Garden City Church of Christ - ELDERS IN EVERY CHURCH

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ELDERS IN EVERY CHURCH

TEXT: "And when they had ordained them elders in every church, and had prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord, on whom they believed" (Acts 14:23).

THESIS: To show, from the Bible, that as God's plan for the organization of the church, on the local level, included elders in every first century church, so God's plan for the church is the same today.

INTRODUCTION:
1. There is much misunderstanding concerning church organization (both of the church on the local level, and of the church in that universal sense).
2. From God's word, the Bible, we can read and understand God's will that there be elders in every church (Eph. 3:2-4; 5:17; Acts 14:23; Tit. 1:5).
3. In our study, we sball consider.
  1. Who are elders?
  2. What is meant by "every church"?
  3. And, God's plan for the organization of the church.
1. WHO ARE ELDERS?
  1. Elders are men (not women, for an elder must be "the husband of one wife"- 1 Tim. 3:2) who have met certain God-ordained qualifications before they can serve as elders.
    1. These qualifications are from God, not from man, and God's inspired word reveals them (1 Tim. 3; Tit. 1).
    2. These qualifications apply to each man selected and appointed-none is exempted by God, and none should be exempted, by man, from meeting these qualifications (1 Tim. 3:2ff).
    3. The claim, that if no men in the congregation are qualified, those closest to meeting these God-given requirements should be selected and appointed to the eldership, is a false and wrong claim which will result in great hano to the church, and in souls being lost (Pro. 14:12).
  2. Before men can serve as elders, they must, in addition to being qualified, be selected and appointed (Acts 14:23; 20:23; 1 Tim. 1:5).
    1. While every man selected and appointed must be qualified, not every qualified man must be selected and appointed.
    2. God has not revealed any specific selection process, but has ltft that up to the judgment of man- however, the selection process must be based upon the meeting of the qualifications for men to serve as elders, and should include the involvement of the members of the congregation
    3. Nor, has God designated a specific way in which elders are to be appointed, but their appointment should be with the approval of the local congregation, and, good judgment would indicate, in such a way as to indicate this approval.
  3. Elders must fulfill certain responsibilities.
    1. While to Christ has been given "all authority" (Mat. 28:18), and He is the head of the church (Col. 1:19), He has authorized elders to oversee each local congregation (Acts 20:23), and to rule according to His will (Heb. 13:17).
      1. Elders do have authority as shepherds of the flock, overseeing the local congregation (being under-shepherds of Christ, the Chief Shepherd).
      2. To their authority, members of the local congregation are to submit (Heb. 13:17).
      3. Elders do not have aqtbority to make laws for God, nor to release men from God's laws (Jam. 4:12).
    2. The responsibilities of elders are shown by the words which describe these men.
      1. They are elders or presbyters (from presbuteros, indicating age, maturity, experience, and wisdom) as shown in Acts 14:23; 20:17.
      2. The same men are bishops or overseers (from episkopos, indicating oversight, inspection, and looking after) as shown in I Timothy 3:1 and Acts 20:28
      3. Likewise, these same men who are elders, presbyters, bishops, and overseers, are also shepherds or pastors (from poimen, indicating feeding and caring for the flock) as shown in Acts 20:28 and 1 Peter 5:1-2.
    3. The responsibilities of elders. are many and weighty.
      1. Elders must feed the church (Acts 20:28; 1 Pet. 5:1-4; 1 Thess. 5:12).
      2. Elders must lead the church (Acts 20:28; 1 Pet. 5:3; cf. Acts 15:6; 16:4-5).
      3. Elders must defend the church from enemies (Tit. 1:9; Acts 20:39-31).
2. WHAT IS MEANT BY "EVERY CHURCH"?
  1. "Every church" does not include denominations, sects, parties, cults, or any other such man made religious groups.
    1. God has not authorized religious division; thus, He does not approve of such (God does not approve of that which He does not authorize).
    2. Rather, God condemns division (1 Cor. 1:10-13).
    3. God shows following the doctrines and commandments of men is vain and leads to certain destruction (Mat. 15:9,13).
  2. "Every church" does not designate the church in the universal sense.
    1. When Jesus said, "upon this rock I will build my church," He was speaking of the church in the universal sense (Mat. 16:18).
    2. There is only one body; that is, only one church over which Christ is Head, and in which are all the saved (Eph. 4:4; Col. 1:18; Eph. 5:23; Acts 2:47).
    3. The aggregate of every true local church of Christ is the one body-the true universal church.
  3. "Every church" refers to each lmo congregation of the church universal.
    1. When Paul wrote of the "churches of Christ," be was writing of the various local congregations each a church of Christ, which comprise the church of Christ in the universal sense (Rom. 16,16).
    2. For example, the church at Philippi was a local church, and was overseen by bishops, who an elders as shown above (Phi. 1:1)
    3. Also, the seven churches in *sin (Rev. 1:4) were local congregations, not different denominations
3. GOD'S PLAN FOR THE ORGANIZATION OF THE CHURCH.
  1. God's plan is for every local church to have elders.
    1. Each church is to be overum by a plurality of elders; that is, by the eldership, not by an eldpr (Acts 14:23). (Note that though there were apostles present in the church in Jerusalem, they still needed elders, according to God's was Acts 11:30).
    2. Thus, Paul enjoined Titus to "ordain elders in every city" (Tit. 1:5). (This does not support the false denominational idea of a metropolitan bishop overseeing a number of churches in a city, for there was only one church in each city.)
    3. No man can improve upon God's plan (in this or in any other area), and no man should dare to modify, substitute for, add to, or subtract from God's plan for church organization.
  2. No church is fully organized until it has qualified elders.
    1. Obviously, a church may exist without elders for a time sufficient for men to become qualified to serve as elders, to be selected, and to be appointed to be elders (Acts 14:21-23; cf. Acts 16:14-15 and Phil. 1:1).
    2. However, a church must not continue to be without elders when men are desire to serve in this capacity.
    3. A church may be:
      1. Unscripturally unorganized-refusing or neglecting to select and appoint elders when men are qualified to serve.
      2. Unscripturally organized-selecting and appointing men, to serve in the capacity of "elders," who are not qualified to serve, or having some other form of organization, foreign to God's will.
      3. Scripturally unorganized (in the sense of full organization, and only for a short time)--not having elders until men are qualified to serve, and are soected, and appointed.
      4. Scripturally organized-having elders who are qualified, selected, and appointed, who oversee the local congregation according to God's instructions.
  3. Obedience to God requires every church to have elders.
    1. God's plan is always right, qnd always the best, whether for individuals or churches.
    2. To obey God, we must submit to His plan for church organiantion, having "elders in every church:"
    3. No church can rightfully claim to be a "church of Christ," which will not follow God's plan ror church organization.
CONCLUSION:
1. God has ordained that there be elders in every church (each local congregation), and all who love God will hear His word and do His will (John 14:15; 1 John 5:3).
2. Each church should want to be organized according to the New Testament pattern, and each church member should do all he can to insure the local congregation is organized in harmony with God's will
3. Thus, as we have shown from this study, there should be "elders in every church."

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ELDERS IN EVERY CHURCH