Our scripture reading this evening is from the Acts of the Apostles, Acts chapter 20. Let's read the entire chapter, beginning at the first verse of Acts chapter 20. Paul is on his missionary journeys, and he's in Macedonia. Acts 20, let us hear the word of God. After the uproar ceased, Paul sent for the disciples, and after encouraging them, he said farewell and departed for Macedonia. When he had gone through those regions and had given them much encouragement, he came to Greece. There he spent three months, and when a plot was made against him by the Jews as he was about to set sail for Syria, he decided to return through Macedonia. Jupiter of Berea, the son of Pyrrhus from Berea, accompanied him, and of the Thessalonians, Aristarchus and Secundus, Gaius of Derbe, and Timothy, and the Asians, Titicus and Trophimus, These went on ahead and were waiting for us at Troas, but we sailed away from Philippi after the days of unleavened bread, and in five days we came to them at Troas where we stayed for seven days. On the first day of the week when we were gathered together to break bread, Paul talked with them intending to depart on the next day, and he prolonged his speech until midnight. There were many lamps in the upper room where we were gathered. And a young man named Eutychus, sitting at the window, sank into a deep sleep as Paul talked still longer. And being overcome by sleep, he fell down from the third story and was taken up dead. But Paul went down and bent over him, and taking him in his arms, said, Do not be alarmed, for his life is in him. And when Paul had gone up and had broken bread and eaten, he conversed with them a long while, until daybreak, and so departed. And they took the youth away alive, and were not a little comforted. But going ahead to the ship, we set sail for Assos, intending to take Paul aboard there. For so he had arranged, intending himself to go by land, And when he met us at Assos, he took him on board. We took him aboard and went to Mylini. And sailing from there, we came the following day opposite Chios. And the next day, we touched at Samos. And the day after that, we went to Miletus. Propola decided to set sail past Ephesus so that he might not have to spend time in Asia. for he was hastening to be at Jerusalem, if possible, on the day of Pentecost. Now from Miletus he sent to Ephesus and called the elders of the church to come to him. And when they came to him, he said to them, you yourselves know how I lived among you the whole time from the first day that I set foot in Asia. serving the Lord with all humility and with tears and with trials that happened to me through the plots of the Jews. I did not shrink from declaring to you anything that was profitable and teaching you in public and from house to house, testifying both to Jews and to Greeks of repentance towards God and of faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. And I behold, I am going to Jerusalem constrained by the Spirit, not knowing what will happen to me there, except that the Holy Spirit testifies to me in every city that imprisonment and afflictions await me. But I do not account my life of any value, nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I receive from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God. And now, behold, I know that none of you among whom I have gone about proclaiming the kingdom will see my face again. Therefore I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all of you, for I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole counsel of God. Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood. I know that after my departure, fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock. And from among your own selves will men will arise, speaking twisted things, to draw away the disciples after them. Therefore be alert, remembering that for three years I did not cease, night or day, to admonish everyone with tears. And I commend you to God and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance among all those who are sanctified. I coveted no one's silver or gold or apparel. You yourselves know that these hands minister to my necessities, and to those who were with me. In all things, I have shown you that by working hard in this way, we must help the weak. And remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, it is more blessed to give than to receive. And when he had said these things, he knelt down and prayed with them all. And there was much weeping on the part of all They embraced Paul and kissed him, being sorrowful, most of all, because of the word he had spoken, that they would not see his face again. And they accompanied him to the ship. Amen. So reads God's holy word. Subject this evening is the elder, a man of God. And our text is Acts 20 verse 28. As you heard this morning, and probably heard before this morning, the Trinity elders have decided to hold an election for additional elders for the congregation. The projected date is Sabbath morning, the 2nd of February. I've also mentioned this morning on either side of communion on the 19th of January, I plan to preach a short series on the eldership over these coming weeks. And tonight we begin with a general biblical overview of the subject of the eldership. Taking this verse that Paul addressed to the Ephesian elders in Acts 20, 28 is our key verse. Pay careful attention to yourselves, Paul said to the elders, and to all the flock in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood. So with reference to this verse and other verses of scripture, we will see six things about the elder. The first one is the elder appointed by Christ, an elder appointed by Christ. The Bible clearly reveals to us that Christ is the head of the church. Referring to Jesus in Ephesians 1 verse 22, the apostle Paul said, and he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church. put all things under his feet, head over all things for the benefit and well-being of the church. And since the church fulfills such a special role in the will and plan of God, the rule of Christ over the church is precisely stated in Colossians 1, verse 18. And he is the head of the body, the church. So no one should be in any doubt that The head of the church is Jesus himself. We could multiply these many references, but there really isn't any need. The point is made, Jesus Christ is the king and head of his church. And that has important implications. There must be no interference from outside the church concerning its life, and its worship and its ministry as occurred in the 17th century when the Stuart kings were on the throne and many, many suffered persecution as they stood up against his intrusion into the life and work of the church. And of course, there should be no innovation from within the church itself. people deciding themselves how they ought to be governed, or deciding themselves how they ought to worship, with such things as dance and drama, et cetera. Christ, as king and head of the church, must regulate everything. Then that raises the question, how does Christ care for the church today? He is in heaven, and the church is on earth. Well, the answer is found in this text, Acts 20, 28, Paul addressing the elders of the church in Ephesus says, pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood. These men in Ephesus had received a divine appointment. Christ working through the Holy Spirit had made them elders. They weren't self-appointed, but they were appointed by Christ to care for his church on earth. And so that's how Christ cares for his people, for his church today, it's through elders. That is why they're sometimes called under-shepherds, because they serve under the chief shepherd, Christ himself. So an elder appointed by Christ. But how, in practical terms, is this accomplished? Well, secondly, an elder is elected by the people. An elder is elected by the people. The Saviour called men to serve him in the office of the eldership through the decision of the members in the local congregation. At the end of Paul's first missionary journey, he retraced his steps and he visited each location where he had preached and where a church was established. In Acts 14 verse 23 we read, And when they had appointed elders for them in every church with prayer and fasting, They committed them to the Lord in whom they had believed, and when they had appointed elders for them in every church. The word used in the original, to appoint, carries the meaning to vote by stretching out the hand. To vote by stretching out the hand. The will of the local Christians was the determining factor And we see a parallel in Acts chapter 6 when deacons or those who might be described as proto-deacons were appointed. The apostles said to the church in Jerusalem, verse 3 of Acts chapter 6, pick out from among you seven men. And then verse 5, and what they said pleased the whole gathering and they chose. and they chose, and then the names of the seven men are then given to us, Stephen, and Philip, and Procorus, and Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicholas. And then after the people, after the congregation in Jerusalem had chosen these seven men, they were ordained, set apart by the apostles for the work of the diaconate. Verse six, these they set before the apostles and they prayed and laid their hands on them. Well, then that raises, of course, another question. How does Jesus Christ reveal his will to members of the congregation? How do they know who ought to be voted for? How do they know who ought to be chosen to be future elders in the congregation? Well, he gives them the criteria on which to base their choice. For example, when a congregation is to elect an elder or elders, members must turn to 1 Timothy 3, verses 1 to 7, Titus 1, verses 5 to 9, and 1 Peter 5, verses 1 to 4. These verses, these passages, must be read and studied, and of course, For someone like myself, these verses have to be preached on, and God willing I will be doing that over the next number of weeks. The question then must be asked by each member, what men, what men in our congregation measure up to these requirements? And it's in this way that Christ makes his will known. The elders are appointed by Christ. Elders are appointed through the biblically informed choice of the people. These chosen men are then set apart for the eldership to serve their savior, Jesus Christ, by taking the oversight of the members in the local congregation. Then thirdly, we recognize that an elder possesses delegated authority. an elder possesses delegated authority. At the outset, we made it clear that Jesus Christ is Lord of all. He is the king and head of the church. We also recognize that he is in heaven. And to exercise his role in the church, he's appointed elders to serve him on earth in the church. These men do not have an inherent authority. It is not an authority that arises because of their age. It's not an authority that arises because of their status in society. Rather, they possess a delegated authority. They are called to rule in the church with the authority that Christ has delegated to them, with the authority that Christ has given to them. and get an example from the home. Parents possess authority to exercise rule in the home. And because they have that authority, they call upon their children to obey them. Parents exercise this rule when they administer discipline. When, for example, the children are disobedient, The parents are called upon to exercise that discipline in the name of Christ, who's appointed them head of the home. And parents exercise this authority not because they're older, not because they're bigger, not because they're stronger, not because they have a better education than their children. No, they exercise an authority given to them by Christ. It is a delegated authority. And so Jesus Christ calls on parents to exercise his rule within the home. And the same is true of elders. They are called upon by God, appointed by Christ, ordained by the church to exercise or to implement Christ's rule within the sphere of the church. Now, this is very apparent from Many texts and scripture will take three examples. 1 Thessalonians 5 verse 12, we ask you brothers to respect those who labor among you and are over you in the Lord and admonish you. Or 1 Timothy 5 verse 17, that the elders who rule well, so they're exercising rule, be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in preaching and teaching. And also Hebrews 13 and verse 17. Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls as those who will have to give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you. Well, that brings us in the fourth place to the fact that an elder is given a manual to implement. An elder is appointed by Christ, elected by the people, possesses delegated authority, and now is given a manual to implement. Sometimes elders can get the idea. Since I was elected by the people, I must direct the affairs of the church according to the wishes of the people, kind of like a trade union shop steward. Well, that is a wrong idea. That is an erroneous idea. The elders are called by God, appointed by Christ, ordained by the church to direct the affairs of the church according to the mind of Christ, not according to the wishes of the people. But what is the mind of Christ? Well, it's been given to us in the Bible. The mind of Christ is the Word of God, plain and simply. And so in this way, elders have been given a manual to implement. It is through reading and studying the Word of God that elders become aware of how to implement Christ's rule within the church. An elder then is not to rule according to his own ideas, Nor is he to rule according to the wishes or the whims or the fancies of the people, but he is to rule according to the word of God. And an elder who departs from the word of God in the exercise of his rule as an elder forfeits. He forfeits the right to govern. And that should be the case. That being the case, he cannot command the respect of the people. over whom he was appointed. Well, then, in the fifth place, we come to an elder accountable to Christ. An elder is accountable to Christ. Now, we understand that the authority an elder possesses is not inherent, and it's not his by natural right, but it's a delegated authority. And that has consequences. The head of the church who delegated this authority will, on the day of judgement, require an account of how it was exercised. Elders will give an account of how they have exercised their authority as elders. Parents who possess a delegated authority to exercise Christ's rule within the home will be asked to give an account as to how they exercise that authority in bringing up their children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. Back to Hebrews 13 verse 17 with respect to accountability. Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls as those who will have to give an account. What does it mean to keep watch over people? Well, this question will be answered in another sermon later on in the series, but I'm sure you realize that it carries with it a grave responsibility. Elders must keep watch over the souls Souls elected by God from all eternity. Souls to promote their spiritual well-being. They're to keep watch over the souls for whom Christ shed his precious blood. And in such a way, so as to promote or to protect them from spiritual harm. That's what Paul said about wolves in the context of the church in Ephesus. Acts 20. 30 and 31. I know that after my departure, fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock. And from among your own selves will arise men speaking twisted things to draw away disciples after them. Therefore, be alert. Therefore, be alert. Elders keep watch over you as men who must be on the alert for wolves, who would ravish the flock, who would tear the flock apart. And they do so as men who must give an account to the chief shepherd as how they've watched over the flock, how they've cared for the flock, how they have administered discipline within the flock. and the overriding concern in all the work of the elders is not necessarily to please the people, but to please their savior, Jesus Christ, to honor him in all their decisions. And if that is their practice, then the day of accounting will be for them a day of joy. Well, we've covered quite a bit of ground. An elder is appointed by Christ. An elder is elected by the people. An elder possesses delegated authority. An elder is given a manual to implement. The elder is accountable to Christ. And I finally, considering it in a little more detail, an elder is to be an exemplary Christian. An elder is to be an exemplary Christian. In 1 Peter 5, verses two and three, the apostle says, shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion, but willingly as God would have you, not for shameful gain, but eagerly, not dominating over those in your charge, but being examples. being examples to the flock. So how are elders to be examples? Well, I've chosen a few areas that are found in other parts of scripture. And the first area is an elder is to be an example in holiness. An elder is to be an example in holiness. Before an elder is called to office in the church, he is called to be holy, as, of course, are all Christians. We're called to be holy as the Lord our God is holy. The elder is to be a man who sees sin for what it is, loathsome, repugnant, hateful to God. And by the grace of God, he will energetically seek to mortify sin, to put sin to death in his own life. turning away from anything and everything that is contrary to the mind and will of Christ. Our elder will embrace, he will put on everything that God approves, that God commands, that God requires. This command of Christ's will will resonate in his ears continually to be holy, even as the Lord our God is holy. To be an example of holiness, than to be an example in the home. In 1 Timothy 3 verses 4 and 5, Paul uses the argument from the lesser to the greater. About the prospective elder, he must manage his own household well, with all dignity keeping his children submissive. For if someone does not know how to manage his own household, how will he care for God's church? You see, some men may be in the danger of thinking, no matter how much I fail in the job of raising my children or of making a happy marriage and home, I can still be a good elder. That is simply not the case. God makes it clear the man who fails in the lesser responsibility is not suitable for the greater responsibility. The husband's first responsibility is to care for the little church that is found in his home, his family. And having proved himself in the domestic setting, he is qualified then to care for the bigger church, the congregation where he worships. An elder then thirdly should be an example in doctrinal commitment. 2 Timothy 1 verse 13, follow the pattern of the sound words that you have heard from me in the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. And one of the qualifications of an elder is to be apt to teach. Now, this does not mean that every elder has to be a preacher. Some may have the gifts to do that, but it certainly does mean that every elder ought to be committed to the doctrines of the Word of God. And of course, as members of the Reformed Presbyterian Church, we believe these doctrines are summarized in the Westminster Standards, the Confession of Faith, and the Catechisms, Larger and Shorter. and that they are consistent with the word of God. Each elder, prior to his ordination, is called to sign a document to say that this is the profession of his faith, that he subscribes to these doctrines as the teaching of God's word. An elder or a potential elder ought to know the doctrines of the Bible and be able to give a reason for the hope that he possesses to everyone who asks. In other words, he ought to be a man who's able to communicate, at least on a one-to-one basis, what he believes and why he believes it. And fourthly, an elder should be an example in church loyalty, an example in church loyalty. Hebrews 10 verse 25, not neglecting to meet together as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another and all the more as you see the day drawing near. It goes without saying that church, church will have a high priority in the life of the elder. Whoever else is absent from the worship services, morning and evening, the elders will always seek to be there, health permitting. Matter who else is absent from the prayer meeting, the elders will always seek to be there. Then an elder should be an example, an evangelistic witness. Philippians 2 verses 14 to 16. do all things without grumbling or questioning, that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God, without blemish, in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, holding fast to the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I may be proud that I did not run in vain or labor in vain. According to this text, everyone, every Christian is to be a shining light. Every Christian is to be a bright witness. And the elders, therefore, ought to be an example in this aspect of discipleship, pointing others to the Lord Jesus Christ. And then, finally, the elders should be an example in stewardship. Malachi 3 verse 10 points out how we all have to exercise a stewardship of money. Bring the full tithes into the storehouse that there may be food in my house. And therefore put me to the test as the Lord of hosts if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you a blessing until there is no more need. An elder who is not giving to the church as the Lord has prospered him, is not consistently tithing his income, is not being faithful to his Lord and Master. In fact, he is encouraging the Savior's displeasure. He is acting hypocritically with respect to his leadership in this regard. And he will have a bad conscience before God and men, which will gradually undermine his effectiveness as a ruler in God's house. The Apostle Paul was such a leader, and he said, Be imitators of me as I am of Christ. Now, I'm not sure you'll hear such words from your elders, but in effect, that's what they are doing. They're setting a standard. They're setting an example. So that in effect, they are saying, be imitators of us as we are imitators of Christ. So an elder is to be a stewardship of money, but he's also to be a stewardship of time. An elder will need to be well organized with respect to time, because as well as family and work commitments, he must have sufficient time for the duties of the eldership, regular duties on the Sabbath, regular duties in the courts of the church, presbytery, synod, and, of course, the session meetings. And then there's the regular visitation of the congregation. Some elders neglect their duties by saying, I can't afford the time. Yes, the eldership is costly. It is costly with respect to time. And if a man is not prepared to give his time to the work, then he ought not to be an elder. 1 Peter 5 in verse 1, So I exhort the elders among you as a fellow elder, shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you. It is an immense privilege, a great honor to be an elder in the Church of Christ. But remember, it has many, many responsibilities, primarily keeping watch over the souls of the redeemed as men who must give an account. With these thoughts in mind and other messages that I will bring to you, we trust and pray the Lord will lead you as a congregation to the men here who are biblically qualified and who are prepared to serve Christ sacrificially in his church here on earth, to care for the church of God which he purchased with his own blood. Amen. Let us pray. Our Father, we do thank you for the institution of the church. We thank you for its founder, the Lord Jesus Christ. We thank you that he is its king and head, and he has given elders a manual to implement in his word. And so we thank you that elders are not left in the dark, but are clearly given a mandate from Christ himself. Our Father, we thank you for the present elders of the flock here and how they are seeking faithfully to exercise their responsibilities before Christ. And we do pray, Father, for other men to be appointed also. We thank you for the potential that there is in a congregation like this. And we do pray that the congregation will be led to the men of your choice, men who will give serious consideration to the call and will be prepared to sacrificially enter into service for the Lord Jesus Christ to serve him in this capacity in the days to come. So our Father, we thank you for the blessing of being present in worship, of giving to you that honor that is due to you alone, And we do pray that you'll be with us tonight and throughout the days of this week upon which we have entered, that you will take us step by step along the roadway of this week and of this year. We pray for help in every aspect of life and then bring us back again next week for another day of worship in your presence with your people for the glory of your name. now receive the blessing of the Lord. The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all. Amen.