Biblical Development of The Eldership 1: “What Elders Do” Bob Mullen March 29, 2009.

Biblical Development of The Eldership 1: “What Elders Do”

Bob Mullen

March 29, 2009

Assumptions

• The form of something follows its function.

• Elders were in the church for decades before Paul wrote “qualifications” to Timothy, Titus.

• What elders do precedes the qualifications for the work.

Timeline Regarding Local Church Leadership (Gene Getz, edited)

DATE THE BOOK OF ACTS AND THE EPISTLES

EVENTS

A.D. 45

Acts 11:30 Elders already in Jerusalem

The First Reference

• NIV Acts 11:29 The disciples, each according to his ability, decided to provide help for the brothers living in Judea. 30 This they did, sending their gift to the elders by Barnabas and Saul.

Functions of Early Elders

• Developed from their Jewish past.

• O.T. Elders “sat in the city gate”, making wise decisions and guiding the people.

• They likely had the qualifications of Acts 6:3: chosen from the group, “full of the Spirit, wisdom”.

Timeline Regarding Local Church Leadership (Gene Getz)

DATE THE BOOK OF ACTS AND THE EPISTLES

EVENTS

A.D. 45-47

James 5:13-16

Elders' prayer and healing ministry

Pray and Anoint

• NIV James 5:13 Is any one of you in trouble? He should pray. Is anyone happy? Let him sing songs of praise. 14 Is any one of you sick? He should call the elders of the church to pray over him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord.

• 15 And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise him up. If he has sinned, he will be forgiven. 16 Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.

Functions of Early Elders

• Prayer AND anointing with olive oil of the sick for spiritual reasons.

• Hearing the confession of the sins of others, so the elders can pray.

• Being examples of “righteous men”.

Timeline Regarding Local Church Leadership (Gene Getz)

DATE THE BOOK OF ACTS AND THE EPISTLES

EVENTS

A.D. 47 Acts 14:21-23 Paul & Barnabas appointing elders

The Return Trip

• NIV Acts 14:21 They preached the good news in that city and won a large number of disciples. Then they returned to Lystra, Iconium and Antioch, 22 strengthening the disciples and encouraging them to remain true to the faith.

• "We must go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God," they said. 23 Paul and Barnabas appointed elders for them in each church and, with prayer and fasting, committed them to the Lord, in whom they had put their trust.

Principles from Acts 14

• These men were relatively new to Christianity, but not new to YHWH (Getz).

• The preachers appointed them: a show of hands from the group, then selected them.

• A lot like Acts 11:30 qualifications.

Timeline Regarding Local Church Leadership (Gene Getz)

DATE THE BOOK OF ACTS AND THE EPISTLES

EVENTS

A.D. 49 Acts 15:1-32 Apostles and elders in Jerusalem

• NIV Acts 15:1 Some men came down from Judea to Antioch and were teaching the brothers: "Unless you are circumcised, according to the custom taught by Moses, you cannot be saved."

• 2 This brought Paul and Barnabas into sharp dispute and debate with them. So Paul and Barnabas were appointed, along with some other believers, to go up to Jerusalem to see the apostles and elders about this question.

• 3 The church sent them on their way, and as they traveled through Phoenicia and Samaria, they told how the Gentiles had been converted. This news made all the brothers very glad.

• 4 When they came to Jerusalem, they were welcomed by the church and the apostles and elders, to whom they reported everything God had done through them.

• 5 Then some of the believers who belonged to the party of the Pharisees stood up and said, "The Gentiles must be circumcised and required to obey the law of Moses."

• 6 The apostles and elders met to consider this question.

Other Details

• Peter, an apostle, tells of his dream (v.7-11).

• Barnabas and Paul tell of their work and signs and wonders among Gentiles (v.12)

• James, an elder, then gives his Bible-based judgment…

• 13 When they finished, James spoke up: "Brothers, listen to me.

• 14 Simon has described to us how God at first showed his concern by taking from the Gentiles a people for himself.

• 15 The words of the prophets are in agreement with this, as it is written:

• 16 "'After this I will return and rebuild David's fallen tent. Its ruins I will rebuild, and I will restore it,

• 17 that the remnant of men may seek the Lord, and all the Gentiles who bear my name, says the Lord, who does these things' 18 that have been known for ages.

• 19 "It is my judgment, therefore, that we should not make it difficult for the Gentiles who are turning to God.

• 20 Instead we should write to them, telling them to abstain from food polluted by idols, from sexual immorality, from the meat of strangled animals and from blood.

• 21 For Moses has been preached in every city from the earliest times and is read in the synagogues on every Sabbath."

Functions of Early Elders

• To settle disputes and hear questions = “city gate”.

• Greet and then hear reports from missionaries.

• Use Scripture to make decisions and judgments for the church.

• 22 Then the apostles and elders, with the whole church, decided to choose some of their own men and send them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas. They chose Judas (called Barsabbas) and Silas, two men who were leaders among the brothers.

• 23 With them they sent the following letter:

• The apostles and elders, your brothers, To the Gentile believers in Antioch, Syria and Cilicia: Greetings.

• 24 We have heard that some went out from us without our authorization and disturbed you, troubling your minds by what they said.

• 25 So we all agreed to choose some men and send them to you with our dear friends Barnabas and Paul–

• 26 men who have risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

• 27 Therefore we are sending Judas and Silas to confirm by word of mouth what we are writing.

• 28 It seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us not to burden you with anything beyond the following requirements:

• 29 You are to abstain from food sacrificed to idols, from blood, from the meat of strangled animals and from sexual immorality. You will do well to avoid these things. Farewell.

• 30 The men were sent off and went down to Antioch, where they gathered the church together and delivered the letter.

Functions of Early Elders

• They had to discipline those who went out from them causing trouble.

• They selected men for certain tasks within the church.

• They listened to the Holy Spirit and didn’t place unnecessary burdens/ policies on people = sound judgment.

For Consideration

• Elders are men who use Scripture and collective judgment to guide a congregation.

• Elders are men full of the Spirit and wisdom.

• Elders pray for and anoint the sick.

For Consideration

• Elders are to correct erring members, even those who don’t like it.

• Elders are men who lead AND work toward consensus within the church.

To Pray About

• Who are additional men among us that evidence these positive, Biblical qualities?