In this lesson, we are reminded about the basics of who and what elders are. Then we ask the question Why Don’t We Have Elders? We examine the fact that some are not qualified to serve, some think they are not qualified, and some don’t want to serve. Self-examination, study, prayer are needed so that if we have qualified men, they will choose to serve as our shepherds.

1. W h y
Elders?
Don’t We Have
SHEPHERDS
Last seen:
years ago
Ephesians 4.11, CB NT p. 340

2. Ezekiel 22.30, CB OT p. 1355

5. Who will stand in the gap?
Ezekiel 22.30, CB OT p. 1355

6. Who are these Shepherds?
Ephesians 4.11, CB NT p. 340

7. Who are these Shepherds?
— elders (experience & wisdom)
Acts 20.17,28, CB NT p. 246, 247

8. Who are these Shepherds?
— elders
— overseers (bishops)
(guardian, superintendent)
Titus 1.5, 7, CB NT p. 376

9. Who are these Shepherds?
— elders
— overseers (bishops)
— shepherds (pastors)
(tend, care, feed)
Ephesians 4.11, CB NT p. 340; 1 Peter 5.1-2, CB NT p. 413

10. Who are these Shepherds?
“MUST BE”
1 Timothy 3.2, CB NT p. 366; Titus 1.6, CB NT p. 376

11. above reproach husband of one wife sober-minded
self-controlled respectable hospitable
able to teach not a drunkard not violent gentle
Who are these Shepherds?
not quarrelsome not a lover of money
manage his own household well
with all dignity keeping his children submissive
not be a recent convert well thought of by outsiders
children are faithful and not open to the charge of
debauchery or insubordination not be arrogant
not quick-tempered hospitable a lover of good
upright holy disciplined
hold firm to the trustworthy word

12. What Does a Bishop Do?

13. What Does a Bishop Do?
“Pay careful attention to yourselves and
to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit
has made you overseers, to care for the
church of God, which he obtained with
his own blood.”
Acts 20:28, CB NT p. 247

14. What Does a Bishop Do?
“shepherd the flock of God that is among
you, exercising oversight, not under
compulsion, but willingly, as God would
have you; not for shameful gain, but
eagerly; not domineering over those in
your charge, but being examples to the
flock.” 1 Peter 5:2-3, CB NT p. 413

16. Where are our elders?

17. “in which the Holy Spirit
has made you overseers”
Acts 20:28, CB NT p. 247

18. Where are our elders?
Some are not qualified.

19. Where are our elders?
Some think they are
not qualified.

20. Where are our elders?
Some do not want to serve.

21. Where are our elders?
Some do not want to serve.
“If anyone aspires to the office of overseer,
he desires a noble task.
1 Timothy 3:1, CB NT p. 366

22. Elder — Overseer — Shepherd
Bob Canon Jiang Ruinian
David Chavez Earl Shumaker
Jack Davis Phil Smith
Bob Gibson Dave Stewart
Ray Holloway Walter Stewart
Rong Kuo Ben Tarr
Bernie McNamara Adrian Warren
Tom Reynolds Ken White

23. Who will stand in the gap?

24. Will today be the day
you decide
to go to
heaven?

25. Photo Credits: (All photos from istockphoto.com are copyright protected. Please do not use without permission.)
Milk Carton: http://jadaboomselfdirect.blogspot.com/2012/04/milk-carton-missing-people.html
Shepherd: iStock_000008170193
Breach in Wall: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b9/Gamla_–_Breach_in_the_Wall_%284%29.JPG/
1280px-Gamla_–_Breach_in_the_Wall_%284%29.JPG
Shepherd silhouette: © Can Stock Photo Inc. / draganmilenkovic: canstockphoto5142748
Shepherd’s Crook: iStock_000007264337
Sheep on a hill: Crestock: 4466225-org

26. Miscellaneous 2012 Compiled and Presented by:
Dave Stewart
16 December 2012
#16
www.churchofchristmiranda.com
Why Don’t We Have Elders?
Ephesians 4.11
Synopsis: In this lesson, we are reminded about the basics of who and what elders are. Then we ask the question Why Don’t We Have
Elders? We examine the fact that some are not qualified to serve, some think they are not qualified, and some don’t want to serve. Self-
examination, study, prayer are needed so that if we have qualified men, they will choose to serve as our shepherds.
“Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version, copyright © 2001 by Crossway
Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.”
“Let all that you do be done with love.”