pick fights, isn’t abusive
Not quarrelsome- isn’t looking to beat people in conversation
Not greedy- money is his servant, not vice versa
Manages household well- children, home, possessions, maybe people
   -overseeing a church is similar to overseeing a family
Not a new convert- qualified leaders take time to mature
Good reputation among unbelievers
 
What?  process of appointing elders and practical work of elders
Elders are affirmed by the church
-Elders oversee the selection process
-All church members nominate men they believe are qualified
-Elders conduct ordination interviews
-Church votes to affirm men who were affirmed by the Elders
 
Elders serve as needed by the church
-It is common for elders to serve for a set number of years, then rotate
-Senior Pastor/Elder serves indefinitely
 
Elders oversee all spiritual aspects of the church
-Preach, Protect, Pastoral Care
-Elders at St Joe serve under the authority of the whole congregation
-They DON’T micro-manage nor do all the work
    -everyone is a minister! 
 
What Now?
Pray for and support Elders  Hebrews 13:17
 
Support healthy accountability  1 Timothy 5:19
 
Nominate potentially qualified men  -Give names to elders
 
Consider your own calling! 
-if you are asked by your church to serve
-if you are led by the Holy Spirit to become an Elder




 
Here is the resume of a potential church pastor…
 
Before his conversion to Christ he was complicit in a murder
 
This man had been in prison frequently (Acts 16:37, Acts 24:7).
 
He has started more than one riot in a city (Acts 19:28).
 
He has been in frequent troubles with the local authorities (Acts 24).
 
He has frequent health issues (2 Cor 12:7).
 
He was not accepted and not trusted by most of the Christians early on and many were even afraid of him (Acts 9:26).
 
He was believed to have mental health issues by the local authorities (Acts 26:24).
 
He has been accused as being an insurrectionist by the local leaders (Acts 24:5).
 
He has been accused of being a leader of a cult or sect (Acts 24:5).
 
Everywhere he went, he seemed to cause problem and once he even quoted a world philosopher in trying to witness about Christ (Acts 17:28).
 
He was teaching doctrines that were contrary to the religious leaders of the day (Acts 24:5).
 
Would a man like this be affirmed by our local church??
 
This was the resume of the Apostle Paul!

​Church Covenant Message 2021 Part 3
We can trust that the church will never fail
Matt 16:18  “I will build my church”
 
But why do local churches come and go?
Society Reasons
-economics, population shifts:  churches die when towns die
-cultural change- churches cling to previous cultural traditions
 
Spiritual Reasons
-they stop trusting the Bible as their final authority for truth
-they become a social club instead of a spiritual community
-they stop sharing the Good News consistently
-Power and popularity become more important than people
 
How does the Bible define a local church?
1.  The Church Is A FELLOWSHIP
Acts 2:42  “They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching, to fellowship, to the breaking of bread, and to prayer” 
 
-A top priority in a fellowship is HARMONY and UNITY.
 
2.  The Church Is A FAMILY
1 Peter 3:8  “Finally, all of you should be like-minded and sympathetic, love one another, and be compassionate and humble”
1 Timothy 5:1-2  ”Don’t rebuke an older man, but exhort him as a father, younger men as brothers, older women as mothers, and the younger women as sisters with all purity.” 
 
-Our family focuses on RELATIONSHIPS not RULES.
 
3.  The Church Is A BODY
1 Corinthians 12:27  “Now you are the body of Christ, and individual members of it.”
 
-We are a body — not a business! 
-We are an organism — not an organization!
 
4.  The Church Is A FLOCK
-The Church is cared for and led by SHEPHERDS.
-1 Peter 5:1-3  Elders, Shepherds, Overseers
 
This is why we are committed to a Church Covenant
Our Covenant defines how we relate to one another
 
Our Covenant is defined by on Biblical Principles
 
Our Four Covenant Agreements as church members
Review from last two messages
1.  I WILL PROTECT THE UNITY OF MY CHURCH
     ...BY ACTING IN LOVE TOWARD OTHER MEMBERS
     ...BY REFUSING TO GOSSIP
     ...BY FOLLOWING THE LEADERS
 
2.  I WILL SHARE THE RESPONSIBILITY OF MY CHURCH
     …BY PRAYING FOR ITS GROWTH
     …BY INVITING THE UNCHURCHED TO ATTEND
     …BY WARMLY WELCOMING THOSE WHO VISIT
 
3.  I WILL SERVE THE MINISTRY OF MY CHURCH
     …BY DISCOVERING MY GIFTS AND TALENTS
     …BY BEING EQUIPPED BY MY PASTORS
     …BY DEVELOPING A SERVANT’S HEART
 
Part 1 and 2 Messages, including sermon notes, are available on our website.
-Worship Videos are on our YouTube channel
-Audio Sermons are available on many podcast sites
 
 
Today’s focus is on our final covenant commitment
 4.  I WILL SUPPORT THE TESTIMONY OF MY CHURCH
     …BY ATTENDING FAITHFULLY
     …BY LIVING A GODLY LIFE
     …BY GIVING REGULARLY
 
Hebrews 10:24-25  And let us consider one another in order to provoke love and good works, not neglecting to gather together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging each other, and all the more as you see the day approaching.
 
Philippians 1:27  Just one thing: As citizens of heaven, live your life worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or am absent, I will hear about you that you are standing firm in one spirit, in one accord, contending together for the faith of the gospel
 
1 Corinthians 16:2  On the first day of the week, each of you is to set something aside and save in keeping with how he is prospering, so that no collections will need to be made when I come.
 
Leviticus 27:30  “Every tenth of the land’s produce, grain from the soil or fruit from the trees, belongs to the Lord; it is holy to the Lord.
 
 
What must we do now with this church covenant?
1.  Ask God to affirm His Word in your heart
 
2. Evaluate your own commitment level to the local church
-Community- never/rarely attends
-Crowd- regular attender
-Congregation- member, committed to the covenant
-Core- giving yourself in practical and consistent ways
 
3.  Enroll in our Discovering Membership Class
-A four session (3.5 hours at once usually) Bible study
  -When and where?
 
4.  Let us know how to help you!
-Connection Card, website contact page, Facebook Page