Kootenai Church Sunday School: Biblical Eldership

This passage has much to say concerning the way in which the local church is to relate to her elders. What does it mean to give “double honor” to elders who lead well? How do we determine appropriate compensation for elders? How do we protect elders from false accusations while at the same time protecting the church from sinful, abusive, greedy, or otherwise unqualified leaders? In what circumstances is it appropriate for ...

The list of qualifications in 1 Timothy 3 continues with “not pugnacious,” “considerate,” “peaceable,” “free from the love of money,” “leading his own household well, having his children in submission with all dignity,” “not a new convert,” and having “a good reputation with those outside the church.” We also begin a review of qualifications in Titus 1, with emphasis on “having faithful children” and the question of whethe...

Continuing in Paul’s address to the Ephesian elders, this lesson focuses on the work of the elder, those specific activities in which the elder is to toil for the sake of the church body; diligent study of the Scriptures, and regular, consistent prayer for the flock, guarding the flock against sin and false teaching. These things are to be done with the proper attitude, motivation, and diligence.

We see in the events around the Jerusalem council in Acts 15 the role of elders in combating false teaching and how elders approach the clarification of an important doctrinal issue that has major impacts on the spiritual condition of their local church bodies. In addition, the passage gives us clarity on Biblical ecclesiastical organization, with no higher authority apparent than the eldership of the churches involved. In...

The book of Acts provides significant teaching regarding the role, organization, appointment, roles, methodology, and accountability of elders in the church. In this lesson, we begin an examination of the relevant passages in Acts and come to an initial understanding of the Biblical model of a plurality of elders, examining in the process several apparent exceptions that serve to clarify how plurality worked in the early c...

Honorifics and Biblical Eldership: Should you refer to an elder as Pastor Jim or Reverend Cornel? What is the Biblical evidence for honorifics, and what does that tell us about the role of the elder? What about other offices that are mentioned in the New Testament – apostle, evangelist, deacon, and “the women” of 1 Timothy 3:11? What is the Biblical model for church government? How does a plurality of elders work in the re...

Introduction to Biblical Eldership: Alignment to a Biblical model of church leadership is essential to the proper function of the local, visible expression of the body of Christ. In this lesson, we examine the three Greek words used to identify the office of those responsible for the spiritual leadership of the local church. An elder is an overseer, a shepherd, and a pastor. The words are themselves descriptive of the nece...