Church governance remains a mystery for some and dismissed by many. Churches appoint leaders based mostly on popularity; they choose based on whether they like the fellow, whether he lives in the district, whether he is not too conservative, or whether has asked questions that challenges traditions of the congregation whether those traditions are Biblical or not. Timothy had to deal with all these issues in the church at Ephesus.

Alistair Begg examines the issue of the necessity of having elders and their important characteristics, based on readings from the Pastoral Epistles. It is recommended that EVERY church member listens to this sermon.

Part A Sermon audio link <http://www.truthforlife.org/resources/sermon/elders-part-one/ > "Nature and Necessity of Elders part A"

"Browse through a book on leadership, and you may read that good leaders are marked by giftedness, personality, and organizational skills. But when Paul urged Titus to see that elders were appointed in the church at Crete, he provided a very different list of qualifications. In this study in Titus 1:5-9, we learn that the elders should be men whose lives are submitted to the word of God who shepherd the church by teaching and guarding the truth." (Reference: web page)

Partt B Sermon audio link <http://www.truthforlife.org/resources/sermon/elders-part-two/>  "Nature and Necessity of Elders part B" (accessed 1 September 2013)

"As we continue in Titus 1:5-16, we learn that the qualifications given for church elders are both positive (characteristics they must have) and negative (characteristics that must not be true of them). But most important of all is that they have a wholehearted committment to biblical truth. " (Reference: web page)