Edgewater Christian Fellowship

Leading – Through unity, body life, initiative, and example:

Unity – Never seen alone in the book of Revelation, always as a group:

• Unified and listening to Moses – Exodus 3:18
• Support Moses when he goes to Pharoah – Exodus 3:18
• Supports Moses when congregations complains about being thirsty – Exodus 17:5
• Fellowshipping together over a meal with Moses and his father-in-law - Exodus 18:12
• Supporting Moses during the ordaining of Aaron – Leviticus 9
• Supporting Moses when there is complaining in the congregation – Numbers 11
• All of the same spirit – Numbers 11:25
• Supporting Moses for discipline of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram – Numbers 16:25

Body Life – Visible and available

• Gather with Paul for a sermon. He asked and they responded - Acts 20:17
• Join with James in welcoming Paul to the Jerusalem body – Acts 21:18

Initiative:

• Take willing oversight of needs in the body – 1 Peter 5:1-3
• Eager for ministry – 1 Peter 5:1-3
• Have desire and passion for leadership role – 1 Timothy 3:1

Example – 1 Corinthians 11:1:

• They are an example for others to follow – 1 Peter 5:1-3
• Seated close to the throne of Jesus – Revelation 4:4
• Displaying how to worship – Revelation 4:10, 7:11, 11:16, 19:4
• Quick to comfort the confused – Revelation 5:5
• Their lives display a Christ centered attitude – Revelation 5:6
• Creative in singing a new song of worship – Revelation 5:9
• They examine themselves – Acts 20:28

Teaching – by knowing scripture, refuting errors, answering questions and feeding the flock

Knowledge – students of Scripture:

• Elders received a letter of Paul – Philippians 1:1
• Hold fast to solid meat of the Word and don’t get distracted  – Titus 1:9
• Feed on scripture themselves – Acts 20:28
• Know how to rightly divide the Word - 2 Timothy 2:15

Refute Errors:

• Know the truth and can spot the lies – Titus 1:9-16
• Watching out for wolves that bring errors – Acts 20:31
• Willing and able to debate doctrine – Acts 15

Explain/Answer questions:

• Look for opportunities to answer and explain what ECF believes – Revelation 7:13-7
• Ability to communicate simply what ECF believes – 1 Timotht 3:2

Feed Flock:

• They are able to communicate core ECF beliefs either 1 on 1 or in Bible studies – 1 Timothy 3:2, Acts 20:28, 1Peter 5:1-3

Guarding – by watching for wolves and disciplining

Watch:

• Protecting the people from those that would use Scripture to destroy – Acts 20:31

Discipline:

• Dealing with sins that will spread to others in the body – 1 Corinthians 5
• Discipling individuals that have sinned in the body - Numbers 16:25

Praying – for needs and revealing of abilities in the flock

• Elders are available to anoint and pray for the needs of the body – James 5:14
• Elders will pray and met with individuals to determine spiritual gifts – 1 Timothy 4:14

Character

• Sober – this means to be self-controlled – 1 Timoty 3:2, Titus 1:7
• Not Greedy – they have a higher kingdom than income – 1 Timoty 3:2, Titus 1:7
• Covet – Don’t derive self worth what they own or comparing themselves to others - 1 Timothy 3:3
• Sober  – literally safe in mind – Titus 1:8
• Temperate or disciplined. Their lives are ordered correctly – Titus 1:8
• Not Selfwilled – not self pleasing it’s never about him always about HIM – Titus 1:7
• Holy – not hidding things or double minded – Titus 1:8

Action

• Vigilant, watchful, not lazy but 100% in! – 1Timothy 3:2
• Not given to wine – not addicted to mind-altering substances - 1Timothy 3:3, Titus 1:7
• Steward – faithful – 1Corinthians 4:2, Titus 1:7
• Just or does the right thing – Titus 1:8

God – seeks first the kingdom of God – Matthew 6:33

• Blameless – not sinless but deals with sin/issues as they arise – 1 John 1:9, 1Timothy 3:2, Titus 1:7
• Not Novice – the Greek is “not a young convert” – 1 Timothy 3:5
• Steward – use what God has given to them for His Glory - Titus 1:7
• Just – does the right thing – Titus 1:8

Family – provides for the needs of his family – 1Timothy 5:8

• One wife – the Greek is “a one woman man”. Elders have eyes for their wife alone. – 1 Timothy 3:2
• Patient – mild, gentle, willing to wait – 1 Timothy 3:3
• Not a brawler – elders are not quarrelsome. 1 Timothy 3:3
• They are good husbands and fathers – 1 Timothy 3:4
• Steward – faithful to the priorities of life – God, marriage, kids, ministry – Titus 1:7
• Just – does the right thing – Titus 1:8

Others – nail pierced servant leaders – Matthew 20:28

• Good behavior – orderly. Not guy who’s front yard is full old toilets and washers and dryers. – 1 Timothy 3:2
• Given hospitality – literally = Fond of guests, Elders like people. 1 Timothy 3:2, Titus 1:8
• Not a Striker – not short fused – 1Timothy 3:3, Titus 1:7
• Patient – elders understand we run a marathon, not a 100-yard dash. – 1 Timothy 3:3
• Not brawler – not quarrelsome or the last to agree, or constantly playing the devil’s advocate – 1Timothy 3:3
• Good reputation in town – 1 Timothy 3:7
• Steward – faithful – 1 Corinthians 4:2, Titus 1:7
• Lover of good men – elders are looking for other men to plug into ministry – Titus 1:8