!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.

Titus 1:9!!

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Every&Elder&Must&Know&|&Biblical&Eldership&Resources&

BIBLICAL&

ELDERSHIP&

RESOURCES&

PASSAGES&FROM&THE&BIBLE&

&EVERY%ELDER%MUST%KNOW%

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Why!Elders!Need!To!Know!Select!Scriptures?!!Upon!his!departure!from!Ephesus,!Paul!could!say!to!the!Ephesian!elders!that!he!had!taught!them!the!whole!counsel!of!God,!and!that!they!were!fully!equipped!to!do!the!work!of!teaching!and!protecting!the!church:!!

I%did%not%shrink%from%declaring%to%you%anything%that%was%profitable,%and%teaching%you%in%public%and%from%house%to%house,%…%for%I%did%not%shrink%from%declaring%to%you%the%whole%counsel%of%God.%[Acts&20:20,&27].%

!To!qualify!as!an!elder,!a!candidate!for!the!eldership!must!also!know!“the%whole%counsel%of%God”!as!taught!in!Holy!Scripture.!One!of!the!most!important!qualifications!for!a!biblical!elder!is!stated!in!Titus!1:9.!A!candidate!for!eldership!!!

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.%[Titus&1:9]%

! !In!other!words,!an!elder!candidate!must!know!and!hold!firmly!to!orthodox,!apostolic!doctrine!(“the!trustworthy!word!as!taught”).!The!two!reasons!given!for!this!qualification!are:!1)!so!that!the!elder!can!“give!instruction!in!sound!doctrine,”!and!2)!be!able!to!“rebuke!those!who!contradict”!sound!doctrine.!An!elder!must!be!able!to!explain!and!defend!the!gospel,!instruct!people!in!sound!doctrine,!counsel!people!by!means!of!Scripture,!and!answer!fundamental!questions!regarding!the!Christian!faith.!So!it!is!imperative!for!an!elder!to!know!the!Bible.!!!Before!an!elder!or!deacon!is!eligible!to!serve,!he!must!be!examined!by!the!church!and!its!leaders!as!to!his!fitness!for!either!of!these!offices.!As!Paul!says!in!1!Timothy!3:10:!!!

Let%them%also%[like%the%elders]%be%tested%first;%then%let%them%serve%as%deacons%if%they%prove%themselves%blameless.%[&1&Tim&3:10]%

!We!should!never!assume!that!we!know!what!a!person!believes!about!various!doctrines!or!lifestyle!issues.!The!existing!elders!need!to!ask,!question,!and!assess!a!candidate!for!eldership!(1!Tim.!5:24U25).!Some!of!the!worst!mistakes!made!in!churches!come!from!appointing!elders!who!are!actually!in!doctrinal!disagreement!with!the!church!or!lack!basic!Bible!knowledge.!!!But!how!would!those!who!examine!a!candidate!for!eldership!know!if!the!candidate!holds!to!the!apostolic!gospel!and!is!capable!of!teaching!and!protecting!the!church!from!false!doctrine,!if!there!are!not!some!kinds!of!standard!doctrinal!questions!asked!for!assessing!the!candidates’!proficiency!in!Scripture!and!doctrine?!!This!guide!provides!the!local!church!and!its!leaders!with!a!tool!to!assess!an!elder!candidate’s!knowledge!of!relevant!Scriptures!and!Bible!doctrine.!This!guide!is!not!exhaustive,!and!it!is!not!meant!to!be.!But!it!will!provide!a!starting!place!for!testing!basic!skills!in!handling!Scripture!and!

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doctrine.!You!are!welcome!to!add!to!this!guide!additional!Scriptures!you!and!your!church!feel!elders!must!know!in!order!to!qualify!and!do!the!job!effectively.!!Another!use!for!this!guide!is!as!a!tool!for!the!elder!candidate!in!preparation!for!the!doctrinal!examination!by!the!elders.!We!also!recommend!using!the!book!Decide%for%Yourself:%A%Theological%Workbook!by!Gordon!Lewis.!We!recommend!this!book!because!it!presents!the!texts!of!Scripture!a!candidate!should!know!for!each!major!doctrinal!category.!It!presents!these!in!a!way!that!no!other!book!does.!One!does!not!have!to!use!the!entire!book.!Sections!can!be!selected!by!the!elders!for!special!attention!in!the!candidate’s!preparation.!!We!will!start!with!the!verses!on!eldership!that!every!elder!should!know.!!!Alex!Strauch!Author!Biblical!Eldership!

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I. Biblical!References!on!Eldership![Source:%Biblical!Eldership]%!

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Acts!11:30!U!And!they!did!so,!sending!it!to!the!elders!by!the!hand!of!Barnabas!and!Saul.!!

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Acts!14:23!U!And!when!they!had!appointed!elders!for!them!in!every!church,!with!prayer!and!fasting!they!committed!them!to!the!Lord!in!whom!they!had!believed.!!!

Acts!15!U!But!some!men!came!down!from!Judea!and!were!teaching!the!brothers,!“Unless!you!are!circumcised!according!to!the!custom!of!Moses,!you!cannot!be!saved.”!2!And!after!Paul!and!Barnabas!had!no!small!dissension!and!debate!with!them,!Paul!and!Barnabas!and!some!of!the!others!were!appointed!to!go!up!to!Jerusalem!to!the!apostles!and!the!elders!about!this!question…!6!The!apostles!and!the!elders!were!gathered!together!to!consider!this!matter…!22!Then!it!seemed!good!to!the!apostles!and!the!elders,!with!the!whole!church,!to!choose!men!from!among!them!and!send!them!to!Antioch!with!Paul!and!Barnabas.!They!sent!Judas!called!Barsabbas,!and!Silas,!leading!men!among!the!brothers,!23!with!the!following!letter…!!

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Acts!20:17H38!U!Now!from!Miletus!he!sent!to!Ephesus!and!called!the!elders!of!the!church!to!come!to!him.!18!And!when!they!came!to!him,!he!said!to!them:!“You!yourselves!know!how!I!lived!among!you!the!whole!time!from!the!first!day!that!I!set!foot!in!Asia,!19!serving!the!Lord!with!all!humility!and!with!tears!and!with!trials!that!happened!to!me!through!the!plots!of!the!Jews;!20!how!I!did!not!shrink!from!declaring!to!you!anything!that!was!profitable,!and!teaching!you!in!public!and!from!house!to!house,!21!testifying!both!to!Jews!and!to!Greeks!of!repentance!toward!God!and!of!faith!in!our!Lord!Jesus!Christ.!22!And!now,!behold,!I!am!going!to!Jerusalem,!constrained!by!the!Spirit,!not!knowing!what!will!happen!to!me!there,!23!except!that!the!Holy!Spirit!testifies!to!me!in!every!city!that!imprisonment!and!afflictions!await!me.!24!But!I!do!not!account!my!life!of!any!value!nor!as!precious!to!myself,!if!only!I!may!finish!my!course!and!the!ministry!that!I!received!from!the!Lord!Jesus,!to!testify!to!the!gospel!of!the!grace!of!God.!25!And!now,!behold,!I!know!that!none!of!you!among!whom!I!have!gone!about!proclaiming!the!kingdom!will!see!my!face!again.!26!Therefore!I!testify!to!you!this!day!that!I!am!innocent!of!the!blood!of!all,!27!for!I!did!not!shrink!from!declaring!to!you!the!whole!counsel!of!God.!28!Pay!careful!attention!to!yourselves!and!to!all!the!flock,!in!which!the!Holy!Spirit!has!made!you!overseers,!to!care!for!the!church!of!God,!which!he!obtained!with!his!own!blood.!29!I!know!that!after!my!departure!fierce!wolves!will!come!in!among!you,!not!sparing!the!flock;!30!and!from!among!your!own!selves!will!arise!men!speaking!twisted!things,!to!draw!away!the!disciples!after!them.!31!Therefore!be!alert,!remembering!that!for!three!years!I!did!not!cease!night!or!day!to!admonish!every!one!with!tears.!32!And!now!I!commend!you!to!God!and!to!the!word!of!his!grace,!which!is!able!to!build!you!up!and!to!give!you!the!inheritance!among!all!those!who!are!sanctified.!33!I!coveted!no!one's!silver!or!gold!or!apparel.!34!You!yourselves!know!that!these!hands!ministered!to!my!necessities!and!to!those!who!were!with!me.!35!In!all!things!I!have!shown!you!that!by!working!hard!in!this!way!we!must!help!the!weak!and!remember!the!words!of!the!Lord!Jesus,!how!he!himself!said,!‘It!is!more!blessed!to!give!than!to!receive.’”!!

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Acts!21:17H19!U!When!we!had!come!to!Jerusalem,!the!brothers!received!us!gladly.!18!On!the!following!day!Paul!went!in!with!us!to!James,!and!all!the!elders!were!present.!19!After!greeting!them,!he!related!one!by!one!the!things!that!God!had!done!among!the!Gentiles!through!his!ministry.!!!

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Ephesians!4:11H12!U!And!he!gave!the!apostles,!the!prophets,!the!evangelists,!the!shepherds!and!teachers,!to!equip!the!saints!for!the!work!of!ministry,!for!building!up!the!body!of!Christ,!!!

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Philippians!1:1!U!Paul!and!Timothy,!servants!of!Christ!Jesus,!to!all!the!saints!in!Christ!Jesus!who!are!at!Philippi,!with!the!overseers!and!deacons.!!!

1!Thessalonians!5:12H13!U!We!ask!you,!brothers,!to!respect!those!who!labor!among!you!and!are!over!you!in!the!Lord!and!admonish!you,!and!to!esteem!them!very!highly!in!love!because!of!their!work.!!!

1!Timothy!3:1H7!H!The!saying!is!trustworthy:!If!anyone!aspires!to!the!office!of!overseer,!he!desires!a!noble!task.!2!Therefore!an!overseer!must!be!above!reproach,!the!husband!of!one!wife,!soberUminded,!selfUcontrolled,!respectable,!hospitable,!able!to!teach,!3!not!a!drunkard,!not!violent!but!gentle,!not!quarrelsome,!not!a!lover!of!money.!4!He!must!manage!his!own!household!well,!with!all!dignity!keeping!his!children!submissive,!5!for!if!someone!does!not!know!how!to!manage!his!own!household,!how!will!he!care!for!God’s!church?!6!He!must!not!be!a!recent!convert,!or!he!may!become!puffed!up!with!conceit!and!fall!into!the!condemnation!of!the!devil.!7!Moreover,!he!must!be!well!thought!of!by!outsiders,!so!that!he!may!not!fall!into!disgrace,!into!a!snare!of!the!devil.!!

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1!Timothy!4:14!U!Do!not!neglect!the!gift!you!have,!which!was!given!you!by!prophecy!when!the!council!of!elders!laid!their!hands!on!you.!!

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1!Timothy!5:17H25!U!Let!the!elders!who!rule!well!be!considered!worthy!of!double!honor,!especially!those!who!labor!in!preaching!and!teaching.!18!For!the!Scripture!says,!“You!shall!not!muzzle!an!ox!when!it!treads!out!the!grain,”!and,!“The!laborer!deserves!his!wages.”!19!Do!not!admit!a!charge!against!an!elder!except!on!the!evidence!of!two!or!three!witnesses.!20!As!for!those!who!persist!in!sin,!rebuke!them!in!the!presence!of!all,!so!that!the!rest!may!stand!in!fear.!21!In!the!presence!of!God!and!of!Christ!Jesus!and!of!the!elect!angels!I!charge!you!to!keep!these!rules!without!prejudging,!doing!nothing!from!partiality.!22!Do!not!be!hasty!in!the!laying!on!of!hands,!nor!take!part!in!the!sins!of!others;!keep!yourself!pure.!23!(No!longer!drink!only!water,!but!use!a!little!wine!for!the!sake!of!your!stomach!and!your!frequent!ailments.)!24!The!sins!of!some!men!are!conspicuous,!going!before!them!to!judgment,!but!the!sins!of!others!appear!later.!25!So!also!good!works!are!conspicuous,!and!even!those!that!are!not!cannot!remain!hidden.!!!

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Titus!1:5H9!U!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!quickUtempered!or!a!drunkard!or!violent!or!greedy!for!gain,!8!but!hospitable,!a!lover!of!good,!selfUcontrolled,!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.!!!

Hebrews!13:17!U!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.!!!!!

James!5:14H15!U!Is!anyone!among!you!sick?!Let!him!call!for!the!elders!of!the!church,!and!let!them!pray!over!him,!anointing!him!with!oil!in!the!name!of!the!Lord.!And!the!prayer!of!faith!will!save!the!one!who!is!sick,!and!the!Lord!will!raise!him!up.!And!if!he!has!committed!sins,!he!will!be!forgiven.!!!

1!Peter!5:1H5!H!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;!3!not!domineering!over!those!in!your!charge,!but!being!examples!to!the!flock.!4!And!when!the!chief!Shepherd!appears,!you!will!receive!the!unfading!crown!of!glory.!5!Likewise,!you!who!are!younger,!be!subject!to!the!elders.!Clothe!yourselves,!all!of!you,!with!humility!toward!one!another,!for!“God!opposes!the!proud!but!gives!grace!to!the!humble.”!!!

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3!John!9H10!U!I!have!written!something!to!the!church,!but!Diotrephes,!who!likes!to!put!himself!first,!does!not!acknowledge!our!authority.!So!if!I!come,!I!will!bring!up!what!he!is!doing,!talking!wicked!nonsense!against!us.!And!not!content!with!that,!he!refuses!to!welcome!the!brothers,!and!also!stops!those!who!want!to!and!puts!them!out!of!the!church.!!

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II. Biblical!Characteristics!of!an!Elder!%[Sources:%Bible.org%and%Biblical!Eldership]%%!The!characteristics!or!qualifications!are!seen!from!the!standpoint!of!a!man’s!fundamental!relationships—to!God,!his!Word,!the!elder!himself,!family,!others!including!the!outside!world,!and!things.!These!verses!will!help!match!elder!characteristics!(taken!from!NASB!and!ESV)!with!related!references.!!

As!to!God!and!His!Word!!!

a. Not!a!recent!convert!……………………………………………………………………..………………………..……………..…1!Tim.!3:6!!b. Devout/Holy!……………………………………………………………………………………….………………………….……………Titus!1:8!c. Holds!firm!to!the!trustworthy!word!……………………………………………………………….….….………………..……Titus!1:9!!d. Able!to!give!instruction!and!refute!!…………………………………………………………………………….1!Tim.!3:2;!Titus!1:9!!

As!to!himself!!

a. Aspires!to!the!office!of!overseer…………………………………………………………………………………….……………1!Tim.!3:1!!b. Not!under!compulsion!………………………………………………………………………….……………….………………….1!Peter!5:2!!c. Prudent/SelfUcontrolled,!rather!than!selfUindulgent!……………………………………….…………………………..1!Tim.!3:2!!d. Not!quickUtempered,!in!control!of!his!feelings!……………………………………….……………………………………..Titus!1:7!!e. Not!sexually!immoral………………………………………………………………………….…………………………..Titus!1:6!(implied)!

As!to!his!family!!!

a. Husband!of!one!wife,!not!distracted!by!other!women……………………………….…..…………….1!Tim.!3:2;!Titus!1:6!!b. Manages!his!own!household!well.………………………………………………………….……….……………………………1!Tim.!3:4!!c. His!wife!loves,!respects,!and!follows!his!leadership.………………………..…………….Col.!3:18;!1!Tim.!3:5!(implied)!d. His!children!are!believers,!submissive!and!not!rebellious!………………………..………….....…1!Tim.!3:4U5;!Titus!1:6!!

As!to!others!!!

a. Hospitable…………………………………..…………………………………..………………………………………..….1!Tim.!3:2;!Titus!1:8!!b. Apt/Able!to!teach!.…………………………………………………………………………..…………………………….……….……1!Tim.!3:2!!c. Gentle!with!people!……………………………………………………………………….……………….………………..…….……1!Tim.!3:3!!d. Not!arrogant/selfUwilled!………………………………………………………………………………………………..………………Titus!1:7!!e. Attentive!to!the!needs!of!God’s!flock!………………………………………….……………………………………………..Acts!20:28!!f. Loves!what!is!good,!“a!lover!of!good”!…………………………….....……..……………………….……......................Titus!1:8!!g. Not!pugnacious/violent………………………………………………………………………………..………….……Titus!1:7;!1!Tim.!3:3!h. Not!physically!or!verbally!abusive………………………………………………………………..………………..1!Tim.!3:4!(implied)!i. Not!domineering!or!lording!his!position!over!others!…….…………………………..……………………………….1!Peter!5:3!!j. Uncontentious,!not!quarrelsome……………………………………………………………..…………………………………..1!Tim.!3:3!!k. Respectable……………………………………………………………………………………………..…………………………………..1!Tim.!3:2!l. Good!reputation!with!those!on!the!outside………………………………………………..………………………………..1!Tim.!3:7!

As!to!things!

a. Free!from!the!love!of!money……………………………………………………………..………………………………..1!Tim.!3:3;!6:10!b. Above!reproach,!blameless!…………………………………………………………..……………………………….1!Tim.!3:2;!Ps.!15:2!c. Not!involved!in!dishonest!business!practices…………….……………………………………………………………………Titus!1:7!!d. Not!greedy!or!seeking!personal!gain……………………………………………..…………………………….Titus!1:7;!1!Peter!5:2!!e. Not!addicted!to!wine!or!any!other!substance……………………………..…………………………………1!Tim.!3:3;!Titus!1:7!!f. Does!not!cause!weaker!Christians!to!stumble…………………………..…………………………….…………….Rom.!14:13U21!

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III. Bible!Events!and!References!Relevant!to!the!Elder’s!Work!!!

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There!are!doctrines!in!areas!such!as!eschatology!about!which!churches!have!considerable!differences!in!opinion.!For!example,!a!church!that!is!premillennial!will!want!their!elders!to!be!of!the!premillennial!persuasion,!and!to!know!Revelation!20:1U6.!However,!an!amillennial!church!will!want!its!elders!to!know!1!Corinthians!15:20U28.!!!Since!this!website!seeks!to!reach!elders!of!churches!of!many!different!doctrinal!persuasions,!we!ask!you!to!study!and!list!the!verses!that!you!would!want!your!elders!to!know!regarding!the!church’s!prophetic!beliefs!and!distinctive!doctrines.!Each!local!church!needs!to!clarify!for!a!candidate!its!own!position!on!key!doctrines!of!the!faith,!and!then!test!any!elder!candidates!accordingly.!!!

Creation!

Genesis!1:1U2:3!Genesis!2:4U9!!!

God’s!Special!Creation:!Men!and!Women!created!

in!His!Image!

Genesis!1:26U30!Genesis!2:7U8,!15U25!!!

The!Fall!

*Genesis!3:1U24!!!

The!Flood!

Genesis!6:5U8,!13U22!Genesis!7:1,!11U12,!17U24!

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God’s!Call!and!Covenant!with!Abraham!

*Genesis!12:1U3!*Genesis!15:1U21!–!Covenant!Genesis!17:1U14!–!Circumcision!

New!Covenant!

*Jeremiah!31:31U34!!

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The!Virgin!Birth!of!Christ!

Matthew!1:18U25!!

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Peter!Confesses!Jesus!as!the!Messiah!

Matthew!16:13U20!!

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The!New!Commandment!

John!13:34U35!!

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The!Death,!Burial!and!Resurrection!of!Christ!Matthew!27:32U28:10!

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The!Great!Commission!

Matthew!28:16U20!!

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The!Exodus!and!First!Passover!

Exodus!12:33U51!!

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The!Ten!Commandments!

Exodus!20:3U17!!!

The!Mosaic!Covenant!

*Exodus!24:1U8!!!

The!Greatest!Commandment!

Deuteronomy!6:4U9!!!

Davidic!Covenant!

2!Samuel!7:1U17!

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The!Gospel!

John!3:3,!16!Romans!1:16U17!*Romans!3:20U31!*1!Corinthians!15:1U8!2!Corinthians!5:21!Galatians!1:11U12,!15U16!Galatians!2:16U21!Ephesians!2:8U9!2!Timothy!1:8U10!Titus!3:4U7!Heb.!9:12U14,!24U28;!10:8U14!1!Peter!2:24!!!

The!Holy!Spirit!

John!14:15U17!Romans!7:6!Romans!8:9!Ephesians!1:13U14!!

The!Ascension!of!Christ!

Acts!1:8U11!!

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Second!Advent!of!Christ!

Matthew!24:29U31!Matthew!25:31!2!Thessalonians!2:1U2!

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Pentecost!–!Coming!of!the!Holy!Spirit!Acts!2:1U13!

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Paul’s!Conversion!

Acts!9:1U25!!!

Scripture!

*2!Timothy!3:16U17!2!Peter!1:20U21!2!Timothy!2:15!Heb.!4:12!

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Right!Attitudes!of!a!Leader!

1!Corinthians!13:1U7!*Philippians!2:2U5!Colossians!3:12U17!James!3:13U18!1!Peter!3:8U11!*2!Timothy!2:24U26!

!

Christ’s!Divine!Nature!

*John!1:1,!14!John!5:18!!John!8:58!John!20:28!Philippians!2:6U11!*Colossians!2:9!Heb.!1:6,!8!

!

!

! 9!

The!New!Life!in!Christ!

Romans!6U8!!!

Spiritual!Gifts!

Romans!12:3U8!1!Corinthians!12:1U31!*Ephesians!4:7U16!1!Peter!4:10U11!

!

!

Men!and!Women’s!Roles!

Genesis!2:18U25!1!Corinthians!11:2U16!1!Corinthians!14:33U38!Galatians!3:28!*Ephesians!5:21U33!Colossians!3:18U19!*1!Timothy!2:8U15!1!Peter!3:1U7!Titus!2:3U5!

!

!

Missions!

Matthew!28:19U20!Acts!1:8!

!!

Baptism!

Matthew!28:19U20!Acts!2:38U39!

!

!

Lord’s!Supper!

Matthew!26:26U29!Luke!22:14U20!1!Corinthians!10:14U22!*1!Corinthians!11:17U34!

!

Life!after!Death!

Philippians!1:23!2!Corinthians!5:1U10!!!

Total!Dedication!of!One’s!Life!to!God!

Romans!12:1U2!!!

The!Church!

Matthew!6:13U20!Acts!2:42!1!Corinthians!12:12U30!*Ephesians!3:2U12!Ephesians!5:23U32!

!

!

Church!Discipline!

*Matthew!18:15U20!*1!Corinthians!5!2!Corinthians!2:1U11!2!Thessalonians!3:13U15!Titus!3:10U11!

!

!

Deacons!

1!Timothy!3:8U13!!!

Widows!

1!Timothy!5:3U16!!

!

Financial!Giving!

1!Timothy!6:17U19!2!Corinthians!9:6U7!

!

!

Judgment!Seat!of!Christ!

1!Corinthians!3:12U15!2!Corinthians!5:10!

!

!

! 10!

!!

!

Christian!Liberty!and!Freedom!

Romans!14:1U15:13!1!Corinthians!8U10!

!

!

Spiritual!Warfare!

Ephesians!6:10U18!!

!

Tithes!and!Offerings!

Malachi!3:8U9!!2!Corinthians!9:7!Acts!20:35!1!Timothy!5:8!

!

!

The!Christian!and!Government!

Romans!13:1U7!1!Peter!2:13U15!

!

!

Divorce!and!Remarriage!

Deuteronomy!24:1U4!Malachi!2:13U16!*Matthew!19:1U12!*1!Corinthians!7:10U16!

!!

Prayer!Ephesians!6:18U20!Philippians!4:6U7!Hebrews!4:16!

!!!*!It!is!recommended!that!these!verses!be!memorized!verbatim.

!

! 11!

IV. Contemporary!Social!Issues!an!Elder!Must!Be!Able!to!

Address!!

We!have!provided!below!references!for!some!topics.!Feel!free!to!fill!in!additional!verses!on!these!issues,!or!add!other!topics!that!may!be!relevant!to!your!church.!

%%

Abortion!

Job!31:15!Ps!22:10!!Psalm!139:13U14!!Exodus!20:13!Isaiah!49:5!

!

!

Christian!Use!of!Alcohol!and!Drugs!

!Ephesians!5:18!!1!Cor!6:19U20!!1!Timothy!3:8!!

!

!

SameHSex!Marriage!

1!Cor!7:!2U16!1!Timothy!1:9U10!!!Mathew!19:4U6!Mark!10:5U7!1!Cor!6:!9U11!!Romans!1:26U27!!

!

Marriage,!Divorce,!and!Remarriage!1!Corinthians!7:12U13!Matthew!5:32!Matthew!19:9!

!

!

Social!Justice!!

!Isaiah!1:17!Jeremiah!22:3!Mathew!19:21!Romans!12:15U18!

!

!

Parenting!

Ephesians!6:2!1!Timothy!3:5!Proverbs!19:18!

!

!

Domestic!Violence!and!Abuse!

Colossians!3:19!1!Peter!3:7!Proverbs!18:21!!

!

Find!bible!verses!for!additional!topics!at!Topical!bible!=>!!http://www.openbible.info/topics/!Type!in!a!topic!in!the!search!box!or!access!topics!directly!using!the!links!from!A!to!Z.!

!

! 12!

V. Elder’s!Personal!Verses!!!!These!are!Bible!verses!that!impacted!and!encouraged!the!person!in!their!Christian!faith!and!call!to!the!ministry.!Add!to!the!list!as!appropriate.!!!

Christian!Experience!

• Favourite!Bible!verse.!Which%Bible%verse/s%most%impacted%you?! !• Call!to!ministry.!Which%Bible%verse/s%confirmed%your%call%to%eldership?! !

!

Personal!Discipline!and!Commitment!

• Call!to!personal!holiness.!Which%Bible%verse/s%challenges%you%to%holiness?! !• Discipline!to!study!God's!Word.!Which%Bible%verse/s%commands%you%to%

study?!!

!

Spiritual!Leadership!in!the!Family!!

• Marriage!relationship.!What%challenges%you%to%a%godly%marriage%relationship?! !• Providing!for!the!family.!Which%Bible%verse/s%asks%you%to%provide%for%your%family?! !• Spiritual!leadership.!Which%Bible%verse/s%challenges%you%to%provide%leadership%at%

home?!!

!!!

!

! 13!

Why$Elders$Need$To$Know$Select$Scriptures?$....................................................................................................................................$1&

I.& Biblical$References$on$Eldership$....................................................................................................................................................$3&

II.& Biblical$Characteristics$of$an$Elder$..............................................................................................................................................$6&As&to&God&and&His&Word&..........................................................................................................................................................................................................................&6&

As&to&himself&.................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................&6&

As&to&his&family&............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................&6&

As&to&others&...................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................&6&

As&to&things&...................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................&6&

III.& Bible$Events$and$References$Relevant$to$the$Elder’s$Work$..............................................................................................$7&Creation&..........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................&7&

God’s&Special&Creation:&Men&and&Women&created&in&His&Image&............................................................................................................................................&7&

The&Fall&...........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................&7&

The&Flood&.......................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................&7&

God’s&Call&and&Covenant&with&Abraham&...........................................................................................................................................................................................&7&

New&Covenant&.............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................&7&

The&Virgin&Birth&of&Christ&.......................................................................................................................................................................................................................&7&

Peter&Confesses&Jesus&as&the&Messiah&...............................................................................................................................................................................................&7&

The&New&Commandment&........................................................................................................................................................................................................................&7&

The&Death,&Burial&and&Resurrection&of&Christ&................................................................................................................................................................................&7&

The&Great&Commission&............................................................................................................................................................................................................................&7&

The&Exodus&and&First&Passover&............................................................................................................................................................................................................&8&

The&Ten&Commandments&.......................................................................................................................................................................................................................&8&

The&Mosaic&Covenant&...............................................................................................................................................................................................................................&8&

The&Greatest&Commandment&................................................................................................................................................................................................................&8&

Davidic&Covenant&.......................................................................................................................................................................................................................................&8&

The&Gospel&....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................&8&

The&Holy&Spirit&............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................&8&

The&Ascension&of&Christ&...........................................................................................................................................................................................................................&8&

Second&Advent&of&Christ&..........................................................................................................................................................................................................................&8&

Pentecost&–&Coming&of&the&Holy&Spirit&..............................................................................................................................................................................................&8&

Paul’s&Conversion&......................................................................................................................................................................................................................................&8&

Scripture&........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................&8&

Right&Attitudes&of&a&Leader&....................................................................................................................................................................................................................&8&

Christ’s&Divine&Nature&..............................................................................................................................................................................................................................&8&

The&New&Life&in&Christ&.............................................................................................................................................................................................................................&9&

Spiritual&Gifts&...............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................&9&

Men&and&Women’s&Roles&.........................................................................................................................................................................................................................&9&

Missions&.........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................&9&

Baptism&..........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................&9&

Lord’s&Supper&..............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................&9&

Life&after&Death&...........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................&9&

Total&Dedication&of&One’s&Life&to&God&................................................................................................................................................................................................&9&

The&Church&....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................&9&

Church&Discipline&.......................................................................................................................................................................................................................................&9&

Deacons&..........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................&9&

Widows&...........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................&9&

Financial&Giving&..........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................&9&

Judgment&Seat&of&Christ&...........................................................................................................................................................................................................................&9&

Christian&Liberty&and&Freedom&..........................................................................................................................................................................................................&10&

Spiritual&Warfare&.....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................&10&

Tithes&and&Offerings&...............................................................................................................................................................................................................................&10&

The&Christian&and&Government&..........................................................................................................................................................................................................&10&

Divorce&and&Remarriage&.......................................................................................................................................................................................................................&10&

Prayer............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................&10&

IV.& Contemporary$Social$Issues$an$Elder$Must$Be$Able$to$Address$....................................................................................$11&Abortion&.......................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................&11&

Christian&Use&of&Alcohol&and&Drugs&.................................................................................................................................................................................................&11&

Marriage,&Divorce,&and&Remarriage&.................................................................................................................................................................................................&11&

Social&Justice&..............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................&11&

Parenting&.....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................&11&

Domestic&Violence&and&Abuse&............................................................................................................................................................................................................&11&

V.& Elder’s$Personal$Verses$.................................................................................................................................................................$12&Christian&Experience&..............................................................................................................................................................................................................................&12&

Personal&Discipline&and&Commitment&............................................................................................................................................................................................&12&

Spiritual&Leadership&in&the&Family&...................................................................................................................................................................................................&12&

!

! 14!

!!

!

Every&Elder&Must&Know&|&Biblical&Eldership&Resources&

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