INTRODUCTION:<\/p>\n
A. The book of Ephesians has been called the “great church epistle”<\/p>\n
1. It is a tremendous treatise relative to the church of Christ, and Paul affirms that the church is a manifestation of God’s wisdom.<\/p>\n
2. Ephesians 3:10-11<\/p>\n
3. Since the church is a manifestation of divine wisdom, then the specific aspects which compose the Lord’s church are also a demonstration of His wisdom.<\/p>\n
B. The eldership is a display of divine wisdom.<\/p>\n
1. The eldership is a part of that eternal plan that was in the mind of God concerning the church.<\/p>\n
2. Understanding the divine wisdom in regard to the eldership will:<\/p>\n
a. Enhance our understanding of the need for an eldership, and thus:<\/p>\n
1) See the need to work to qualify<\/p>\n
2) Teach others to qualify<\/p>\n
b. Help us to esteem the eldership – to honor and respect them<\/p>\n
c. Cause every elder to think more highly of his work, and to see the importance of fulfilling his responsibilities<\/p>\n
1) They have a serious responsibility to watch for the souls of the flock<\/p>\n
2) They have a serious responsibility to protect the church<\/p>\n
C. It is a foregone conclusion that human wisdom did not originate the prudent concept of how the church was to be overseen<\/p>\n
1. Man would have chosen something different<\/p>\n
a. Popular vote<\/p>\n
b. One man rule<\/p>\n
2. It is significant that the initial departure that human wisdom practiced was a desertion from the divine blueprint concerning the eldership<\/p>\n
3. Not long after the apostles died, men began to draw lines of distinction between elders<\/p>\n
a. Man in their poor wisdom came up with:<\/p>\n
1) Head elder<\/p>\n
2) Elder over area heads<\/p>\n
3) It eventually developed into a system having a pope<\/p>\n
b. The pope is now called “Holy Father”<\/p>\n
c. Matthew 23:8-12 … a clear condemnation of exalting titles<\/p>\n
4. There is nothing further removed from New Testament truth, than the authoritative organization that is seen in the denominational world<\/p>\n
a. No elders<\/p>\n
b. Run by the preacher (“pastor”)<\/p>\n
c. Run by a synod<\/p>\n
DISCUSSION:<\/p>\n
A. THE WISDOM OF A PLURALITY OF ELDERS<\/p>\n
1. The New Testament knows nothing of a one man rule for God’s church here on the earth.<\/p>\n
a. This truth, of course, does not speak again the absolute authority of Christ<\/p>\n
b. Ephesians 1:22-23<\/p>\n
2. Notice that Jesus chose 12 apostles – not just 1<\/p>\n
a. Many cannot see the other 11 because of the Primacy they confer on Peter<\/p>\n
b. The Bible does not even hint at such a doctrine<\/p>\n
c. There is not one shred of evidence that Peter was the first pope, as a matter of fact, all evidence points against such.<\/p>\n
3. In every instance in the New Testament where elders are mentioned, it is always in the plural<\/p>\n
a. Acts 14:23<\/p>\n
b. Paul addresses the elders in Philippi – not the elder<\/p>\n
c. Paul sought to meet with the elders in Ephesus – not the elder (Acts 20:17ff)<\/p>\n
d. Such concepts as the elder, or the bishop, came years after the apostles had died.<\/p>\n
e. There is not one scripture that authorizes having just one elder.<\/p>\n
4. It is the eldership that has authority in the church, and not any one man apart from the others<\/p>\n
a. It is only when an elder speaks with his fellow elders and all speak the truth of God that he has any authority<\/p>\n
b. There is no authority in one elder apart from the others.<\/p>\n
5. The wisdom in this is easily seen<\/p>\n
a. The plurality of elders works as a check and balance system<\/p>\n
b. One man may not see or realize something that another one does.<\/p>\n
c. Sometimes, God’s leaders go astray, e.g. Acts 20:28-29<\/p>\n
B. THE WISDOM OF MATURE MEN IN THE ELDERSHIP<\/p>\n
1. The Lord knew that a novice in the faith was not proper material out of which to compose an efficient eldership (1 Tim. 3:6).<\/p>\n
a. When you have no elders, and the church is run by a general men’s business meeting – you have someone with little maturity as Christian with as much say as one who wise in the faith.<\/p>\n
b. It is easy to see that a new convert would not be as wise in the scriptures and in the dealings of the church as one who is of the “hoary head” in the faith<\/p>\n
2. Some churches have ignored this and upon receiving outstanding business or professional men into the church by conversion have placed them immediately into the eldership<\/p>\n
3. A man needs maturity and spiritual growth before he is to be considered for this vital post of duty<\/p>\n
a. Experience<\/p>\n
b. Biblical knowledge<\/p>\n
4. There are things which cannot be learned in youth<\/p>\n
5. It is not accidental that our founding fathers of the U.S. made it constitutionally impossible for a teenager or a man in his twenties to be a senator or president.<\/p>\n
6. Youth has many things going for them, but wisdom and experience is not one of them<\/p>\n
C. THE WISDOM IN OUR BEING UNDER SHEPHERDS<\/p>\n
1. The eldership is under the Chief Shepherd.<\/p>\n
a. In a context speaking about elders … 1 Peter 5:4<\/p>\n
b. Jesus is the “chief Shepherd” – to Him one day the elders will have to give account<\/p>\n
2. Hebrews 13:17<\/p>\n
a. Notice that the elders have rule or authority over us – this is taught in many other places in the New Testament as well<\/p>\n
1) Acts 20:28 – “Bishops” (overseers – KJV) – which means to look out for, to see that things are accomplished<\/p>\n
2) The elders are to “tend,” “feed” (KJV) or shepherd the flock – that’s authority<\/p>\n
3) Acts 20:31 … “watch” – guard<\/p>\n
4) The elder are over us or rule us (1 Thessalonians 5:12)<\/p>\n
5) Elders are to admonish and see to it that other do the same (1 Thessalonians 5:12)<\/p>\n
6) Elders are the “stewards of God” (Tit. 1:7)<\/p>\n
b. According to Hebrews 13:17, the elders must stay solely with the word of God – and must have the courage to do so<\/p>\n
c. In matter of opinion the elders do their best in choosing the best route for the congregation<\/p>\n
d. The elders, the shepherds, watch for our souls – they try their best to try to protect us<\/p>\n
e. We as members must be submissive to the elders, a failure to do so is sinning against God<\/p>\n
D. THE WISDOM IN HAVING ELDERS CAN BEEN SEEN IN THE NAMES THEY ARE GIVEN IN THE BIBLE<\/p>\n
1. Elders or Presbyters (Acts 12:23; 1 Tim. 4:14)<\/p>\n
a. presbuteros<\/p>\n
b. This term has reference to maturity and spiritual experience<\/p>\n
2. Bishops or Overseers (Acts 20:28, Philippians 1:1)<\/p>\n
a. episkopos<\/p>\n
b. An overseers, a man in charge with making sure things are accomplished and preformed right, a guardian<\/p>\n
3. Pastors or Shepherds (Ephesians 4:11; 1 Peter 5:2)<\/p>\n
a. poimen<\/p>\n
b. One who tends a flock, a shepherd<\/p>\n
4. By understanding the meaning of all these words used in describing the eldership, we understand the wisdom in Godsetting forth these men to shepherd and oversee the Lord’s church.<\/p>\n
CONCLUSION:<\/p>\n
A. We need to remember that the eldership is a manifestation of the divine wisdom of God.<\/p>\n
B. As such, we must trust and obey – for there is no other way<\/p>\n
C. Invitation<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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