Introduction:
No church can function without designated leaders.As Ac14:23 indicates,certain individuals were appointed to the office of elder or overseer by Paul and Barnabas,spirit filled missionaries who sought god's will through prayer and fasting in accordance with the spiritual qualifications,which were later set down by the Holy Spirit in 1T3:1-7;Tit1:5-9(see post on" MORAL QUALIFICATIONS FOR OVERSEERS").So therefore it is the Spirit who makes someone an overseer of the church.Paul's final address to the Ephesian elders(Ac20:18-35) is a classic passage giving scriptural principles on how to function as an overseer within the visible church.Their task is not unlike that of the OT Prophets.
A) Promoting the faith of JESUS in the life of the believers:
1) One of the Major duties of overseers is to feed the sheep by teaching God's word.They must always keep in mind that the flock given to them is no other than the people that GOD has purchased for him self with his son's precious blood.(Ac20:28;1Co6:20;1Pe1:19;2:9;Rev5:9).
2) In Ac20:19-27,Paul describes how he sered as a shepherd if the church in Ephesus: he has declared the whole will of GOD by faithfully warning and teaching the Ephesian Christians(Ac20:27).Consequently he is able to say "I am innocent of the blood of all men" (meaning if any should die spiritually and be lost forever,Paul would not be to blame because he was faithful in testifying about Christ).Overseers today must likewise declare to their churches God's whole will.They must "preach the word... correct,rebuke and encourage with great patience and careful instruction".(2Ti4:2),and refuse to be preachers who seek to please people and say only what they want to hear(2Ti4:3).
No church can function without designated leaders.As Ac14:23 indicates,certain individuals were appointed to the office of elder or overseer by Paul and Barnabas,spirit filled missionaries who sought god's will through prayer and fasting in accordance with the spiritual qualifications,which were later set down by the Holy Spirit in 1T3:1-7;Tit1:5-9(see post on" MORAL QUALIFICATIONS FOR OVERSEERS").So therefore it is the Spirit who makes someone an overseer of the church.Paul's final address to the Ephesian elders(Ac20:18-35) is a classic passage giving scriptural principles on how to function as an overseer within the visible church.Their task is not unlike that of the OT Prophets.
AC20:28 "28Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God,which he bought with his own blood."
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| A SHEPHERD WITH HIS FLOCKS |
A) Promoting the faith of JESUS in the life of the believers:
1) One of the Major duties of overseers is to feed the sheep by teaching God's word.They must always keep in mind that the flock given to them is no other than the people that GOD has purchased for him self with his son's precious blood.(Ac20:28;1Co6:20;1Pe1:19;2:9;Rev5:9).
2) In Ac20:19-27,Paul describes how he sered as a shepherd if the church in Ephesus: he has declared the whole will of GOD by faithfully warning and teaching the Ephesian Christians(Ac20:27).Consequently he is able to say "I am innocent of the blood of all men" (meaning if any should die spiritually and be lost forever,Paul would not be to blame because he was faithful in testifying about Christ).Overseers today must likewise declare to their churches God's whole will.They must "preach the word... correct,rebuke and encourage with great patience and careful instruction".(2Ti4:2),and refuse to be preachers who seek to please people and say only what they want to hear(2Ti4:3).
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| JESUS OUR GOOD SHEPHERD. |
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