ELDERS RESPONSIBILITY TO THE CONGREGATION OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO THE ELDERS (HEBREWS 13:17)

WHAT IS THE ROLE OF AN ELDER? According to the New Testament, elders are responsible for the primary leadership and oversight of a church. Elders lead the church (1 Tim 5:17; Titus 1:7; 1 Peter 5:12) Teach and preach the Word (1 Timothy 3:2; 2 Timothy 4:2; Titus 1:9) Protect the church from false teachers (Acts 20:17, 28–31) Exhort and admonish the saints in sound doctrine (1 Timothy 4:13; 2 Timothy 3:13–17; Titus 1:9) Visit the sick and pray (James 5:14; Acts 6:4) Judge doctrinal issues (Acts 15:6). Elders Shepherd, Oversee, Lead, and Care for the Local Church.

HEBREWS 13:17 (Hebrews 13:17) “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.”

HEBREWS 13:17 Obey your leaders and submit to them, [Note: Hebrews 13:17, "obey your leaders and submit to them ..." In this verse, two different Greek words are used here. Obey is peitho, and submit is hupeiko. Both of these words have the sense of being “yielded” or “to win over,” not by submission to authority, but resulting from persuasion.] Excellent Example “Book of Philemon”, Paul’s appeal to Philemon for his run away slave Onesimus. (PHM. Vs.21) What do we do when there is a difference of opinion? Must yield because of being persuaded. Not Mindless, but being persuaded.

HEBREWS 13:7 (Hebrews 13:7) “Rule over You” Remember your leaders, those who spoke to you the word of God. Consider the outcome of their way of life, and imitate their faith. (ESV) (KJV)” Remember them that have the rule over you” Hebrews 13:7 “Leaders” “Official Guide” Rule means: One who has official authority (Hebrews 13:7) “Leaders”; “Official” Yosemite Tour Guide God has put over you those who have authority over you.

HEBREWS 13:17 Obey your leaders and submit to them, When we hear these words we “Cringe” and pull back. In todays culture we don’t want to be submissive to anyone Unfortunately many of you may have “Tuned Me Out” (4) Four reasons that should encourage us to Obey our leaders and Submit to them. (1) Men who keep Watch (“Over Your Soul”) (2) Men who must give an Account (3) Men who are Emotionally involved (4) Men whose only purpose is your Eternal Salvation

#1 MEN WHO KEEP WATCH (Hebrews 13:17) 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. Greek word means: “To keep oneself awake” Question often asked: How much time do you spend Eldering? What do We see?

#2 MEN WHO WILL GIVE AN ACCOUNT (Hebrews 13:17) 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. Did you Warn? Pray? Encourage? Rebuke? Example? Think about such a Monumental Responsibility. On judgement day I am held accountable for You and You are going to be held accountable how you responded to Elder’s

MEN WHO WILL GIVE AN ACCOUNT (Ezekiel 3: 16-21) And at the end of seven days, the word of the Lord came to me: “Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel. Whenever you hear a word from my mouth, you shall give them warning from me. If I say to the wicked, You shall surely die,’ and you give him no warning, nor speak to warn the wicked from his wicked way, in order to save his life, that wicked person shall die for his iniquity, but his blood I will require at your hand. But if you warn the wicked, and he does not turn from his wickedness, or from his wicked way, he shall die for his iniquity, but you will have delivered your soul. Again, if a righteous person turns from his righteousness and commits injustice, and I lay a stumbling block before him, he shall die. Because you have not warned him, he shall die for his sin, and his righteous deeds that he has done shall not be remembered, but his blood I will require at your hand. But if you warn the righteous person not to sin, and he does not sin, he shall surely live, because he took warning, and you will have delivered your soul.”

#3 MEN WHO ARE EMOTIONALLY INVOLVED (Hebrews 13:17) 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. Not called to Obey or Submit to Men who do not care for you. The Elder’s care for you: (Your Burdens) Men who are emotionally involved in your well being Both Physically and Spiritually When you rejoice we rejoice, when you cry we cry

#4 THE REASON IS YOUR SALVATION (Hebrews 13:17) 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. If you don’t listen “no advantage to you” The Outcome: “You Lose” Only purpose is your Salvation, your spiritual well-being No other agenda, No other motives.

THE REASON IS YOUR SALVATION (Hebrews 13:17) 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. There is much joy in serving as an Elder Watching Members Grow And there are Sorrows and Heartbreaks Those who refuse to Repent; those that have fallen away