1. QUALIFIED ELDERS 1 Timothy 3:1-7

2. So Far … Leadership provided by God Home Society Church Need elders Authority from Christ

3. Who Can Serve? False ideas abound Need for proper attitude

4. False Ideas None can qualify today Believe inspiration is needed (1 Corinthians 13:8) Misapply Scriptures

5. False Ideas For the elders as a group What one lacks, another has Take the composite Scripture says, “If any “man,” not “men” (1 Timothy 3:1)

6. False Ideas Flexible qualifications, not absolute They are seven musts. (1 Timothy 3:2) Dare we change them?

7. False Ideas Once an elder, always an elder Not like an appointment to the Supreme Court The Scriptures say, “Must be”

8. False Ideas Appoint the best we have Springs from the desire to find the perfect man Others don’t want to hurt someone’s feelings who is a “good man.” (Titus 1:9) With some exceptions, we are to have these qualities

9. Prerequisites Desire to serve Not like a politician seeking office (1 Timothy 3:1) Opportunity to serve (Matthew 20:26-28) Not prodded (1 Peter 5:2)

10. Prerequisites Desire to lead Elders are leaders (1 Thessalonians 5:12; 1 Timothy 5:17) The word “rule” suggests leading, not diving (John 10:4, 14-16) Rules his family the same way (1 Timothy 3:4, 5) Make plans for the church

11. Prerequisites Willing to speak to others about their soul Will have to rebuke and warn (1 Thessalonians 5:12-14) Publicly and privately (Acts 20:20, 31) Notice the sheep who are straying away

12. Prerequisites Understand the value of working together He works with others (Acts 14:23; 20:17-32) Yield to the will of others at times (Philippians 2:2-4) Not self-willed (Titus 1:7) Make himself available to the members

13. Conclusion Are we emphasizing this to our young men? They are special men, but just men