The Role, Work and Qualifications of Elders I Timothy 3:1-7 5 The Role, Work and Qualifications of Elders I Timothy 3:1-7

It is a trustworthy statement: if any man aspires to the office of overseer, it is a fine work he desires to do. - I Timothy 3:1

ASPIRE = “To reach for” The first qualification for a church leader is the desire to serve.

3 Words = Same Person PRESBUTOROS – Presbyter / elder

EPISKOPOS – Overseer / bishop / superintendent / guardian 3 Words = Same Person PRESBUTOROS – Presbyter / elder EPISKOPOS – Overseer / bishop / superintendent / guardian

POIMEN – Pastor / shepherd 3 Words = Same Person PRESBUTOROS – Presbyter / elder EPISKOPOS – Overseer / bishop / superintendent / guardian POIMEN – Pastor / shepherd

Be on guard for yourselves and for 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. - Acts 20:28

Paul sends for the Presbutoros Acts 20:17; 28 Paul sends for the Presbutoros He tells the Episkopos to Poimen the flock

7 Tasks of Church Leaders Teach

An overseer, then, must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, temperate, prudent, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, - I Timothy 3:2

7 Tasks of Church Leaders Teach Protect

Be on guard for yourselves and for 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. - Acts 20:28

7 Tasks of Church Leaders Teach Protect Lead

The elders who rule well are to be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who work hard at preaching and teaching. - I Timothy 5:17

Therefore, I exhort the elders among you, as your fellow elder and witness of the sufferings of Christ, and a partaker also of the glory that is to be revealed, - I Peter 5:1

2 shepherd the flock of God among you, exercising oversight not under compulsion, but voluntarily, according to the will of God; and not for sordid gain, but with eagerness; 3 nor yet as lording it over those allotted to your charge, but proving to be examples to the flock. - I Peter 5:2-3

4 And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory. 5 You younger men, likewise, be subject to your elders; and all of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, for God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble. - I Peter 5:4-5

7 Tasks of Church Leaders Teach Protect Lead Minister to the sick

14 Is anyone among you sick 14 Is anyone among you sick? Then he must call for the elders of the church and they are to pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord; 15 and the prayer offered in faith will restore the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up, and if he has committed sins, they will be forgiven him. - James 5:14-15

Anointing with Oil Custom Kings were anointed Transfer of holiness Endowed the Spirit Powered by faith

7 Tasks of Church Leaders Teach Protect Lead Minister to the sick Shepherd the flock

3 So He told them this parable, saying, 4 “What man among you, if he has a hundred sheep and has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open pasture and go after the one which is lost until he finds it? - Luke 15:3-4

5 When he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing 5 When he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. 6 And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost!’ - Luke 15:5-6

I tell you that in the same way, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance. - Luke 15:7

7 Tasks of Church Leaders Teach Protect Lead Minister to the sick Shepherd the flock Discipline

9 holding fast the faithful word which is in accordance with the teaching, so that he will be able both to exhort in sound doctrine and to refute those who contradict. 10 For there are many rebellious men, empty talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision, - Titus 1:9-10

who must be silenced because they are upsetting whole families, teaching things they should not teach for the sake of sordid gain. - Titus 1:11

Discipline Teach Rebuke

7 Tasks of Church Leaders Teach Protect Lead Minister to the sick Shepherd the flock Discipline Mature the saints

11 And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers, 12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ; - Ephesians 4:11-12

13 until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ. 14 As a result, we are no longer to be children, tossed here and there by waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, by craftiness in deceitful scheming; - Ephesians 4:13-14

15 but speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, even Christ, 16 from whom the whole body, being fitted and held together by what every joint supplies, according to the proper working of each individual part, causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself in love. - Ephesians 4:15-16

An overseer, then, must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, temperate, prudent, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, - I Timothy 3:2

Qualifications of Elders Above reproach

Qualifications of Elders Above reproach Husband of one wife

Qualifications of Elders Above reproach Husband of one wife Temperate

Qualifications of Elders Above reproach Husband of one wife Temperate Prudent

Qualifications of Elders Above reproach Husband of one wife Temperate Prudent Respectable

Qualifications of Elders Above reproach Husband of one wife Temperate Prudent Respectable Hospitable

Qualifications of Elders Above reproach Husband of one wife Temperate Prudent Respectable Hospitable Apt to teach

not addicted to wine or pugnacious, but gentle, peaceable, free from the love of money. - I Timothy 3:3

Qualifications of Elders Above reproach Husband of one wife Temperate Prudent Respectable Hospitable Apt to teach Not a drunkard

Qualifications of Elders Above reproach Husband of one wife Temperate Prudent Respectable Hospitable Apt to teach Not a drunkard Not pugnacious

Qualifications of Elders Above reproach Husband of one wife Temperate Prudent Respectable Hospitable Apt to teach Not a drunkard Not pugnacious Gentle

Qualifications of Elders Above reproach Husband of one wife Temperate Prudent Respectable Hospitable Apt to teach Not a drunkard Not pugnacious Gentle Uncontentious

Qualifications of Elders Above reproach Husband of one wife Temperate Prudent Respectable Hospitable Apt to teach Not a drunkard Not pugnacious Gentle Uncontentious Free from the love of money

4 He must be one who manages his own household well, keeping his children under control with all dignity 5 (but if a man does not know how to manage his own household, how will he take care of the church of God?) - I Timothy 3:4-5

Qualifications of Elders Above reproach Husband of one wife Temperate Prudent Respectable Hospitable Apt to teach Not a drunkard Not pugnacious Gentle Uncontentious Free from the love of money A well managed home

and not a new convert, so that he will not become conceited and fall into the condemnation incurred by the devil. - I Timothy 3:6

Qualifications of Elders Above reproach Husband of one wife Temperate Prudent Respectable Hospitable Apt to teach Not a drunkard Not pugnacious Gentle Uncontentious Free from the love of money A well managed home Not a new convert

And he must have a good reputation with those outside the church, so that he will not fall into reproach and the snare of the devil. - I Timothy 3:7

Qualifications of Elders Above reproach Husband of one wife Temperate Prudent Respectable Hospitable Apt to teach Not a drunkard Not pugnacious Gentle Uncontentious Free from the love of money A well managed home Not a new convert Good reputation outside the church

A potential leader’s qualifications are obvious, visible and growing.

21 After they had preached the gospel to that city and had made many disciples, they returned to Lystra and to Iconium and to Antioch, 22 strengthening the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to continue in the faith, and saying, “Through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God.” - Acts 14:21-22

When they had appointed elders for them in every church, having prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord in whom they had believed. - Acts 14:23

For this reason I left you in Crete, that you would set in order what remains and appoint elders in every city as I directed you, - Titus 1:5

THE CYCLE EV → ELDER → EV → ELDER → EV →