Kootenai Church: Biblical Eldership

The book of Acts provides significant teaching regarding the role, organization, appointment, roles, methodology, and accountability of elders in the church. In this lesson, we begin an examination of the relevant passages in Acts and come to an initial understanding of the Biblical model of a plurality of elders, examining in the process several apparent exceptions that serve to clarify how plurality worked in the early church. We also see the Biblical method for the appointment of elders.

Of all the specific topics around eldership discussed in scripture, the Spirit gives the vast majority of His attention to the issue of qualification. Why is the qualification of elders so important? In this lesson, we continue to examine the qualifications for eldership given to the church in 1 Timothy 3, examining the meaning of “above reproach,” and “one-woman man.”

Who are "the women" in 1 Timothy 3:11? Are these female deacons in a role identical to the male deacons described earlier? Are these women who help deacons in the execution of their role? Are these the wives of deacons? Are these the wives of deacons and elders? In this lesson, we examine these questions and also the qualifications of these women.

Examination of the Biblical qualifications of elders continues with “temperate,” “sensible,” “respectable,” “hospitable,” “able to teach,” and “not addicted to wine.” We look at the meaning of each of the words and flesh out how those qualifications are applied to elders.

Introduction to Biblical Eldership: Alignment to a Biblical model of church leadership is essential to the proper function of the local, visible expression of the body of Christ. In this lesson, we examine the three Greek words used to identify the office of those responsible for the spiritual leadership of the local church. An elder is an overseer, a shepherd, and a pastor. The words are themselves descriptive of the necessary character of the elder and give us an indication of the function that qualified elders are to perform in the church.