Introduction

• Elders are spiritual leaders, not just bosses or business managers.

• I Timothy 3:5

Hold fast the faithful word, exhort and convince the gainsayer – Titus 1:9

Shepherd, feed, tend the flock among them – I Peter 5:2

• Acts 20:28

• I Peter 5:4 – Jesus is the chief shepherd

Watch for the souls of the flock – Ezekiel 3:17; 34:1-10; Zechariah 11:17; Hebrews 13:17

Oversee the flock – Acts 20:28; I Peter 5:1-3

Be examples to the flock – I Peter 5:3

• No matter what qualifications a man may have, if his life is not a good example, he is not qualified to be an elder.

Introduction

• Acts 13:2

• Paul’s missionary journeys

  • 1st: Acts 13:1 - 14:28

  • 2nd: Acts 15:36 - 18:22

  • 3rd: Acts 18:23 – 21:17

Religious people set in their ways put up a fight.

• Acts 19:24-28

• Acts 17:18

• Acts 14:2, 19; 17:5; 20:19

• We have to overcome our biases and think clearly.

  • Acts 17:11

Paul spent lots of time teaching and re-teaching.

• Acts 14:3, 21, 23; 15:36; 16:5; 18:11; 19:8 – Paul spent years with some of these Christians!

• We must commit to a lifetime of spiritual growth.

  • I Thessalonians 4:1-2, 9-10 – Excel still more!

The gospel is powerful!

• Acts 18:4-5, 6-10 – Paul wasn’t powerful – it was the word of God!

• Acts 13:4-5, 16, 49; 16:14, 32; 19:10; 20:7, 32

• Let’s appreciate the treasure of God’s word!

  • Think about how many suffered and died to spread the gospel.

  • II Timothy 4:16

Paul needed a great attitude and lots of perseverance.

• Acts 14:19-20; 16:24-25; 20:22; 21:13

• We need to soldier on when living like Christ gets us in trouble.

Humility

• Pride goes before destruction

  • Proverbs 6:16-19; 11:2; 15:25, 33; 16:5, 18-19; 18:12; 21:4, 24; 22:4; 29:23

  • Genesis 3:6; Revelation 3:17 – Pride is consistently rebuked all through the Bible.

• Let another praise you, and not your own mouth

  • Proverbs 12:15; 25:14, 6-7, 27; 27:2

  • Matthew 23:12; Luke 18:14; 14:7-11 – Jesus often warned about praising yourself.

• Do not be wise in your own eyes

  • Proverbs 21:2; 16:2; 3:7; 26:12, 16

  • Examples of people who were wise in their own eyes

    • Diotrephes – III John 1:9-10

    • Scribes and Pharisees – Matthew 23:2

    • Korah – Numbers 16:1-ff

• He who hates reproof will die

  • Proverbs 10:17; 13:10, 13; 15:10, 32; 28:26

Service

• James 2:14-18 – We have to act and do good to others, not just wish them well. Our faith is dead if we don’t act!

• Mark 9:35

• Acts 20:35 – “It is more blessed to give than to receive.”

• I Peter 4:8-11 – We have a cornucopia of gifts we can share with others, including time, money, and acts of service.

• Mark 10:43-45

• Ephesians 6:5-9 – Render service with a good will.

• Galatians 5:13-15

• I John 3:15-20

• Hebrews 13:16 – Do not neglect to share what you have!

Introduction

• John 15:19; II Thessalonians 2:14; Acts 26:18; I Peter 2:9

• The church is God’s chosen people.

  • Titus 2:14

  • John 3:9; I Peter 1:23; Galatians 3:26

  • I Timothy 3:15; Romans 8:16-17

• Colossians 1:13; Ephesians 2:19

• I Corinthians 12:13; Colossians 1:18

The purpose: to glorify God

• Ephesians 3:21

• Psalms 111:9

• Romans 2:11; Acts 10:34

• Matthew 20:25-28

• I Corinthians 11:20; James 2:2

• Galatians 1:10

• Romans 16:17-18

• II Timothy 4:2-4

Its name

• Romans 16:16; I Corinthians 1:2

Its worship

• John 4:24

• Prayer – Acts 2:42; I Thessalonians 5:17, 25

• Singing – Ephesians 5:19; Colossians 3:16; Matthew 26:30; I Corinthians 14:15; James 5:13; Hebrews 13:15; Romans 15:9; Psalms 119:128; Jeremiah 6:16

• Lord’s Supper – Matthew 26:26-29; I Corinthians 11:26; Acts 20:7; 2:42

• Preaching and teaching – Acts 2:42

• Giving – I Corinthians 16:2; II Corinthians 9:7

Its organization

• Acts 14:23; Philippians 1:1

• Elders/bishops – I Timothy 3:1-7; Titus 1:6-9; I Peter 5:1-4

• Deacons – I Timothy 3:8-13

Its work

• Preaching the gospel to the lost
  • Mark 16:15-16; Matthew 28:18-20; II Timothy 2:2; Acts 8:4; I Thessalonians 1:8; Philippians 4:15-16; II Corinthians 11:8; I Peter 5:2
• Preaching the gospel to the saved
  • Colossians 2:6-7; Romans 10:17; Acts 20:32; I Corinthians 14:11-12; Ephesians 4:16
• Benevolence to needy saints
  • Acts 2:44-45; 4:32-34; 6:1-4; 11:27-30; I Corinthians 16:1-2; II Corinthians 8:4; 9:7; Romans 15:25-26; I Timothy 5:16
• Jeremiah 6:16

The importance of the church

• Establishment of the church

  • Daniel 2:44; Matthew 3:1-2; Mark 1:15

  • Matthew 16:18-19

  • Mark 9:1; Luke 24:49

  • Acts 1:6-8; 2:1-4, 22-24, 36-41, 47

  • Colossians 1:13; Revelation 1:9

• Spiritual blessings are in Christ – Ephesians 1:3; Matthew 5:44-45; Acts 17:24; II Timothy 2:1, 10; Colossians 1:14

• Galatians 3:27; I Corinthians 12:13, 20; Ephesians 5:23; Acts 9:4

• Matthew 25:31-40

• John 10:27-28; Colossians 1:18; Ephesians 5:25; II Thessalonians 2:14; John 15:19; Titus 2:11-2, 14

• Jesus died for the world – I John 2:2; 4:14; John 3:16; Acts 20:28

• The church is the body of Christ.

• Acts 2:47; I Timothy 3:16; Romans 8:14, 16; Galatians 4:7; I Corinthians 6:17-18

There is one church

• Matthew 16:18-19; Colossians 1:18; Ephesians 4:4; 1:20-23

• Romans 6:3; I Corinthians 12:13; Acts 2:47

• The gospel call allows entrance to Christ’s church – Mark 1:15; 16:15-16; Romans 10:16; II Thessalonians 2:14; John 6:44; Romans 10:9-10; Matthew 10:32; Acts 8:37; Mark 16:16