Eldership: Where Quality Matters
Elder Installation
1 Timothy 3:2-7
A sermon by: Chad Martens, Senior Minister
Town and Country Christian Church
Cameron, MO
INTRODUCTION: Today we have the privilege to be able to set aside 2 of our men and ordain them as elders of Christ’s Church. In preparing for this special time, I thought to myself, “self . . . in order to set things up right, what does the church need to know?”
And based on that question, today we are going to explore the qualifications, and the duties of elders. What makes and elder and elder? And then we also need to explore what OUR responsibilities are, as a congregation, to our elders. That’s important, because there is no higher honor on earth than that of being an elder in God’s church!
Let’s pray . . .
First of all today,
I. What Qualifies a Man to Be an Elder?
A. First of all, let’s turn to 1 Timothy 3:1-7 READ ***
B. This is actually quite a list isn’t it? I’d like to take a minute or two to get into this.
ILLUS: I can tell you that being qualified for the eldership is a lot more than that stupid commercial for one of these schools. In the commercial, we see a job interview going on and the interviewer asks the girl as series of “can you . . .?” questions, and her response each time is, “No, but I have a BRILLIANT personality!” God is looking for more than just good looks and a smile! Let’s just start from the top. . . .
C. First of all, Paul states a very general requirement, which is that the man aspiring for the eldership must be "above reproach" with his fellow church members, and everything written in the passage is a more specific definition of this general requirement
1. Thayer in his commentary writes that this means, "not open to censure, irreproachable"
D. Secondly, the elder must be a man that exercises moral purity, in that he must be, "husband of one wife" So, exactly what is prohibited here? Well, there is so much debate about what this actually means, but my interpretation of it is that the elder must be a man that has only been married once, at least since he has been a Christian. I say that because what we did BEFORE we came to Christ doesn’t matter once we’re buried in the water of baptism! Onward!
E. Paul goes on to list a set of traits that display the nature of self-control that God expects the elders of His church to have obvious in their lives and in the work that they do in and around the church.
1. First Paul mentions that they must be "temperate" in other words, they need to have the ability to keep their head in all situations.
2. He then mentions the need for them to be "prudent.” This basically means for a person to be sound-minded, and being able to curb your desires and impulses.
a. Lenski writes in his commentary that this means to have a "soundness and balance in judgment, not unstable; and not given to quick and superficial decisions based on immature thinking"
b. Warren Wiersbe comments go like this "He must have a serious attitude and be in earnest about his work. This does not mean he has no sense of humor, or that he is always solemn and somber. Rather it suggests that he knows the values of
things and does not cheapen the ministry or the Gospel message by foolish behavior."
3. Next the elder must be "respectable.” This happens to have nothing to do with how the man dresses or what kind of ride he has, but rather that he be a man that is orderly, and lives with proper decorum. For example, an elder isn’t one that has nudie posters handing up in his den, and empty beer cans strewn about his basement.
F. Next he mentions that an elder be "hospitable.” Obviously this is the willingness to taking in Christian strangers or acquaintances for food and lodging.
G. An elder, also needs to be "able to teach" God’s Word.
H. Paul also informs us of the need for them to be “Peaceable”
1. Quite simply put, not quarrelsome. Not one of those guys who is just looking for a fight, and who will fight and win at all costs!
I. He also must be one that is "not addicted to wine.”
J. An elder also should NOT be one who is “pugnacious." Now, what in the world does that mean? Well, someone who is pugnacious is someone who carries a chip on his shoulder and is quick to get into a fight. So an elder must be a peacemaker instead of a troublemaker. Sounds reasonable!
K. Next, Paul adds a few of these requirements that deal with the elders need to be gracious with others.
1. "gentle"
2. "Peaceable” Look; both of these are fruits of the Spirit! Because we spent so much time of those, I won’t dive into any further explanation!
L. He also needs to be a man that is not greedy, or like the passage states, "free from the love of money".
ILLUS: This one might seem silly, but I have personally known men that happened, either by some fluke of nature or the ignorance of man, that frequented the boats, weekly. He was also known to miss church functions to gamble!
M. Elders are also men who need to be Proven Responsible, or one "manages his own household well", like it’s stated in this passage.
1. What is the Proof of this? It’s there in the passage. . . he’s one who is "keeping his children under control with all dignity".
2. So, why is this important? Once again. . . keep reading!
"if a man does not know how to manage his own household, how will he take care of the church of God?"
N. Paul also stressed how important it is that the elder is not a novice in the faith or like it says in verse 6, "not a new convert"
1. And why is this important? Keep reading! "lest he become conceited and fall into the condemnation incurred by the devil"
2. Isn’t it great! The bible actually explains itself. If you come to me and tell me you don’t understand the bible, what will I tell you? KEEP. . what?
O. And then in verse 7, Paul gives us a final summary. . . the elder must be a man of good reputation with unbelievers . . . "And he must have a good reputation with those outside the church"
1. Why is this important? Keep reading! "so that he may not fall into reproach and the snare of the devil".
2. It’s also important because of the excuse that EVERY Christian has heard at one time or another. “Look at him . . .he’s a Christian and look at what he does! I’m a better person than that, so why should I go to church?”
3. Next today. . .what about . . .
II. The Duties of an Elder
A. An elder of the church is one of the busiest undertakings in the world, but there are so many areas under which an elder operates, that the more qualified elders that a church has, the better!
B. First of all, an elder is known as a teacher of God’s Word. 1 Timothy 3:2, says, “able to teach.”
1. This is understood by most people as, “Oh, he’s an elder, so he has to teach a Sunday school class.” However, it goes a lot deeper than that. There are bible studies during the week, and the most effective type of teacher is the one that will sit down and teach one-on-one.
2. In fact, elders should become so proficient in it that they actually train the people that they teach as they teach them! We commonly call this “discipleship.” Like any good teach, an elder should be able to know how to get his student, as well as himself excited about God’s Word.
ILLUS: Do any of you remember comedian Yakov Smirnoff? This kind of reminds me about him. He said when he first came to the United States from Russia; he wasn’t prepared for the incredible variety of instant products available in American grocery stores. He says, "On my first shopping trip, I saw powdered milk--you just add water, and you get milk. Then I saw powdered orange juice--you just add water, and you get orange juice. And then I saw baby powder, and I thought to my self, what a country!" Now he was excited!
C. Another duty of an elder is to be an “overseer”. Acts 20:28 says, “Be on guard for yourselves and for all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God, which He purchased with His own blood.”
1. This word in the Greek is “episkopos” which means, “to care for, shepherd, and oversee.” Actually, there are many words that are used to refer to an elder in the New Testament. They are:
i. Elder
ii. Bishop
iii. Presbyter
iv. Overseer
v. Shepherd
vi. And pastor. This is a word that is sadly abused and misused. Most preachers call themselves pastors and they don’t even realize that they aren’t! They aren’t elders!
vii. In a nut-shell, they are all descriptions of the same office!
D. Elders also are instructed to visit sick Christians. James 5:14, which reads, “Is anyone among you sick? Then he must call for the elders of the church and they are to pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord,”
E. Another duty of the elder is to co-labor with the ministers. A church where the minister is the soul- laborer in soul winning and shepherding is a church that is on life support and going fast!
1. In fact, the majority of the work in the church is designed by God to be done as a group effort.
2. The elders and ministers sharing total support of one another is the keystone in the leadership structure.
ILLUS: Gareth Reece used to tell us down at CCCB that it’s always easier to fire the preacher than it is to change! Maybe that’s why he also told us that every preacher needs 10 sermons and a fast car?
F. And finally, elders are to lead by example and not by dictatorship. There is no better way to lead, in the church, or even in the business world, than to lead by kind example. Proof? Would you learn faster by someone that shows you how to do something, or by the one that YELLS in your ear what to do?
G. Finally this morning . . ..
III. What About our Responsibility to them?
A. In 1 Peter 5:5, Peter tells us “You younger men, likewise, be subject to your elders;”
a. Our responsibility to our elders begins with every person having a proper perspective on the office of elder. When this happens, when we understand the responsibility that God has given the elders of His church, then we’ll gladly place ourselves under their leadership.
b. Even if someone feels like a decision that the elders make is wrong, we don’t have the right to decide all of a sudden that we’re no longer subject to them just because of a disagreement!
c. What other responsibility do we have to our elders?
B. Titus 2:7-8, which says, “In all things show yourself to be an example of good deeds, with purity in doctrine, dignified, sound in speech which is beyond reproach, so that the opponent will be put to shame, having nothing bad to say about us.”
a. So in other words, the elders of the church are men that are examples worthy of imitation.
b. Some say that it is wrong to imitate a person, but even the apostle Paul said, “Follow me as I follow Christ.”
c. At the same time, this is something that naturally causes an elder to be ever aware of their words and actions. Reminds me of a story. . .
ILLUS: Just getting out of the driveway was a major feat during last year’s snow and ice storms. One man tells the story of how he used his seven-year-old son’s baseball bat to smash the slick coat of ice on his driveway.
Soon he got cold and went inside for a cup of coffee before attempting to clear the car. Several minutes later, his son, who had been outside with him, came in.
“Dad,” he said, “I got the ice off the car.”
“How did you do that?” his father asked.
“Same way you did,” the boy shrugged, “with the baseball bat.”
When we’re not careful, sometimes we model and teach something that was never intended to be taught!
C. And finally today, elders should be obeyed when their authority is based on God’s Word
a. 1 Thessalonians 5:12-13 reads like this: “But we request of you, brethren, that you appreciate those who diligently labor among you, and have charge over you in the Lord and give you instruction, and that you esteem them very highly in love because of their work.”
b. And finally today, we would like to take the time to “esteem two of them highly in love”. We’re at the portion of our service today where we are going to set aside two of our elders, Kevin Krentz, and Warner Bunch, and ordain them as elders of Christ’s church. If we could have all the elders come forward at this time. We are going to all lay hands on both of these men, and each person is going to lift them up in prayer to God.
c. HAVE ALL THE MEN LAY A HAND ON EACH MAN AND PRAY
d. ___________, we the leaders of __________________ Church now set you aside and ordain you as elders of Christ’s church, and lay upon you all the rights and responsibilities therein. And all God’s people said. . . . ? AMEN
CONCLUSION: At this time, we would like to give everyone else the opportunity to make a decision this morning for Christ. If you have yet to do this today is the day! If you would like to do so, come forward now as we remain standing and sing our song of decision, # _____________
