What Must I Do To Be An Elder?

Richard J. Boone

INTRODUCTION:

  1. Background: Request by member at North Terrace, Chattanooga, TN – "From approx. 20 yrs. of age, what would a young man need to do to prepare himself to be an elder?" (May, 1998).
  2. Plurality of qualified elders shepherding every church – God’s plan for local organization (Acts 14:23; Phil. 1:1; Tit. 1:5).
  3. However, man has not always been content to abide in God’s arrangements:
    1. Ignorance.
    2. Indifference.
    3. Antagonistic toward God’s plan or elders (unrealistic expectations; abuse; bad experi-ence; politically motivated).
  1. Lest a generation arises which knows not God’s arrangements for local church organization, we need to encourage and assist men to become elders.
  2. In this lesson we ask a direct, practical question – "What Must I Do To Be An Elder?"

DISCUSSION:

I. Be Sure Your Motive Is Pure:
A. One must "desire" the position of a bishop (1 Tim. 3:1; cf. 1 Pet. 5:2).

B. Why do you desire the position of a bishop (1 Tim. 3:1)?
C. Wrong motives: 

  1. Personal glory (1 Thes. 5:12-13).
  2. Compulsion (1 Pet. 5:2).
  3. Dishonest gain (1 Pet. 5:2; "double honor" or PR).
  4. Control freak (3 Jn. 9-10; "lords" – 1 Pet. 5:3).
D. Right motives: 
  1. Good work (1 Tim. 3:1).
  2. Equip saints (Eph. 4:11-12).
  3. Save souls (Heb. 13:17).
II. Begin Preparation Early In Adulthood:
A. Frequent approaches:
1. Young: "Other things on mind right now; will focus on that when a little older."

2. Middle-aged: "Busy right now; will think about it if asked to serve."

3. Older: "Will consider that when retired and have time to serve."

B. Reality:
1. "Elder" – older in age (Acts 20:28; 1 Tim. 5:1,17).

2. Not a novice (1 Tim. 3:6).

3. Faithful leadership of family (1 Tim. 3:4-5; Tit. 1:6).

4. Other qualifications require years for maturity.

C. Begin preparation while young so you are ready when asked to serve!

D. Are we planting seeds in the hearts of young men to serve as faithful elders when they are old and mature enough?

III. Develop Godly Character and Guard Your Reputation:
A. Character (before God) vs. reputation (before men).

B. Godly character counts (1 Tim. 3:2-3; Tit. 1:7-8,9).

C. Reputation (1 Tim. 3:2,7; 1 Pet. 5:3; Heb. 13:7). 

D. Only done by careful study and application of sound doctrine (Tit. 1:9). 

E. With three exceptions (novice; married; faithful children), elder qualifications are required of every Christian (Rick Lanning, With All Boldness, II:12:17).

F. Elders come from: men, who are married, with godly families, spiritually mature; from men being what God’s word says we ought to be anyway!

IV. Focus On Your Family:
A. Date/marry wisely (1 Tim. 3:2,11). 

B. Responsible conduct as husband encourages this (Ephes. 5:23,25-29; cf. 1 Tim. 3:11). 

C. Godly father (1 Tim. 3:4-5; Gen. 18:19). 

D. Submissive and faithful children (1 Tim. 3:4; Tit. 1:6; Ephes. 6:1-3). 

E. Remember: 

1. Do not trade what is important for what is urgent. 

2. Chorus to "Busy Man," Billy Ray Cyrus, Spring, 1999. 

V. Understand Shepherding:
A. Vital (Acts 20:28; 1 Pet. 5:2).
B. Biblical insight into shepherding: 
1. God (Psa. 23). 

2. Unfaithful shepherds (Ezek. 34:1-6). 

3. Christ (Jn. 10:3-5,11,14). 

C. "Flock of God among you" (1 Pet. 5:2; Acts 20:28). 
VI. Don’t Be A Hireling (1 Tim. 3:1; Jn. 10:11-13). 

CONCLUSION:

1. "What must I do to be an elder?" – a thought-provoking question.

2. These six answers are helpful in that honorable pursuit.
 
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