Biblical Eldership – God’s Government

1 Peter 5:1-3

1 The elders who are among you I exhort, I who am a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that will be revealed:    
2  Shepherd the flock of God which is among you, serving as overseers, not by compulsion but willingly, not for dishonest gain but eagerly;    
3  nor as being lords over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock;

Introduction:

Jesus established the church, He is building it according to His will and He alone has the right to govern it. The NT pattern of church government is eldership.

Acts 14:23

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. 

I. Jesus is the Head Elder.

Jesus is the absolute Head of the church.

He established it and it belongs to Him.

He has complete authority over it.

Ephesians 1:22-23

22  And He put all [things] under His feet, and gave Him [to be] head over all [things] to the church,    
23  which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all. 

Ephesians 5:23

23 For the husband is head of the wife, as also Christ is head of the church; and He is the Savior of the body. 

II.Jesus governs His church through delegated authority

Ephesians 4:11

11 And He Himself gave some [to be] apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, 

5-fold ministry gifts

Purpose

Ephesians 4:12

12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, 

1 Peter 5:1-3

1 The elders who are among you I exhort, I who am a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that will be revealed:    
2  Shepherd the flock of God which is among you, serving as overseers, not by compulsion but willingly, not for dishonest gain but eagerly;    
3  nor as being lords over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock;

Peter referred to himself as a fellow elder.

Three Greek words that describe the role of an elder:

1.Proistemi – to preside, to be over

1 Timothy 5:17

17 Let the elders who rule well be counted worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in the word and doctrine. 

2.Hegeomai – to lead, to govern

Hebrews 13:17

17 Obey those who rule over you, and be submissive, for they watch out for your souls, as those who must give account. Let them do so with joy and not with grief, for that would be unprofitable for you. 

3.Poimaino – to tend as a shepherd

1 Peter 5:2

2 Shepherd the flock of God which is among you, serving as overseers, not by compulsion but willingly, not for dishonest gain but eagerly; 

In addition to leading, elders also have a responsibility to teach.

Teaching encompasses 4 areas:

1.Exhortation
2.Counsel
3.Admonition
4.Revelation

III.The Purpose of Eldership Ministry

To provide solid, consistent and godly leadership in all facets of His church.

Exodus 18:18-23

18  "Both you and these people who [are] with you will surely wear yourselves out. For this thing [is] too much for you; you are not able to perform it by yourself.    
19  "Listen now to my voice; I will give you counsel, and God will be with you: Stand before God for the people, so that you may bring the difficulties to God.    
20  "And you shall teach them the statutes and the laws, and show them the way in which they must walk and the work they must do.    
21 "Moreover you shall select from all the people able men, such as fear God, men of truth, hating covetousness; and place [such] over them [to be] rulers of thousands, rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens.    
22  "And let them judge the people at all times. Then it will be [that] every great matter they shall bring to you, but every small matter they themselves shall judge. So it will be easier for you, for they will bear [the burden] with you.    
23  "If you do this thing, and God [so] commands you, then you will be able to endure, and all this people will also go to their place in peace."

Conclusion:

A properly functioning eldership provides complete unity of purpose and great blessings to the church
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