1

What the Church Owes What the Church Owes Her EldersHer Elders

22

Our Responsibility To The Elders

IntroductionIntroductionIntroductionIntroduction

• It is usually easier to think It is usually easier to think in terms of what others in terms of what others owe us, rather than what owe us, rather than what we owe themwe owe them

• The human mind is prone The human mind is prone to think in selfish termsto think in selfish terms

• It is usually easier to think It is usually easier to think in terms of what others in terms of what others owe us, rather than what owe us, rather than what we owe themwe owe them

• The human mind is prone The human mind is prone to think in selfish termsto think in selfish terms

33

Our Responsibility To The Elders

IntroductionIntroductionIntroductionIntroduction

• Many look for a Many look for a congregation to meet their congregation to meet their needs, instead of looking to needs, instead of looking to meet the needs of the meet the needs of the congregationcongregation

• Phil. 2:3-4Phil. 2:3-4• 1 Cor. 10:331 Cor. 10:33

• Many look for a Many look for a congregation to meet their congregation to meet their needs, instead of looking to needs, instead of looking to meet the needs of the meet the needs of the congregationcongregation

• Phil. 2:3-4Phil. 2:3-4• 1 Cor. 10:331 Cor. 10:33

44

Our Responsibility To The Elders

Know ThemKnow ThemKnow ThemKnow Them

• 1 Th. 5:121 Th. 5:12• More than just being More than just being

acquaintedacquainted• Know their duties and our Know their duties and our

duty alsoduty also• Know them for the person Know them for the person

they are and respect them they are and respect them as shepherds of the flockas shepherds of the flock

• 1 Th. 5:121 Th. 5:12• More than just being More than just being

acquaintedacquainted• Know their duties and our Know their duties and our

duty alsoduty also• Know them for the person Know them for the person

they are and respect them they are and respect them as shepherds of the flockas shepherds of the flock

55

Our Responsibility To The Elders

Esteem ThemEsteem ThemEsteem ThemEsteem Them

• 1 Th. 5:131 Th. 5:13• To esteem = to hold in the To esteem = to hold in the

highest regardhighest regard• This includes love and This includes love and

affection toward them for affection toward them for their worktheir work

• Heb. 13:17Heb. 13:17

• 1 Th. 5:131 Th. 5:13• To esteem = to hold in the To esteem = to hold in the

highest regardhighest regard• This includes love and This includes love and

affection toward them for affection toward them for their worktheir work

• Heb. 13:17Heb. 13:17

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Our Responsibility To The Elders

Esteem ThemEsteem ThemEsteem ThemEsteem Them• We should never speak We should never speak

disrespectfully of the eldershipdisrespectfully of the eldership• Be careful what you say about Be careful what you say about

the eldership in front of othersthe eldership in front of others• Criticizing and trying to Criticizing and trying to

encourage are two different encourage are two different thingsthings

• We should never speak We should never speak disrespectfully of the eldershipdisrespectfully of the eldership

• Be careful what you say about Be careful what you say about the eldership in front of othersthe eldership in front of others

• Criticizing and trying to Criticizing and trying to encourage are two different encourage are two different thingsthings

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Our Responsibility To The Elders

Count Them Worthy Of Count Them Worthy Of Double HonorDouble Honor

Count Them Worthy Of Count Them Worthy Of Double HonorDouble Honor

• 1 Tim. 5:17-181 Tim. 5:17-18• Because of the responsibility Because of the responsibility

involved in shepherding the involved in shepherding the flock the eldership is worthy flock the eldership is worthy of “double honor” or honor of “double honor” or honor upon honorupon honor

• 1 Tim. 5:17-181 Tim. 5:17-18• Because of the responsibility Because of the responsibility

involved in shepherding the involved in shepherding the flock the eldership is worthy flock the eldership is worthy of “double honor” or honor of “double honor” or honor upon honorupon honor

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Our Responsibility To The Elders

Be Slow And Cautious In Be Slow And Cautious In CriticizingCriticizing

Be Slow And Cautious In Be Slow And Cautious In CriticizingCriticizing

• 1 Tim. 5:19-201 Tim. 5:19-20• Elders are now, and have Elders are now, and have

always been the target of always been the target of severe criticismsevere criticism

• We may voice our opinion We may voice our opinion to the eldersto the elders

• 1 Tim. 5:19-201 Tim. 5:19-20• Elders are now, and have Elders are now, and have

always been the target of always been the target of severe criticismsevere criticism

• We may voice our opinion We may voice our opinion to the eldersto the elders

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Our Responsibility To The Elders

Be Slow And Cautious In Be Slow And Cautious In CriticizingCriticizing

Be Slow And Cautious In Be Slow And Cautious In CriticizingCriticizing

• We may disagree with a We may disagree with a decision made in the area of decision made in the area of opinion and that is fine – opinion and that is fine – but we should not disrupt but we should not disrupt the church and the the church and the eldership over such matterseldership over such matters

• 2 Cor. 13:12 Cor. 13:1

• We may disagree with a We may disagree with a decision made in the area of decision made in the area of opinion and that is fine – opinion and that is fine – but we should not disrupt but we should not disrupt the church and the the church and the eldership over such matterseldership over such matters

• 2 Cor. 13:12 Cor. 13:1

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Our Responsibility To The Elders

Be Slow And Cautious In Be Slow And Cautious In CriticizingCriticizing

Be Slow And Cautious In Be Slow And Cautious In CriticizingCriticizing

• Witness = to give evidence, Witness = to give evidence, to bear testimony, to give to bear testimony, to give proofproof

• Mt. 18:15-17Mt. 18:15-17

• Witness = to give evidence, Witness = to give evidence, to bear testimony, to give to bear testimony, to give proofproof

• Mt. 18:15-17Mt. 18:15-17

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Our Responsibility To The Elders

Obey And SubmitObey And SubmitObey And SubmitObey And Submit

• Heb. 13:17Heb. 13:17• We are to obey and submit We are to obey and submit

to the Lord’s delegated to the Lord’s delegated authorityauthority

• We hinder the efforts of the We hinder the efforts of the elders if we refuse to submit elders if we refuse to submit to their God-given authorityto their God-given authority

• Heb. 13:17Heb. 13:17• We are to obey and submit We are to obey and submit

to the Lord’s delegated to the Lord’s delegated authorityauthority

• We hinder the efforts of the We hinder the efforts of the elders if we refuse to submit elders if we refuse to submit to their God-given authorityto their God-given authority

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Our Responsibility To The Elders

ConclusionConclusionConclusionConclusion

• We must submit to God’s We must submit to God’s arrangement in the churcharrangement in the church

• We must submit to God’s We must submit to God’s arrangement in the churcharrangement in the church