1. THE QUALIFICATIONS IN PRACTICE: RULERS
Organization of local church includes men qualified to “rule.”
Rule of elders is different from that of monarchs and even presidents.
They tend, feed, lead, and oversee, but nor as dictators (lords), 1 Pet. 5:3.
Nature of their ruling very important

2. ELDERS ARE RULERS
Heb. 13:17, 24; 1 Tim. 5:17; 1 Pet. 5:2; Acts 20:28; 1 Thes. 5:12
Rule, over, obey, submit- authority; as fathers, shepherds (welfare of church)
Arbitrary rule forbidden, 1 Pet. 5:2; Mt. 20:25-26; 3 Jn (self-willed)
Opposite extreme - majority rule, elders figureheads, young as influential as elders

3. SPECIFIC DUTIES OF RULING
Duty
Decision
Feed
What, when, how
Tend
Growth, healing, protection
Example
How best to do it
Watch
Means, timely warn.
Oversee mat. things
Whom to help, etc.

4. QUALIFICATIONS USED Blameless Patient, gentle Temperate Not a brawler
Sober-minded
Not covetous
Good behavior
Good report...w/o
Given...hospitality
Not self-willed
Not given...wine
Not soon angry
No striker
Just
Not greedy...lucre
Holy

5. SCOPE OF ELDERS’ RULE
One-man rule unscriptural, Acts 14:23; 20:17; Tit. 1:5; Presbytery, 1 Tim. 4:14
Limited to one church, 1 Pet. 5:2; Acts 20:28; no regional, diocesan rule; if can’t be overseen locally, not a local work
Oversee all work of church - Relief, Acts 11:30; Evangelism, Phil. 4:15-16; Edification, Tit. 1:9; Discipline, 1 Thes. 5:14-15
Person’s life - spiritual influence, 1 Cor. 5:6

6. SPIRITUAL LEADERS NEEDED
No church complete without spiritual leaders (elders)
Business managers not needed
Position seekers not needed
Grounds keepers, building repairmen not needed
Shepherds, teachers, watchmen, restorers, leaders––rulers badly needed