Ministry Leaders and Servants
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Antioch is an elder led, deacon served congregation according to the teaching of the Scriptures.
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An elder must be “an able teacher” (1 Tim. 3:2; see 5:17). He must hold “to the faithful message as taught, so that he will be able both to encourage with sound teaching and refute those who contradict it” (Tit. 1:9). Jesus’ under-shepherds feed Jesus’ sheep with Jesus’ word. He must shepherd the church members like Jesus shepherds his disciples. Just as shepherds lead their flocks, so elders lead local congregations. The biblical writers also call elders “overseers,” a title that highlights their role as leaders (Acts 20:28; 1 Tim. 3:1; Tit. 1:5, 7). Elders serve by leading.
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Deacons are the servants of the church. They are people of dignity, "holding to the faith with a clear conscience" (1 Tim. 3:8-13) They set examples before other members of the church and community in faithfulness to the entire program of the church. Deacons lead by serving.