WESTCHESTER
CHURCH OF CHRIST
ELDERS
The church we read about in the Bible was organized in a very simple way. A general pattern was to have 2 or more qualified men overseeing each local congregation or church. These men could be referred to as the "eldership". Each man must meet several high qualifications which the Bible lists in two passages. Elders are the spiritual leaders of a congregation. They also watch out for the souls of the members like a shepherd.
Qualities of an elder
1 Timothy 3:1-7
“This is a faithful saying “If a man desires the position of a bishop, he desires a good work. ”A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, temperate, sober minded, of good behavior, hospitable, able to teach, not given to wine, not violent, not greedy for money, but gentle, not quarrelsome, not covetous; one who rules his own house well, having his children in submission with all reverence. For if a man does not know how to rule his own house, how will he take care of the church of God. Not a novice, lest being puffed up with pride, he fall into the same condemnation as the devil. Moreover, he must have a good testimony among those who are outside, lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.”
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1. An elder Must Desire The Office
2. An elder must be above reproach
3. An elder must be married to one woman
4. An elder must have self-control
5. An elder must be sober-minded
6. An elder must be respectable
7. An elder must be hospitable
8. An elder must be able to teach
9. An elder must not drink intoxicating beverages
10. An elder must not be violent
11. An elder should be gentle
12. An elder must not be contentious
13. An elder must not be greedy
14. An elder must manage his own family well and have his children under respectful control
15. An elder must not be a recent convert
16. An elder must have a good report
Titus 1:6-9
“If a man is blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children not accused of dissipation or insubordination. For a bishop must be blameless, as a steward of God, not self-willed, not quick tempered, not given to wine, not violent, not greedy for money, but hospitable, a lover of what is good, sober-minded, just, holy, self-controlled, holding fast the faithful Word as he has been taught, that he may be able, by sound doctrine, both to exhort and convict those who contradict.”
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1. An elder must be blameless
2. An elder must be the husband of one wife
3. An elder must have believing children
4. An elder must not be arbitrary
5. An elder must not be quick-tempered
6. An elder must not drink intoxicating beverages
7. An elder must not be violent
8. An elder must not be fond of dishonest gain
9. An elder must be hospitable
10. An elder must love what is good
11. An elder must be sober-minded
12. An elder must be holy
13. An elder must be self-controlled
14. An elder must hold fast the faithful word