Why I Love the church of Christ, Part

6 Lesson Text:

Titus 1:5-9

Heritage Addition church of Christ

By Jim Bradshaw

Sunday Morning, October 4, 2015

Because of its Leaders

It is Not about the

buildingIt is the Body of Christ

Golden

Opportunities

Mat 7:12 ESV "So whatever you wish that others would do to

you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.

Gal 6:9-10 ESV And let us not grow weary of doing good, for

in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. (10) So

then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and

especially to those who are of the household of faith.

Walmart is not

the only Saving

Place

The Mission of the church must be the same as its head:

Luke 19:10 ESV For the Son of Man

came to seek and to save the lost."

The Lord’s Supper1Co 11:24-39 ESV and when he had given thanks, he broke it,

and said, "This is my body which is for you. Do this in

remembrance of me." (25) In the same way also he took the

cup, after supper, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in my

blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me."

(26) For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you

proclaim the Lord's death until he comes. (27) Whoever,

therefore, eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an

unworthy manner will be guilty concerning the body and blood

of the Lord. (28) Let a person examine himself, then, and so

eat of the bread and drink of the cup. (29) For anyone who

eats and drinks without discerning the body eats and drinks

judgment on himself.

Jesus Christ is the Head of the church of Christ

Eph 1:20-23 ESV that he worked in Christ when he raised

him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the

heavenly places, (21) far above all rule and authority and

power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not

only in this age but also in the one to come. (22) And he put

all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things

to the church, (23) which is his body, the fullness of him

who fills all in all.

Our Leaders

Tit 1:5-9 ESV This is why I left you in Crete, so that you

might put what remained into order, and appoint elders in

every town as I directed you-- (6) if anyone is above

reproach, the husband of one wife, and his children are

believers and not open to the charge of debauchery or

insubordination. (7) For an overseer, as God's steward, must

be above reproach. He must not be arrogant or quick-tempered

or a drunkard or violent or greedy for gain, (8) but

hospitable, a lover of good, self-controlled, upright, holy, and

disciplined. (9) He must hold firm to the trustworthy word as

taught, so that he may be able to give instruction in sound

doctrine and also to rebuke those who contradict it.

Our Leaders

Tit 1:5-9 ESV This is why I left you in Crete, so that you

might put what remained into order, and appoint elders in

every town as I directed you-- (6) if anyone is above

reproach, the husband of one wife, and his children are

believers and not open to the charge of debauchery or

insubordination. (7) For an overseer, as God's steward, must

be above reproach. He must not be arrogant or quick-tempered

or a drunkard or violent or greedy for gain, (8) but

hospitable, a lover of good, self-controlled, upright, holy, and

disciplined. (9) He must hold firm to the trustworthy word as

taught, so that he may be able to give instruction in sound

doctrine and also to rebuke those who contradict it.

A House of God is NOT in ORDER without Elders!!!

In the churches of Christ today we desire to restore the New

Testament church: (We baptize for the remission of sins, Acts

2:38; We partake of the Lord’s Super each Sunday, Acts 20:7;

We sing with our hearts, Eph. 5:19, Col. 3:16; We are pre-

denominational (one body, church Eph. 4:4); We believe the

Bible is our only rule, 2 Tim. 3:16. So indeed a congregation

without elders is simply out of order.

Our Leaders

Tit 1:5-9 ESV This is why I left you in Crete, so that you

might put what remained into order, and appoint elders in

every town as I directed you-- (6) if anyone is above

reproach, the husband of one wife, and his children are

believers and not open to the charge of debauchery or

insubordination. (7) For an overseer, as God's steward, must

be above reproach. He must not be arrogant or quick-tempered

or a drunkard or violent or greedy for gain, (8) but

hospitable, a lover of good, self-controlled, upright, holy, and

disciplined. (9) He must hold firm to the trustworthy word as

taught, so that he may be able to give instruction in sound

doctrine and also to rebuke those who contradict it.

Elders, overseers, and shepherds are all words used for the leaders of a local congregation

Elders – presbuteros 1.)advanced in life, an elder, a senior; 2.)

among the Christians, those who presided over the assemblies

(or churches) The NT uses the term bishop, elders, and

presbyters interchangeably. (Thayer)

Our Leaders

Tit 1:5-9 ESV This is why I left you in Crete, so that you

might put what remained into order, and appoint elders in

every town as I directed you-- (6) if anyone is above

reproach, the husband of one wife, and his children are

believers and not open to the charge of debauchery or

insubordination. (7) For an overseer, as God's steward, must

be above reproach. He must not be arrogant or quick-tempered

or a drunkard or violent or greedy for gain, (8) but

hospitable, a lover of good, self-controlled, upright, holy, and

disciplined. (9) He must hold firm to the trustworthy word as

taught, so that he may be able to give instruction in sound

doctrine and also to rebuke those who contradict it.

Elders, overseers, and shepherds are all words used for the leaders of a local congregation

Overseers – episkopos an overseer; the superintendent, elder,

or overseer of a Christian church (Thayer). A Latinized form

of the word in the Old English became Bishop.

Our Leaders

Eph 4:11-12 ESV And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the

evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, (12) to equip the

saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of

Christ,

Shepherds -- poimen 1) a herdsman, especially a shepherd 2)

of the overseers of the Christian assemblies (Thayer). Only

the KJV uses the Pastor, which is transliterated from the Latin.

Therefore the term Bishop or Pastor are NOT

included in any modern English translation

In the Christian churches those who, being raised up and

qualified by the work of the Holy Spirit, were appointed to

have the spiritual care of, and to exercise oversight over, the

churches. To these the term "bishops," episkopoi, or

"overseers," is applied (see Acts 20:17 with Acts 20:28, and

Tit. 1:5 and Tit. 1:7), the latter term indicating the nature of

their work presbuteroi their maturity of spiritual experience.

The divine arrangement seen throughout the NT was for a

plurality of these to be appointed in each church, Acts 14:23;

Acts 20:17; Phi. 1:1; 1Ti. 5:17; Tit. 1:5. The duty of "elders" is

described by the verb episkopeo. They were appointed

according as they had given evidence of fulfilling the divine

qualifications, Tit. 1:6-9; cf. 1Tim. 3:1-7 and 1Pet. 5:2.

(Vine’s)

poimen (G4166), "a shepherd, one who tends herds or flocks"

(not merely one who feeds them), is used metaphorically of

Christian "pastors," Eph. 4:11. "Pastors" guide as well as feed

the flock, cf. Acts 20:28, which with Acts 20:17, indicates that

this was the service committed to elders (overseers or

bishops); so also in 1Pet. 5:1, 1Pet. 5:2, "tend the

flock...exercising the oversight," RV; this involves tender care

and vigilant superintendence. See SHEPHERD. (Vine’s)

Act 20:17 ESV Now from Miletus he sent to Ephesus and

called the elders of the church to come to him.

Act 20:28 ESV Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all

the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to

care [NKJV to shepherd; lit. to tend as a shepherd] for the

church of God, which he obtained with his own blood.

1Pe 5:1-2 ESV So I exhort the elders among you, as a fellow

elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, as well as a

partaker in the glory that is going to be revealed: (2)

shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising

oversight, not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would

have you; not for shameful gain, but eagerly;

Heb 13:6-9 ESV So we can confidently say, "The Lord is my

helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?" (7)

Remember your leaders, those who spoke to you the word of

God. Consider the outcome of their way of life, and imitate

their faith. (8) Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today

and forever. (9) Do not be led away by diverse and strange

teachings, for it is good for the heart to be strengthened by

grace, not by foods, which have not benefited those devoted to

them.

Heb 13:17 ESV Obey your leaders and submit to them, for

they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will

have to give an account. Let them do this with joy and not

with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you.

Obey -- peitho an obedience resulting from persuasion;

Different from Eph. 6:1 hupakouo