The Duties of Elders

The point: Submit to the headship of Jesus Christ by acting in accordance with His Word regarding church officers, their responsibilities, and the duty owed to them.

Martin describes the selection of office bearers as an 'acid test' of Trinity Church's submission to Christ's headship, emphasizing its foundational importance.

over a year ago on the basis of the truth of the word of God, to start out afresh, in terms of importance, I don't know of anything which I feel as your pastor is of greater importance in the history of the Trinity Church than this matter that is now before us, namely the selection of God-appointed office bearers within the framework of the Trinity Church. For in a very real sense, this is an acid test of our submission to the headship of Jesus Christ. We profess to believe that he is Lord, that he is King in his church, but he exercises that kingship by his word. And if we are indeed the subj...

1:16 - 2:23 Read in full sermon

The point: Submit to the headship of Jesus Christ by acting in accordance with His Word regarding church officers, their responsibilities, and the duty owed to them.

Martin explains that the apostles established churches and then returned later to ordain elders, allowing time for converts' gifts and genuineness to be proven, justifying the delay in appointing elders at Trinity Church.

Well, for the simple reason that I believe this is the pattern of Scripture. If you will read the book of the Acts, you will notice that after the apostle and his associates would establish churches, then they would come back through sometime later to ordain the office bearers. You will find this recorded very clearly in Acts 14, verses 21 to 24, where the apostle Paul and his companions went back over the area that had originally been evangelized by them. Churches had been established by them, but on their second journey through, we read, verse 23 of Acts 14, or perhaps verse 22, confirming t...

2:24 - 3:07 Read in full sermon

The point: Have distinct and clear scriptural views on church government so that office-bearers do not exceed their rights and the congregation fulfills its responsibilities to them.

Martin quotes John Brown's description of the church as a monarchy under Christ, administered by 'inferior magistrates' (elders) who execute Christ's laws, not their own whims or the congregation's.

And I would remind you of those classic words that I read last week of John Brown, that though the Christian Church is a very free society, they mistake the matter who consider it as a democracy. It is a monarchy administered by inferior magistrates chosen by their fellow subjects who are to execute the King's laws, being guided solely by His word, and neither by their own judgment or whims, nor by the opinions and will of those whom they govern. Do you get this? The Church is a monarchy.

5:14 - 5:47 Read in full sermon

The point: Have distinct and clear scriptural views on church government so that office-bearers do not exceed their rights and the congregation fulfills its responsibilities to them.

Martin shares experiences of counseling other pastors whose churches suffer from office-bearers lacking qualifications or congregations refusing to recognize authority, illustrating the chaos that results from neglecting biblical church government.

Amen. People may think, well, Pastor, here you are now, writing an issue so forcibly. Why? Beloved, you don't sit where I sit.

6:36 - 6:43 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: Martin clarifies the distinction between 'teaching-ruling elders' and 'ruling elders,' using an analogy of union workers and co-owners of a business to illustrate that while their…

Martin uses the analogy of a union laborer and a mechanic on a construction job, with strict, non-overlapping duties, to contrast with the more flexible, overlapping responsibilities of teaching-ruling and ruling elders.

Now you must not think of these things as two airtight compartments or think of them the way unions think of the distinctions between a laborer a laborer and a mechanic. You call the man that handles the trowel on the construction job, you call him a mechanic. He's the professional. He's the one who lays block to brick.

12:26 - 12:45 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: Martin clarifies the distinction between 'teaching-ruling elders' and 'ruling elders,' using an analogy of union workers and co-owners of a business to illustrate that while their…

Martin compares elders to three brothers co-owning a business but having diverse administrative roles (sales, personnel, shop manager), illustrating how elders share equal authority but have different primary functions.

But nonetheless, a laborer is not a mechanic, and a mechanic is not a laborer. And so this text teaches that some elders who rule, rule primarily and essentially by teaching and preaching, whereas others rule without the teaching and preaching ministry being the dominant avenue through which they can rule. It's like three brothers who are co-workers in a business, co-owners of that business. In terms of the stock of the business, in terms of ownership, they stand on an equal plane. But one of them is out on the road in sales, another one's home in the personnel office doing the hiring and firi...

15:12 - 16:23 Read in full sermon

Driving home: The Christian preacher, if he is really wise when teaching the people knowledge, will give good heed to his doctrine, notice now, that it be both wholesome and nourishing, and if possible, palatable. He will seek to find…

Martin quotes John Brown on the teaching-ruling elder's duty to provide 'wholesome, nourishing pasture' (divine truth) for the flock, emphasizing the importance of sound doctrine and clear communication.

And realize that just as the gift does not necessarily qualify for the office in itself, there must be other things to make a man qualify. If he does qualify in other things, that office does not now negate the responsibility to exercise his God-given gift. John Brown, in his commentary on 1 Peter 5, and I'm quoting more, perhaps, from books than I have ever before, because this has just opened up a whole new thing to me, and he says it so beautifully. Listen to what he says concerning the ministry of the teaching, ruling elder.

26:24 - 27:03 Read in full sermon

The point: Recognize the peculiar place of the teaching-ruling elder in the assembly and that other elders, when ruling, exercise valid authority.

Martin gives a 'peek behind the scenes' of his sermon preparation, describing the labor involved in organizing and defining biblical terms for the qualifications of elders, to illustrate the demanding nature of 'laboring in the word and doctrine'.

True and important thoughts, plain and acceptable words, and then he will seek to fasten his words as bows, riveting nails, into the minds of men that the truth might stick fast. The teaching elder, ill-discharges this his highest duty, who satisfies himself with commonplace statement or empty declamation, or who spends the hours devoted to Christian instruction in mere theoretical discussions and questions that profit not. And then he goes on to develop this thought. Well, you see, beloved, if that's the basic task of the teaching ruling elder, to find true words, and then say them in plain l...

28:37 - 29:51 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: Ruling elders also meet general qualifications but possess peculiar gifts for governing and ruling, identified as 'ruling' in Romans 12 and 'governments' in 1 Corinthians 12. This…

Martin explains that the Greek word for 'governments' (1 Cor 12:28) means 'to steer,' comparing ruling elders to a helmsman who guides the church away from 'shoals of false dock' and 'reefs of internal friction'.

1 Corinthians 12, 28. God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments. And it's interesting. This word, governments, comes from the verb which means to steer.

34:22 - 34:42 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: Martin quotes John Owen extensively on the specific duties of ruling elders, including watching over members' conduct, preventing divisions, warning members of duties, visiting…

Martin quotes John Owen extensively on the specific duties of ruling elders, such as watching over members' conduct, preventing divisions, warning members, visiting the sick, and advising deacons, to convey the breadth and weight of their responsibility.

That's why the scripture says he's not to be a novice who assumes this tremendous responsibility. Let me quote briefly from John Owen in his section on the true nature of a gospel church where he lays out the duties of the ruling elder. Number one, to watch diligently over the ways, walking, and conversation of all the members of the church. To see that it be blameless, without offense, useful, exemplary, and in all things answering to the holiness of the commands of Christ, the honor of the gospel, and the profession which in the world they make.

36:08 - 36:51 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: Martin quotes John Owen extensively on the specific duties of ruling elders, including watching over members' conduct, preventing divisions, warning members of duties, visiting…

Martin shares his personal struggle to keep up with pastoral care while focusing on preaching, illustrating the need for ruling elders to assist in watching over the church and addressing members' needs.

Three, their duty is to warn all the members of the church of their special church duties that they be not found negligent or lacking in them. Let me again show you beloved what a tremendous problem this is. I'm smitten sometimes when word gets back to me that somebody's been absent or sick and I haven't thought of it, but can you appreciate what it's like to come on a Sunday with your mind filled with the message that you've been marinating your head in all week sometimes for at least the past several days? I don't know.

37:10 - 37:38 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: Martin argues that while Scripture doesn't specify a number, a plurality of elders was the general rule in New Testament churches, citing Acts 14, Acts 15, Acts 20, Philippians 1…

Martin briefly mentions a silly beer advertisement to clarify that his phrase 'more than one' was not an intentional reference, adding a touch of humor and self-correction.

I've got you all wondering what I meant. It just brought to my mind that silly advertisement for a certain brand of beer.

44:03 - 44:10 Read in full sermon

The point: Pray for a plurality of eldership within the church, recognizing the desperate need for checks on leadership and combined wisdom.

Martin uses the term 'mini-pope' (borrowed from another elder) to describe the dangerous and unbiblical concept of a single teaching-ruling elder holding all office-bearing power without checks.

Now what conclusion can we draw then from this? Well, I hope you've drawn the conclusion that the idea of the mini-pope, I got that term from Mr. Levy, elder in the church at Cookfield. That's the term they use.

45:18 - 45:32 Read in full sermon

The point: Do not have all your spiritual direction and feeding coming through one man, as it is dangerous.

Martin recounts declining a call to a large church (950 members) because his burden is to establish a church with biblical office bearers, not simply to pastor a large congregation, illustrating his commitment to the principle of plurality.

And one of the elders can come or go but the work of God goes on because Christ has been pleased to bless that church with scripturally qualified office bearers. That's why I'm not interested when I get a call as I recently did Mr. Martin we're interested in you and heard some good reports about you. We've got a church with 950 members.

47:57 - 48:16 Read in full sermon