A Plan to Have Qualified Elders
Surviving the Pandemic as a Congregation • Sermon • Submitted
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INTRODUCTION:
1. Every church needs a plan for how to appoint qualified men to the eldership.
A. In the lesson today we are going to examine how Paul left two young gospel preaches instructions on how they were to conduct themselves in the house of God.
B. In both cases these instructions included the appointment of elders.
2. Then tonight we will continue this lesson and look at the steps to appointing qualified men to the take the responsibility of becoming an elder in the Lord’s church.
Body:
1. One of the purposes for the writing of 1 Timothy by Paul was to instruct Timothy on how to conduct himself in the house of God.
14 These things I write to you, though I hope to come to you shortly; 15 but if I am delayed, I write so that you may know how you ought to conduct yourself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.
A. Timothy was then to take what he learned from Paul and teach the church how to conduct themselves in the house of God.
3 As I urged you when I went into Macedonia—remain in Ephesus that you may charge some that they teach no other doctrine, 4 nor give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which cause disputes rather than godly edification which is in faith.
1. The fact that Paul had written for the purpose of teaching Timothy how to conduct himself in the house of God was stated right after Paul had given the qualifications of elders and deacons.
1 This is a faithful saying: If a man desires the position of a bishop, he desires a good work. 2 A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, temperate, sober-minded, of good behavior, hospitable, able to teach; 3 not given to wine, not violent, not greedy for money, but gentle, not quarrelsome, not covetous; 4 one who rules his own house well, having his children in submission with all reverence 5 (for if a man does not know how to rule his own house, how will he take care of the church of God?); 6 not a novice, lest being puffed up with pride he fall into the same condemnation as the devil. 7 Moreover he must have a good testimony among those who are outside, lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil. 8 Likewise deacons must be reverent, not double-tongued, not given to much wine, not greedy for money, 9 holding the mystery of the faith with a pure conscience. 10 But let these also first be tested; then let them serve as deacons, being found blameless. 11 Likewise, their wives must be reverent, not slanderers, temperate, faithful in all things. 12 Let deacons be the husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well. 13 For those who have served well as deacons obtain for themselves a good standing and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus.
2. Paul tells Titus that he left him in Crete for two purposes.
A. To set in order the things that were lacking.
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—
B. To appoint elders in every city.
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—
1. These two purposes imply several things.
A. If elders are not appointed something is lacking in the church.
B. The importance of the eldership to the congregation.
C. The urgency of appointing elders in a congregation that is lacking them.
D. Chaos rules were there is no leadership because of the lack of order.
C. As we examine this verse we also find that the appointment of elders was not a request but a command.
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—
1. We also find in what Paul wrote to Titus that like Timothy, Titus was to teach the church how to conduct themselves.
1 But as for you, speak the things which are proper for sound doctrine: 2 that the older men be sober, reverent, temperate, sound in faith, in love, in patience; 3 the older women likewise, that they be reverent in behavior, not slanderers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things—4 that they admonish the young women to love their husbands, to love their children, 5 to be discreet, chaste, homemakers, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be blasphemed. 6 Likewise, exhort the young men to be sober-minded, 7 in all things showing yourself to be a pattern of good works; in doctrine showing integrity, reverence, incorruptibility, 8 sound speech that cannot be condemned, that one who is an opponent may be ashamed, having nothing evil to say of you. 9 Exhort bondservants to be obedient to their own masters, to be well pleasing in all things, not answering back, 10 not pilfering, but showing all good fidelity, that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Savior in all things.
2. And just like Timothy Titus was given qualifications for elders which shows this was one of the ways that Titus was to instruct the church on how to conduct themselves.
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.
3. It is directly pointed out in the Scriptures twice that every congregation needs elders.
A. In Acts 14:23 it is stated that Paul and Barnabas appointed elders in every church.
19 Then Jews from Antioch and Iconium came there; and having persuaded the multitudes, they stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, supposing him to be dead. 20 However, when the disciples gathered around him, he rose up and went into the city. And the next day he departed with Barnabas to Derbe. 21 And when they had preached the gospel to that city and made many disciples, they returned to Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch, 22 strengthening the souls of the disciples, exhorting them to continue in the faith, and saying, “We must through many tribulations enter the kingdom of God.” 23 So when they had appointed elders in every church, and prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord in whom they had believed.
B. In Titus 1:5 Paul tells Titus to appoint elders in every city.
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—
CONCLUSION:
1. Paul himself saw the need for elders in every congregation so he made sure they were appointed.
A. Then he taught the two men that he called son’s in the faith to do the same.
1. Timothy
1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ, by the commandment of God our Savior and the Lord Jesus Christ, our hope, 2 To Timothy, a true son in the faith: Grace, mercy, and peace from God our Father and Jesus Christ our Lord.
2. Titus
1 Paul, a bondservant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God’s elect and the acknowledgment of the truth which accords with godliness, 2 in hope of eternal life which God, who cannot lie, promised before time began, 3 but has in due time manifested His word through preaching, which was committed to me according to the commandment of God our Savior; 4 To Titus, a true son in our common faith: Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ our Savior.
2. We need to follow in his example and tonight we will look at the plan to do just that.