1. The greatest among you will be your servant.
Matthew 23:11 (NIV)
The greatest among you will be your servant.

2. What is an elder?
What is the role of an elder?
Who can serve as an elder?

3. What is an elder?
An elder is a godly man of known integrity, who is dedicated to leading and managing the affairs of the church, and, to shepherd the flock primarily through the ministry of prayer and the word.

4. II. What is the role of an elder?

5. I. Shepherd the Flock
To the elders among you, I appeal as a fellow elder, a witness of Christ’s sufferings and one who will also share in the glory to be revealed: Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care,

6. serving as overseers – not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not greedy for money, but eager to serve; not lording I over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock.

7. And when the Chief Shepherd appears, You will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away.
I Peter 5:1-4 (NIV)

8. II. Ministry of Prayer and the Word
“[We] will give our attention to the ministry of prayer and the word.” Acts 6:4 (NIV)

9. III. Serve as Examples
“Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you. Consider their way of life and imitate their faith. Jesus Christ, the same yesterday, today and forever.” Hebrews 13:7-8 (NIV)

10. IV. Protect the Flock and Preserve Sound Doctrine
“Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God, which he bought with his own blood.

11. I know that after I leave, savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare the flock…Now I commit you to God and to the word of his grace, which can build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified.” Acts 20:28-29, 32 (NIV)

12. V. Manage and Serve as Caretakers of God’s Church
“(If anyone does not know how to manage his own family, how can he take care of God’s church?)” I Timothy 3:5 (NIV)

13. “[they] appointed elders in every church.” Acts 14:23 (NIV)
VI. Serve as a team
Plurality of elders
“[they] appointed elders in every church.” Acts 14:23 (NIV)
cf. Acts 11:30, 16:14, 20:17, James 5:14

14. III. Who can serve as an elder?

15. Situational Qualifications
Desire to serve
Able to teach
Not a recent convert
Well thought of by outsiders

16. Family Qualifications
Husband of one wife one woman man
Manage his own household well

17. Moral Qualifications Above reproach Sober-minded Self-controlled
Respectable
Hospitable

18. What is a deacon?
What is the role of a deacon?
Who can serve as a deacon?

19. What is a deacon?

20. What is a deacon?
A deacon is a godly man of known integrity, who is dedicated to servant leadership within the church of God, freeing the elders to focus on the ministry of prayer and the word.

21. II. What is the role of a deacon?
Servant leadership which frees elders for the ministry of prayer and the Word.

22. Acts 6:1-3 (NIV)
In those days when the number of disciples was increasing, the Hellenistic Jews among them complained against the Hebraic Jews because their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food.

23. So the Twelve gathered all the disciples together and said, “It would not be right for us to neglect the ministry of the word of God in order to wait on tables.

24. Brothers and sisters, choose seven men from among you who are known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will turn this responsibility over to them.

25. III. Who can serve as a deacon?
See above :-)

26. An Important Note About our Wives
In the same way, their wives are to be women worthy of respect, not malicious talkers but temperate and trustworthy in everything.
I Timothy 3:11 (NIV)