The elder’s first duty is to feed God’s flock. Some elders will labor at preaching and teaching, and for that, the congregation will give them material compensation.
Lecture Outline Detailed Outline Remember ItAn elder must be able to exhort in sound doctrine, and be able to identify and refute false teachers.
Such elders must spend many hours in concentrated study of God’s Word. They must be disciplined and sacrificial. They will have to say no to many other activities. Furthermore, preparation for sermons and Bible studies takes many hours. Moreover, teaching situations also expend a great deal of energy. Answering questions can be demanding.
The first duty of a shepherd is to feed the sheep. The first duty of an elder is to see that God’s people are fed the Word of God. The Scripture creates the church, nurtures the church, grows the church and protects the church.
- Why is Titus 1:9 considered by the speaker to be one of the most important qualifications for defining a New Testament, Christian elder?
- What is the difference between a board elder and a shepherd elder?
- Why is it absolutely vital for the church eldership to understand the teaching of 1 Tim. 5:17-18?
- Study the Greek word for “labor” in 1 Tim. 5:17. Give a thorough definition of this word. It is important to understand the significance of this word for elders.
- Check as many Bible translations as you can concerning the translation of 1 Tim. 5:17. You can also use a paraphrase translation if it helps you understand the passage. Is there one translation or paraphrase that opens up the meaning of the passage to you?