Message: “Leadership in the Local Church” May 22, 2005

(Elder nomination Sunday – June 5) Acts 20:28-35

God’s plan for leadership in the local church is to find qualified men,

who have a desire to serve, and who are doing the work of the ministry.

Process:

June 5 – Members will nominate four men

June elder meeting – Names will be reviewed

Elders will select elder candidates

July elder meeting – Candidates will be examined:

Testimony

Walk with God

Ministry

September Congregational meeting – Names are affirmed

Clergy, minister, ecclesiastic, parson, monk, reverend, father, rector,

man of the cloth, sky pilot, preacher, pulpiteer, pastor, elder, bishop…

I. WHO ARE THEY? (Their identity)

A. The TERMS used

1. ELDER = presbyter

DIGNITY of the office

2. BISHOP = overseer

FUNCTION of the office

3. PASTOR-SHEPHERD

Elder – 53%

Overseer – 20%

Pastor – 10%

Leader – 17%

B. The terms used INTERCHANGEABLY

1. Acts 20:17, 28

2. I Peter 5:1,2

3. Titus 1:5-7

**Not three different offices, but one office and three different ways

of referring to that position.

C. The terms are used in the PLURAL

1. Acts 14:23

2. Acts 20:17

3. James 5:14

4. Philippians 1:1

**God never intended for the church to be directed by one man.

II. WHAT DO THEY DO?

A. To provide LEADERSHIP = Give DIRECTION

B. To provide CARE = SHEPHERD

1. FEED

2. PROTECT

3. DISICPLINE

4. NURTURE

C. To provide a godly EXAMPLE = INTEGRITY

III. APPLICATIONS

A. The VITALITY of a local church is directly connected

to its leadership, look for men who are PASSIONITE for Christ.

B. The NEEDS of a local church are great, PRAY that God

will raise up godly men.