Even though we may not take part audibly in the action, yet if we are there in a right spirit – there really to wait upon God, we marvelously help the tone of a meeting.
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Elder Rule

Elder Rule

From: Curtis Taylor
Subject: Elder Rule

1 Timothy 3:1

  1. This [is] a true saying, If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work. 2 A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach;

Titus 1:7 7 For a bishop must be blameless, as the steward of God; not selfwilled, not soon angry, not given to wine, no striker, not given to filthy lucre; 1 Peter 5:1 1. The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed: Acts 1 15. And in those days Peter stood up in the midst of the disciples, and said, (the number of names together were about an hundred and twenty,) 23 And they appointed two, Joseph called Barsabas, who was surnamed Justus, and Matthias. 24 And they prayed, and said, Thou, Lord, which knowest the hearts of all [men], shew whether of these two thou hast chosen, 25 That he may take part of this ministry and apostleship, from which Judas by transgression fell, that he might go to his own place. 26 And they gave forth their lots; and the lot fell upon Matthias; and he was numbered with the eleven apostles.

Acts 6

  1. And in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplied, there arose a murmuring of the Grecians against the Hebrews, because their widows were neglected in the daily ministration. 2 Then the twelve called the multitude of the disciples [unto them], and said, It is not reason that we should leave the word of God, and serve tables. 3 Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business. 4 But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word. 5 And the saying pleased the whole multitude: and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Ghost, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolas a proselyte of Antioch: 6 Whom they set before the apostles: and when they had prayed, they laid [their] hands on them.

Elders are the leaders of the Church. They have the appointment to lead by God, through the choice of His Holy Spirit. This is shown to work through men (Acts 1 above). Not that men choose, but that God works through them to select the right one. Elders must have the qualities as shown by Paul as he writes to Tim above, and as in Titus. They must be teachers according to 1 Tim. Not exclusively, I think, but they must be able to. They lead by example. They follow the will of God as it moves through His people as well, as when they appoint Servants to assist.

Deacons (servants) are elected officials who are ratified and appointed to perform specific duties by the congregation or by the elders. They usually have a special task, and that doesn’t have to be confined to any one thing. Ushers can be appointed deacons, since they serve at a special task. Deacons are usually needed.

Philippians 1:1

  1. Paul and Timotheus, the servants of Jesus Christ, to all the saints in Christ Jesus which are at Philippi, with the bishops and deacons:

Deacons are held to high standards, but not the high standards an elder is held to. For example, and elder is to be sober, while a deacon must just not be a regular drinker.

1 Timothy 3:8 8. Likewise [must] the deacons [be] grave, not doubletongued, not given to much wine, not greedy of filthy lucre; 1 Timothy 3:10 10 And let these also first be proved; then let them use the office of a deacon, being [found] blameless. 1 Timothy 3:12 12 Let the deacons be the husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well. 13 For they that have used the office of a deacon well purchase to themselves a good degree, and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus.

So, to sum up, deacons are the servants of the congregations, appointed to perform a special purpose, while elders are the leaders, appointed by the Holy Spirit. Both are appointed through God working through men appointing them.

Elder rule, congregational voting, led by the Holy Spirit.

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