Survey of Tasks entrusted to Elders by the New Testament NYSB 11/89 Leadership Conference (c) 1989 WF  Cobb

I. Acts 11:30 This they did, sending their gift to the elders by Barnabas and Saul.
* to oversee the administration of the financial affairs of the church

II. Acts 15:2 This brought Paul and Barnabas into sharp dispute and debate with them. So Paul and Barnabas were appointed, along with some other believers, to go up to Jerusalem to see the apostles and elders about this question. 15:4 When they came to Jerusalem, they were welcomed by the church and the apostles and elders, to whom they reported everything God had done through them. 15:6 The apostles and elders met to consider this question. 15:22 Then the apostles and elders, with the whole church, decided to choose some of their own men and send them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas. They chose Judas (called Barsabbas) and Silas, two men who were leaders among the brothers.  16:4 As they traveled from town to town, they delivered the decisions reached by the apostles and elders in Jerusalem for the people to obey.
* to discover facts, deliberate, and decide on questions facing the church

III. Acts 20:17-32 From Miletus, Paul sent to Ephesus for the elders of the church. 20:28 Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds (pastors) of the church of God, which he bought with his own blood. 29 I know that after I leave, savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare the flock. 30 Even from your own number men will arise and distort the truth in order to draw away disciples after them. 31 So be on your guard! Remember that for three years I never stopped warning each of you night and day with tears. 32 "Now I commit you to God and to the word of his grace, which can build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified. 33 I have not coveted anyone's silver or gold or clothing. 34 You yourselves know that these hands of mine have supplied my own needs and the needs of my companions. 35 In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: 'It is more blessed to give than to receive.'"
* to keep watch against dangers to the healthy functioning of the Body
* to shepherd/pastor (provide protection, nourishment and discipline for) the flock 
* to exercise oversight for the flock (Greek = episkopos/bishop)
* to be on guard against dangers to the church

IV. Ephesians 4:11-16 It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, 12 to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. 14 Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming. 15 Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ. 16 From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.
* to equip the saints for service so that believers can: be unified in their understanding of Scripture; adhere to sound doctrine; stay on track; build up each other; reproduce their lives. Only NT translation of Greek “shepherd” as “pastor”, the task given to elders.

V. 1Thess 5:12 Now we ask you, brothers, to respect those who work hard among you, who are over you in the Lord and who admonish you.
* to diligently labor among the saints
* to have charge over the saints
* to warn, admonish and instruct

VI. See MARKS OF GODLINESS Outline 1Tim  3:1 Here is a trustworthy saying: If anyone sets his heart on being an overseer, he desires a noble task. 2 Now the overseer must be above reproach, the husband of but one wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, 3 not given to drunkenness, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. 4 He must manage his own family well and see that his children obey him with proper respect. 5 (If anyone does not know how to manage his own family, how can he take care of God's church?) 6 He must not be a recent convert, or he may become conceited and fall under the same judgment as the devil. 7 He must also have a good reputation with outsiders, so that he will not fall into disgrace and into the devil's trap.

            8 Deacons, likewise, are to be men worthy of respect, sincere, not indulging in much wine, and not pursuing dishonest gain. 9 They must keep hold of the deep truths of the faith with a clear conscience. 10 They must first be tested; and then if there is nothing against them, let them serve as deacons. 11 In the same way, their wives are to be women worthy of respect, not malicious talkers but temperate and trustworthy in everything. 12 A deacon must be the husband of but one wife and must manage his children and his household well. 13 Those who have served well gain an excellent standing and great assurance in their faith in Christ Jesus.
           
 Titus 1:5 The reason I left you in Crete was that you might straighten out what was left unfinished and appoint elders in every town, as I directed you. 6 An elder must be blameless, the husband of but one wife, a man whose children believe and are not open to the charge of being wild and disobedient. 7 Since an overseer is entrusted with God's work, he must be blameless--not overbearing, not quick-tempered, not given to drunkenness, not violent, not pursuing dishonest gain. 8 Rather he must be hospitable, one who loves what is good, who is self-controlled, upright, holy and disciplined. 9 He must hold firmly to the trustworthy message as it has been taught, so that he can encourage others by sound doctrine and refute those who oppose it.
* To not be disqualified by failing to meet the standards found in I Timothy 3 and Titus 1. An elder is a mature model of godliness.
From these disqualifications additional elder tasks emerge:
* to desire to do the work of overseeing and building up the body
* to be able to teach (know accurate content, audience needs, and how to meet the latter with the former)
* to manage (including delegation) and take care of the affairs of the church
* to encourage by sound doctrine and refute those who oppose it

VII. 1Tim 5:17 The elders who direct/rule the affairs of the church well are worthy of double honor, especially those whose work is preaching and teaching. 19 Do not receive an accusation against an elder except from two or three witnesses. 20  Those who are sinning rebuke in the presence of all, that the rest also may fear.
* to rule or direct the affairs of the church
* to labor in the word and teaching

VIII. Heb 13:7 Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith.
* to lead (generate, communicate, and sustain commonality of purpose)
* to speak/teach the word
* to have communicated the obvious outcome of the goals and purpose of the leader's life
* to have a demonstrated life and faith (so that it can be imitated) {If all Christians were like this leader would God be delighted?}

IX. Heb 13:17 Obey/Be Persuaded about your leaders and submit to their authority. They keep watch over you as men who must give an account. Obey them so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no advantage to you.
* to be testable and submittable
* to keep watch over souls = ensure that believers exchange their souls (lives) for what is worthwhile (eternal)
* to give an account to God for doing the above

X. Js 5:14 Is any one of you sick? He should call the elders of the church to pray over him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord.
* to pray for and anoint those who are sick

XI. I Peter 5:1 To the elders among you, I appeal as a fellow elder, a witness of Christ's sufferings and one who also will share in the glory to be revealed: 2 Be shepherds of God's flock that is under your care, serving as overseers--not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not greedy for money, but eager to serve; 3 not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock. 4 And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away.
* to be shepherds/pastor (see Psalm 23) {protect from wolves/dangers, keep healthy, lead to feed, enable to reproduce}
* to oversee (Greek = episcopos/bishop)
* to be eager to serve
* to recognize the trust given you by God
* to be an example