Titus 1:6-9 An elder must be blameless, faithful to his wife, a man whose children believe and are not open to the charge of being wild and disobedient. Since an overseer manages God’s household, he must be blameless—not overbearing, not quick-tempered, not given to drunkenness, not violent, not pursuing dishonest gain. Rather, he must be hospitable, one who loves what is good, who is self-controlled, upright, holy and disciplined. He must hold firmly to the trustworthy message as it has been taught, so that he can encourage others by sound doctrine and refute those who oppose it.

Titus 1:5 - The reason I left you in Crete was that you might put in order what was left unfinished and appoint elders in every town, as I directed you.

I Timothy 3:1-7 Here is a trustworthy saying: Whoever aspires to be an overseer desires a noble task. Now the overseer is to be above reproach, faithful to his wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not given to drunkenness, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. He must manage his own family well and see that his children obey him, and he must do so in a manner worthy of full respect. (If anyone does not know how to manage his own family, how can he take care of God’s church?) He must not be a recent convert, or he may become conceited and fall under the same judgment as the devil. He must also have a good reputation with outsiders, so that he will not fall into disgrace and into the devil’s trap.

Titus 1:6-9 An elder must be blameless, faithful to his wife, a man whose children believe and are not open to the charge of being wild and disobedient. Since an overseer manages God’s household, he must be blameless—not overbearing, not quick-tempered, not given to drunkenness, not violent, not pursuing dishonest gain. Rather, he must be hospitable, one who loves what is good, who is self-controlled, upright, holy and disciplined. He must hold firmly to the trustworthy message as it has been taught, so that he can encourage others by sound doctrine and refute those who oppose it.

Qualification List Self controlled I Timothy 3:2; Titus 1:8 HospitableI Timothy 3:2; Titus 1:8 Able to teachI Timothy 3:2, 5:17; Titus 1:9 Not violent but gentleI Timothy 3:3; Titus 1:7 Not quarrelsomeI Timothy 3:3 Not a lover of moneyI Timothy 3:3 Not a recent convertI Timothy 3:6 Has a good reputation with outsidersI Timothy 3:7 Not overbearingTitus 1:7

Not quick-temperedTitus 1:7 Loves what is goodTitus 1:8 Upright, holyTitus 1:8 DisciplinedTitus 1:8 Above reproachI Timothy 3:2; Titus 1:6 Husband of one wifeI Timothy 3:2; Titus 1:6 TemperateI Timothy 3:2; Titus 1:7 RespectableI Timothy 3:2 Not given to drunkednessI Timothy 3:3; Titus 1:7 Manages his own household wellI Timothy 3:4 Sees that his children obey himI Timothy 3:4-5 Does not pursue dishonest gainTitus 1:7 Keeps hold of the deep truthsTitus 1:9

What is an elder? Galatians 6:10 -Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.

The Church is God’s Family Elders are the Overseers of that family I Timothy 3:4-5 – “He must manage his own family well and see that his children obey him, and he must do so in a manner worthy of full respect. (If anyone does not know how to manage his own family, how can he take care of God’s church?)

An elder does what any father would do: - He makes sure his family is taken care of - He makes sure they have the food and shelter they need to survive - He makes sure they are protected from danger - And if anyone threatens his family-he’ll do what is necessary to defend it

Ezekiel 33:8 When I say to the wicked, ‘You wicked person, you will surely die,’ and you do not speak out to dissuade them from their ways, that wicked person will die for their sin, and I will hold you accountable for their blood.

Luke 12:42-43 The Lord answered, “Who then is the faithful and wise manager, whom the master puts in charge of his servants to give them their food allowance at the proper time? It will be good for that servant whom the master finds doing so when he returns.