131 The Bible Church: Her Eldership

The Bible Church: Her Eldership THIRD YEAR—SUBJECT 24 The Bible Church—Her Eldership (READ 1 TIMOTHY 3) (1) Elders. (2) Their desire. (3) Their experience. (4) Their wives.

(5) Their children. (6) Their influence. (7) Their work. (8) Their power. In the Bible church we find that God, in order to have the work carried on when the apostles and evangelists were not here, had elders ordained in every church. Acts 14:23.

These elders, thus ordained were to have the oversight of the church and feed the flock of God. Acts 20:17-28.

These elders must have faithful children, must be well spoken of, must take their work willingly, must not be covetous, must not be self-willed, and must be a lover of good men. These elders had to be supported when they spent their whole time teaching the word. 1 Timothy 5:17. When an elder did wrong, the members were not to believe an evil report against him only as reported by two or three witnesses. 1 Timothy 5:19. The duty of these elders was to teach the church of God, look out for bad men, and to keep the church pure. Today, at many places, the Bible elders have been supplanted by the modern pastor who is hired to entertain the people instead of spiritually feeding them the word of God.

QUESTIONS 1. What was Titus to do? Titus 1:5.

2. What kind of a man must an elder be?

3. How many wives must he have?

4. What kind of children must he have?

5. How should he rule?

6. Should he be supported?

7. Should he desire this work?

8. What was he to feed the flock of God?

9. How was he to rule the flock?

10. Carefully examine, Acts 20:17-28; Acts 16:4; 1 Peter 5:1-6.