The purpose of this lesson: To generate greater insight and understanding into things that should be considered when selecting elders. Spend most of the class time on the discussion questions. Avoid lecturing by encouraging comments and discussion. Encourage everyone to share their views—do not allow one person to monopolize the class. Seek to guide and constructively evaluate.

This lesson in no way wishes to detract from the things said about elders in 1 Timothy 3 and Titus 1. In no way is it in opposition to the qualities of the men who would be appointed to serve the early church as elders. The lesson suggests that there are things to be considered that go beyond those statements. Though those passages say nothing about the person being a believer in Jesus Christ who is penitent and has been immersed into Jesus Christ, surely that should be a necessary consideration. Though they do not reference the fruit of the Spirit in Galatians 5:22, 23 or the spiritual growth qualities in 1 Peter 1:5-11, both would be important considerations.

Help those in the class realize there is more to be considered than what is said in 1 Timothy 3 and Titus 1. (Yes, there have been occasions when someone who attended a congregation with a baptized wife was asked to be an elder when he had never been baptized. He had been attending so long it was assumed he was a baptized believer.)

Remember, the qualities mentioned in 1 Timothy 3 and Titus 1 dealt with spiritual needs and considerations that dealt with living in a thoroughly idolatrous society 2000 years ago. This was before our modern-day preoccupations of owning land, building buildings, constructing parking lots, maintaining multiple programs, etc.

Stress that the focus in 1 Timothy 3 and Titus 1 is on spiritual maturity in societies that stressed differing concepts of religious development. Most societies (outside Judaism) were idolatrous.

The emphasis in 1 Timothy 3 and Titus 1 is on a spiritual person. Neither passage contains a job description. Give attention to these facts: (1) The emphases are on spirituality in relationships and on the values that controlled who the man was. (2) Both of these would set the men apart from their unspiritual society. (3) They would not react to nor handle problems in ways their society commonly reacted to or handled problems.

Stress neither contain a job description—which would be very different if “then needs” were compared to “now needs.”

The combination of those three things would of necessity mean spiritually mature persons should lead congregations. Such people would lead the Christians who composed congregations to higher (and often new) concepts of spirituality. These men were not chosen to confirm the desires of the converts, but to confirm God’s values. They were the kind of men who would stabilize homes and champion new husband-wife-child relationships. Their society rejected and often abandoned unwanted infants, saw marriage as an arrangement of convenience, often regarded wives as servants, often used force to settle disputes, often resorted to injustice to win, and often sought to prove manliness through indulgence. The spiritual men selected to be elders did not share society’s views!

Those who are elders often lead congregations to concepts of spiritual maturity that the congregation did not previously know. That can be an extremely difficult feat!

How did an elder do this in a society that basically rejected his positions? Did he do it by verbally ”laying down the law” and by “using the force of position” to demand congregational control? Neither passage suggests this as a course of action. Have you considered 2 Timothy 2:24-26 lately?

It is as important to know how not to abuse the congregation through being an elder as it is to know how to lead a congregation to understandings they did not know previously.

If they did not do seek control by verbal harassment but through being what they advocated, if they led people to new values in God by being what they advocated, these men were examples who served God. They were not power brokers—they were stewards (trusted, leading servants) of the only power broker—Jesus Christ.

Scripture stressed the importance of elders being examples. It is never a situation of, “Do as I say, not as I do.” The elders basically lead by showing and encouraging.

At the risk of having an un-American philosophy, is that the fast way to do things? No! However, it is the spiritually constructive way to do things. Observations: (1) Christians who demand leaders who control rather than leaders who are examples frequently leave congregations whose leaders refuse to control. (2) Christians who favor leadership by control only favor leadership by control if their desires determine the direction of the control.

The American society is typically interested in fast results and quick fixes. Control can be quick, but it is typically destructive. Often more for whom Christ died are hurt than helped by the use of control. Control typically becomes the seedbed for future problems and weakness.

As you seek spiritual leadership in this congregation, consider these things:

1. Select men who are committed to Jesus Christ first (who honor no close second choice).
2. Select men who are obviously spiritual in their relationships and the values in control of their lives.
3. Select men whose spirituality you respect and whose lives you respect.
4. Select men who are respected—though perhaps disagreed with—by those not in the congregation.
5. Select men who learn and are willing to learn.
6. Select men you trust to lead you to understandings beyond those you held in the past.
7. Select men who care about people who are hurting because of people’s failures.
8. Select men who are dedicated to serving.
9. Select men who refuse pressure and are not reactionary.
10. Select men who are not afraid of nor are ruled by their mistakes.

Encourage Christians in the class to consider these ten things as they consider men who are to lead the congregation.

Selecting men to serve as elders must not be reduced to a mere popularity contest.

Stress selecting men to be elders is not about measuring popularity or about payment for anything. It is about providing spiritual leadership for the congregation.

Elders are not perfect men. Perfect people do not exist. They are spiritually mature men who never cease drinking from the spring of God’s wisdom. Will you always agree with them? No! That is why you must respect and trust them. That is why you must know that they belong to Jesus Christ first in all matters.

Serving as an elder is not about perfection. It is about dedication to Jesus Christ and his values as he directs us to God the Father.

Discussion Questions

These are discussion questions. Response is unpredictable. The students will learn more from their comments and interactions than through the teacher lecturing. The teacher should be a thoughtful guide who encourages thinking. Do not repress insights and understandings—help them evaluate, but do not repress thought.

1. Do you think 1 Timothy 3:1-7 and Titus 1:5-9 contain all relevant considerations in determining who should and should not be an elder? Why or why not?

2. What do you think is the emphases of those two scriptures?

3. How do our society of today and that society of “then” differ?

4. Do you think those differences make an elder’s work more difficult, less difficult, or about the same in difficulty? Explain your answer.

5. Explain the difference between a “control” and an “example” approach to leadership.

6. Can a congregation be led as though it were a business? Why or why not?

7. Discuss how the American society feels about fast resolution of challenges/problems.

8. Of the ten leadership suggestions given for consideration, which do you think is the most important? Why? Which do you think is the least important? Why?

9. Were you to make a suggestion other than those ten, what would you suggest?

10. How can we encourage spiritual men to be elders?

11. What have you learned about selecting leadership as a result of these discussions?

Link to Student Guide Lesson 2

Copyright © 2009, 2010
David Chadwell & West-Ark Church of Christ

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