Work of Elders  I Pet. 5:1-4 The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed: 2 feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind; 3 neither as being lords over God’s heritage, but being ensamples to the flock. 4 And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.

Elders in the Old Testament

First Mention of Elders in the Bible = Gen. 50:7  The first elders are mentioned in Genesis 50:7, during the time Israel was in Egypt.Genesis 50:7  7 And Joseph went up to bury his father: and with him went up all the servants of Pharaoh,  the elders of his house,  and all the elders of the land of Egypt, 

Exodus 3:15-16 Existed in Moses’ day- even before the giving of the Law  15 And God said moreover unto Moses, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, The Lord God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, hath sent me unto you: this is my name for ever, and this is my memorial unto all generations. 16 Go, and gather the elders of Israel together, and say unto them, The Lord God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Jacob, appeared unto me, saying, I have surely visited you, and seen that which is done to you in Egypt:

Elders were to convey what they learned to the people  Exodus 17:2-6  Wherefore the people did chide with Moses, and said, Give us water that we may drink. And Moses said unto them, Why chide ye with me? wherefore do ye tempt the Lord?  3 And the people thirsted there for water; and the people murmured against Moses, and said, Wherefore is this that thou hast brought us up out of Egypt, to kill us and our children and our cattle with thirst?  4 And Moses cried unto the Lord, saying, What shall I do unto this people? they be almost ready to stone me.  5 And the Lord said unto Moses, Go on before the people, and take with thee of the elders of Israel; and thy rod, wherewith thou smotest the river, take in thine hand, and go.  6 Behold, I will stand before thee there upon the rock in Horeb; and thou shalt smite the rock, and there shall come water out of it, that the people may drink. And Moses did so in the sight of the elders of Israel.

They were to oversee regulations concerning the cities of refuge..  God wanted justice done…and elders in  The O.T. were to see to it that it was done.  Deut. 19:11-12  But if any man hate his neighbour, and lie in wait for him, and rise up against him, and smite him mortally that he die, and fleeth into one of these cities: 12 then the elders of his city shall send and fetch him thence, and deliver him into the hand of the avenger of blood, that he may die.

The Elders of the O.T. were men selected by God to do His Work  These men had to be ‘apt to teach’..  What they learned, they were able to share it with those whom they served.  These men were to be God-fearers, men of truth, haters of covetousness, wise, having understanding, well known among the tribes, known for righteous judgments and men who didn’t show partiality.

In the N.T. God wants Elders Today  Men appointed to do the work of  God.  These men are men who meet the  Qualifications listed in I Tim. 3:1-7  And Titus 1:5-9.  These men serve God as Elders over the flock which is among them. (the Local  Church!)

What is the work of Elders in the New Testament Church?  It is the work of God!  I Tim. 3:1 This is a true saying, If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work.”

This Work is so serious..souls are at stake!  That is why God has given the qualifications for men who do this work…  Men who want to do it.  Men who are married, who have 2 children or more who are faithful Christians serving the Lord  Men who are sober, who are not a novice, but men who are able to teach and exhort.  Men who show by their lives their devotion to their families and to those over which they rule.

Why they need to know God’s Word!  Elders are to be men who love the Bible, the Word of God, who can take  The Bible and show what to do to be  Saved, and what to do once you are  Saved!  Elders are to ‘grow in the grace and knowledge’ of the word of God. 2 Pet. 3:18

I Thess. 5:12-13  12 And we beseech you, brethren, to know them which labour among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you; 13 and to esteem them very highly in love for their work’s sake. And be at peace among yourselves.

Work of Elders  Elders must be guided by God’s word.  Acts 20:32 And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified.  Titus 1:9 holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers.  Shows why he must be ‘apt to teach’

Take Heed to Themselves…  Elders must take heed to themselves…  Acts 20:28 Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.  Elders must examine themselves  1. To see if they are still in the faith.(2Cor.13:5)  2. See themselves as others see them.(Mt.5:16)  3. See if they are growing (2 Pet. 3:18)

Feed (Tend )to the Flock  I Pet. 5:2 ‘..feed the flock of God which is among you’  What will they feed the flock?(Acts 20:32)  “God’s Word”. Another reason to be ‘apt to teach’  Elders work is so involved in knowing the truth and having ability to teach it to  Those whom they feed.

Work of Elders includes also:  Elders are to Exercise Rule  I Tim. 5:17..”Let the elders that rule well..”  I Tim. 3:5 (“but if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?)” Another reason for  A man who serves as an Elder to have  Children)  Heb. 13:17 Remember them that have the rule over you..”  Heb. 13:17 “Obey them that have the rule over you.”

Elders are to take the Oversight  I Pet.5:… 2 feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind; 3 neither as being lords over God’s heritage, but being ensamples to the flock.  Elders are to oversee/superintend/look over all phases of local church activity!

Rule over the Local Flock  Heb. 13: 17 Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you.  why? ‘for they watch for your souls’

Work of Elders also includes:  Elders must Be Examples to the Flock  I Pet. 5:3 3 neither as being lords over God’s heritage, but being ensamples to the flock.

Watch for your Souls! (Why?)  Heb. 13: 17 Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you.  A watchman: Watch. Heb. 13:17  a)Duties of a watchman is found in  Ezekiel 3:16-21 “.. 16 And it came to pass at the end of seven days, that the word of the Lord came unto me, saying, 17 Son of man, I have made thee a watchman unto the house of Israel: therefore hear the word at my mouth, and give them warning from me.  1. Hear the word of God (Rom. 10:17)  2. Warn those who sin (Isa. 59:1,2) 

Work Summarized:  1. Tend to the flock. I Pet. 5:2  2. Rule over the local flock. Heb. 13:17  3. Exercise the oversight. I Pet. 5:2  4. Watch. Heb. 13:17   5. Admonish. I Pet. 5:1-2  6. Be examples. I Pet. 5;2

Be a Good Example!  I Cor. 11:1 follow me as I follow Christ.  I Pet. 2:21 Jesus is our perfect example.  Matt. 5:16 Elders are to be good men  Who demonstrate a good example for  Us to follow.!

Why would a man want to be an Elder,the first qualification?  1. Because God wants him to be…I Tim. 3:1 ‘’he desireth a good work”.  2. His reward at the end of this life is  Great. I Pet. 5:4

What does Jesus promise those who serve as faithful Elders?

 I Pet. 5: 4 And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.

In Conclusion:  Elders are to uphold the word of God ,and warn them that transgress it. Watch for the souls of the  members, making sure they are properly fed,  Setting an example for all and rule, using the standard and love of God.

What is the local church’s obligation to the Elders?  Al Burns will address that tonight