Honoring Those Who Serve

Honoring Those Who Serve

2005038

Topic # 1502

Introduction:

A. Personal words of thanks & admiration.

1. Knowledge; sound advice; and encouragement.

2. Making us feel as a part of His family.

B. 1 Thess. 5:12-13

C. We need to respect; honor; love those who rule over us as elders.

1. I believe it important to recognize those who serve us – because of the tremendous responsibilities they have.

2. Heb. 13:17 – they will give an account for the way they watch over our souls.

D. There is a crying need for honor/respecting elderships in today’s church.

1. Our continual desire should be to better know our duty – not only to God – but to each other.

2. A great hindrance of the church today is a failure of members to know their obligations to elders.

E. Elders must:

1. FEED the flock. The congregation has a responsibility to partake of the spiritual food they provide.

2. LEAD. The congregation must FOLLOW.

3. SET AN EXAMPLE. The congregation must IMITATE their example.

4. TEACH. The congregation must learn from them.

5. RULE. The congregation must SUBMIT to them.

F. If these break down – the work of the eldership will not be effective.

G. So what can we do to honor those who serve?

I. Know them.

A. 1 Thess. 5:12 – dual responsibility here.

1. Elders need to be accessible.

2. Make yourselves available to where brethren can get to know you.

a) Compliment our elders.

B. But...what does it mean to know them?

1. Know their lives.

2. Know the truth they advocate.

3. Know their desire relative to the congregation.

4. Tell others you know of the vision they have for this congregation.

C. This duty to know means to recognize their authority, to respect, and highly regard their leadership.

II. Esteem them highly in love. (1 Thess. 5:13)

A. Christians have a responsibility to love everyone.

1. For sinners. Should love their souls.

2. For our enemies. Mt. 5:43-44; 1 Thess. 5:15

B. For brethren. John 13:34-35; 1 John 3:11, 23

1. It would seem that we have are to have a special love for brethren!

2. Rom. 12:10; Heb. 13:1; 1 Pet. 1:22

3. Back to 1 Thess. 5:13 – a special love for our elders.

C. Why? Because of the work they do.

1. Heb. 13:17 – they watch for our souls. Serious and solemn responsibility.

2. They devote their lives to the work of the church.

D. There is a lack of respect/love for them in the church today.

1. In some cases – it is because men were appt’d that shouldn’t have been.

2. But…too common to see brethren that overly criticize & scandalize the elders.

E. Some even despise them.

1. Examine your heart. No godly justification to feel this way toward anyone – especially brothers in Christ.

2. jealousy plays a role; some tear them down to justify themselves;

3. Some treat them badly because they have been disciplined by them.

F. Must be careful!

1. Poor attitudes are not what God desires.

2. Wants us to regard them highly.

III. We honor the elders by submitting to them.

A. Obviously, not in things that are unscriptural. Acts 5:29

B. 1 Tim. 5:17 – elders are to RULE WELL and we are to OBEY.

1. Elders cannot rule well when members are allowed to disobey.

2. Some only want to obey as long as everything goes their way. Naaman – 2 Kings 5

3. We are to do more than just obey – we are to submit!

a) Means to give into their desires & abide by their decisions.

b) We need to be governed by a spirit of humbleness, meekness, and love.

c) Eph. 5:21

d) Eph. 5:24 – as a wife would to her husband.

e) 1 Pet. 5:5 – submit to one another.

C. This not to say that elders are exempt from taking in the desires of the congregation in making decisions.

1. Elders are not LORDS over the church.

2. Elders have more authority as husbands as HEAD of their wives than they do as elders within the congregation. Elders are not the HEAD over the church – Jesus is.

D. How is our attitude? Are we submitting to them as we should?

IV. We honor them by imitating them.

A. Heb. 13:7

1. Follow in their footprints as long as they follow Christ’s. (1 Cor. 11:1)

B. Imagine: if every member here imitated the example of godly, qualified elders – how much more we could do to take the gospel to the lost!

1. We expect much out of our elders. But...do we imitate them by

2. Attending at every opportunity?

3. Teaching?

4. Visiting/greeting visitors? Prospects? Brethren who need encouragement?

5. Living godly lives?

C. Rom. 12:1-2; Titus 2:11-12 – these are expectations for EVERY Christian – not just those who serve in leadership capacities.

V. Pray for them. 1 Tim. 2:1-2

A. What to pray for?

B. That the church may be in peace & that all things may be done in God’s will.

C. That the elders will lead with humbleness and in a godly way.

D. Praying for elders will eliminate most unkind things being done to them.

1. It is hard to pray for a man & wrong him at the same time!

VI. Call on them when in need.

A. Do we hide our troubles from them?

1. Or can they be sought after for advice/wisdom when times get rough?

B. Don’t keep something from them/brethren & then have the audacity to complain when they don’t respond because they don’t know.

C. Js. 5:14

Conclusion:

A. Outline the tremendous respect for our current eldership.

B. Are you as a member here in subjection to these elders?

1. It is a serious matter.

2. Obey the Lord’s will today!

D. Member of the church – but not living faithfully? Get your life right now!

E. Need to obey the gospel? Do it now!

F. I N V I T A T I O N



Honoring Those Who Serve 2005038 Topic # 1502 Introduction: A. Personal words of thanks & admiration. 1. Knowledge; sound advice; and encouragement. 2. Making us feel as a part of His family. B. 1 Thess. 5:12-13 C. We need to respect; honor; love those who rule over us as elders. 1. I believe it important to recognize those who serve us – because of the tremendous responsibilities they have. 2. Heb. 13:17 – they will give an account for the way they watch over our souls. D. There is a crying need for honor/respecting elderships in today’s church. 1. Our continual desire should be to better know our duty – not only to God – but to each other. 2. A great hindrance of the church today is a failure of members to know their obligations to elders. E. Elders must: 1. FEED the flock. The congregation has a responsibility to partake of the spiritual food they provide. 2. LEAD. The congregation must FOLLOW. 3. SET AN EXAMPLE. The congregation must IMITATE their example. 4. TEACH. The congregation must learn from them. 5. RULE. The congregation must SUBMIT to them. F. If these break down – the work of the eldership will not be effective. G. So what can we do to honor those who serve? I. Know them. A. 1 Thess. 5:12 – dual responsibility here. 1. Elders need to be accessible. 2. Make yourselves available to where brethren can get to know you. a) Compliment our elders. B. But...what does it mean to know them? 1. Know their lives. 2. Know the truth they advocate. 3. Know their desire relative to the congregation. 4. Tell others you know of the vision they have for this congregation. C. This duty to know means to recognize their authority, to respect, and highly regard their leadership. II. Esteem them highly in love. (1 Thess. 5:13) A. Christians have a responsibility to love everyone. 1. For sinners. Should love their souls. 2. For our enemies. Mt. 5:43-44; 1 Thess. 5:15 B. For brethren. John 13:34-35; 1 John 3:11, 23 1. It would seem that we have are to have a special love for brethren! 2. Rom. 12:10; Heb. 13:1; 1 Pet. 1:22 3. Back to 1 Thess. 5:13 – a special love for our elders. C. Why? Because of the work they do. 1. Heb. 13:17 – they watch for our souls. Serious and solemn responsibility. 2. They devote their lives to the work of the church. D. There is a lack of respect/love for them in the church today. 1. In some cases – it is because men were appt’d that shouldn’t have been. 2. But…too common to see brethren that overly criticize & scandalize the elders. E. Some even despise them. 1. Examine your heart. No godly justification to feel this way toward anyone – especially brothers in Christ. 2. jealousy plays a role; some tear them down to justify themselves; 3. Some treat them badly because they have been disciplined by them. F. Must be careful! 1. Poor attitudes are not what God desires. 2. Wants us to regard them highly. III. We honor the elders by submitting to them. A. Obviously, not in things that are unscriptural. Acts 5:29 B. 1 Tim. 5:17 – elders are to RULE WELL and we are to OBEY. 1. Elders cannot rule well when members are allowed to disobey. 2. Some only want to obey as long as everything goes their way. Naaman – 2 Kings 5 3. We are to do more than just obey – we are to submit! a) Means to give into their desires & abide by their decisions. b) We need to be governed by a spirit of humbleness, meekness, and love. c) Eph. 5:21 d) Eph. 5:24 – as a wife would to her husband. e) 1 Pet. 5:5 – submit to one another. C. This not to say that elders are exempt from taking in the desires of the congregation in making decisions. 1. Elders are not LORDS over the church. 2. Elders have more authority as husbands as HEAD of their wives than they do as elders within the congregation. Elders are not the HEAD over the church – Jesus is. D. How is our attitude? Are we submitting to them as we should? IV. We honor them by imitating them. A. Heb. 13:7 1. Follow in their footprints as long as they follow Christ’s. (1 Cor. 11:1) B. Imagine: if every member here imitated the example of godly, qualified elders – how much more we could do to take the gospel to the lost! 1. We expect much out of our elders. But...do we imitate them by 2. Attending at every opportunity? 3. Teaching? 4. Visiting/greeting visitors? Prospects? Brethren who need encouragement? 5. Living godly lives? C. Rom. 12:1-2; Titus 2:11-12 – these are expectations for EVERY Christian – not just those who serve in leadership capacities. V. Pray for them. 1 Tim. 2:1-2 A. What to pray for? B. That the church may be in peace & that all things may be done in God’s will. C. That the elders will lead with humbleness and in a godly way. D. Praying for elders will eliminate most unkind things being done to them. 1. It is hard to pray for a man & wrong him at the same time! VI. Call on them when in need. A. Do we hide our troubles from them? 1. Or can they be sought after for advice/wisdom when times get rough? B. Don’t keep something from them/brethren & then have the audacity to complain when they don’t respond because they don’t know. C. Js. 5:14 Conclusion: A. Outline the tremendous respect for our current eldership. B. Are you as a member here in subjection to these elders? 1. It is a serious matter. 2. Obey the Lord’s will today! D. Member of the church – but not living faithfully? Get your life right now! E. Need to obey the gospel? Do it now! F. I N V I T A T I O N