Sunday´s Sermon Notes

2014.10.19                   Acts 14: 26-28

     The character and responsibilities of Elders

Good morning everyone…. It´s great to be here with you this morning…. As most of you know, we go through the Bible verse by verse….. at the moment we are studying the birth of the church in the Book of Acts….. we are finishing chapter 14….. Paul and Barnabas were sent out as missionaries from Antioch…… They made disciples…. They appointed Elders in every church….  and as we read last week they have gone back to Antioch….. Lets´s read the last few verses of Acts 14….v26, 28…

Acts 14: 26: 28                           NKJV   sch 2000

26 From there they sailed to Antioch, where they had been commended to the grace of God for the work which they had completed.

27 Now when they had come and gathered the church together, they reported all that God had done with them, and that He had opened the door of faith to the Gentiles. 28 So they stayed there a long time with the disciples.

Acts 14: 26: 28                           NKJV   sch 2000

26 Und von dort segelten sie nach Antiochia, von wo aus sie der Gnade Gottes übergeben worden waren zu dem Werk, das sie [nun] vollbracht hatten.

27 Als sie aber angekommen waren und die Gemeinde versammelt hatten, erzählten sie, wie viel Gott mit ihnen getan hatte, und daß er den Heiden die Tür des Glaubens geöffnet hatte.

28 Sie verbrachten aber dort eine nicht geringe Zeit mit den Jüngern.

Paul and Barnabas completed the work that they had been sent out to do…..   They were willing to risk their own lives….. Because they knew that these young believers were weak and needed to be fed and cared for…..   Why? Because the Great Commission is not only to make people Christians…..it's to make them genuine Disciples…..

Remember they had gone back through all of the places where they had proclaimed the Good News… They had been kicked out of every town they've been in….. They were taking their lives in their hands….  They went back fearlessly because they were serving the LORD Jesus…  Yes it was dangerous….. It was dangerous to go back…. but it was more dangerous for those new babes not to have milk….. so that they could grow in grace and in the knowledge of the LORD JESUS….  we read a summary of the  four things that they did to minister to the new believers in Acts 14…. v22,23… let´s look again…. They were making disciples…

Making disciples

1 strengthening the souls of the disciples…

2 exhorting them to continue in the faith…

3 They appointed elders to pastor and shepherd the people after they had gone….

4 commended them to the Lord….

Paul and Barnabas were sent out as elders to feed and protect the flock….. To help and prop up the new believers…. The Lord used them to proclaim the Gospel and to establish churches….. Then they established Elders in each church….. Elders and pastors  are part of God´s plan to nurture and care for His people… Let´s review the list that we began to look at last week….

Eldership

1 Biblical Eldership….. is church Leadership that follows the scriptures

2 Pastoral Eldership….. shepherding and protecting the flock 

3 Biblically qualified Eldership…… There are several scriptures that show us the qualifications of men to become Elders

4 the Holy Spirit appoints them….. We seek to know the Lord´s will as we look to appoint Elders…. It is not a popularity contest….  We look for Godly servant hearts

5 Pastoral oversight of the church…. This is done best by a group of qualified elders

These five principles will help us to understand Biblical Eldership more easily…….

Let's look at  point number one.... biblical eldership is eldership by the book……. Men of God…. men with servants hearts…..  lead and serve and protect the church…..

We believe that Biblical Eldership  represents accurately and fairly what the Bible teaches about eldership…... The Lord appoints some men to lead and serve and care for his people….

2 Biblical Eldership is Pastoral….. Elders are shepherds and pastors and leaders….. Paul and Peter both use this word to speak of the role of Elders in the early church…. They take care of the brothers and sisters in the body…. The role of the elders to Pastor…. To shepherd the flock is a very common way of looking at what the Lord expects His “servant leaders” to do…. Their motto is to serve and teach and protect….

Turn with me to Acts 20… v28…. Paul knows that his time is short….and he calls for the Ephesian Elders to come to him….. He exhorts them with these words….     

Acts 20: 28-32                                      NKJV  

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. 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.

32 “So now, brethren, I commend you to God and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified.

Acts 20: 28 -32                               sch 2000

28 So habt nun acht auf euch selbst und auf die ganze Herde, in welcher der Heilige Geist euch zu Aufsehern gesetzt hat, um die Gemeinde Gottes zu hüten, die er durch sein eigenes Blut erworben hat!

29 Denn das weiß ich, daß nach meinem Abschied räuberische Wölfe zu euch hineinkommen werden, die die Herde nicht schonen;

30 und aus eurer eigenen Mitte werden Männer aufstehen, die verkehrte Dinge reden, um die Jünger abzuziehen in ihre Gefolgschaft.

31 Darum wacht und denkt daran, daß ich drei Jahre lang Tag und Nacht nicht aufgehört habe, jeden einzelnen unter Tränen zu ermahnen.

32 Und nun, Brüder, übergebe ich euch Gott und dem Wort seiner Gnade, das die Kraft hat, euch aufzuerbauen und ein Erbteil zu geben unter allen Geheiligten.

The role of the elders is to Pastor…. To shepherd the flock…..  This assignment to shepherd….  has many responsibilities….. I would like to look at 4 broad general areas of it….

Responsibilies of a Shepherd (Elder, pastor)

1. Teaching

2. Exhorting

3. Protecting the flock….. Refuting false teaching and resisting false teachers and wolves…

4. Leading and managing…. This includes ministering to the spiritual and practical needs of the church….

Number 1…. And a very important part of the Elders responsibilities is teaching…. 

There are several scriptures that show us the qualifications of men to become Elders

Let´s take a look at what Paul told Titus… take your Bibles and turn to Titus chapter 1…. V5…

Titus 1: 5-9                               NKJV   sch 2000

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.

Titus 1: 5-9                                  sch 2000

5 Ich habe dich zu dem Zweck in Kreta zurückgelassen, damit du das, was noch mangelt, in Ordnung bringst und in jeder Stadt Älteste einsetzt, so wie ich dir die Anweisung gegeben habe:

6 wenn einer untadelig ist, Mann einer Frau, und treue Kinder hat, über die keine Klage wegen Ausschweifung oder Aufsässigkeit vorliegt.

7 Denn ein Aufseher muß untadelig sein als ein Haushalter Gottes, nicht eigenmächtig, nicht jähzornig, nicht der Trunkenheit ergeben, nicht gewalttätig, nicht nach schändlichem Gewinn strebend,

8 sondern gastfreundlich, das Gute liebend, besonnen, gerecht, heilig, beherrscht;

9 einer, der sich an das zuverlässige Wort hält, wie es der Lehre entspricht, damit er imstande ist, sowohl mit der gesunden Lehre zu ermahnen als auch die Widersprechenden zu überführen.

Here´s the list:

Elder qualifications

1…Blameless:

2…a good steward of God:

3… Husband of one wife:

4….Having faithful children:

5….Not self-willed:

6…Not quick-tempered:

7…. Not violent:

8… Not greedy for money:

9…Hospitable:

10… Soberminded:

11… Just, holy, self-controlled:

 just (right toward men), holy (right towards God), self-controlled (right towards himself).

Elder qualifications

1…Blameless….. that does not mean perfect…… It means that the brother must not have any constant sin issues in his life…. He must not be living a life of unrepentant sin…. blameless: This word literally means "nothing to take hold upon." There must be nothing in the life of the leader that others can use to attack his life or the church….. No one could stand up and rightfully accuse the man of grievous sin……

2…a good steward of God… He knows that everything he has comes from the LORD…. This is important, because he was a steward of God's house…. The greater the master is…. the more faithful and responsible the servants are expected to be……

3… Husband of one wife… The idea is of "a one-woman man…. It does not mean that a leader must be married….. If that were the case, then both Jesus and Paul would be disqualified from leadership. Nor is it the idea that a leader could never remarry…..   The idea is that the leader has his focus upon one woman -   his wife….. He is not a womanizer……

4….Having faithful children…. The leader must have raised his children well…… here the submission of the children to discipline and restraint is emphasized…. 1 Timothy 3:4…says…

1   Tim 3:4                            NLT     Neues Leben

4 He must manage his own family well, having children who respect and obey him.

4 Es ist nötig, dass er ein guter Familienvorstand ist und dass seine Kinder ihn achten und ihm gehorchen.

In other words… Not wild and out of control….

5….Not self-willed: Not one who is determined to have his own way in everything…… selfish people are disqualified from leadership…… They show their self-willed nature in arrogance….. stubbornness….. and pride….

6…Not quick-tempered: Those who are quick to get angry….. are also disqualified from leadership….. The ancient Greek word used here (orgilos) actually refers more to a settled state of anger….. than the flash of an occasional bad temper…… It speaks of a man who has a constant simmering anger…… A man  who nourishes his anger against others….. close to the idea of a bitter man….. 

7…. Not violent: "The Greek word includes not only violence in action, but also violence in speech…. The word came to mean one who browbeats his fellow-men…… 

8… Not greedy for money: Especially in the last days….. men will use “godliness” as a way to get money…. 1 Tim 6: 3-6….. turn to 1 tim…6….v3….

1 Tim 6: 3-6                    NLT

3 Some people may contradict our teaching, but these are the wholesome teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ. These teachings promote a godly life. 4 Anyone who teaches something different is arrogant and lacks understanding. Such a person has an unhealthy desire to quibble over the meaning of words. This stirs up arguments ending in jealousy, division, slander, and evil suspicions. 5 These people always cause trouble. Their minds are corrupt, and they have turned their backs on the truth. To them, a show of godliness is just a way to become wealthy.

6 Yet true godliness with contentment is itself great wealth.

1 Tim 6: 3-6                       Neues Leben

3 Jeder, der etwas anderes lehrt als die guten Worte von Jesus Christus, unserem Herrn, und nicht an der Lehre festhält, auf der unser Leben im Glauben beruht,

4 der ist verblendet und unwissend. Ein solcher Mensch hat einen ungesunden Hang zu Streitereien und Wortgefechten, die zu Neid, Auseinandersetzungen, lästerlichen Reden und bösen Verdächtigungen führen

5 und in dauerhaftem Streit enden. Solche Menschen haben ein verdorbenes Denken und kennen die Wahrheit nicht. Für sie ist das Leben mit Gott nur ein Mittel, sich zu bereichern.

6 Wahrer Glaube und die Fähigkeit, mit wenigem zufrieden zu sein, sind tatsächlich ein großer Reichtum.

In this text…. Paul is again stressing the important of both teaching and exhorting the people of God…. These things encourage and protect god´s people from liars and wolves….

Let´s go back to our list of qualifications in Titus 1…. We are Looking at v8,9…

Titus 1: 8,9                               NKJV   sch 2000

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.

8 sondern gastfreundlich, das Gute liebend, besonnen, gerecht, heilig, beherrscht; 9 einer, der sich an das zuverlässige Wort hält, wie es der Lehre entspricht, damit er imstande ist, sowohl mit der gesunden Lehre zu ermahnen als auch die Widersprechenden zu überführen.

V8…. Here we continue the list with good positive characteristics….

9…But hospitable: A leader among God's people must be a hospitable man….. and one who loves what is good…… Men who continue love the things of this world…. are not yet qualified to be leaders among God's people……

10… Soberminded: This describes the person who is able to think clearly and with clarity…… They are not constant joke-makers….. but know how to deal with serious subjects in a serious way…...This does not man he has no sense of humor….. It means that he knows the value of the things of God….  And he does not cheapen the ministry or the Gospel message by foolish behavior….

11… Just, holy, self-controlled: A pastor or leader in the church must be just (right toward men), holy (right towards God), self-controlled (right towards himself). These are all related to each other….

V9…After listing the qualifications of elders…..

Paul ends the list with this statement….. the candidate for eldership must hold fast the faithful word…..

Holding on to and faithfully teaching the Word of God…..   so that he will be able to…

Responsibilities of Elders

1… Teach sound doctrine

2… exhort to obedience and trust in the Word of God

3… Protect the flock…. resist those who contradict the truth…. 

4… Leading and managing….

Responsibilities of Elders

1…. Teach sound doctrine… rightly diving the Word…

2… exhort to obedience and trust…… and be able to

3…. Protect the flock…. resist those who contradict the truth….  In other words an Elder must know the Bible….. He must be able to communicate and teach it to others….. He must be able to recognize false teachers and stop their poison from harming the sheep….

Paul says to the Ephesian elders…… wolves are coming….. guard the flock…. so this is again something the elders have to be able to do….. teach, protect and warn….

To summarize …. For Elders we see …. a very strong emphasis on character and on teaching…… but there is another very important part of the ministry of Elders….. it is number 4 in our list….

4. Leading and managing…. This includes ministering to both the spiritual and practical needs of the church…….

Is it necessary that all Elders stand up front and teach the Word of God….? Are there Elders who lead and manage and serve the church in other ways?... I think the answer is yes….. Turn with me to 1 Timothy 5….v17….

1 Timothy 5:17             NKJV   sch 2000

17 Let the elders who rule well be counted worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in the word and doctrine.

17 Die Ältesten, die gut vorstehen, sollen doppelter Ehre wert geachtet werden, besonders die, welche im Wort und in der Lehre arbeiten.

The greek words here are talking about Elders who rule well are also worthy of double honor…. Especially if they also preach and teach… So It is possible for a man of God to know his Bible and display the Godly character of an Elder…. But focus on leading and running the more practical affairs of the church as his main ministry focus…. He is focused on this fourth function of Elders…

4. Leading and managing…. they help lead the church   forward….. by example and in very practical ways…. For example in the many practical aspects of caring for people…..  praying for and counseling people  through their problems….. providing the training, tools and environment that is necessary for the ministry…. 

We have looked at the responsibilities of Elders…… The Qualities of Elders….. Now I would like to go back to the description of Biblical Eldership…. Here´s the list again…

Eldership

1 Biblical Eldership….. is church Leadership that follows the scriptures

2 Pastoral Eldership….. shepherding and protecting the flock….. 

3 Biblically qualified Eldership…… There are several scriptures that show us the qualifications of men to become Elders…..

4 the Holy Spirit appoints them….. We seek to know the Lord´s will as we look to appoint Elders…. It is not a popularity contest….  We look for men with Godly, servants hearts…..

5 Pastoral oversight of the church…. This is done best by a group of qualified elders….

We have fairly well covered the first three…. Now let´s talk for a few minutes on the 4^th and 5^th points…

4 the Holy Spirit appoints them…..

Turn back with me to Acts 20… v28…. As we get to this text it is now several years later…. Paul knows that his time is short….and he calls for the Ephesian Elders to come to him….. He exhorts them with these words….     

Acts 20: 28                     NKJV   sch 2000

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.

28 So habt nun acht auf euch selbst und auf die ganze Herde, in welcher der Heilige Geist euch zu Aufsehern gesetzt hat, um die Gemeinde Gottes zu hüten, die er durch sein eigenes Blut erworben hat!

V28… You elders….take heed to yourselves…and to the flock….

The Holy Spirit has made you pastors and shepherds….

We seek to know the Lord´s will as we look to appoint Elders…. It is not a popularity contest….  We look for men with Godly, servants hearts….. Elders are to meet God-given qualifications they are morally spiritually qualified they must have a good reputation with those inside and outside the church they must be examples to the flock….

5 Pastoral oversight of the church…. This is done best by a group of qualified elders…. Ideally…. There should be at least 2 or three elders….. Because this is a new church….. I have been under submission to the Elders who sent me here to start this church….. Just like Paul and Barnabas were under submission to…… and they were sent out from the church in Antioch…. They reported to the church in Antioch when they returned….

I also have The Pastors of other Calvary´s here in Germany who help to serve and lead us…. It has always been the goal to appoint Elders from this church to lead and serve the believers here…. And we are preparing to do that….. For about 2 years I have been meeting with a Leadership circle of men in this church….. We pray and serve this church….. we talk about important decisions as represent the body of believers…. They are those who are already serving and leading…. Even though they do not yet have the title of Elders and deacons…. They are already serving these functions and they are doing them well… Please pray for us as we look to follow the Lord´s will as we choose the Elders and deacons in the coming weeks and months….

Close 

I would like to close this morning with Paul the Elder writing to teach, exhort and encourage us….. He also talks about our very important ministry to each other….. And finally … He includes a benediction.,… a closing blessing that we will use as our final blessing this morning….  1 Thess 5…. v…5

1 Thess 5: 5- 28                        NKJV  

⁵ You are all sons of light and sons of the day. We are not of the night nor of darkness. ⁶ Therefore let us not sleep, as others do, but let us watch and be sober. ⁷ For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk are drunk at night. ⁸ But let us who are of the day be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet the hope of salvation. ⁹ For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, ¹⁰ who died for us, that whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with Him.

¹¹ Therefore comfort each other and edify one another, just as you also are doing.

¹² And we urge you, brethren, to recognize those who labor 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. Be at peace among yourselves.

¹⁴ Now we exhort you, brethren, warn those who are unruly, comfort the fainthearted, uphold the weak, be patient with all. ¹⁵ See that no one renders evil for evil to anyone, but always pursue what is good both for yourselves and for all.

¹⁶ Rejoice always, ¹⁷ pray without ceasing, ¹⁸ in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

¹⁹ Do not quench the Spirit. ²⁰ Do not despise prophecies. ²¹ Test all things; hold fast what is good. ²² Abstain from every form of evil.

²³ Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. ²⁴ He who calls you is faithful, who also will do it.

²⁵ Brethren, pray for us.²⁶ Greet all the brethren with a holy kiss.²⁷ I charge you by the Lord that this epistle be read to all the holy^[a] brethren.²⁸ The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.

1 Thess 5: 5- 28                         sch 2000

5 ihr alle seid Söhne des Lichts und Söhne des Tages. Wir gehören nicht der Nacht an noch der Finsternis.

6 So laßt uns auch nicht schlafen wie die anderen, sondern laßt uns wachen und nüchtern sein!

7 Denn die Schlafenden schlafen bei Nacht, und die Betrunkenen sind bei Nacht betrunken;

8 wir aber, die wir dem Tag angehören, wollen nüchtern sein, angetan mit dem Brustpanzer des Glaubens und der Liebe und mit dem Helm der Hoffnung auf das Heil.

9 Denn Gott hat uns nicht zum Zorngericht bestimmt, sondern zum Besitz des Heils durch unseren Herrn Jesus Christus,

10 der für uns gestorben ist, damit wir, ob wir wachen oder schlafen, zusammen mit ihm leben sollen.

11 Darum ermahnt einander3 und erbaut einer den anderen, wie ihr es auch tut!

12 Wir bitten euch aber, ihr Brüder, daß ihr diejenigen anerkennt, die an euch arbeiten und euch im Herrn vorstehen und euch zurechtweisen,

13 und daß ihr sie um so mehr in Liebe achtet um ihres Werkes willen. Lebt im Frieden miteinander!

14 Wir ermahnen euch aber, Brüder: Verwarnt die Unordentlichen, tröstet die Kleinmütigen, nehmt euch der Schwachen an, seid langmütig gegen jedermann!

15 Seht darauf, daß niemand Böses mit Bösem vergilt, sondern trachtet allezeit nach dem Guten, sowohl untereinander als auch gegenüber jedermann!

16 Freut euch allezeit! 17 Betet ohne Unterlaß!

18 Seid in allem dankbar; denn das ist der Wille Gottes in Christus Jesus für euch.

19 Den Geist dämpft nicht!

20 Die Weissagung verachtet nicht!

21 Prüft alles, das Gute behaltet!

22 Haltet euch fern von dem Bösen in jeglicher Gestalt!

23 Er selbst aber, der Gott des Friedens, heilige euch durch und durch, und euer ganzes [Wesen], der Geist, die Seele und der Leib, möge untadelig bewahrt werden bei der Wiederkunft unseres Herrn Jesus Christus!

24 Treu ist er, der euch beruft; er wird es auch tun.

25 Brüder, betet für uns!

26 Grüßt alle Brüder mit einem heiligen Kuß!

27 Ich beschwöre euch bei dem Herrn, daß dieser Brief allen heiligen Brüdern vorgelesen wird.

28 Die Gnade unseres Herrn Jesus Christus sei mit euch! Amen.

Let´s pray.