Titus 1:5-9 (NKJV)

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,

Titus 1:5-9 (NKJV)

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.

THE GOVERNMENT OF THE CHURCH (PT. II)

Titus 1:5-9

Government Of The Church Last week we began a lesson in our

continuing series on The Church of the NT

We began to look at the way God designed order within His kingdom

Jesus is the head of the church because the church is His body and He is the savior of it

Government Of The Church That means that you and I are to

submit to the authority that Christ has as the head of the church

We noticed that, contrary to what men may say, the church does not have 2 heads

There is one head, Jesus Christ

Government Of The Church What does the Bible say about the

order of the local congregation?

What authority do we have for elders, deacons and ministers?

What does the Bible teach as the responsibility of these individuals?

Elders

The Bible speaks of elders being a part of the makeup of the church

Paul mentioned them as a part of the church in Philippi (Phil. 1:1)

Towards the end of his first missionary journey, Paul and Barnabas “appointed elders in every church” (Acts 14:23)

Elders

We also see the command of Paul given to Titus to in Titus 1:5…

“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”

Elders were a part of every congregation

What Are Elders?

The Bible gives us 3 different (Greek) terms for elders

These terms are descriptive of what an elder is

One such term is “Pastor” (Eph. 4:11)

Notice that Paul makes a distinction between a pastor and an evangelist

What Are Elders?

Evangelist – preacher of the gospel; bringer of good tidings

Pastor – shepherd, herdsman

Ephesians 4:11 is the only time pastor (poimen) is used as a noun

It is used as a verb in Acts 20:28 andI Peter 5:2 translated “shepherd”

What Are Elders?

Another term is elder (presbyteros)

We see Paul send for the elders at Ephesus in Acts 20:17

He refers to these elders as overseers (episkopos) and as shepherds (poimaino)

Peter mentions the elders as well inI Peter 5:1

What Are Elders?

Other passages that use the term elder are found in Acts 14:23; I Timothy 5:17; Titus 1:5; James 5:14

We also see the word overseer or bishop (episkopos)

Both refer to a superintendent; one who is to look diligently or take oversight

What Are Elders?

We see the term overseer in Acts 20:28 and I Peter 5:2

The word bishop, which derives from the same Greek word, is found in I Timothy 3:1-7 and Titus 1:7

All these words are used to point to the same position within the body

What Are Elders?

An elder is one who is an overseer or shepherd of the flock

He is one who is to watch after God’s people

An elder is only over the congregation in which he attends; “Shepherd the flock of God which is among you” (I Peter 5:2)

Who Can Be An Elder?

Can just anyone be an elder?

Are there qualifications one must meet to be an elder, bishop, overseer or pastor?

First, there needs to be a plurality of elders

Paul and Barnabas appointed elders (plural) in every church (Acts 14:23)

Who Can Be An Elder?

We see a plurality of elders at Ephesus (Acts 20:17)

Paul told Titus to appoint elders in every city (Titus 1:5)

We see the plural used in Hebrews 13:7, 17 as well as in James 5:14

Who Can Be An Elder?

Paul lists out the qualifications for an elder in I Timothy 3:1-7

Again Paul tells Titus that a man who is to be an elder must meet a certain criteria to be qualified (Titus 1:5-9)

So not just anyone can be an elder in the Lord’s church

Responsibility of Elders

If an elder is one who shepherds or oversees the flock, how does an elder do that?

In matters which God has spoken, an elder cannot overrule that which is truth

In matters of opinion, an elder may decide what is best for the flock

Responsibility of Elders

As we mentioned, an elder is to oversee the flock

They oversee the spiritual aspect of our lives (Heb. 13:17)

An elder is to feed the flock of God (Acts 20:28)

Responsibility of Elders

An elder may do this himself (I Tim. 3:2; Heb. 13:7; Titus 1:9) or he may employ an evangelist to teach and preach God’s word

Elders must be examples to the flock as well as those outside (I Tim. 3:7; Heb. 13:7)

Responsibility of Elders

An elder must also recognize and stand up to false teaching (Titus 1:9-13)

This is also a reason why they must be able to teach

Paul warned about men who would rise up and speak perverse things (Acts 20:28-31)