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Results from: Answered Bible Questions, Answers, Unanswered Bible Questions, Notes Ordered by Verse | ||||||
Results | Verse | Author | ID# | |||
1 | Elder of the church? | 1 Tim 3:1 | angelface | 61927 | ||
When are you considered an elder of the church? | ||||||
2 | Elder of the church? | 1 Tim 3:1 | EdB | 61928 | ||
Angelface The same standard applies to elders as to overseers or deacons. 1 Tim. 3:1-2 It is a trustworthy statement: if any man aspires to the office of overseer, it is a fine work he desires to do. 2An overseer, then, must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, temperate, prudent, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, Titus 1:7 For the overseer must be above reproach as God's steward, not self-willed, not quick-tempered, not addicted to wine, not pugnacious, not fond of sordid gain, An elder in most churches today is usually the person that has been a member of the church for a long time or is physically older. This causes problems because many that meet these qualifications are not mature spiritually and therefore should not be in church leadership much less helping to determine church direction. A church elder should be a person that is mature spiritually, judged not by how long they have been saved but rather by their life style. Do they exhibit the fruit of the spirit? Do they have a healthy prayer life? Do they read and know the Bible? Have they faithfully supported the church and pastor? Do they attend regularly? Have they exhibited the ability to teach or help others draw closer to the Lord? How is their family life? How is their reputation? Do they display leadership qualities, by that I mean, are they willing to get their hands dirty or do they like to stand back and tell others what needs to be done. Are they loyal to their mates, their friends, their Pastor? You see all of these traits need to be considered before a person is chosen to be an elder. We have this wrong, as I said, in many churches and elders are selected using the wrong criteria and therefore the church is many times out of order. Many elders are selected because they have attended the longest, given more, or win by popularity and all of these things are external and poor indicators of a person placed in the church by God to become an elder. EdB |
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