Servitude of Church, Elder and Deacon
Eld. Ho
I.
Know the Church of God
A.
The origin of Church
1.
Bought by God through the blood of Christ (Acts ; Rev 5:9)
2.
Saints sanctify and called by Christ (1Co 1:2;
Rom 1:6-7)
3.
Bought by God with a great price(1Co 6:20; 1Pe
1:18-20)
·
Baptized into one spirit and made to drink in
one spirit (1Co 12:13)
B.
What is Church?
1.
Church is the body of Christ (Eph , 4:4; Col)
2.
Church is the home of everlasting God (1Ti 3:15;
Eph 2:18-19)
3.
Church is the temple of God
(Eph 2:20-22; 1Co 3:16-17)
4.
Church is the true vine(Jn
15:1-8; 1Co 12:27)
5.
Church is the flock of the Lord (Jn 10:11-16)
·
Should not be call brothers by outward image
(2Co -17; Gal -27)
·
Should not treat brothers by outward impression
(Jas 2:1-5, 9)
·
Should not criticize and judge each other (Jas
4:11-12; Rom 14:1-6)
·
Keep God’s commandments and love one another (Jn 13:34-35; 1Jn 4:7-21)
·
Keep apostles’ teachings, establish church, and
flourish gospel (Mt 28:20; Acts 2:42-47)
C.
Mission
of the Church
1.
Carry out salvation to the end of the world
(Acts ; 1:8)
2.
Christ gave to Church the key to Heaven (Mt
16:18-19; Jn 20:21-23)
3.
Preach to all nations and save everyone (Mt
28:18-19)
4.
Accept God’s command, and pastor the sheep (Jn 21:15-17; Acts 20:28)
·
Carry out the will of God, and accomplish His
work (Jn 4:34-38; Mt 24:14)
II.
Understand the role of Elders and Deacons in
Church
A.
Elders are the overseer of Church (Acts 20:17,
28)
1.
Ordained by the apostles in every church (Acts ; Ti 1:5)
2.
Entrusted to be the steward of Church (Ti 1:7;
1Ti 3:1-5, 5:17)
3.
Shepherd of the sheep of the Church (1Pe 5:1-4;
Acts 20:28)
4.
Overseers of the spirit of Church (Heb 13:17;
Acts 20: 28)
5.
Messenger of Church (Rev 1:20; 2:1, 8: Mt
18:15-18)
6.
Is the pillar of Church (Gal 2:9; 1Ti 3:15; Ti
1:9)
7.
Is the servant of all (Mk 10:43-44; 9:35)
·
Should receive double honor from Church (1Ti
5:17-20; 1Thess 5:12-13)
B.
Deacons are the assistant of Elders (Phil 1:1)
1.
Ordained by the apostles when view necessary for
holy work (Acts 6:1-7)
2.
Is the good co-worker of Elder (1Ti 3:8-13)
3.
A servant to serve Church (Col 4:12-13; Rom
16:1-2)
4.
Pastor’s co-worker, and a servant of the Lord (Col 4:7-8)
·
Both are as the spiritual parents in God’s house
(Ref: 1Thess 2:6-12)
III.
Duties of Elders and Deacons
A.
Duties of an Elder
1.
Carefully pastor God’s sheep (Acts ; 1Pe 5:1-4)
2.
Hold fast the true gospel as they have taught to
exhort people (Ti 1:9)
3.
Establish Church, and train workers (Eph
4:11-16; 1Pe 4:10-11)
4.
RepresentsChurch in solving
member’s problem (Mt 18:17-19; 1Cor 6:1-3)
5.
Hold sacraments, and care for God’s house (1Ti
3:4; 2Tim 5：17)
6.
Carry out spiritual authority and serve the
church (Jas 5:14-15; 1Ti 4:14)
7.
Be a role model to the sheep in all aspect of
work (1Pe 5:4；1Ti 4:12)
8.
Guide the Church to obey the Lord’s teaching (Mt
28:20; Heb 13:17)
9.
Be a part of holy workers’ meeting, and care for
the holy work of Church (Acts 15:6)
B.
Duties of a Deacon
1.
Assist Elders and Pastors in carrying out the
entrusted holy work (Acts 6:3)
2.
Obey the assignments of Church, and guide the
holy works of Church (Rom 12:6-8)
3.
Carry out the spiritual authority and edify the
Church in place of an Elder (Mt 18:17-18)
4.
Be a part of Holy workers’ meeting, and care for
the holy work of Church (Acts 15:22)
·
Organize meetings for the holy workers and
council members, and plan and carry out the holy works
IV.
Services of Elders and Deacons in Church
A.
Submit to God’s sovereignty (1Co 11:3)
1.
God is the head of Christ (Jn
; Phil 2:6-8)
2.
Christ is the head of Man (Col 1;18; 2:19)
3.
Man is the head of Woman (1Co 11:7-10; 14:34-35)
B.
Obey the orders set by God in Church (1Co 12:28)
1.
1st is the apostle (Lk ;
Rom 1:1; Gal 1:1)
2.
2nd is the prophet (Acts 13:1;
15:22-23, 40; Eph 4:11)
3.
3rd is the teacher (Acts 13:1; Eph
4:11)
4.
Secondly is the one who perform miracles (1Co
12:10)
5.
Subsequently are the one who received gifts,
ability of healing, helping others, rules, and speak in tongues (1Co 12:7-11;
Rom 12:3-8)
C.
Understand the fundamentals of serving in Church
1.
There are different gifts, but there is only one
spirit (1Co 12:4)
·
The spirit gives according to its will (1Co
12:7-11)
·
Everyone should serve according to the gift
received from God (1Pe 4:10-11)
·
Suit the gospel according to the faith (Rom
12:3-8)
2.
There are different administrations, but only
one Lord (1Co 12:5)
·
Administration is a spiritual duty (1Ti 3:1; 2Ti
4:5)
·
The Lord distributes work according to the gifts
(Jn 15:16; Eph 3:2; Acts 20:24)
·
Duties are assigned by the Holy Spirit through
Church (Acts 13:1-3; Rom 10:15)
3.
There are diversities of operation, but only one
God (1Co 12:6)
·
Function is the manifestation of gift on work
(Rom 12:4; Eph )
·
Function is the fruit of God working among man
(Phil 2:13; Eph 3:20)
·
The Father does His work in Christ (Jn 14:10; 5:19)
·
Those who plant and water are insignificant (1Co
3:6-9)
D.
Enforce servitude of unity
1.
There are many members, but only one body (1Co
12:12)
·
Church is the body of Christ, and all are
individual body part (1Co )
·
God has set each one of the members in the body
(1Co 12:18)
·
The members need to communicate to be effective,
and to assist one another (Eph 4:16)
·
There should be no schism in the body, and
should care for one another (1Co 12:20-26)
2.
Endeavoring to keep the unity of the spirit (Eph
4:2-3)
·
Christ likes a humble heart (Mt ; Phil 2:5-8)
·
Bear with one another with the love of Christ (Col 3:13-14)
·
Communicate with love (Mk 9:50; Rom 15:5-7)
·
Be alert and intercede with the help of Holy
Spirit (Eph 6:18; Rom 8:26-27)
3.
Pursue the complete unity in Christ (Jn 17:23)
·
All being kept under the Lord’s name (Jn -15)
·
Sanctify by truth (Jn
17:17-19; Eph 5:26-27)
·
Through the glory which the Father gave to
Christ (Jn 17:20-23)
·
Because of Jesus Christ God is glorified in all
things (1Pe 4:9-11)
E.
Should have the spirit of a servant
1.
Should serve with a fearful heart (1Pe 2:18)
·
Should fear the Lord with a truthful heart (Col-23)
·
Should obey God’s will from our heart (Eph
6:5-7)
·
Self aware of the commission, and serve
willingly (1Co 9:16-17; Lk 17:9-10)
2.
Humble and submit with our heart (Phil 2:7-8)
·
Should have a heart of fearing Christ to serve
one another (Eph ; 1Pe
5:5-6)
·
Make into food in following God’s will (Jn 4:34; Acts 20:24)
3.
Be a gifted steward of God (1Pe 4:10-11)
·
Be a loyal and knowledgeable servant (Mt
24:45-47; 1Co -23)
·
Be a meek and loyal servant (Mt 25:14-23; Rom
12:3-8)
·
Do all things for God’s glory (1Co 10:31-33; Jn 16:13-14)
F.
Be familiar with the essential points of
servitude
1.
Rely on the teaching of the counselor (Jn 14:26)
·
Intercede for all through the Holy Spirit (Rom -27; Eph )
·
Teach others with the teachings of the Holy
Spirit (1Co 2:4, 13)
·
Fight and do all things with the Holy Spirit
(2Co 10:4-5; Gal 5:16-18, 25)
2.
Know the situation of the sheep (Pr 27;23)
·
Know God’s sheep through visitation (Jn ,
3)
·
Be all things to all men (1Co 9:22)
·
Communicate through fellowship (Acts 2:42, 46;
1Jn 1:3-4)
3.
Be diligent and know the state of your flock (Pr
27:23)
·
Much increase is by the strength of the ox (Pr
14:4)
·
See the importance of each member’s function
(1Co 12:21-25)
·
Make the body communicate to be effective (Eph 4;16;
Col 2:19)
4.
Do all things with love (1Co 16:14)
·
Only love can edify (1Co 8:1)
·
Love is the bond for perfection (Col 3:12-14)
·
Love never fails (1Co 13:1-8)
5.
Lead back the lost sheep with gentleness (Jas
5:19-20)
·
In meekness instruct those who oppose themselves
(2Ti -26)
·
Turn back the lost brothers with meekness (Gal
6:1-2)
·
Our speech should be seasoned with salt and soft
(Col 4:5-6;
Pr 15:1)
6.
Take heed to ourselves and to all the flocks
(Acts 20:28)
·
Prevent wolves from entering the flock (Acts ; Heb )
·
Be alert and not leave any room for Satan (1Pe
5:8; Eph 4:27)
·
Speak the truth with love and exhort one another
(Eph 4:15; Heb 3:12-13)
V.
Establish a complete structure of servitude for
the Elders and Deacons
1.
Follow the teachings of the apostles to select
and ordain Elders and Deacons to manage the Church
a.
Person who selects and ordains: Pastor (1Ti
3:1-15; Ti 1:5)
b.
Bases for selecting and ordaining (1Ti 3:1-3; Ti
1:5-9; Acts 6:2-6)
·
In spiritual cultivation be blameless, self-control,
not unrestrained, not temperate, not fight, not strike, not given to wine, not
greedy for money
·
Has good name: hospitable, desires good work, sober-minded,
and just
·
A good role model in the family: husband of one
wife, and children not accused of dissipation or insubordination
·
Mature in the spirit: filled with the Holy
Spirit, with great faith, can keep the mystery of the truth, and encourage
other with the pure gospel
·
Newly believed can not be overseers, and Deacons
need to first go through trials
·
Full of wisdom and able to rule in Church (1Ti
5:17)
c.
Method of selecting and ordaining
·
The resident pastor suggests the candidate
according to the teachings of the apostles and submit it for review
·
After approved it should then be announced to
the congregation. If there are no objection
to the candidate, it will then be decided to be offered (Ti 1:6; 1Ti 5;19)
·
After offered, the ordination department will
then inform the person to attend the pre-ordination seminar and decide the
ordination date to send a person to ordain at the ordination ceremony
2.
Emphasize on the entrusted responsibility of the
Elders and Deacons
a.
Speak of God’s will clearly (Acts , 26; 1Pe 5:1-4)
b.
To see the importance of the blessings, duties,
and responsibilities from the ordination ceremony (1Ti 4:14; Acts 20:28)
c.
The ordination department needs to show concern
through pastoral visits to understand the situation of the service (Pr 27:23;
1Co 4:17-21)
d.
Periodically hold Elders and Deacons’
cultivation seminar to continuously seek for improvement (1Ti 4:15-16)
e.
Pastors should emulate Paul in terms of setting
an example for the Elders and Deacons (Acts 20:18; 33-35)
3.
Be sure of the rule of ruling for Elder and
Deacon
a.
Clearly state the responsibility of Elder and
Deacon on the ordination certificate
b.
If neglect the received gifts and not carry out
the duty, the ordination department needs to exhort and counsel as soon as
possible
c.
If the actions and deeds effect the holy worker,
the Elder or Deacon should voluntarily resign
d.
If for physical reason that the Elder or Deacon
can not carry out it’s duty, the Elder or Deacon should retire (Lev 21:16-21)
e.
If the Elder or Deacon did not perform it’s
duty, did not listen to encouragements, or commit a great mistake, the Elder or
Deacon should be removed from the position
·
The ordination department is responsible for
managing
VI.
Elder and Deacon’s servitude as a role model
1.
Christ’s example
a.
Be loyal in God’s family (Heb 3:1-6)
·
While He was young He cares for the Father’s
business (Lk )
·
Make into food in following God’s will (Jn 4:34)
·
Does not seek after own glory, but only seek the
glory of the Father (Jn 7:16-18; Mt 12:15-21)
·
Complete the work entrusted by the Father to
glorify the Father (Jn 17:1-5)
b.
Willingly be the servant of all (Mt 20:25-28; Mk
10:42-45)
·
He Showed mercy on the sheep that’s without
shepherd (Mt -38)
·
He showed mercy on the multitude who listened to
the gospel and multiply bread for them to eat (Mk 8:1-9)
·
He showed mercy on the multitude and healed the
sick (Mt 14:14-21)
·
He Showed mercy on widows and orphans and especially
care for them (Lk 7:11-17; Jn
11:1-5)
·
He love the disciples and wash their feet (Jn 13:1-17)
c.
He is a good shepherd and gave up His life for
the sheep (Jn 10:11)
·
He calls the sheep according to their name (Jn 10:3)
·
He walks in the front and the sheep followed Him
(Jn 10:4-5)
·
He gave the sheep grass to eat and also gain a
more abundant life (Jn 10:9-10)
·
He searches for the sheep that’s outside of the
fold and lead them back into the fold (Jn 10:16)
·
He cares for the sheep and not to let one to be
lost (Jn 10:28-29; 17:12)
·
He intercedes for the disciples for their unity
(Jn 17:9-26; Rom 8;33-39)
2.
Paul’s example (1Co 11:1)
a.
A loyal steward of Christ (1Co 4:1-2)
·
He counted me faithful, and putting me into the
ministry (1Ti , 16)
·
Have been approved by God to be entrusted with
the gospel to please Him (1Thess 2:3-6)
·
Does not use the enticing words of man’s wisdom
to speak of God’s mystery (1Co 2:1-5)
·
In all things he showed himself as a servant of
God (2Co 6:3-10)
·
Loyal in his duty and view death as returning to
God (Acts 20:24; 21:13)
b.
Willingly be the servant of all (1Co 9:19-23)
·
Be all things to all man (1Co )
·
I please all men in all things, not seeking my
own profit (1Co 10:33)
·
Debtor to all (Rom 1:14-15)
·
Who then is Paul, but merely a servant of Christ
(1Co 3:5; 2Co 4:20)
·
Willing to be accursed from Christ for the flesh’s
sake (Rom 9:1-3)
c.
Be the good shepherd of the sheep (2Co 11:28-29)
·
As a mother nurses her own children (1Thess
2:7-8)
·
As the parents educate the children and lay up
treasure for them (1Thess 2:11; 2Co 12:14)
·
In all things be a role model to the sheep
(2Thess 3:7-9; Acts 20:35)
·
Never cease in praying for the saints (Col 1:9-11; Eph 11:5-18;
3:14-19)
·
Though suffered for the Church still feel joyous
(Col 1:24-25;
2Co 1:5-6)
·
For the faith of Church, he is glad to offer up
himself (Phil 2:17-18)
VII.
Conclusion:
·
Fought the good fight, finished the race, kept
the faith and waits for the crown of righteousness (2Ti 4:7-8)
