Elders

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Roles of an Elder

Jesus as the Senior Pastor calls these men into ministry and charges them with responsibilities. These men do not sign up for a term, but for a lifetime of ministry or until they are clearly called out to do other ministry or if they should disqualify themselves. The duties of the elders are many according to Scripture.

• Prayer and Scripture study (Acts 6:4)
• Ruling/leading the church (1 Timothy 5:17)
• Managing the church (1 Timothy 3:4-5)
• Caring for people in the church (1 Peter 5:2-5)
• Giving account to God for the church (Hebrews 13:17)
• Living exemplary lives (Hebrews 13:7)
• Rightly using the authority God has given them (Acts 20:28)
• Teaching the Bible correctly (Ephesians 4:11; 1 Timothy 3:2)
• Preaching (1 Timothy 5:17)
• Praying for the sick (James 5:13-15)
• Teaching sound doctrine and refuting false teachings (Titus 1:9)
• Working hard (1 Thessalonians 5:12)
• Rightly using money and power (1 Peter 5:1-3)
• Protecting the church from false teachers (Acts 20:17-31)
• Disciplining unrepentant Christians (Matthew 18:15-17)

Scriptual Qualifications of Elders:

Scripture is abundantly clear of who should and shouldn't lead the church. We must look to the qualifications that are given to us, to set as the benchmark for the office of elder.

1 Timothy 3:1-7
• "Must desire it" (3:1) - Not elected or forced into it, not just a board position.
• "Above reproach" - without any character defect.
• "Husband of but one wife" - One women man.
• "Temperate" - Must be emotionally stable.
• Self-controlled - disciplined life of sound decision-making.
• "Respectable" - must be someone worth following.
• "Hospitable" - Must be welcoming of new people in one's home.
• "Able to Teach" - Must understand and be able to communicate the Gospel (not
just preaching)
• "Not given to Drunkenness" - without addictions
• "Not Viloent but Gentle" - must not be a fighter, wanting to beat people up.
• "Not Quarelsome" - Not always trying to be the "Devil's Advocate"
• "Not a lover of money" - (not poor) -financially content and upright
• "Manage his own family well" - kids must listen and obey him.
• "Not a recent convert" - become conceited - elder process
• "Good Reputation with outsiders" - Must not be hated by neighbours/at work