Two special ways of serving in a local church are elders and deacons. Elders are to shepherd the flock, providing protection, nourishment, and leading the flock. They care for the spiritual needs of the saints. The deacons are servants who meet the physical needs of the saints.
2. “But you are a chosen race, a royal
priesthood, a holy nation, a people for
his own possession, that you may
proclaim the excellencies of him who
called you out of darkness into his
marvelous light. Once you were not a
people, but now you are God's people;
once you had not received mercy, but
now you have received mercy.”
1 Peter 2.9-10,
CB NT p. 409
3. What does God teach us
about how we are to be
organized?
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9. “But whoever would be great among
you must be your servant, and whoever
would be first among you must be slave
of all.”
Mark 10.43-45
CB NT p. 82
15. “Now from Miletus he sent to Ephesus
and called the elders of the church to
come to him.”
Acts 20.17
CB NT p. 246
16. “Pay careful attention to yourselves and
to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit
has made you overseers, to care for the
church of God, which he obtained with
His own blood.”
Acts 20.28
CB NT p. 247
17. “So I exhort the elders among you, as a
fellow elder ... shepherd the flock of
God that is among you”
1 Peter 5.1-2
CB NT p. 413
19. Bishops = Elders = Pastors
He must be of the right character.
20. A bishop must be...
Above reproach Not quarrelsome
Husband of one wife Not a lover of money
Sober-minded Manage household well
Self-controlled Not a recent convert
Respectable, Well thought of by outsiders
Hospitable
Able to teach
Not a drunkard
Not violent
Gentle
21. A bishop must be...
above reproach Not greedy for gain
husband of one wife Hospitable
Children are faithful A lover of good
Children not open to the Self-controlled
charger of debauchery or Upright
insubordination Holy
Not arrogant Disciplined
Not quick-tempered Hold firm to the Word
Not a drunkard
Not violent
22. Bishops = Elders = Pastors
Always two or more.
33. Photo Credits: (All photos from istockphoto.com are copyright protected. Please do not use without permission.)
Sheep: http://www.flickr.com/photos/scratch_n_sniff/
3822181888/sizes/l/in/photostream/
Shepherd: iStock_000008170193
Pasture:
Crook: iStock_000007264337