BIBLICAL LEADERSHIP

Elders
In The Body
of Christ
Lesson 4

IN THE LAST LESSON,

THE KIND OF MAN,
THE CHARACTER
OF THE ELDERS
HAS BEEN STUDIED

IN THIS LESSON,
OTHER CHARACTERISTICS
OR QUALIFICATIONS
OF ELDERS WILL BE
CONSIDERED
Their Reputation
Their Experience
Their Teaching Ability

THE REPUTATION OF AN ELDER

Moreover, he

must be well
thought of by outsiders, so
that he may not fall into disgrace,
into a snare of the devil.
(I Timothy 3:7)

SHOULD ALL DISCIPLES OF

CHRIST HAVE A GOOD
REPUTATION AMONG
OUTSIDERS?

YES!
SALT!
LIGHT!

"You are the salt of the

earth, but if salt has lost its taste,
how shall its saltiness be
restored? It is no longer good for
anything except to be thrown out
and trampled under people's feet.
(Matthew 5:13)

"You are the light of the

world. A city set on a hill cannot
be hidden.
Nor do people light a lamp and put
it under a basket, but on a
stand, and it gives light to all
in the house.
(Matthew 5:14, 15)

In the same way, let

your light
shine before others, so that
they may see your good
works and give glory to your
Father who is in heaven.
(Matthew 5:16)

NOTE:
Do people on the OUTSIDE see
this brother as:
Practicing what he preaches?
As a man respected by neighbors,
by co-workers, by family, etc.?
Is he seen as a person of honesty
and integrity?

IF HIS REPUTATION IS NOT GOOD,

ALLUREMENTS OF SIN CAN BE
USED BY SATAN TO TRAP HIM!
But those who desire to be rich

fall into temptation, into a

snare, into many senseless and
harmful desires that plunge people
into ruin and destruction.
(I Timothy 6:9)

QUESTION:
If an ELDER did NOT have a
GOOD REPUTATION in his
community, WHAT EFFECT

WOULD THAT HAVE ON

THE CHURCH?

THE EXPERIENCE OF AN
ELDER

He must not be a recent

convert, or he may become
puffed up with conceit and fall
into the condemnation of the
devil.
(I Timothy 3:6)

NOTE:
The word NOVICE is the Greek
word, neophuton ()
from which we get the word,
NEOPHYTE (beginner)
It means, NOT NEWLY
PLANTED, not a new convert

NOTE AGAIN:
Because of IMMATURITY, a
NOVICE can be puffed up with
PRIDE OF SELF AND CONCEIT!
.treacherous, reckless,
swollen with conceit, lovers
of pleasure rather than lovers of
God.,
(II Timothy 3:4)

WHAT ARE THE GREAT

DISADVANTAGES OF HAVING
NOVICES AS ELDERS?
1. Do NOT KNOW the NATURE
of the congregation and ITS
NEEDS
Do NOT know the SHEEP!
2. Do NOT have a DEEPER
KNOWLEDGE of the Word

Examine the APPOINTMENT of

ELDERS in Acts 14:23 on Paul and
Barnabas first journey
And when

they had
appointed elders for them in
every church, with prayer and
fasting they committed them to the
Lord in whom they had believed.
(Acts 14:23)

WERE
THESE MEN
NOVICES
WHO WERE APPOINTED
AS ELDERS?

STUDENTS OF THE WORD

OF GOD
Therefore an overseer must be
above reproach, the husband of
one wife, sober-minded, selfcontrolled, respectable,
hospitable, able

to teach,

(I Timothy 3:2)

He must hold firm to the

trustworthy word as taught,
so that he may be able to give
instruction in sound
doctrine and also to rebuke
those who contradict it.
(Titus 1:9)
ELDERS!

(Titus 1:5-9)

ELDERS MUST BE ABLE TO :

1. INSTRUCT ()
in SOUND TEACHING
2. REBUKE ()
(bring to a conviction)
THOSE WHO CONTRADICT
SOUND DOCTRINE

SOUND OR HEALTHY
TEACHING IS EMPHASIZED OVER
AND OVER AGAIN
It means HAVING NO ERROR IN IT!
NOTE:
Titus 2:1
I Timothy 6:3
II Timothy 4:2-4, etc.

NOTE:

WHY MUST ELDERS BE ABLE

TO DO THESE TWO THINGS?
For there are many who are
insubordinate, empty talkers and
deceivers, especially those of the
circumcision party.
(Titus 1:10)

REMEMBER THE WOLVES?

I know that after my departure
fierce wolves will come in among
you, not sparing the flock;
and from among your own selves
will arise men speaking twisted
things, to draw away the disciples
after them.
(Acts 20:29, 30)

NOTE:
Timothy must LEAVE Ephesus
Do your best to come to me
soon. (II Timothy 4:9)
Do your best to come before

winter.
(II Timothy 4:21)

NOTE AGAIN:
Titus must LEAVE Crete!
When I send Artemas or

Tychicus to you, do your best

to come to me at Nicopolis, for
I have decided to spend the winter
there.
(Titus 3:12)

SHEPHERDS
IN THE FLOCK
HAVE A
WONDERFUL MINISTRY!

Question:
Should ALL OF US TRY TO BE
TEACHERS?
For though by this time you
ought to be teachers, you need
someone to teach you again the
basic principles of the oracles of
God. You need milk, not solid
food,
(Hebrews 5:12)

GOD
BLESS
YOU ALL!