What A Godly Church Wishes Elders Knew About The Church Genesis 11:6 Gen 11:6 The LORD said, "Behold, they are one people, and they all have the same language. And this is what they began to do, and now nothing which they purpose to do will be impossible for them

Communication and understanding are key elements to the success of any organization, including the Lord’s church. Jesus said that a “house divided against itself cannot stand” (Matthew 12:25). If the church is to grow, its essential parts much work together, and to do that, they must come to an understanding of each other. For the next few weeks, the lessons will be designed to enhance our understanding of one another so that we might function better as a church.

A Godly Church Wishes Elders Would Seek The Good Of The Church –Not as lords (1 Peter 5:1-3) –Putting the flock first (Ezekiel 34:2). 1 Peter 5:1-3 Therefore, I exhort the elders among you, as your fellow elder and witness of the sufferings of Christ, and a partaker also of the glory that is to be revealed, 2 shepherd the flock of God among you, exercising oversight not under compulsion, but voluntarily, according to the will of God; and not for sordid gain, but with eagerness; 3 nor yet as lording it over those allotted to your charge, but proving to be examples to the flock Ezek 34:2 "Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel. Prophesy and say to those shepherds, 'Thus says the Lord GOD, "Woe, shepherds of Israel who have been feeding themselves! Should not the shepherds feed the flock?

A Godly Church Wishes Elders Would Seek The Good Of The Church A Godly Church Wishes Elders Knew The Word Of God –(1 Timothy 3:2, 6). –(Titus 1:9-11). 1 Tim 3:2 An overseer, then, must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, temperate, prudent, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, 1 Tim 3:6 and not a new convert, so that he will not become conceited and fall into the condemnation incurred by the devil. Titus 1:9-11 holding fast the faithful word which is in accordance with the teaching, so that he will be able both to exhort in sound doctrine and to refute those who contradict. 10 For there are many rebellious men, empty talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision, 11 who must be silenced because they are upsetting whole families, teaching things they should not teach for the sake of sordid gain.

A Godly Church Wishes Elders Would Seek The Good Of The Church A Godly Church Wishes Elders Knew The Word Of God A Godly Church Wishes Elders Would Communicate With The Church –Communication builds trust. –Communication enhances involvement.

A Godly Church Wishes Elders Would Seek The Good Of The Church A Godly Church Wishes Elders Knew The Word Of God A Godly Church Wishes Elders Would Communicate With The Church. A Godly Church Wants Elders Who Will Lead and Not Just Direct –(Matthew 23:1-3). –(1 Peter 5:3). Matt 23:1-3 Then Jesus spoke to the crowds and to His disciples, 2 saying: " The scribes and the Pharisees have seated themselves in the chair of Moses; 3 therefore all that they tell you, do and observe, but do not do according to their deeds; for they say things and do not do them 1 Peter 5:3 3 nor yet as lording it over those allotted to your charge, but proving to be examples to the flock.

A Godly Church Wishes Elders Would Seek The Good Of The Church A Godly Church Wishes Elders Knew The Word Of God A Godly Church Wishes Elders Would Communicate With The Church. A Godly Church Wants Elders Who Will Lead and Not Just Direct A Godly Church Wants Elders To Serve As Shepherds, Not Just Administrators –(Acts 20:28). –(1 Peter 5:2). –Elders should know the church they serve (A shepherd should smell like sheep). Acts 20:28 "Be on guard for yourselves and for all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood. 1 Peter 5:2 shepherd the flock of God among you, exercising oversight not under compulsion, but voluntarily, according to the will of God; and not for sordid gain, but with eagerness;

A Godly Church Wishes Elders Would Seek The Good Of The Church A Godly Church Wishes Elders Knew The Word Of God A Godly Church Wishes Elders Would Communicate With The Church. A Godly Church Wants Elders Who Will Lead and Not Just Direct A Godly Church Wants Elders To Serve As Shepherds, Not Just Administrators A Godly Church Wants Elders To Recognize And Utilize The Talents Of The Church –The church is a body consisting of different members. (Romans 12:1-6) –Use people within the scope of their talents. –Too often, leaders settle for availability rather than talents. Rom 12:1-6 Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. 2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect. 3 For through the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think more highly of himself than he ought to think; but to think so as to have sound judgment, as God has allotted to each a measure of faith. 4 For just as we have many members in one body and all the members do not have the same function, 5 so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. 6 Since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, each of us is to exercise them accordingly:

In order for a church to be great, it must be united. In order for a church to be united, it must recognize and understand its diverse responsibilities and roles Next week “What Elders Wish The Church Knew About Elders”