2002春季长老
总题：认识身体（一）
第三篇　长老职分的事奉与职责
Message Three The Service and Responsibility of the Eldership
读经：徒二十17~20，27，31;彼前五1~4
Scripture Reading: Acts 20:17-20, 27, 31; 1 Pet. 5:1-4
壹　保罗是长老的榜样─徒二十17~20，27，31：
I.　Paul was a pattern to the elders—Acts 20:17-20, 27, 31:
一　我们必须凡事谦卑，举止、行事、以至为人，都像奴仆一样─19节。
A.　We must behave, do things, and have our being as slaves with all humility— v. 19.
二　保罗在公众面前并挨家挨户的教导信徒─20节。
B.　Paul taught the believers publicly and from house to house—v. 20.
三　保罗宣告神永远的经纶─27节。
C.　Paul declared God's eternal economy—v. 27.
四　保罗嘱咐长老牧养神的召会，就是神用自己的血所买来的─28节。
D.　Paul charged the elders to shepherd the church of God, which God obtained through His own blood—v. 28.
五　长老该像神那样爱召会─28节。
E.　The elders should love the church as God does—v. 28.
六　保罗昼夜流泪的劝戒信徒─31节。
F.　Paul admonished the believers with tears night and day—v. 31.
贰　在彼前五章一至四节，彼得说到长老的牧养及其赏赐：─引用经文
II.　In 1 Peter 5:1-4 Peter spoke of the elders' shepherding and its reward:
一　长老在属灵的事上在信徒中间领头，他们该领头卓越的为基督受苦─1节：
A.　The elders, who take the lead among the believers in spiritual things, should take the lead to suffer nobly for Christ—v. 1:
1　长老该作基督受苦的见证人。
1.　The elders should be witnesses of the sufferings of Christ.
2　长老该预备好牺牲性命，作为他们见证的一部分。
2.　The elders should be ready to sacrifice their lives as part of their testimony.
二　牧养神的群羊需要为基督的身体受苦─2节：
B.　To shepherd the flock of God requires suffering for the Body of Christ—v. 2:
1　群羊不是长老的产业，乃是神的产业。
1.　The flock is not the elders' possession; the flock is God's possession.
2　长老不该以为他们在其中领头的召会是属于他们的。
2.　The elders should not regard the church in which they are taking the lead as belonging to them.
三　按着神监督，意思是按着神的性情、心意、作法和荣耀，不按着人的偏好、兴趣和目的─2节。
C.　To oversee according to God means according to God's nature, desire, way, and glory, not according to man's preference, interest, and purpose—v. 2.
四　长老不该作主辖管所委托他们的产业，乃该作群羊的榜样─3节。
D.　Instead of lording it over the allotments, the elders should become patterns of the flock—v. 3.