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TITLE:
Authority and Duties of Elders
TEXT: Hebrews 13:15-17
PROPOSITION: Elders are responsible for the care of keeping of souls.
QUESTION: How?
KEY WORD: Areas
SCRIPTURE READING: Same
INTRODUCTION:
- In every obligation of the Bible there are human
judgments to make.
- Elders have the authority to decide.
Negative Aspects
- In matters of Biblical commands, they do not have veto
power
- Baptism – immersion, believers
- Worship – Day of worship, communion, singing
- Morals – adultery, homosexuality
- Lord’s over God’s heritage
- 1 Peter 5:3
- Elders are not little “popes” or tyrants
- Above the other elders
- No seniority – no elder is above the other elders
- No junior partners
Positive Aspects
- Oversee the flock – Acts 20:28
- Take heed to self – Acts 20:28
- Feed the flock- Acts 20:28
- Watch for wolves – Acts 20:31
- Keep watch over the flock day and night – Acts 20:31
- Watch for souls – Hebrews 13:17
- Be an example – 1 Peter 5:3
- Hold fast the Word – Titus 1:9
- Convict & convince the gainsayers – Titus 1:9
- Stop the mouths of vain talkers – Titus 1:10-11
- Pray for and visit the sick – James 5:14
- Rule or exercise authority
- 1 Timothy 5:17 (rule well)
- 1 Thessalonians 5:12 (over you)
- Romans 12:8 (lead with diligence)
- Hebrews 13:7 (have the rule over you)
- Direct spending of money – Acts 11:27-30
- Make decisions – Acts 15:6
Two important Greek words – “Submit” (upotasso) and “Authority” (exousia)
- Civil authority – Romans 13:1 – be subject to the
governing authorities
- Wife to husband – 1 Corinthians 14:34 – they are
to be submissive
- Christ to parents – Luke 2:51 – was subject to
them
- Jews to God – Romans 10:3 – not submitted to the
righteousness of God
- Apostles over devils – Matthew 10:1 – he gave
them power over unclean spirits
- Devils to apostles – Luke 10:17 – even the demons
are subject to us
- It is clear that to be in “subjection” implies the
“power / authority” of the one to whom we are to submit.
Passages that teach Elder authority
1 Timothy 3:4-5
- Paul reasons from minor to major
- If he can’t rule his house (3 people) how can he rule
the church (300 people)?
1 Thessalonians 5:12-13
- Are over you – to rule, to stand over, to watch for
- Admonish you – encourage, support, correct, lead, direct
Hebrews 13:17
- Submit – to yield to authority, to obey
- Rule – to lead, command, have authority
Titus 1:7
- Overseer – Bishop, manager
- Steward – manage a household, superintendent, manager of
a farm or estate
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