Two special ways of serving in a local church are elders and deacons. Elders are to shepherd the flock, providing protection, nourishment, and leading the flock. They care for the spiritual needs of the saints. The deacons are servants who meet the physical needs of the saints.

1. Elders
& Deacons

2. “But you are a chosen race, a royal
priesthood, a holy nation, a people for
his own possession, that you may
proclaim the excellencies of him who
called you out of darkness into his
marvelous light. Once you were not a
people, but now you are God's people;
once you had not received mercy, but
now you have received mercy.”
1 Peter 2.9-10,
CB NT p. 409

3. What does God teach us
about how we are to be
organized?

9. “But whoever would be great among
you must be your servant, and whoever
would be first among you must be slave
of all.”
Mark 10.43-45
CB NT p. 82

10. We are to be
SERVANTS
and SLAVES.

11. Jesus

12. Jesus
Saints

13. Jesus
Saints
Bishops
Deacons

14. Bishops = Elders = Pastors

15. “Now from Miletus he sent to Ephesus
and called the elders of the church to
come to him.”
Acts 20.17
CB NT p. 246

16. “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

17. “So I exhort the elders among you, as a
fellow elder ... shepherd the flock of
God that is among you”
1 Peter 5.1-2
CB NT p. 413

18. Bishops = Elders = Pastors

19. Bishops = Elders = Pastors
He must be of the right character.

20. A bishop must be...
Above reproach Not quarrelsome
Husband of one wife Not a lover of money
Sober-minded Manage household well
Self-controlled Not a recent convert
Respectable, Well thought of by outsiders
Hospitable
Able to teach
Not a drunkard
Not violent
Gentle

21. A bishop must be...
above reproach Not greedy for gain
husband of one wife Hospitable
Children are faithful A lover of good
Children not open to the Self-controlled
charger of debauchery or Upright
insubordination Holy
Not arrogant Disciplined
Not quick-tempered Hold firm to the Word
Not a drunkard
Not violent

22. Bishops = Elders = Pastors
Always two or more.

23. Bishops = Elders = Pastors
Limited Oversight

24. Bishops = Elders = Pastors
Why?

25. Bishops = Elders = Pastors
(overseers) (older men) (shepherds)

26. “shepherd
the flock”

27. Protect

28. Nurturing

29. Leading

30. Jesus
Saints
Bishops
Deacons

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

32. Lesson slideshows (with notes)
and audio can be found at:
www.churchofchristmiranda.com

33. Photo Credits: (All photos from istockphoto.com are copyright protected. Please do not use without permission.)
Sheep: http://www.flickr.com/photos/scratch_n_sniff/
3822181888/sizes/l/in/photostream/
Shepherd: iStock_000008170193
Pasture:
Crook: iStock_000007264337

34. Compiled and Presented by:
Fellowship with Man Dave Stewart
Church 19 December, 2010
Las Cruces, NM
#13 www.churchofchristmiranda.com
Elders & Deacons
Synopsis: Two special ways of serving in a local church are elders and
deacons. Elders are to shepherd the flock, providing protection,
nourishment, and leading the flock. They care for the spiritual needs of the
saints. The deacons are servants who meet the physical needs of the
saints.
“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.”