ELDERS, PASTORS, BISHOPS, OVERSEERS, are all terms used to describe the SHEPHERDS of the Lord's church. They are to exist in plurality, and shepherd the Lord's church according to God's word only (Acts 20:32; Titus 1:9 - not making rules, but simply demanding that no other doctrine be taught - 2 John 9). They are to rule by example (1 Peter 5:3), and then to exhort and convict those who contradict (Titus 1:9). They are appointed through the Spirit given qualifications found in - 1Timothy 3:1-7; Titus 1:5-9.
Acts 14:23 "So when they had appointed elders in every church, and prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord in whom they had believed."
Philippians 1:1 "Paul and Timothy, bondservants of Jesus Christ, To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are in Philippi, with the bishops and deacons"
Titus 1:5 "For this reason I left you in Crete, that you should set in order the things that are lacking, and appoint elders in every city as I commanded you"
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Peter 5:1-4 "The elders who are among you
I exhort, I who am a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ,
and also a partaker of the glory that will be revealed:
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Shepherd the flock of God which is among you, serving as overseers, not by
compulsion but willingly, not for dishonest gain but eagerly;
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nor as being lords over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the
flock;
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and when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory
that does not fade away."
OUR SHEPHERDS:
PETE HICKS ALVIN CHAFFIN
DEACONS - By the definition of the word, we learn that these men who are appointed by the qualifications found in 1 Timothy 3:8-13, are servants. These qualified servants, work under the authority of the shepherds or elders in a local congregation. They are striving to obtain for themselves, in their service to the elders, "a good standing and great boldness in the faith which is in Jesus Christ" - 1 Timothy 3:13.
OUR DEACONS:
EVANGELISTS - "One who speaks well the good news". The Lord appointed these in each body of Christ (Ephesians 4:11). As we study the instruction of the Apostle Paul, as he charged Timothy (an evangelist), we learn about the work expected of these men, note:
1 Timothy 1:3 "As I urged you when I went into Macedonia—remain in Ephesus that you may charge some that they teach no other doctrine"
2 Timothy 4:1-5 "I charge you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom: 2 Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching. 3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; 4 and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables. 5 But you be watchful in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry."
OUR EVANGELIST:
DAVID HICKS
