Shepherds of The Flock, Part 1 - Frank Brancato

In Titus Chapter 1 and verse 5. We find the great Apostle Paul

Titus 1 · chapter mention

writing to Titus and evangelist about the subject of unfinished

business in Titus, Chapter 1 and verse 5.

Titus 1 · chapter mention

Paul said, for this reason, I left you in Crete that you

should set in order, the things that are lacking and a point or

ordain Elders in every city. As I have commanded you in verse

5, really. It's the meat of the letter to

Titus. And in verse 5, Paul addresses,

the purpose for being Being in Crete and that was to ordain

Elders in every city. You know, interestingly about

this. When it talks about Elders in

every city, it's talking about Elders in every church.

And really, when we talk about create, this was no small

undertaking. I read some stuff about Creek

this week and I found some things that were kind of

interesting. I understand.

It is the fifth largest island in the Mediterranean Sea.

In fact, it is Miles long and the width of it varies between

seven and thirty. Five miles wide one.

Ancient scholar said there were over 100 cities in ancient

Crete. Now historians also estimated

that there were over a million people in Crete at this time

we're talking about a very big place.

We're talking about a bear, very big responsibility and Paul told

Titus this is why I left you in Crete to do a few things that

are unfinished. Shhhhht.

One of, which was ordaining, Elders in every city or in every

church. Now, the work that Paul had

begun there needed to be completed, and really, there

were two things involved number one to set in order, the things

that are lacking. To set in order, the things that

are lacking. You know that phrase is really

interesting because Marvin Vincent said to set in order

said, it was a medical term that was used to set broken, limbs or

straighten those that were crooked.

In other words, there are some unfinished business that you

have to do Titus. One of which is setting in

order, the things that are lacking.

And number two, Ordain Elders in every city.

You know what's interesting about this is, there's obvious,

it was talking about unfinished business.

That Titus was to take care of and it was to appoint ordain

Elders in every city. When we talk about the idea of

setting in an order, the things that are lacking.

The NIV says, to straighten out that which was left unfinished.

Now, one of the things, That was left.

Unfinished is appointing Elders in every city now, got to make a

point here. Got to ask yourself a question.

Can a congregation be scriptural and exist in a scriptural

pattern in the absence of Elders?

Can a congregation be scriptural?

In the absence of Elders, if that congregation does not have

a plurality of men that fit the qualifications of being an

Elegant. Well, I'm going to answer it

like this. I'm going to answer it like this

with a question and that is this what came first the church or

the eldership? That's number one.

Number two, what was created for?

The other was the church created for the eldership or was the

eldership created for the church.

My point in asking those questions is ten fattest priest

eight. Yes.

A congregation can be scriptural and can be a faithful

congregation in the absence of Elders.

The answer is yes. In fact, when we go back to the

New Testament pattern, we find that there were churches that

existed three years and Beyond before ever.

Elders were established ordained at that place if they do not

qualify now, When men qualify when there are a plurality of

men that qualify, they are to be ordained and installed in this

great position in the church now.

Have you ever stopped to consider?

Why it was that Paul could say to Titus ordain Elders in every

city? And yet, we look out in the body

of Christ today congregation have to congregation and they

don't have Elders because the reason for that is there's been

enough qualified if you ever wondered why There's a question

that we have to take a look at one of which is this did God use

miraculous help in the days of the early church to be able to

have men that were qualified to be Elders.

Did God assisted with miraculous?

Hell, how was it that? God could say, in God's word

ordain Elders in every city? How was it that they were all

qualified? The answer is this, there's not

one passage of scripture that supports the idea that God used

miraculous memes, or miraculous Health to make men be qualified

to be an illness. Not one Passage.

Not one. God did not use.

Miraculous means to have men. Be qualified.

Somebody might say, well, how was it that they could all be

doing that. How was it that it ever church

every city? There were men that were

qualified, I think you have to take into consideration some

history. And when you look at the early

church, you find that there were men that were Jews.

For example, there were spiritually minded Men.

Please get that spiritually minded men and they were living

under the law of Moses. For example, the law Moses they

were Jews by Blood, they had been spiritually minded in their

life. Their fathers had been to

spiritually minded, their ancestors were spiritually

minded and then they heard the gospel and they obeyed the

gospel and they were baptized into Christ, be spiritually

minded. Men didn't have very far to go

before. They would be qualified to be

men. That could be Elders in the

church. So the ordination of Elders and

deacons had nothing to do with spiritual gifts at all.

These men were just qualified and they did so without

miraculous help. All right?

What about names for the position of an elder?

The first name is obviously the word elders.

And what does that mean? We're going to find.

There are three terms or three names used and given to describe

the same office one of, which is simply an elder.

What did Paul say to Titus to ordain Elders in every church or

every city? The word Elders?

There is the word Presbyterian Rose.

And by the way, the death, Mission of Presbytery Rose is

simply an older person. Now, it is used to describe

someone of spiritual maturity and spiritual experience.

We find in Titus Chapter 1 and verse 5 will say it again, will

Titus 1 · chapter mention

quote from it again, Paul total Titus and ordain Elders in every

church or city also, an x 20, and verse 17 from my Latest, he

sent to Ephesus and called for the Elders of the church.

I'm not making fun but I have to make a point.

If the word Elder by definition means older person and it's

talking about someone of maturity and experience that it

would absolutely automatically eliminate some young man about

18 or 19 years old. That comes to your door.

Nice fella with another guy they knocked on the door.

They've got the name tag right here.

Elder so-and-so. The word Elder by itself

eliminates. A younger person, just by

definition, if we knew nothing else of the office, nothing else

of the requirements. And by the way, there are 24

requirements or conditions or qualifications for a man, to be

an elder in the Lord's church. Now, the word Elder by itself

eliminates a younger person. Let's go further.

There's another word that's used to describe the office of an

elder, and that's the word. Bishop now, the word Bishop

comes from the word Episcopal house and it means overseer now

It's used to describe the duty to oversee the local

congregation. In fact, in 1st Timothy Chapter

3 and verse 1, if any desires, the position of a bishop, he

desires a good work. So watch this elder is used to

describe the person. Bishop is used to describe his

work, or his responsibility, or his duty.

What's the responsibility that we know so far?

There's many others. But what do we know so far just

by using the word Bishop? It's to oversee the local

congregation. Guess what?

There's another one and folks this does not mean preacher.

There's a reason that I don't go by Pastor Frank, the

denominational world is filled with preachers that go Pastor

Ron or Pastor Dan Pastor, who ever You know, that's not in the

Bible. And by the way, pastor does not

mean preacher. We noticed in the book of

Ephesians originally in our text, what we say, God said,

some in the church, this one, and that one, and makes a

distinction between what I am and as an evangelist, a

preacher, and a pastor, you know why?

Because a pastor doesn't mean preacher.

Pastor means Elder. Watch this.

Elder by way of an older person, Bishop by way of a overseer.

But let's go further and Pastor from the word pointman, which

means Shepherd You see the point?

The task of a Shepherd is to feed the flock of God.

Now, interestingly in Ephesians 4:11.

Ephesians 4:11

Again, I'm going to read it and he himself gave some to be

Apostles, some prophets, some evangelists and some pastors and

teachers all distinctions. Now, we don't have miraculous

prophets today and we don't have apostles today, but we do have

pastors being elders. We do have evangelists being

preachers and we do have teachers in the body of Christ

to we've got all that. For the work of the ministry,

for the perfecting of the Saints, the completing of the

Saints. Now in 1st Peter chapter 5, I

want to read something because in First Peter chapter 5 verses

1 Peter 5:1

1 and 2, it talks about all three being mentioned.

Watch this. The elders who are among you I

exhort. I am a fellow Elder and a

witness of the suffering of Christ also to be a partaker of

the glory that will be revealed. Watch this, to Shepherd, the

flock of God serving as overseers not by constraint but

willingly, not for dishonest gain.

But eagerly all three are described in the same to versus

regarding an elder. And by the way, we're going to

get back to. This is was Peter.

Talking Peter was an elder to, he was an apostle but in

addition to that, he was also an elder now.

So an elder, a bishop, and a pastor, not three different

distinct offices but different ways to describe the men and

their work. Now, congregations of the body

of Christ that were completely and scripturally organized,

always contained a plurality of Elders.

And by the way, the authority of these men did not go beyond the

local congregation. It was never for that purpose.

You know, why they are? How the Roman Catholic Church

was formed. You know, it all started, it all

started because of these Bishops not recognizing, we're realizing

the role that God wanted them to have in the local congregation

and their Authority. Would not go beyond the local

congregation. All of a sudden, you have one

guy and he dries up and say, you know what, I'm going to be over

this congregation. And I'll be over this one over

here too and pretty soon, he would be over a number of

congregation. Then another guy, he dries up.

Hey, you know what? I'm the super Bishop guy.

I'm the big head cheese. I'm gonna be over you who are

over all these other congregations.

You see where it led it led to a pasta see it led to the

establishment of sacramentalism. It led to the Roman Catholic

faith all because Bishops Elders usurp The Authority that God had

given them and what they did is they rose up and extended their

Authority beyond that which God said they could have always

Local church always the local congregation and nothing else.

Now Elders were always also assisted by qualified deacons in

Philippians chapter 1 and verse 1.

Philippians 1 · chapter mention

It says Paul and Timothy Servants of Jesus Christ to all

the saints in Christ. Jesus who are at Philip.

I watch this with the Bishops and deacons now.

In time we'll get to deacons when we get finished going

through the eldership and the qualifications of an elder and

the work of an elder, we will talk about deacons.

But in this respect we have Elders that were older

overseers, that's what they did and they were shepherds now,

they had a specific work. When you look at the specific

work, that the Elder had it is broken down into two categories.

Here it is first category. Watch guard and protect.

That's the first thing. Watch guard and protect in

Hebrews chapter 13 and 17 the writer of Hebrews and I believe

Hebrews 13 · chapter mention

that to be the Apostle Paul said, obey those who rule over

you and be submissive for they watch for your souls as those

who must give an account, let them do so with joy and not with

grief for that would be unprofitable to you.

So the first category that describes the work of an elder

is a man. That is going to be there with,

at least another man watching guarding and protecting the

flock. Number two.

Number two, second category. Is to serve train and teach to

serve train and teach Paul wrote this in Ephesians chapter 4,

Ephesians 4:11

verses 11 and 12 again and he himself gave some to be

Apostles, some prophets, some evangelists and some pastors and

teachers watch for the equipping of the Saints, for the work of

the ministry and for the edifying of the body of Christ.

So what does Elders do? Elders.

Watch Garden. 10th. What else do they do?

They serve train and teach Now. What about qualifications?

What about qualifications? There are some requirements that

are found in the word of God, concerning an elder.

I'm going to ask you to turn in your Bibles with me.

I want to read these two passages here and then what

we're going to do is we're going to get into these as we progress

through our series. But in first Timothy chapter 3,

1 Timothy 3 · chapter mention

I want us to understand where we are, and what it actually means

and really how serious it is regarding qualifications.

First, Timothy chapter 3 and beginning and Verse 1.

Paul said, this is a faithful saying, if a man desires that

position of a bishop, he desireth a good work, a bishop

then must be blameless. The husband of one wife,

temperate sober-minded a good behavior.

Hospitable able to teach not given to Wine.

Not violent, not greedy for money, but Channel not

quarrelsome, not Covetous. One who rules his own house.

Well, having his children in submission.

With all reverence, for if a man does not know how to rule his

own house, how will he take care of the Church of God?

Not a novice lest being puffed up with pride.

He fall into the same condemnation as the devil.

Moreover, he must have a good testimony among those who are

outside. Lest he fall into reproach and

snare of the devil. That's what Paul says to the

young evangelist Timothy of those 24 or so, requirements or

fall. Vacations to be an elder.

Now go with me. Please to Titus Chapter 1, Titus

Titus 1 · chapter mention Titus 1 · chapter mention

Chapter 1, this is Paul writing to Titus, some more things about

that and after he talked about in verse 5, he said you're there

to set in order. The things that are lucky and

ordain Elders in every Church. Watch this, if a man is

blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children,

not accused of dissipation or insubordination for a, bishop

must be blameless. As a steward of God, not

self-willed. Not quick-tempered not given to

Wine, not violent, not greedy for money, but hospitable a

lover of what is good sober-minded?

Just holy self-controlled holding fast.

The faithful word. As he has been taught that he

may be able by sound Doctrine both to exhort and convict those

who contradict serious matter, isn't it?

Serious matter. in these qualifications, these passages,

reveal that Elders must possess, certain qualities related to the

following three areas, marriage and family By the way you you

think that it matters the choices you make. regarding

marriage and family, think that maxed Paul gave requirements or

qualifications based on marriage and family.

What else? Personal conduct That Matters to

what else church and community. In other words, my reputation

matters in the church and it also matters in the community.

now, we'll get into this later on down the road, but when Paul

talks about that very thing about having a good report among

those that are without the King James says, or outside the new

King James says, it's talking about that time about those that

are in the community, Amanda has a good reputation among those

All right. Now again again when Paul told

Titus to ordain Elders in every city these were men that all fit

the qualifications to be an elder and it would have been

wrong for Titus to a point Elders in a city of a man that

was not qualified and it would be equally wrong for us to do

the very same thing today. What we need folks is we need

more spiritually minded men so By way of qualifications, I was

going to talk about 2:00 this morning.

Just to number one, is it got to desire the office?

I got to tell you, I spent a lot of time studying this and you

only take the sting is there was commentators that never that

said you know it says you got it says desire the opposite, that's

not qualification. I disagree with that.

It's the very first thing. It's the very first thing

mentioned. And maybe we don't have more

Elders today because we don't have enough man, that desire the

office. That's the first thing.

Watch this in first, Timothy chapter 3, and verse 1.

This is a faithful saying, if a man desires the position or

office of a bishop, he desires a good work.

Now. I'm going to talk about to

people. Ryan to Willard.

I don't know if Brian will occur will ever be an elder in the

church? I don't know.

I don't know, but I know long before he was ever married, he

said one day, I'd like to be an elder in the church one day.

My son Tanner just turned 18. I don't know if he ever aspires

to be an elder one day, but I'll tell you this, if he had the

desire to become an elder and had the desire, as a Young Man

long before he was ever qualified, don't you think it

would matter or make a difference on the decisions he

made in his life? The career path for example,

that he chose where he lived the congregation, which he worked or

labored among or was a member of the person that he married the

children that he raised. Don't you think it would matter

if a man is a young man and he desires the office of an elder,

it's going to alter the decisions in his life.

You see the point we don't have Elders folks because we're not

planning on it early enough in life.

Early enough in life. Now, you know what's interesting

about this, the word of God is so perfect and God is so

brilliant. Do you know that In this passage

Paul to Timothy use the word desires and the English language

twice? And they are two different Greek

words with two different definitions watch this.

The first word desires. Is the word array go and it

means to Aspire to strive for now, watch this, look at the

picture here. Paul says it's a faithful saying

if in other words, these are conditions.

If there's a man that desires the position of a bishop, he's

going to desire something else. Now this word desire is to

inspire to strive for. In other words, I have a desire

to be in that position. I have a desire to be in that

position, but then he says this watch this, if he desires to

have the position or the title he would also desire a good

work. The word desire.

The second word is f of fumio, and it means to eagerly desire

or long for it is an intense longing.

Now, that's the same word by the way, remember the rich man?

And Lazarus member rich, man and Lazarus, Luke, 16 and Lazarus

was a beggar, even have anything, okay?

And the rich man, fared sumptuously day by day.

But what it says about Lazarus, it's his Lazarus Desiring.

This word right here. Desiring to have the crumbs that

fell from the rich man's table. This was a desperate man.

That had a great intense desire, because he was starving to have

some crumbs that fell off the rich man's table.

That's the word. Epithelium now here's the point,

if a man is going to have a desire to be an elder and have

the position or title of an elder, watch this, he will more.

So with more intensity have a desire to do the work. you know,

that eliminates somebody that just wants a position or a title

of authority, That eliminates the guy that says only being

charged, I want to be the guy give me the title Elder in the

church. I want to be the boss.

I want to be in charge that eliminates that God is so

brilliant. Look at this.

Paul said, if anybody their desires or has the has the idea

they want to be in the position of a bishop, he will have a

great intense, desire even more. So to do the work of a Elder.

Yeah, the work of an elder more intense.

Desire for the work. These words show is one scholar

said there's more involved in being an elder than just having

the aspiration for the office. It's one that if one is truly

interested in being an overseer, he will be eager to do the work.

So what's the work x, 20 and 28. Acts 20, and 28, take heed

therefore to yourselves. And, to all the flock among the,

which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers to Shepherd the

Church of God, which he has purchased with his own blood.

So in other words, a good work is feeding the church, feeding

the flock, the flock of God overseers of the flock of God.

Now let me give you some practical things, that an

overseer of the flock of God would do.

Here's some descriptions. Leading.

And by the way, by the way, if you want somebody, you want to

get the most out of somebody, I don't care.

I don't care what Avenue of life you want to plug in.

I don't care if you want to get the most out of someone lead

them. You can't drive.

I'm you can't push him. You can push him only so far.

If you want to get the most out of somebody.

Leave them. What is an elder do to feed the

flock of God. He leaves.

He's a great leader. Maybe the greatest Among Us.

Here's another thing that he would do.

He protects disciplines Comforts provides security soothes, the

troubled, forgives handles disputes, evaluates weaknesses,

ministering to the sick counseling, and all of those

things, all of those responsibilities that he has.

And also he's one that can delegate responsibilities to

others to deacons and the others to that is A great leader, all

of these responsibilities, and more fall into the hands of an

overseer. So what's the first thing that a

person must do if they're going to be an elder?

One day they have to desire the office.

It's a lifelong desire. He has to do that early on in

his life and if he desires, but position of the title, he even

more. So desires the work for the

cause of Christ. Second requirement.

Blameless. Blameless.

In Titus Chapter 1 and verse 6. Titus's or Paul says the

Titus 1 · chapter mention

tightest, if any be blameless. Now, the word if suggests that

it ordaining Elders in every city was conditional, upon what

follows. So, he says, if there's anyone

that is blameless, Titus was to ordain only those men that were

qualified and Titus in, no way as I've already mentioned, could

ignore the qualifications and you and I cannot ignore the

qualifications either. Now in first, Timothy chapter 3,

3 and verse 2. It says a bishop must then be

blameless. Now, Bishop and Elder.

Remember this, these terms are used interchangeably in the word

of God. The word Elder describes, the

man, the word, Bishop describes His function, both are used

interchangeably. Now we find that in the word of

God Acts 20 and also Titus 1. Now this does not mean that an

elder or a bishop is a boss. It doesn't mean that at all.

Remember also that the Elder is also a Shepherd of the

congregation. you know, the greatest example of a

shepherdess If an elder is a shepherd.

If that's what discuss, he's described as a pastor, having

the Pastoral Care, or the shepherd.

Shouldn't he look to the greatest Shepherd, of all as an

example? In fact, the Bible says this

about our Shepherd in First Peter to 25.

It says, Jesus is the shepherd and Bishop of our souls.

Same word. Bishop, he is the shepherd and

the bishop of our soaps. Now, what did Jesus do as a

Shepherd or a bishop? He didn't communicate

superiority. The Bible says in Philippians

Philippians 2:5–11

chapter 2, verses 5 through 11 that he literally emptied

himself. He humbled himself that he might

serve, others needs. And you know what, what's

amazing about Jesus and his relationship to the church, and

that's what Paul talks about. And the Ephesian letter, when,

he talks about the marriage relationship, he Likens the

marriage relationship to the relationship that Jesus Christ

has with his bride and that's the church.

Now, if a man as a husband, and father follows the pattern, that

Jesus did that, everything that he does will also be for his

bride, or Wife in that relationship.

Everything Jesus did was for his bride.

Nothing selfish. Nothing for himself.

And we're so thankful that he's the one that is the shepherd and

Bishop of our souls. All right?

Not talking about some authoritarian with a big stick.

That's a very Noble task. So, Paul says, he must be

blameless. Now, the word blameless simply

means above reproach. We Vine says, this literally

means something that cannot be laid.

Hold of now. What's that mean?

Well first of all this word occurs in first Timothy chapter

1 Timothy 3 · chapter mention

3 and verse 2, it occurs in first Timothy Chapter 5 and

1 Timothy 5 · chapter mention

verse 7 and it occurs in 1st, Timothy 6 and verse 14.

Now, Paul is not saying that Elders are to be sinless because

no Elder and no man is sinless. In fact, the Bible says, the

first John, one and eight. If we say we have no sin, we

deceive our selves. So what are we talking about?

What's blameless me? Robert Milligan says, against

whom no evil charge can be sustained.

Now. It's a matter of No Charge being

proved against someone. And it doesn't mean that you can

never be accused of anything to by the way, I'm going to tell

you if you want to do what's right, people that are jealous,

will accuse you of all kinds of all kinds of things, blaming For

Stuff. How many times have people make

choices in their life? And then retroactively went back

and tried to cast blame as to why they made those choices.

That's as old as the hills as my grandmother used to say it's

way, it is people do that and then what they want to do is

retroactively go back and blame. Mmmmm, that's not what this is

talking about. This is talking about not having

a sustainable charge against you.

Now, the Bible does talk about a sustainable chart.

What happens? How do you know if it's a

sustainable charged with a Bible, says, out of the mouth of

two or three Witnesses. Let every word be established.

What about an elder? Watch this.

And First Timothy 5, 19 and 20 do not receive an accusation

against an elder except from two or three Witnesses.

Those who are sinning, rebuke in the presence of all and the rest

also May fear. Now, so the idea being blameless

Not mean, perfect. It doesn't mean you never seen

publicly either. Consider Peter.

Consider Peter. Peter tells Jesus, I don't care

if I got to go down with you. I don't care if they come and

take my life too. I will never leave your side.

I will never betray you. Jesus looked him in the eye and

says Peter before the cock crows before the rooster crows, you

will deny me three times. In the process of time after

Jesus was taking time and time again, it got worse and worse.

And finally Peter, the Bible says, he is cursing.

And swearing say, I know nothing man.

Jesus, and about that time. He hears the rooster crow.

And Jesus looks on paper. And he goes out for weeks,

right? What then he was restored.

He was restored. Remember when Jesus says Peter,

do you love me? Oh, you know that I love you.

He said feed my sheep. Feed my Lambs three times.

He made him say he loved him for all three times that he rejected

him. So we're not talking about

somebody that has never been guilty of something.

Get that out of your head. It's not talking about, somebody

has never made a mistake or somebody that's ever even sinned

publicly. What about Peter again?

You know, sometimes we look at the life of Peter, it's

encouraging because he wasn't perfect either.

And in the book of Galatians, remember that Peter should have

been the one who brought the gospel to the Gentiles.

For the very first time. He should have been the one that

knew better. And the Bible says that he

refused to eat with the Gentiles because of the way that the Jews

would look down upon him. What did Paul do Paul was stood

him to the face because he was to be blamed Galatians 2 11

through 13. But later in First, Peter

chapter 5 and verse 1, I already said this already.

Read the scripture. What does it say?

Who am also a Elder. We learn from Peters example

that once a person repents such a person becomes blameless again

and suitable to serve as an elder.

As far as the idea of being blameless is concerned, okay?

Today's lesson really is more of an introduction to what we're

going to talk about. So in conclusion, but again the

whole lot of other stuff next time.

But in conclusion, what do we know so far?

We know that a man must first desire, the office.

He must have a desire for the office.

If you don't desire the office, you will not work for.

That's number one. But if you do desire the

position or the title of an elder you must more.

So eagerly desire, the work. Keeps you humble?

What else? I don't know what's the matter

with this thing. A man must be blameless.

Meaning no. Sustainable charges against him.

Perfect. Nope, not going to happen.

Just no sustainable charged. By the way, if there's a

sustainable charge, if there's a charge against you, yeah, he get

rid of it. You know, you can come blame us

again, we're pit. Make it right.

That's all you got to do. And you know what, if you do

that, you're back to being blameless, you're only blamed or

under the guilty, part of being blamed, if there's a sustainable

charge against you that you won't take care of, just take

care of it. So you got to desire the office.

You got to be blameless. And next week, we're going to

talk about the family requirements, the family

requirements of being an elder. I'm through this morning thank

you for your kind listening, as we introduce the series that

we're going to continue in for a while on elders and deacons in

the Lord's Church. We thank you for listening to

our podcast, put on by the Church of Christ at 22:15 plans.

Road in Bakersfield, if you would like any additional

information, or you would like to receive a free Bible

correspondence, course by mail. Please email us at info at her

Church of Christ Bakersfield.com.

Our service times are on Sundays at 10:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. and

Wednesdays at 7:30 p.m. Please make plans to join us.

We would love for you to be our honored guest.