Episode 21: Oversight through Eldership

The government of God in the church is a critical issue and we must go God’s way to be successful in reaching God’s goal. God’s provision is a plurality of mature brothers under the authority of Christ moving as one man. To maintain Christ as Head of His body is the central issue. The scriptures teach us that we need “overseeing.” We need God’s watchful care in our personal lives and any gathering of God’s people also needs oversight. The care of God extended to us through this ministry is critical to our personal growth and the growth of any expression of the Body of Christ. Today we look at some of the essential elements.

• Maintaining Christ as Head is an essential element
o Only mediator between man and God is Christ Jesus
o God has chosen to work in and through man
o God expresses His mind for a gathering through ministry
• Elders, pastors, bishops, and overseers
o One person, different words expressing function
o Is a function of grace, not an office
o Local in scope of responsibility
o Always in plurality
• Must meet qualifications (I Tim. 3:1-7)
o Mature brothers
o Family in order
o Desire (from God) to care for the testimony
o Willing to lay down their lives for the sheep (not lording over)
• Function (Acts 17:20-35)
o To care for the testimony of God
o To care for each member
o To prepare each member for the work of ministry (Eph. 4:12)
o To attach each one to Christ (not themselves)
• Where do we begin?
o Submission to Christ as our Lord
o The love of God in our hearts by the Holy Spirit
o Looking to care for others
o Open for God to express His care to us through any member
o Recognize grace in others and benefit from it
o Recognize elders when needed and guided by the Holy Spirit

http://www.amazon.com/Biblical-Eldership-Urgent-Restore-Leadership/dp/0936083115

• Additional resources at  http://www.ntchurchsource.com/
• Theme song “Will Your Anchor Hold” sung by J. Ashley Milne
• Comments and questions welcome. Email [email protected]