Elders in Australia
—Index to lessons on elders and deacons
Just touch or click a numbered heading to go to the essay covering the topics listed.
1 Shepherds Among the Sheep
—IMPLEMENTING GOD'S PLAN
—OUR RESPONSIBILITIES RE ELDERS AND DEACONS>
—TERMS AND TITLES (ELDERS AND DEACONS)
—THE WORK OF THE ELDERS
—THE WORK OF THE DEACONS
—IS AN ELDERSHIP OPTIONAL?
2 Serving a Purpose
—THE PURPOSE OF SERVANTHOOD
—PURPOSE OF ELDERS AND DEACONS
—PURPOSING TO SERVE
—PURPOSE OF QUALIFICATIONS
—GOD’S PURPOSE
3 Working Toward Eldership
—THE READINESS PRINCIPLE
—WHY WAIT? WHAT HINDERS?
—SCRIPTURALLY UNORGANIZED?
—PURISM OR PRAGMATISM?
—READY OR NOT?
—EVOLUTION NOT REVOLUTION
4 Submitting to the Elders
—SUBMITTING FIRST TO THE SELECTION PROCESS
—THE "RULE" THAT ELDERS HOLD
—THEY PASS NO LAWS
5 Appointment of Elders and Deacons
—HOLDING OFFICE, GREEK AND COMMON SENSE
—ARE "APPOINTMENTS" OFFICIAL POSITIONS?
—GOD HAS "SET SOME IN THE CHURCH"
—ARE ALL MEMBERS EQUAL?
—SERVICE DOES NOT EXCLUDE OFFICE
—ASPIRING TO THE OFFICE
—WHO APPOINTS ELDERS AND DEACONS?
6 A Plurality of Elders
—DOES "ELDERS" INCLUDE ONE?
—REASONS FOR A PLURALITY OF ELDERS
—A STEP CLOSER?
7 Qualifications of Elders and Deacons Part 1
—WHAT QUALIFICATIONS ARE MUSTS?
—A BISHOP MUST BE BLAMELESS
—FALSE ACCUSATIONS
8 Qualifications of Elders and Deacons Part 2
—MEN OF CHARACTER
—MEN OF THE WORD
—MEN OF MATURITY
9 Faithful Children Part 1
—MUST ELDERS AND DEACONS HAVE CHILDREN?
—WHY HAVE FAITHFUL CHILDREN?
—IS ONE CHILD SUFFICIENT?
—MUST ALL THE CHILDREN BE FAITHFUL?
10 Faithful Children Part 2
—WHAT IS MEANT BY "FAITHFUL"?
—CHILDREN WHO ARE BAPTIZED BELIEVERS?
—LITTLE ONES WHO BELIEVE IN JESUS?
—CHILDREN WHO ARE OBEDIENT AND TRUSTWORTHY?
11 The Husband of One Wife
—ONE WOMAN'S MAN
—MARRIED ONLY ONCE?
—NEVER DIVORCED?
—NOT A POLYGAMIST?
—NOT A WIDOWER?