Lesson 1 - The Church: Its Significance Lesson 2 - The Church: Its Usage Lesson 3 - The Church: Its Sound Speech Lesson 4 - The Church: Its Establishment, Lesson 5 - The Church: Is It To Be Joined Lesson 6 - The Church: Is the Church Denominational? Lesson 7 - The Church: it’s identification Lesson 8 - The Church: Its Elders, why do we need Elders? Lesson 9 -The Church: Its Elders, How They Are Made and Unmade Lesson 10 -The Church: Its Elders, Their Duties Lesson 12 -The Church: Its Deacons, Their Qualifications and Duties Lesson 13 -The Church: The Preacher, His Life and Duties Lesson 14 - The Church: Its Discipline Lesson 15 - The Church: Its Finances Lesson 16 - The Church: Its Supper Lesson 17 - The Church: Its Music, Lesson 18 - The Church: Its Mission Lesson 19 - The Church: The Model Church

Elder s WHY WE NEED Titus 5:1-9

 The church has a “government”.  This is a Godly arrangement. By Godly, we mean it was instituted by God and not men.  We must obey and equip the saints for this good work, but the question is:  Why do we need them?  Titus 1:5-9

Titus 1:5-9 (NKJV) 5 For this reason I left you in Crete, that you should set in order the things that are lacking, and appoint elders in every city as I commanded you-- 6 if a man is blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children not accused of dissipation or insubordination. 7 For a bishop must be blameless, as a steward of God, not self-willed, not quick-tempered, not given to wine, not violent, not greedy for money, 8 but hospitable, a lover of what is good, sober-minded, just, holy, self-controlled, 9 holding fast the faithful word as he has been taught, that he may be able, by sound doctrine, both to exhort and convict those who contradict.

PROPOSITION: We need elders to 1) Oversee—The church 2) Counsel—The church 3) Shepherd -- The church Objective: That each member would understand the role elders have in the local congregation.

Acts 20:28 "Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood. This chapter is the only passage of scripture in which we have all three words used to describe the office of the elder.

Verse 17 tells us that Paul called for the elders at Ephesus. In verse 28 he calls them overseers. He also tells them to “feed” or “Shepherd” the flock of God. These three basic words: elder, overseer, and shepherd, give us a great description of the role elders have in the local congregation.

We Need Elders… TO OVERSEE (EPISKOPOS) Titus 1:7 says, “For a bishop must be blameless, as the steward of God?.” We are familiar with this aspect. managesAn overseer manages affairs. decisionsElders make decisions on church spiritual matters, and also on things regarding the edification, benevolence, and Evangelism…

We have elders… TO OVERSEE (EPISKOPOS) Consider 1 Timothy 3. Some qualifications relate to this aspect of the job. greedy  Not greedy for money. covetous  Not covetous of others’ possessions. good report  Have a good report from those without.  Of good behaviour.  Blameless eldership. To oversee the business affairs of the congregation is one role of the eldership.

We Need Elders… TO COUNSEL (PRESBUTEROS) older The term “elder” signifies one who is older and has the wisdom and experience of years on his side. counselled In Old Testament times, the elders of the city counselled its inhabitants. Acts 14:23- “And when they had ordained them elders in every church, and had prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord, on whom they believed.”

We Need Elders… TO COUNSEL (PRESBUTEROS) great position Older men are in a great position to give us good advice regarding life in general.  Remember Ruth 4.  Titus 1:8- “but hospitable, a lover of what is good, sober-minded, just, holy, self-controlled”,

We Need Elders… TO SHEPHERD (POIMEN) 1 Peter 5:1-4. elderselder Shepherd overseers The elders who are among you I exhort, I who am a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that will be revealed: 2 Shepherd the flock of God which is among you, serving as overseers, not by compulsion but willingly, not for dishonest gain but eagerly; 3 nor as being lords over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock; 4 and when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that does not fade away. Plural and singular for of “Prebyteros” Poimaino in the Greek the one who feed, pasture, tend, direct, rule etc… Episkopeo: to look at, inspect, to keep an eye to. To guide.

We have elders… TO SHEPHERD (POIMEN)  This is the largest role that the Bible describes. shepherd  An elder is to be a shepherd. example  He provides a good example to the church. teaching.  He also must be involved in teaching.  He must also guard against false teachers whether from without or within.

We have elders… TO SHEPHERD (POIMEN) Titus 1:9- “holding fast the faithful word as he has been taught, that he may be able, by sound doctrine, both to exhort and convict those who contradict”.

We have elders… TO SHEPHERD (POIMEN) Acts 20:28-31 "Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood. 29 "For I know this, that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock. 30 "Also from among yourselves men will rise up, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after themselves. 31 "Therefore watch, and remember that for three years I did not cease to warn everyone night and day with tears.

We have elders… TO SHEPHERD (POIMEN) flock is protect This is the work of the Elders, making sure that the flock is protected, and that no wolves will come among us without having noticed it. The Elders in the days of Israel were doing the same, and so must The elders. Keep an eye on the flock and fight if possible against worldly attacks.

We have elders… TO SHEPHERD (POIMEN) role Perhaps this is the most often overlooked and neglected role of an elder.

1. Why do we need elders? 1) To Oversee 2) To Counsel 3) To Shepherd