A study of elders, deacons, ministers and Body

1
What Does the Bible Say?
21 June

• A study of elders, deacons, ministers and Body
• How we are to live, work and thrive together

2
What Does the Bible Say?
21 June

• Chickens and Christians
• Whats the Connection?

3
What Does the Bible Say?
21 June

• Based upon our time together
• What have you learned as a Christian?
• What have you learned as an Elder?
• What have we learned as a Body?

4
What Does the Bible Say?
21 June

• Communication in the Body
• Authority of Elders and Our Response

5

• QUESTIONS
• PRAYER

6
What Does the Bible Say?
21 June

• What level of communication and transparency
  should an eldership model?
• How do we implement that?

7
What Does the Bible Say?
21 June

• COMMUNICATION AND TRANSPARENCY
• See earlier texts on Decision Making
• Acts 6 15
• The church was privy to and part of the process.

8
What Does the Bible Say?
21 June

• COMMUNICATION AND TRANSPARENCY
• Jim emphasized the importance of two-way
  communication between the Body and leadership
• Becky stated that complacency is frequently the
  source for poor communication
• Becky asked how do we allow our communication to
  become negative? Our ineffectiveness may be tied
  to fragmentation of time focus each part needs
  to do its job

9
What Does the Bible Say?
21 June

• COMMUNICATION AND TRANSPARENCY
• Becky stated that deacons need to be allowed to
  do the job they were appointed to do and not
  execute their roles in constant fear or threat of
  criticism same could be said of elders and each
  part of the Body. We need to approach each other
  in love and out of respect. Elders need to
  express/document why they make the decisions they
  do, be prepared to make them swiftly.

10
What Does the Bible Say?
21 June

• COMMUNICATION AND TRANSPARENCY
• Becky encouraged frequent congregational
  meetings. The Body needs to respond and provide
  feedback when it is requested. The eldership
  needs to be able to rely on the wise, Biblical
  insight of their brethren. We need to be
  accountable to each other and not be complacent.

11
What Does the Bible Say?
21 June

• COMMUNICATION AND TRANSPARENCY
• Charlie shared that his study, since the class
  began, has led him to have greater respect for
  the elders. Weve all made mistakes. He
  emphasized the importance of being involved and
  committed. If youre not willing to get involved,
  dont criticize.
• Tim encouraged us to have a mindset change. We
  need to love God and love each other. We need to
  follow Christs example

12
What Does the Bible Say?
21 June

• COMMUNICATION AND TRANSPARENCY
• Tim stated we, including elders, need to do
  things because we want to and not because we have
  to.
• We need to let elders and deacons do their work
  and not overwhelm them with minutia. We all need
  to be doing our work and be accountable for it
  and our behavior.

13
What Does the Bible Say?
21 June

• COMMUNICATION AND TRANSPARENCY
• Diana Cochran wrote another fine article, which
  is on our web site. In reference to communication
  and transparency she wrote that the discussions
  in Acts 15 was done in front of the church and
  out in the open.
• We need to be meeting and solving problems
  together in a Godly way.

14
What Does the Bible Say?
21 June

• COMMUNICATION AND TRANSPARENCY
• Mike emphasized the importance of us as brethren
  being familiar with what the Bible has to say. We
  need to be studying what God says about the
  matters we have questions about or need guidance
  in. We each are accountable for knowing what God
  wants in our lives individually and as a Body.

15
What Does the Bible Say?
21 June

• COMMUNICATION AND TRANSPARENCY
• Gossip is sin. It is never excusable. One way we
  can minimize the potential for gossip is for
  leadership to communicate information and changes
  to the Body as quickly as possible. The Body
  doesnt need to find itself in a position where
  It is guessing about what is going on.

16
What Does the Bible Say?
21 June

• COMMUNICATION AND TRANSPARENCY
• Private information shared confidentially needs
  to stay that way. But information that affects
  the church needs to be shared with the church.
  Decisions that affect the church need to be
  decided in the presence of the church.
• We need to work out our individual differences
  quickly and in a Godly way. If we are not willing
  to do that, then we need to forgive, forget, and
  move on in a brotherly fashion.

17
What Does the Bible Say?
28 June

• What type and level of authority do elders have?
  
• In what ways should it be exercised?
• In what ways should it not?

18
What Does the Bible Say?
28 June

• Chickens and Christians
• Whats the Connection?

19
What Does the Bible Say?
28 June

• Based upon our time together
• What have you learned as a Christian?
• What have you learned as an Elder?
• What have we learned as a Body?

20
What Does the Bible Say?
28 June

• Based upon your study
• What are examples of correction and how should it
  be done?
• What does it mean as an Eldership/Body to Lord
  it over? Examples?

21
What Does the Bible Say? Future Study Questions

• How do you see the Biblical relationship between
  elders and the church being enhanced? What would
  you suggest?

22
What Does the Bible Say?
Future Study Questions

• How do you see our relationships with each other
  as members of Christs body being enhanced? What
  things would you suggest or like to see?

23
What Does the Bible Say?
Future Study Questions

• How do you understand the Biblical teaching and
  model of an elders shepherding, guiding and
  overseeing the church body?

24
What Does the Bible Say?
Future Study Questions

• How do you understand the unique responsibility
  of shepherds watching over and being accountable
  for the souls of the congregation?
• Acts 2028-30, Heb 1317

25

• QUESTIONS
• PRAYER