God’s Shepherds

Introduction

Well, it was pretty much the only graphic I could find that was based on the text that I wanted to preach tonight. Oh, I like the shepherd staff, but we need more shepherds. Oh, I’m really calling this lesson something else. I think the point behind the slide was that people needed to strive to be shepherds. And there’s a sense in which this lesson goes beyond those who are designated as shepherds of our flock, to the shepherding that we all need to be doing as Christians. And so I certainly want to go this direction a little bit tonight. But really, the idea is about being a servant tonight and being a servant among the Lord’s people in this special way, and so I sort of like the servant song selection that we’ve already sung tonight because I’m going to have a lot to say in that regard.

And as the elders have mentioned, we are about to embark on an elder selection process. Whenever an announcement like this is made, I, for one, have great fear and trepidation.

I’ve seen local churches going along just fine until an elder selection process, and then things really unravel at the seams. I’m not expecting that here. Let me throw that in right now. I’m not expecting that here. But these kinds of things, because of misconceptions, and I preached about this not very long ago, because of misconceptions people have, both about those who are being installed as elders and what their work will be, and their perceptions of what the role of elder is, and because of abuses by some, I think that fuels a lot of the controversy that is sometimes generated over elder selections. It has at times degenerated into a popularity contest, a wrangling over control and power within the local church. Now, listen to me. I need your attention here.

Can I say again what a small sphere this is. To be one who wants to dominate and have power and control. Like the dioprophies in 3 John 9 that we looked at just recently, a man who loved to have the preeminence. Let’s say you are the one that has preeminence in the local church. Everybody goes to you. You’re the voice of the authority, the voice of authority. You make all the decisions. You’re running the show. He realized how small of an arena of power this really is. A hundred and fifty people. Yes, there are control freaks, even in the body of Christ. And if that’s what we see, the role of elder as being exercising ultimate control and power in the body of Christ, that my opinion about everything is the highest and best always, and everybody ought to always listen to me, or else.

And others who are spiritually mature but not elders are dismissed and disregarded. I want to suggest to you that’s nauseating. That’s nauseating to our God. That’s all I want to talk to you tonight. First of all, about understanding the nature of serving as a shepherd of a congregation. You might, if you recognize these slides, you have a very good memory. This is a sermon that I preached two years ago. I can’t believe it’s been two years. But I want to repeat these points. Because whenever I talk about elders and what God’s design is for the eldership and for men who would be shepherds of the flock, these are areas that people misunderstand and misperceive and what causes a lot of the controversy that often unfolds and often hampers the work of the local church.

1. Not a Stepping Stone but a Sphere of Work

I’m glad I got to leave this up for a second. We need to understand what being a shepherd is not. It is not a stepping stone to power. But it is instead a sphere of work. In 1 Peter chapter 5, verses 1 through 4, Peter, a fellow elder, writes to elders and says, Shepherd the flock of God among you. Exercising oversight, not under compulsion, but voluntarily, according to the will of God, and not for sordid gain. It seems that elders in the first century might often have received monetary support for their work, for their labor. The labor is worthy of his higher. But with eagerness, he says, Nor yet as lording it over those allotted to your charge. I would just suggest to anyone who’s considering being an elder, who is already an elder, or who in the future might serve as an elder to underscore that phrase in 1 Peter 5 and verse 3, nor yet as lording it over those allotted to your charge.

That’s got to mean something. Let me say that again. That’s got to mean something. Elders can abuse their position to make their opinion the law on everything. But proving instead, in contrast to lording it over the flock, but proving to be examples to the flock. And when the chief shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory. Now, there’s another point to this and the reading of that text, and that is a little English lesson in regard to verbs. Verbs are terms of action, right? Did you see how many there were in these verses? Shepherd the flock of God, exercising oversight, but not under compulsion voluntarily, not for sordid gain, but with eagerness, not lording over the flock, but proving to be examples to the flock.

2. Not About a Man's Glory but the Glory of God

This involves work that the shepherd does. Secondly, I told you in that sermon a couple of years ago, this is not about a man’s glory, but the glory of God. No one should accept this position as a stroke of his ego. I finally arrived and have been recognized in the local church. After all these long years of service, people are recognizing how much of a stalwart spiritually I’ve been. And so I’ve getting my ego stroked because I am being considered for this role. That’s not what it is. We do not preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus as Lord and ourselves as bond servants for Jesus’ sake. This is about serving and serving in a special way for the advancement of his cause and listen to his glory.

It is not about our own glory. And that’s true whether we lead in any capacity in an assembly or assume any mantle of leadership or service in the local church. It’s not about being recognized by others and being patted on the back. It is about being a servant to the glory of God, to Him be the glory in the church. Diatrophies got it wrong. It was about glorifying diotrophes in the church. When it should have been about glorifying the Lord. And may that ever be our motive for service. And it’s, again, whatever we do in the kingdom. However effective we do it. And we should want to do whatever it is that is under our charge to do. We should want to do it as effectively and efficiently as we can.

But when we have done it effectively, when we have done it efficiently, it is only to be for the glory of God and the advancement of his cause and bringing people to him for eternal salvation. It is not about us. And we talked this morning about how much we all need the mercy of God for salvation. And that doesn’t change. Despite any excellence we might achieve. It is not about, well, I’ve served as deacon these good many years, time to move up to the next level. Graduating from having served as deacon. Again, that misunderstanding. This is an embracing of a work. As we’ve already said, it is a way to be more like the master in tending sheep. How much did Jesus care for sheep? He’s the good shepherd.

He cares for his sheep. He knows them all by name. John chapter 10. They hear his voice. We read about that. If we’re going to be like the Lord, we talk about imitating him all the time. Then what are his shepherds all about? They’re about tending to the sheep. And remember when Peter, well, Mark 6 and verse 34 says he saw them as sheep without a shepherd. And so he taught them many things. That’s what the good shepherd does. He saw a need in the sheep. And he shepherded them by delivering his message. But I also point you to John 21, where Peter has just denied the Lord three times. He’s going to need the Lord’s mercy on the last day, just like the rest of us.

3. Not Spiritual Perfection but an Opportunity to Serve

And Jesus challenges him three times. Do you love me more than these? And three times Peter says, You know that I love you. And after all the debate about agape and Phileo, that we’re not going to repeat again here in regard to John 21, 15 through 17, what I want you to notice is that what follows Jesus’ response to Peter’s response is what? Three times. Tend my sheep. Feed my lambs. Take care of my sheep, Peter. And if he tells that to one who wielded ultimate authority in the kingdom, an apostle of Jesus Christ, he’s certainly saying it to us or those who would be shepherds of the local church. Tend my lambs, feed my sheep. That’s what a good shepherd does. It is not a testimony to spiritual perfection.

But it is instead a great opportunity to serve others. Because in the body of Christ, what you have are certain individuals with struggles. You have hands that are weak and knees that are feeble. And that’s not talking about physical problems. I know some of you have had knee replacement surgeries. Talk about knees that are feeble. We need new ones. I don’t know about hand surgeries, but it’s not talking about physical maladies that people experience, but spiritual maladies described in terms of physical ailments. He says, strengthen the hands that are weak and the knees that are feeble and make straight paths for your feet, so that the limb which is lame. You ever had a broken arm? Or sprained wrist? The limb that is lame may be, may not be put out of joint, but rather be healed.

You have those things in the body of Christ. You have people with spiritual problems that need guidance and direction and help. And that’s what the shepherds do. They take care of the needs of the sheep. These men are not perfect any more than Peter was perfect. You know, and I would, I’ve seen this attitude before. Okay, Peter denied the Lord three times, but that was that was prior to the resurrection. And so we’re going to give him a pass because he didn’t understand everything completely. Well, what are you going to do about Galatians 2? That was after the resurrection. When he got carried away over the Gentiles and had to be withstood to the face by another apostle. Now I want to tell you, in the minds of some brethren that I’ve seen, you know what that would mean?

Peter’s done. He’s got to be replaced. He’s out of the eldership. He has made a big mistake. Such a big mistake that another apostle had to call him on the carpet publicly. Oh, he’s done. He’s not spiritually perfect. I’ll tell you, when we approach elders and their qualifications and their work of service in that way, first of all, we’re setting ourselves up for some pretty extreme disappointment. And secondly, we’re setting a standard that God does not set. This is not about spiritual perfection or these men being perfect in judgment all the time. I mean, who is perfect in judgment all the time? No matter how experienced and wise generally that they are. And so these men who serve us are deserving of our respect and our admiration.

4. Not a Sudden Decision but Years of Preparation

It is not a sudden decision. And young men, I want you to pay attention to this. It is the result of years of preparation. And we looked at Acts 20 in verse 28 when the elders at Ephesus were admonished to shepherd the flock of God among them and be concerned about grievous wolves who would come in and affect the welfare of the flock. And to be able to do that, you’re going to have to have some knowledge of the scripture. And so I want to tell you, young men, yeah, even you guys that aren’t even of marriageable age yet. You need to be thinking long term about one day I’m going to get married and have a family. And I need to be thinking about preparing myself for this great work of service among the people of God.

Everybody’s not going to be qualified to serve. But I need to strive toward that and plan for that and to prepare my character to be of that kind of service for my Lord. You don’t just wake up when you’re 45 or 50 and say, hey man, I’ve been around a long time. I think I could be an elder now. Oh no, it’s going to take some shepherding along the way to know how to effectively shepherd among the local church. You may be 20 or 25. Well, one day I’ll be more involved in helping the people who have weak hands and feeble knees. There’s nothing that says you can’t do that kind of work now. And that’s where we need more shepherds, my original title comes in.

5. Four Improper Motivations

Who says that the elders have to do all the work of shepherding? They’re the responsible ones. They’re going to give an account, Hebrews 13 and verse 17. But who’s to say we can’t assist? Who’s to say it’s only a male thing? Oh, being an elder. And being one of these shepherds who is responsible, that’s a male thing. But who says that females can’t shepherd in some sense? In fact, sometimes women are a lot better at that than men are. In terms of tending to people who have needs of all kinds. Looking in on somebody who may be spiritually struggling. Who’s to say a woman can’t do some work in this area? Now, that’s the review. Four improper motivations. I should have made a slide of this.

I just realized this afternoon I need to make a slide of this. Four improper motivations. I’m going to be an elder so I can make all the decisions regarding the treasury. You’re going to be lording it over the flock in no time. I want to make all the decisions about how the treasury is used. Secondly, this is about getting my way in all the business of the local church. My opinion reigns supreme. The buck stops here. I decide everything. Lording it over the flock. You’re headed that way. This is about third misperception. This is about being able to hire and fire the preacher. What are you giggling about? I heard Mike giggle big about that. So I can keep the preacher under my thumb. Tell him how he ought to do his work.

I appreciate the elders that we have presently and their patience with the preacher. You know how hard it is to do the work of preaching week in and week out, as I’ve done here for four and a half years. Sometimes I’m going to stumble and bumble and not say things as well as I should have said them. Try this public speaking gig sometime. And see how efficiently you do it week after week, you know. And so I appreciate elders that don’t always have to correct every little bubble. And keep me under their thumb. And be critical of my work. If you want to find something to be critical about, well, you can find something. And so some people look at it that way. Or this is about getting recognition from others about my spirituality and thus feeding my ego.

And if that’s what it is, then you’re not yet equipped for this task. Two things. You shouldn’t need a title to do the work of shepherd. If I’m never an elder in the local church, that doesn’t mean that I can’t shepherd sheep and help people that are struggling. You don’t need the title to do that work. And secondly, you shouldn’t crave power. When we are powerless and nothing without him. Now, before I get to the qualifications, I want to talk about what I introduced here about problems in the local church. And I want to talk to our young people about rhubarb. Rhubarb. Do you all even know what rhubarb is? And I never heard of rhubarb. Well, I knew what rhubarb was as a little kid because my dad had a garden.

We had tomatoes and strawberries, and sometimes he would grow corn, but he didn’t have a lot of success with that. And he had a pretty good sized garden in the backyard. But back in the left corner, there was this weird-looking plant that was growing. And for a long time I didn’t know what it was. Finally I asked him, what is that back there? He goes, Well, don’t mess with that. Don’t destroy it. It’s edible. Really? That is edible? Yeah, he goes, that’s rhubarb. And so when the rhubarb got ripe, he would go back and take it inside, and mom would make some. I don’t know what she did with rhubarb. That’s foul stuff. It has an earthy, sour flavor, they tell me. And as one site described it, this rambunctious vegetable is known for its power to pucker lips.

I don’t know why my dad liked it. But you know what? For some reason, this vegetable has become slain for an argument. Isn’t that interesting? You ever heard of the term rhubarb as a conflict or an argument? It may have come out of Shakespearean theater when the stage actors would say rhubarbar. And it would involve conflict on the stage, or an angry horde would develop when they chanted rhubarbar. And for whatever reason, if that’s the connection or not, it is often used of a quarrel or squabble about petty points. And there’s been a lot of rhubarb in local churches over the selection of elders. And I think that’s a good term to describe it. Either men wanting the position for the wrong reasons or people misunderstanding the nature of the work.

6. What Kind of Man Can Do the Work Effectively

And perhaps because some have abused that position. So what kind of man can do the work effectively? And that’s where 1 Timothy 3 1 through 7 and Titus chapter 1 comes in. The two passages that speak to two evangelists in the first century about being able to appoint men to this capacity of service in the local church. And of course, the qualifications overlap greatly. But I want to make one observation before we go through the list that you can read that you can read here. First of all, 1 Timothy 3 and verse 1 says, if a man aspires to this work, aspires again, not for personal advancement or self-glory, but for God’s glory and the welfare of his people. Again, not for stroking one’s ego. And while a number of these qualities we might want to relate only to an elder or one who would serve in this capacity, really, most of them have to do with qualities that everyone who pursues walking in the light should maintain.

We could probably go to other passages in the New Testament tonight where these qualities are enjoined upon all of us to pursue. As we look to this list, I want you to look at ones that are uniquely elder qualifications. And you won’t find very many. Husband of one wife. You don’t have to be married to be a Christian. You don’t have to have children who believe. But a lot of the other qualities, not a new convert, they’re new converts in the body of Christ. But most of the rest of them have to do with the kind of character that all Christians should be striving to possess and maintain. But the elder is certainly one that we look at in this regard as maintaining these qualities.

He’s demonstrated them. He is above reproach. Christians are admonished to be above reproach. In Philippians chapter 2 and verse 15, and again, this doesn’t mean sinlessly perfect. Not that he has never erred or will ever err again. But that he is noted generally and characteristically for his uprightness of conduct. He’s a man who doesn’t cheat. He’s an honest man. He does his work. He’s not a manipulator and a deceiver. He’s regarded by others as a man of honest quality, above reproach. He is the husband of one wife. Literally in the Greek, it’s the idea of being a one woman. I think we spend way too much time debating whether or not this had polygamy in view. It doesn’t seem like polygamy or opposing polygamy. It was posed by society in the first century.

There were no polygamists in the local church, and so this one wife thing is in contrast to two wives, though it would rule that out. That’s not really the idea behind the qualification. And I don’t really think it’s even the idea that, well, now if he’s, for example, widowed and marries again, well, now that’s a second wife. And so he’s unqualified as a result of that. Can you imagine the situation or scenario where a spouse died tragically young, and then a man marries again and he’s been married to her for 30 or 40 years and a faithful Christian? All the other qualifications he’s met, but I bet you had this other marriage way back there in your 20s. Two women, two wives. You’re out. Really don’t think that’s the idea.

And I say that not just because I think so of me, but 1 Timothy chapter 5 and verse 9, the widow that was to be put on the list. The phrase is mentioned in the reverse. She is a one man woman. And I don’t think the idea at all is, well, but now she’s had two husbands, and both of them have died, and there’s illustrations like that in the New Testament. Oh, she’s had two husbands. Can’t be put on the list. She’s had two or three, more than one. That’s not the idea. The idea is she was loyal to her husband. She was faithful to her husband. And the same thing is true of this qualification of the elder. He was a loyal family man. He was loyal to his wife.

He was not flirtatious with women.

He is to be temperate and sober-minded. A spiritual man who is keenly and acutely aware of what matters. He is ever on the watch. He is prudent and respectable. He is a man marked by carefulness and self-control and not prone to extravagance. He’s prudent. Respectable. You don’t have to go into lengthy word studies to figure out. You know, I’m sure when Timothy got this letter, oh man, I’ve got to pour over all the all the Greek dictionaries, figure out these terms. They’re pretty much self explanatory. Prudent. Respectable. Hospitable. Again, where do we need Greek dictionaries for this one? I don’t think so. Hospitable. He sacrifices. He has people in his home. He tends to the needs of people. He cares. He’s interested in people. He is able to teach.

He is able to communicate God’s saving message to others. Oh, this one gets a lot of airtime. Not addicted to wine. Of course, when this gets brought up, people are wanting to use this for a justification of a little bit of wine. Are we talking about a substance that may have contained some alcoholic content? Perhaps. I think the idea is that this guy’s lazy and self-centered. And he’s sitting around drinking or wine-bibiving. And you would have to do a lot of that with a minimal content of alcoholic, a minimal level of alcoholic content in it. You’d have to sit there and drink a long period of time. This man is not lazy. He’s not slothful. He’s not a wine bibber. He doesn’t just sit around and drink for merriment is the idea.

And this is related to it. Not pugnacious or violent. You know, that’s a real problem in the local church these days. Guys who are pugnacious and violent. They’re always looking for a fight. It’s interesting. This is almost a cultural response to the previous qualification. Not addicted to wine. Because we know how people who get intoxicated might be a brawler or get in a fight. It makes some people aggressive. I have not known many men in the body of Christ who were pugnacious. Who were looking for a fight. Certainly, if a man is like that, you wouldn’t want him to be an elder in the local church. But instead, it said in contrast to being pugnacious, he is gentle and not quarrelsome. And I guess the best thing I can say about that is he’s a peacemaker.

He likes union and harmony. He likes to work out problems. He doesn’t like bickering with people. He doesn’t like upset unnecessarily. He’s not taking a fight with words with people. When I think of my good friend Bill Murphy, who’s had some health issues in the last week and having a pacemaker inserted, I think about the years he served as an elder at Eastside. And one of the things I say about Bill, one of the great qualities that he has, he’s a peacemaker. He’s going to find a way, not without, not with compromise, but he is going to find a way to work things out. And it makes me realize that some of the best elders are peacemakers. A way to find peace on the basis of truth.

They’re not quarrelsome, but they are gentle, free from the love of money. Making money, having bigger houses and more stuff isn’t there interest or driving passion or concern. And they manage their house well. And I want to read these verses in 1 Timothy chapter 3. Actually, we’re putting almost all of the text on the screen. But I want to, instead of putting all of that on the screen, I just put he leads in his home. In 1 Timothy 3 and verse 4, he must be one who manages his own household well, keeping his children under control with all dignity. But if a man does not know how to manage, this little parenthetical expression explains the necessity of this qualification. But if a man does not know how to manage his own household, how will he take care of the church of God?

If he hasn’t demonstrated the ability to lead in his home, how can he lead among the Lord’s people? Effective shepherding begins in the home. And he’s not to be a new convert. Inexperienced, immature. The Greek term is neophyte, literally, which means a young plant. This person could be more susceptible to pride, as Paul goes on to say, lest you become conceited and fall into the condemnation incurred by the devil. He is seasoned. He is seasoned by experiences and much instruction. He is highly thought of by outsiders and a respectable man in the community. Well, what about the Titus list? How different is that? It really varies only slightly from the 1 Timothy list in terms of what it says about the children. And this is somewhat implied in what it said in 1 Timothy.

He has children who believe. Again, he has managed and shepherded these children. Now a lot has been done to take away the force of the term believe in Titus 1 to suggest that his children only need to be well behaved and not accused of riot or unruly behavior. I believe it’s saying more than that. I think it says that they have embraced also the convictions of their father because of the leadership that he has displayed in the home. And then what’s interesting about the Titus account is five knots followed by a contrast in behavior. There are five knots. He is not self-willed or arrogant. Again, it’s not about self-promotion. He is not quick tempered. He doesn’t fly off the handle. He is not addicted to wine, as we saw in 1 Timothy chapter 3.

Again, he is not pugnacious or violent, which again seemed to be a cultural issue that they had more of a dealing with than we do. Not greedy for gain. And said in contrast to those knots are these things. But he is hospitable, loving what is good, sensible. Again, all of these things are portrayed in the Timothy account, just devout, and self-controlled. With this additional thing in Titus chapter 1, at the very end of the list, what is implied in Acts 20, he holds fast the faithful word, which is in accordance with the teaching that he might be able to both exhort in sound doctrine and to refute those who contradict, which would go with the able to teach qualification in 1 Timothy chapter 3. I want to conclude tonight.

Conclusion

Whatever this elder selection process eventuates in, whether we have more men who will shepherd among us or not.

This is a grave task, a grave responsibility that you embrace. Because as we see in Hebrews 13 and verse 17, he must give an account. And that’s what separates the elder from those of us who also need to be about the business of shepherding. While I bear some responsibility to other members of the body of Christ, and we are to have the same care one for another, 1 Corinthians chapter 12, the elder is going to give an account for the souls under his charge.

To me, that’s the most awesome responsibility involved in the work of shepherding. This is a grave responsibility. As we see in Hebrews 13 and verse 17. It’s interesting as I think about what that passage is telling elders. I think of what Jesus said in Matthew chapter 10 about not one sparrow falls to the ground apart from our Father, but the very hairs of your head are all numbered. And then he says, Do not fear, you are of more value than many sparrows. God is concerned about all of the elements of his creation, the animal kingdom, even. And he says, if he’s concerned about birds, he’s more concerned about those made in his image. The very hairs of your head are all numbered. And while an elder doesn’t have the knowledge of God, he wants to express the same care and concern for the sheep as God does.

Well, that’s about as briefly as I could preach that. And I want to suggest to all of you that we need to be praying as we embark on this process, considering the problems other local churches have had. And if you’re considering this work, if you are one who is being asked to do this work, may this be a time of much reflection and prayer for you as well. And I want us to pray together now at this time. Our Heavenly Father, as you look down upon this work of your people, we are so grateful that we are your children, that we have been granted access and fellowship at your throne. And as we embark upon this process of elder selection, we first want to thank you for those who are already shepherding among us.

For Ken and Mike and Robert. We thank you for their many days and years of service and their love for our souls, and their diligent attempts to lead us and guide us in your ways. Help us to be thankful for the work that they’ve done. Encourage them, strengthen them for the work that they will yet do. And we pray for those men that might further assist them and join them in this work, that they might be men of humility, men who desire to advance your cause and serve. And we pray, our God, that you would help us to select men who are qualified for this work. And be with the elders as they oversee this task and appointment. We pray that you would bless our church with peace and harmony and a love for truth.

And may it eventuate in eternal salvation at your throne in the name of Jesus. Amen. And if you need to prepare and equip yourself for the great last day and respond to the invitation of Jesus Christ, won’t you come as we stand and sing together?