Aggressive Expansion: Elders

Oct 1

Oct 1 Aggressive Expansion: Elders

Joshua Rivera

I. What is Church Governance?

a. The organization and governing structures that a local body of believers submit to

i. The way a church organizes and manages itself

ii. The way a church makes and enforces decisions

b. East Gate Governance:

i. Singularity of headship, plurality of leadership

ii. East Gate is to be locally governed by a plurality of God-called, qualified elders, of which the senior/lead pastor is the set man or chief elder

1. This leadeship model is described and prescribed throughout scripture

Acts 20:17 & 28, 1 Peter 5:1-5, 1 Timothy 3:1-7, 1 Timothy 5:17
Exodus 18:17-23 New King James Version
17 So Moses’ father-in-law said to him, “The thing that you do is not good. 18 Both you and these people who are with you will surely wear yourselves out. For this thing is too much for you; you are not able to perform it by yourself. 19 Listen now to my voice; I will give you [a]counsel, and God will be with you: Stand before God for the people, so that you may bring the difficulties to God. 20 And you shall teach them the statutes and the laws, and show them the way in which they must walk and the work they must do. 21 Moreover you shall select from all the people able men, such as fear God, men of truth, hating covetousness; and place such over them to be rulers of thousands, rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens. 22 And let them judge the people at all times. Then it will be that every great matter they shall bring to you, but every small matter they themselves shall judge. So it will be easier for you, for they will bear the burden with you. 23 If you do this thing, and God so commands you, then you will be able to endure, and all this people will also go to their place in peace.”
Acts 14:21-23 New King James Version
21 And when they had preached the gospel to that city and made many disciples, they returned to Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch, 22 strengthening the souls of the disciples, exhorting them to continue in the faith, and saying, “We must through many tribulations enter the kingdom of God.” 23 So when they had appointed elders in every church, and prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord in whom they had believed.
Titus 1:5-9 New King James Version
5 For this reason I left you in Crete, that you should set in order the things that are lacking, and appoint elders in every city as I commanded you— 6 if a man is blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children not accused of [a]dissipation or insubordination. 7 For a [b]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, 8 but hospitable, a lover of what is good, sober-minded, just, holy, self-controlled, 9 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

II. The Importance of Church Governance

a. Healthy leadership is a healthy church/a church is only as healthy as its leadership

i. Health || Trickle Down

b. Without proper leadership, churches become and remain unhealthy

i. Paul sends Titus to Crete to set things in order within the churches there

1. Set in order – Greek phrase used of setting a broken bone or straightening out a limb so that it could heal properly

ii. At some point these were churches that experienced the presence and power of God, but without proper leadership, they had gone astray

“It’s interesting that the first thing that needs to happen to produce a strong and healthy church is not a move of God, not a new program or strategy, but the raising up of godly leadership.”
– Michael Teague

c. Without proper leadership, churches cannot continue to grow spiritually or numerically

i. Aggressive Expansion through Appointing Elders

III. The Purpose of Our Church Governance

a. Locally Governed

i. For this reason, I left you in Crete… appoint elders in every city…

1. In every city where there was a church, there were to be elders in that city governing the church

2. There were not elders governing multiple churches in multiple cities but elders from each city, governing the churches within their cities.

b. By a Plurality

i. It’s NEVER good to lead alone

Genesis 2:18 New King James Version
18 And the Lord God said, “It is not good that man should be alone; I will make him a helper comparable to him.”

1. Moses father-in-law told him that what he was doing (alone) was not good

2. “Both you and these people who are with you will SURELY wear yourselves out”

3. If a leader is burnt out because they are doing too much on their own, the church will burn out

ii. God calls the church to be led by a plurality of leaders for a few reasons:

1. It helps to ensure that the church is built around Holy Spirit and not a person

2. It helps protects the body from spiritually abusive leaders

3. It helps mature the body – especially if the 5-fold exists within the eldership

4. It helps protect the spiritual, physical, and mental health of the pastors as well as sustain the work of the kingdom, as the burden is shared by a plurality of mature men and women of God.

c. Of God-Called

Acts 20:28 New King James Version
28 Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church [a]of God which He purchased with His own blood.

i. Leading the church in the office of the elder is not a position you just become promoted to after x amount of time. It is a calling on your life placed there by God.

1. Not self-appointed, but God-appointed

2. This means that Holy Spirit will speak to the lead/senior pastors personally and during presbytery

3. This is NOT to be taken lightly. It must be prayerfully and carefully discerned with Holy Spirit. It’s not for the taking.

d. Qualified

i. In order to protect the body and ensure that potential elders can bear the responsibilities of governing the church, they must be qualified

1. God has strict and high standards that each elder MUST meet (it has nothing to do with education or time in the Lord)

ii. Competency Qualifications:

1. Lead by Example – Acts 20:28

a. Therefore take heed to yourselves – pay attention to your own walk first

b. We reproduce after our own kind, not our teaching

2. Respectable – 1 Timothy 3:2 NASB

a. Someone who conducts themselves in excellence and honesty

3. Sensible/Prudent – Titus 1:8 NASB & 1 Timothy 3:2 NASB

a. Balanced judgement

b. Able to think clearly, and make wise, faith filled decisions

4. Self-Controlled – Titus 1:8

a. Mastery over desires and passions

5. Hospitable – Titus 1:8

a. Friendly to guests and strangers

b. Enjoys people and being with them, not just the people you know

c. Freely offering time, resources, and encouragement

6. Good Testimony/Reputation with those outside of the church

a. Having an excellent testimony/reputation with unbelievers

b. Coworkers, neighbors, etc…

c. Respected for character, work ethic, integrity, and lifestyle

7. Dignified/Reverent – 1 Timothy 3:8

a. Not foolish, drunk, immature, plays too much, inappropriate

8. Faithful – 1 Timothy 3:11

a. Trustworthy, dependable

b. Able to obediently endure while holding onto an assignment and hope for a favorable outcome, no matter how long or intense the circumstances

9. Not Lording/Domineering – 1 Peter 5:3

a. No spiritual abuse, overbearing, taking advantage of others

iii. Character Qualifications:

1. Examples – 1 Peter 5:3

a. A pattern to follow

b. A holistic life worthy of imitation

2. Humble – 1 Timothy 3:6

a. Teachable and correctable

b. God resists the proud doesn’t matter how gifted or anointed

c. Novices are proud, not elders

3. Not Self-Willed – Titus 1:7

a. Led by the presence and pleasure of God, not personal preferences, convenience, or desires

4. Blameless – Titus 1:6 & 1 Timothy 3:2

a. Cannot be called into question/cannot be laid hold of

b. Has nothing to do with perfection, but rather someone with nothing to hide

c. No hidden sin, dealings, life, etc. that can be used by the enemy to bring reproach on the elder

d. This has NOTHING to do with the past, only the present

5. Just/Righteous – Titus 1:8

a. Upright before the Lord, doing what is right before Him and by Him, not others

6. Holy – Titus 1:8 (Devout – NASB)

a. Unpolluted, set apart for God’s purposes

7. Not Given to Wine – Titus 1:7

a. The Bible prohibits drunkenness, not a glass of wine, or a beer.

b. Elders cannot be known as drinkers

c. What the leaders do in moderation, the church does in excess

d. Elders are looked to as examples and God holds His leadership to HIGHER standards

8. Not Greedy – Titus 1:7

a. Not stingy in material blessing

b. Greed and covetousness are condemned by God as idolatry

9. Not double-tongued/Mouths under control

a. Not two faced, stands by their word

b. No gossip, rumors, or lies

10. Husband of One Wife – Titus 1:6

a. Literally a one-woman man

b. Only allowing sexual desire for and intimacy with their spouse

c. Sexual purity, inward and outward

iv. Chemistry Qualifications

1. Family and Home in Order - 1 Timothy 3:4-5

a. In God’s kingdom, the household and family are a mini-church

b. The spouse and family recognize the spiritual maturity of the elder

c. House is ruled well

2. The Wife – 1 Timothy 3:11

a. A man’s wife can disqualify him from the office of elder

b. Dignified – Not foolish, drunk, immature, plays too much, inappropriate

c. Not a slanderer/gossip

d. Faithful in all things

3. The Children – Titus 1:6

a. Not out of control or unrestrained

b. Not rebellious, unruly

c. Respectful of authority

d. Obedient

4. Lover of Good – Titus 1:8

a. Loves and focuses on good and righteous

b. Find the gold analogy

5. Not Violent/A Striker – Titus 1:7

a. One who strikes when annoyed

b. Physically, verbally etc… able to bite their tongue

c. Hurtful to people who annoy you

6. Gentle/Patient – 1 Timothy 3:3

a. Able to remain calm

b. Quiet endurance under stress

c. Non-anxious presence

7. Not Quick Tempered – Titus 1:7

a. An elder CANNOT have a short fuse

b. Can be wronged without becoming explosive

c. Slow to anger, angered over the correct things, and anger is not expressed sinfully/destructively

e. Elders

i. Overseer – episkope (G1984)

1 Timothy 3:1 New King James Version
3 This is a faithful saying: If a man desires the position of a bishop, he desires a good work.

1. Investigation, inspection, visitation

a. That act by which God looks into and searches out the ways, deeds, character of men, in order to adjudge them their lot accordingly, whether joyous or sad

b. Oversight, the office of an elder, presiding officers of a Christian Church

ii. Elder – presbyteros (G4245)

1 Timothy 5:17 New King James Version
17 Let the elders who rule well be counted worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in the word and doctrine.

1. A term of rank or office

2. Among the Christians, those who presided over the assemblies (or churches). NT uses the term bishop, elders, and presbyters interchangeably

3. Not young in the faith, immature, or inexperienced

4. Holds sound doctrine – Titus 1:9

1 Timothy 1:5 New King James Version
5 Now the purpose of the commandment is love from a pure heart, from a good conscience, and from [a]sincere faith,

5. Not a novice

f. Set-Man

i. This is the singularity of headship we talked about in the beginning.

Numbers 27:16 New King James Version
16 “Let the Lord, the God of the spirits of all flesh, set a man over the congregation,

1. This was Moses prayer to God after he established the elders over the congregation of Israel and knew that he would not take them further.

2. He prayed for God to establish a new “set man” over the congregation, the elders were not enough alone

ii. EVERY work of God begins with the “set man” or the man He puts in place to lead

1. Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, Joshua, the judges, David, Jesus, Paul, Timothy, Titus, etc…

2. This is someone that God has called, prepared, and sent forth with His vision, anointing, favor, and blessing

3. Without a set man to carry the vision and have the faith for the vision, the work will struggle and fail

Proverbs 29:18 New King James Version
18 Where there is no [a]revelation, the people cast off restraint; But happy is he who keeps the law

iii. God then raises up elder to assist and come along side in the oversight and governance of the church or work

1. Biblical Examples: Moses, Joshua, Paul, Timothy, Titus, Priscilla and Aquilla, Apollos etc..

2. The principle is called first among equals, the set man is equal to the other elders, but serves as a chief elder/director, keeping everyone focused and on mission

iv. Every church MUST have a set man who comes with the vision and direction of God; however, the set man is to share and submit both the vision and leadership of the church to the other elders, functioning as a unified team.

1. Set man has the seed of vision, plants it within the eldership and all tend it until it blossoms

2. There is no voting, it’s unity or nothing

Psalm 133 New King James Version
133 Behold, how good and how pleasant it is For brethren to dwell together in unity! 2 It is like the precious oil upon the head, Running down on the beard, The beard of Aaron, Running down on the edge of his garments. 3 It is like the dew of Hermon, Descending upon the mountains of Zion; For there the Lord commanded the blessing— Life forevermore.

3. Submission to Holy Spirit ensures unity

Numbers 11:16-17 New King James Version
16 So the Lord said to Moses: “Gather to Me seventy men of the elders of Israel, whom you know to be the elders of the people and officers over them; bring them to the tabernacle of meeting, that they may stand there with you. 17 Then I will come down and talk with you there. I will take of the Spirit that is upon you and will put the same upon them; and they shall bear the burden of the people with you, that you may not bear it yourself alone.
Ephesians 4:1-6 New King James Version
4 I, therefore, the prisoner [a]of the Lord, [b]beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, 2 with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, 3 endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. 4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling; 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism; 6 one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in [c]you all.