Sermons on elders
Obey Your Leaders
A command to obey your leaders sounds so bad! Abuse! Oppression! Yet, consider the goodness of God-ordained leadership when it happens according to God’s design. See why you want this kind of leadership in your life! Rather than a joyless servitude, leadership roles in God’s economy are for our joy and advantage. Consider true leadership and obedience from Hebrews 13:17.
Spiritual Leaders of God’s Flock
A repeated theme is seen the the New Testament. God has ordained that a plurality of elders or pastors be the spiritual leaders of God’s flock. Their task is to stand firm in the gospel fix their eyes on the future glory of Jesus Christ and lead the flock to do the same.
Elders and the Congregation in Concert
How are you going to obey the words of God, “Obey your leaders and submit to them”? We must understand this text, the relationship between elders and the congregation, if we are going to see us grow together as a church. God has put order into his creation and into his church. May we humbly be counter-cultural by heeding this word and submitting to God-given authority.
Elders in the Local Church
We look at the qualifications for elders (also called overseers, bishops or pastors) from this text in 1 Timothy. What we see is three main qualifications (a desire for the ministry of oversight; godly character; and the ability to lead and to teach). These qualities must be found in a man if he is to join other godly men in leading the household of God.
A Model for Our Times
Paul reminds the Ephesian elders of his own example and gives them a charge. A three-fold watch to watch themselves, the flock, and false teaching. We learn here what an elder or pastor looks like and what they do.