Foundations: Elders - SERMON NOTES

Below are Pastor Ben's sermon notes from this past Sunday, in case they may be helpful for further study. To listen to the sermon, click the link above.

Intro: (1) foundations series (2) elder-led church -- selection process, qualifications (4) duties -- meetings, SGL oversight, communion, counsel/prayer (5) current team -- Ben, Jeremy, Marshall, Chad, Andy, Keith rotating off (6) inserts -- responsibility (8) three elder characteristics to be reflected in congregation

Three Characteristics of Biblical Church Leadership
1. A group: (1) Acts 14:19-23 -- map (2) multiple NT references to plurality, OT precedent (3)
reason #1 -- difficult decisions (cf. Acts 15, pavilion) (4) reason #2 -- need for different
viewpoints, skills, etc. (cf. Abe Lincoln, Andy vs. Chad) (5) importance of trust and care (6) app to church -- community needed for difficulties, differences

2. A commended group: (1) 1 Timothy 3:1 -- first qualification is desire (2) nuance #1 -- wanting it for wrong reasons (3) nuance #2 -- some reservation is good (4) nuance #3 -- timing must be right (5) nuance #4 -- sweet spot of aspiration/commendation (cf. Barney singing) (6) importance of id forms (7) app to church -- community needed for encouraging giftedness (cf. Tim T, Leslie)

3. A qualified group: (1) 1 Timothy 3:1-7 (2) ability to teach vs. rest of list (3) “not a recent convert” -- well-grounded in grounding their righteousness in Christ (4) five areas -- self-discipline, family, doctrine, accessibility, finances (5) maturity in each one, yet humility that protects against self-righteousness (6) church app -- somebody ahead, beside, behind (growth without comparison)

Elder Interview
1. How would you describe your experience as an elder these last three years?
2. What has brought you the most joy as an elder? What has been a difficulty of being an elder?
3. What do you most appreciate about our church family?
4. What counsel would you give the church family as we enter into elder identification?
5. Would you close this time by praying for our congregation?

Conclusion: (1) Keith -- reading habits, level-headedness, devotion to family, willingness to have difficult conversations, contrast to my dreaming/pushing, Chinese food, no ice (2) inserts in worship guide