Order in the Church

August 16, 2015
Sermon
Lesson 10
1 Timothy 3:1-7

ORDER IN THE CHURCH!

Main idea: The Church must have order!

• Importance of church order
• Most common forms of church order
=> Episcopalian: hierarchical
=> Presbyterian: representative form of church government
=> Congregational: democratic form of government
=> Free: government rests in the hands of gifted men
• Simpler form: Elders and Deacons
=> Acts 20:17, 28
=> Titus 1:5-8
• Duties (from KBC Constitution)
=> Superintending the doctrine and life of the congregation (Acts 20:28; 1 Thess 5:12; 2 Tim 1:13-14; Heb 13:17)
=> Feeding the sheep (Acts 20:28; 1 Tim 5:17; 1 Pet 5:1-4; Heb 13:7)
=> Giving themselves to prayer for the congregation and visitation of the sick (Acts 6:2-4; James 5:14)
=> Receiving, disciplining, dismissing members (1 Cor 5:1-5)
=> Meeting at least monthly for prayer, planning, and decisionmaking
• Plurality of elders in a single church
=> Acts 20:17, 28; Phil 1:1; James 5:14; Heb 13:7, 17, 24; 1 Thess 5:12; 1 Tim 5:17

• Tenure of elders: for life, unless there is moral failure

• Method of choice of elders is the most contentious issue
=> Acts 14:23: Apostles appointed; Acts 20:28: Spirit appointed

• Failure of elders (1 Tim 5:19-21)

• Qualifications for elders (1 Tim 3:1-7) (NEXT WEEK!)