Elders

Elders

Elders, also known as shepherds or overseers, are appointed to oversee the congregation and care for their safety as a shepherd would look over his sheep. The Bible teaches that there should be a plurality of elders overseeing and shepherding a congregation (Acts 14:23; Acts 15:2, 4, 6; Titus 1:5). It also teaches the extent of the elders’ outreach is their own flock (Acts 20:17, 28) or their local congregation. Their work consists of watching over the souls of the local church (Hebrews 13:17), maturing the local congregation (Ephesians 4:11-16), disciplining the congregation (1 Thessalonians 5:12-15), shepherding the local congregation (1 Peter 5:1-3; Acts 20:28), and praying for the sick (James 5:13-18) The local congregation’s responsibility to their elders is to esteem them highly in love (1 Thessalonians 5:12-13) and be subject to them (Hebrews 13:17) The office of an elder has specific qualification for those men who aspire to do the work of an elder (1 Timothy 3:1-7; Titus 1:5-9)

The Bible teaches that to qualify for the office of elder a man must:
  • Be above reproach
  • Be the husband of one wife
  • Be temperate
  • Be prudent
  • Be respectable
  • Be hospitable
  • Be gentle
  • Be uncontentious
  • Be able to teach
  • Be sound in the Word
  • Be free from the love of money
  • Be able to manage his household well
  • Be able to keep his children under control with dignity
  • Be the father of children who believe (Christians)
  • Be a lover of what is good, sensible, just, devout, and self-controlled
  • Have a good reputation with those outside the church

The Bible also teaches that an elder cannot:
  • Be addicted to wine
  • Be pugnacious
  • Be a new convert
  • Be self-willed
  • Be quick-tempered
  • Be fond of sordid gain

Currently we are without elders.
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