Lesson - 23
The Lord's Church
(Part C)

Each congregation of the Lord’s church
is to be overseen by a group of elders.

Ephesians 4:11-12
"And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ."

Acts 14:23
"So when they had appointed elders in every church."

Notice there is to be a plurality of elders
in every church or congregation.

Acts 14:23
"And when they had ordained them elders in every church, and had prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord, on whom they believed."

But what does the Lord intend
for the elders to do in His church?

I Peter 5:1-4
"The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed: Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind; Neither as being lords over God's heritage, but being ensamples to the flock. And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away."

Acts 20:28
"Therefore take heed to yourselves, and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers."

The church the Lord built
is to be overseen by a plurality of elders.

The qualifications of elders who are to oversee each congregation of the Lord's church are:

1 Timothy 3:1-7
1 This is a true saying, If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work.
2 A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach;
3 Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous;
4 One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity;
5 (For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?)
6 Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil.
7 Moreover he must have a good report of them which are without; lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.

Titus 1:1-9
1 Paul, a servant of God, and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God's elect, and the acknowledging of the truth which is after godliness;
2 In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began;
3 But hath in due times manifested his word through preaching, which is committed unto me according to the commandment of God our Saviour;
4 To Titus, mine own son after the common faith: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ our Saviour.
5 For this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou shouldest set in order the things that are wanting, and ordain elders in every city, as I had appointed thee:
6 If any be blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children not accused of riot or unruly.
7 For a bishop must be blameless, as the steward of God; not selfwilled, not soon angry, not given to wine, no striker, not given to filthy lucre;
8 But a lover of hospitality, a lover of good men, sober, just, holy, temperate;
9 Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers.

Is each congregation of the church you belong to
overseen by a plurality of elders?

Does this plurality of elders have a pastor appointed over them? If this church is part of a larger organization, do the pastors have a bishop appointed over them? If not, why not? If it is to be the Lord’s church and has men who qualify, each congregation is to be overseen by a plurality of elders who are guided and taught by a pastor. If there are a plurality of pastors in an area, they should be guided and taught by a bishop. This is how God makes sure that only His word is taught as doctrine in His church, and not the doctrines of men. It is the bishop who ordains and oversees elders in the churches in his area (Acts 14:23).

Paul ordained Titus as the bishop

Titus was not only to ordain elders in every city, but was to set things in order. He was to make sure that only the doctrines of God were being taught in the churches in Crete.

Titus 1:4-5
"To Titus, mine own son after the common faith: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ our Saviour. For this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou shouldest set in order the things that are wanting, and ordain elders in every city, as I had appointed thee."

The apostles at Jerusalem were
the head of Christ's new church

The apostles issued decrees in every city in order to keep them on track and only teaching God's word as doctrine and not the doctrines of men.

Acts 16:4
"And as they went through the cities, they delivered them the decrees for to keep, that were ordained of the apostles and elders which were at Jerusalem."

I Corinthians 14:40
"Let all things be done decently and in order."

If we really accept the Bible as our only authority, we will want to worship God only as He has specified. We must reject human traditions and doctrines that members are required to follow such as creed books, catechisms, manuals, articles of faith, the book of Mormon, the Koran, constitutions, disciplines and other guidelines of men, all of which produce new religious doctrines.

Colossians 2:8
"Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.

It would be a tragedy to find out on Judgment Day we have been cheated of our eternal reward in heaven because we followed the doctrines of men; but it will be too late then.

Jesus Christ is to be glorified and honored in us.

Besides doing all that he tells us to do, we glorify the name of Christ by wearing the name "Christian"

II Thessalonians 1:12
"That the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you, and ye in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ."

It is an honor to wear the name "Christian."

We should not be ashamed to wear the name "Christian." In wearing this name we are glorifying Christ.

I Peter 4:16
"Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf."

Do all in the name of Jesus.

All that we do is to be in the name of or by the authority of the Lord Jesus.

Colossians 3:17
"And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him."