Serving As Shepherds

Introduction

During Mike’s Bible class this morning, it was about 10 a.m. And my phone started buzzing. I thought this was very odd. This never happens. Who calls a preacher during service times? And it was not until after when we were sitting at lunch that I checked the message, and all that was on the other, but all that was on the message was singing. A very familiar hymn. There was no person talking to me. But that just goes to show, and it was another preacher, by the way. You could be on speed dial, and they might call you and not even know it. That’s the second time that’s happened to me. So always silence your phone. Has nothing to do with my lesson. I just thought I’d share that little anecdote.

Instead, I want to talk to you tonight about elders. About shepherds. Now, if you’re not a male, if you’re a female, you say, well, I’m never going to serve as an elder. Or a young person, wow, elder, woo, that’s way on down the road. Believe me, you get older in a hurry. Not that I speak for personal experience. But you do get older in a hurry. And you need to know the biblical model of what an elder is to be. Whether you’re 50 or 15 or 85. Because you’re going to be in a congregation perhaps somewhere where there are misconceptions about what an elder is. And I guess as I’ve gone along, as I’ve served with eldership, says I’ve seen attitudes of people toward this role among God’s people, I’ve seen a lot of things that alarm me and scare me.

And I’ve heard about things that bring me great concern. And so I’ve been preaching about this a lot, especially over the past five years, six years or so. I was in Auburn where there were no elders, there were a lot of young men, a lot of young college men and women, and I wanted them to have the right concept because I figured that at some point in the future that church, in the very near future, was going to be appointing men, and they’ve been about that in recent months, actually. And so I wanted them to have the right concept. And while we have four men serving us as elders, who I believe understand what it means to be an elder, who are godly men, and I find it a joy to work with them from time to time, I want to make sure that we all understand what this role among the Lord’s people is all about.

The misconceptions. That’s why I’m preaching this. The misconceptions lead to conflict as to who’s going to be allowed to serve in this capacity. I think a lot of us have heard of churches where the whole approach of appointing men to this position, and I don’t really know if I like that term, but to this task of an elder in a congregation, that this has led to great blow ups and conflict and disagreements and even a dividing of a local church. And I think the misconceptions contribute to that. The misconceptions lead to men wanting a position sometimes that they have no business serving in. And they do so to their own detriment and the detriment of the flock. The misconceptions lead to abuse of authority sometimes. And unloving dictatorships.

And a lot of people have bad feelings about elders because of the abuses that they’ve seen and witnessed. And so we don’t want to have any of that as well. The qualifications themselves, as many of you know, I could ask the audience, where are these found? Many of you could say there are two lists, 1 Timothy chapter 3 and Titus chapter 1. And if you couldn’t say that, you’re going to be able to say it now. 1 Timothy chapter 3 and Titus chapter 1, very close proximity to one another in the New Testament. These lists in my mind, and I hesitate to say this, have been overanalyzed. You mean we can overanalyze the scripture too much? They have been overanalyzed, and men and their families over scrutinized to the extent that these passages become guidelines for disqualification rather than guidelines for qualification.

And so let that thought sink in, and I’ll come back to that in a little while. But so often the thought is when elders are selected, we’re placing this man in charge of our church. And I’m just not sure if I’m comfortable with this particular man taking over our church, and so I’m opposed to all this. If that’s really what’s going on, we’re putting a man in control over the church. No wonder there’s such concern. And no wonder conflicts result with that kind of thought about what an elder is. So I want to talk to you very briefly. And I’ve got to tell you, I got this idea while I was sitting talking to our elders in a meeting that I had with them about 10 days ago or 12 days ago, and I really appreciate these men.

1. Not a Stepping Stone to Power, a Sphere of Work

And it just gave me a thought to do a lesson like this. And I want to share with you six things briefly about serving as a shepherd, about what it isn’t, about what it is. Listen and listen well. It is not a stepping stone to power. But instead, it is a sphere of work. Some see the position. And again, I don’t know if I really like that term. Some see this position as an opportunity to push their own agenda on everything and to allow their judgments to be supreme in every circumstance. It’s almost as if one day they were not able to do this, but now on the day that they’ve been appointed, all of a sudden they are now able to make the decisions about everything that are wise and supreme above everyone else.

I have ascended to the church presidency. I take you to 1 Peter chapter 5, verses 1 through 4. Paul, or Peter, rather, a fellow elder, he styles himself a witness of the sufferings of Christ. This fellow elder, also an apostle, encourages other elders to do this. Shepherd the flock of God among you. And we talked about this morning. That’s the extent of their oversight or shepherding. Shepherd the flock of God among you, not a flock somewhere else. Exercising oversight, not under compulsion, but voluntarily.

Nor yet, and this is important, underscore this, mark it, circle it. Nor yet as lording it over those allotted to your charge, but proving to be examples to the flock. And when the chief shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory. I always stop at this point after I read verse 3 and say, that’s got to mean something. That phrase, not lording it over. And remember when Jesus was talking to his disciples about the nature of the kingdom, when he said, the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve and to give his life a ransom for many.

And he said, It shall not be so among you. And yet some people have a concept of being an elder that it’s just that, it’s being a Gentile Lord. Look, there is an abuse talked about here that must be avoided. And will be judged on the basis of this. Men who serve in this capacity will be judged on the basis of this, not lording it over the flock. And that goes back to my very first thought in this point about pushing their own agenda on everything and allowing their judgment to be supreme in everything. Now let’s get this. When the elders work is described in the New Testament, again, I like that word better than position, it is a sphere of work. Verbs are all over it.

2. Not an Accolade of Achievement but Great Responsibility

Just like faith without works is dead, James chapter 2, faith works, an elders’ role is about a work of servants. It involves verbs of action. Point number two. Let me tell you what it is not. It is not an accolade of achievement. But it is an assumption of great responsibility. This is not like, as I said a moment ago, the corporate ladder in the local church and arriving at the pinnacle position, the CEO of church leadership. Have any of you seen the show Undercover Boss? I cry every time. At the end of Undercover Boss, they’re doling out all this money to these people who are generally poor and they’re crying. I’m crying. It’s crazy. But you know what impresses me about undercover boss? These guys go undercover and start doing the most menial task in their corporations.

And none of them can do it. I’ve not seen one yet that can do the conveyor belt that is a big part of their organization and company. And all of them are really out of touch with most of the workers in their corporation. I would tell you, elders can be like that sometimes. They can be completely out of touch with the sheep that they are shepherding. When I contemplate the possibility of one day being asked to serve as an elder. And already said something to me about this. That’s why I’m preaching the sermon. And the answer to that is absolutely not. But I am getting older. And I do have grown children. Well, he’s getting there. And so when I think about the possibility of one day serving in this capacity, let me tell you something.

It overwhelms me. Going back to the verb thing. I’m going to need to be doing some more verbs. Because this role assumes a great responsibility. I will need to become much more observant of the flock and the soul who may be slipping. And when I considered this when I was in Auburn, it really terrified me. You know what it’s like keeping track of 70 college students who are going home about every other weekend? Or you think they’re going home every week. Someone can slip through the. In fact, he would come up all the time. Hey, this college student, we haven’t seen him in two months. Where did he go? And even among this group, some are not as visible as others and interactive with the group.

And all of a sudden, it’s like, hey, I haven’t seen brother or sister in so-and-so for quite a while now. An elder has to be concerned about that. He is to be a shepherd of the sheep. And the illustration should not be lost on us. Here is the shepherd like David who’s concerned. There’s 99. What about the one Jesus told that story in Luke chapter 15? The one. He goes and finds the one that is lost. What is that telling the shepherd about the awesome responsibility of this task? And it’s equally true of the one who preaches the gospel as well. Just like the shepherds are involved in feeding the flock and responsible for that. An evangelist is responsible for the message that he teaches. And so instead of this, wow, look, I’ve arrived in the local church.

Instead, this ought to be viewed as an awesome responsibility. A couple of passages quickly in Hebrews 13 and verse 17. Obey your leaders. It’s not that they don’t have any authority at all. I don’t mean to intimate that from the things I said about 1 Peter chapter 5. Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they keep watch over your souls, their shepherds. As those who will give an account, not just of themselves, but the souls that they shepherded. Let them do this with joy and not with grief. That’s where you and I come in. For this would be unprofitable for you. Let’s not be a problem sheep who’s always wondering. Let’s do our duty to be faithful to Christ and make their job more joyous as shepherds.

I reminded of the text, and this would apply to both preachers and elders in James 3 and verse 1. Let not many of you become teachers, my brethren, knowing that as such we shall incur a stricter judgment. And certainly an elder incurs a stricter judgment. Flip over to 1 Thessalonians chapter 5. I’m not saying an elder should not receive commendation when I make this point. And when a man is esteemed to the point that he is placed in this capacity, this sphere of work, it certainly says a lot about the man he has been and the good he has done. And he deserves commendation. Not unlike we tell the preacher, occasionally when he does a good job. You did a good job. The commendation is fine.

In fact, elders who serve well are worthy of double honor. And it says that we are to appreciate those who diligently labor among you and have charge over you in the Lord and give you instruction. Esteem them very highly in love.

Because of their work.

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

Notice where he goes to this. This is exactly an elder’s role, but all of us need to be about the business of doing it. We urge you, brethren, admonish the unruly, encourage the faint hearted, help the weak, be patient with all men. Thirdly, it is not then about a man’s glory. It is about the glory of God. This commendation that the elder receives, or even a commendation that a preacher receives, always has to be tempered with. I have only done what I have done. I have only accomplished what I have accomplished because the Lord has used me. I am merely his instrument.

The glory is not mine, it is his.

4. Not Graduation but Being More Like the Master

This must never ever, any of this, any sphere of service among the Lord’s people. It should never ever be about the boostering of my own ego. Booster sounds like rooster. And I want to talk to you about being puffed up like a rooster. Why do roosters do that? They’re showing off. May we never be puffed up like a rooster in our sphere of service for the Lord. This is not about man’s glory. This is about bringing glory to God. And it is not graduation. We’re getting close to the graduation in our schools. Being an elder is not about graduation. You know, I served as a deacon for 25 years. And so after 25 years of serving as a deacon, then you graduate beyond that, too. Some folks who serve as deacons will not serve as elders.

Will not be qualified to do so. There may be reasons why they have served well as deacon, but cannot be qualified to serve as elders. Or just because one has served well as deacon does not mean that they are fit to serve in this capacity. It is not graduation from having long served as a deacon. It is a way to be more like the master intending sheep. Let me tell you how I see. Since we are to be shepherds, I want you to look at this in Mark chapter 6 and verse 34. Jesus took his disciples away to a lonely place to rest for a while, but the multitudes were following after them. And the people saw them going, and many recognized them. They were running to be in the presence of Jesus in verse 33.

And then in verse 34, and when he went ashore, he saw a great multitude. And look at this. And he felt compassion for them because they were like sheep without a shepherd. And he began to teach them many things. To me, that perfectly summarizes what the role of a shepherd is all about. He looks at these people, some of them who are younger or younger in the faith, and he has compassion on them. He wants their soul salvation, and he does whatever he must to bring them up in the knowledge of the Lord and make sure that they’re going along the way properly. And thus Jesus taught them many things. So I like this passage in that regard. And then there’s John 21. Peter’s just denied the Lord three times.

And so Jesus asked Peter three times, Do you love me? And of course, Peter responds three times, I love you. You know that I love you. But what I want to focus on this particular time as we look at this passage is Jesus’ response after each answer that Peter gives, where he says, You know that I love you. What does he say then? Feed my lambs. Tend my sheep, tend my lambs. Three times he tells him that. We learned something about an apostle, too. Not just an elder, which Peter would go on to be, according to 1 Peter chapter 5 and verse 1. But his role in the kingdom, though he was one, you talk about if there is the highest position of authority among God’s people since the first century, it would be that of being an apostle of Jesus Christ.

But despite the fact that he had this kind of authority, that whatever they would bind on earth shall have been bound in heaven. I mean, you wanted an answer about what was right and wrong in the first century. You go to an elder. I mean, go to an apostle. Despite having that kind of authority, what is Jesus emphasizing to him in that discussion? It’s about caring for the sheep. It’s about the welfare of the sheep. Just like Jesus, the chief shepherd, as we read in 1 Peter chapter 5 and verse 4, just like his concern was all of the sheep of the world. The elder has focused his concern on the sheep of his flock. It’s a way to be more like the master intending sheep.

5. Not Spiritual Perfection but a Great Opportunity to Save Others

The elder cares for the sheep. He watches out for the sheep. He prayed for the sheep. And lastly, man, we’re, well, second class. It is not a testimony to spiritual perfection. But a great opportunity to save others. When we talk about evangelism, we make a mistake if we only think about rescuing those who are outside the flock who need to be brought in. Because I want to tell you, I don’t know how many souls are reached in most places, but we may lose as many who are already numbered among the saved as we bring in from without. And would that not be evangelism if we could just keep the saved among the saved? Every soul matters to God. And the role of the elder is the precious salvation of each of the souls of the flock over which he shepherds and watches.

Sometimes I think we get evangelism, and yes, we need to get the message to people who have never heard it before, but we also need to help those who’ve already heard it. That they continue to hold fast the word as we studied in our Bible class in 1 Corinthians chapter 15 and verse 2, and we don’t lose them. Admonish the unruly, that text we read in 1 Thessalonians 5 and verse 14. Hebrews chapter 12, help those whose knees are weak, feeble, that the limb that is lame may not be put out of joy, but rather be healed. I want to tell you, that’s an evangelism too. Of keeping those who are among the saved spiritually healthy. That’s why when one is overtaken in a fault, you who are spiritual restore such in one.

Galatians chapter 6, verses 1 and 2. But one concern that I have is that even in this elder selection process that goes on in local churches, sometimes that people think we’re putting a man into the sphere of work who is sinlessly perfect. Now, I think we take that approach even to the qualifications. That this man is, it’s almost impossible for him to sin. He’s totally eradicated sin out of his life. And once we put him in this position, oh man, he’s never going to make a mistake. Never going to stumble in any way whatsoever. Why don’t you think about that for a second? We’ve used Peter as an example tonight. Remember the occasion in Galatians chapter 2 when an apostle had to withstand an apostle to the face.

Peter, you’re out. No more apostles for you, buddy. I can’t believe this. One of our apostles messed up. Scandalous. He’s no longer qualified. He’s no longer fit to serve. But I want to tell you that’s often the view that’s taken of elders. Spiritual perfection. If not when they start from here on out, there will never be any stumbling anymore on their part. And I can tell you, there’s not an elder around who would not say, I’ve made mistakes. There have been times I’ve not been as focused on the sheep as I need to be. I’ve not prayed for them like I needed to pray for them. They are not perfect men. Just like your preacher is not a perfect man. These qualifications are not about the man’s perfection.

The idea of being blameless, well, we’re all admonished to be that. A lot of these qualities are not unique to the elder’s position. He must simply be outstanding in those characteristics. And we start breaking the qualifications down in 1 Timothy 3 and Titus chapter 1. And here’s what I mean about overanalyzation. Well, we’re given two lists, and we’ve got to merge these lists together. And all it says something a little bit different about family qualifications over here than it does about over here. And what are we going to do with that? I got to tell you, when Timothy got his list, it was sufficient to find men to serve as elders. And when Titus got his list, it was sufficient for Titus to appoint men to serve.

And yeah, there’s a few nuances in the list. Let me tell you about those family qualifications. I hate that designation. Because when you start looking a little bit closer, they’re really character qualifications. All of them are. What kind of a husband was he? I really believe that’s the idea of husband and one wife, anyway. It’s like he’s a one-woman man, but that’s a discussion for another time. I’m not going to go through the list and talk about all the qualifications tonight. We’ll do that another time. But I think it’s saying, what kind of a husband has he been? You don’t want a man who is a womanizer serving in this position. You want a man who is dedicated and loyal to his wife. And what kind of father has he been?

Has he provided good leadership in his home with his kids? Has he been able to correct them, not accused of riot and unruly? And even Timothy’s passage says, managers, a manager of his house. Or how else will he manage the church of God? Has he been able to manage his children? Doesn’t mean that they were sinlessly perfect either, but all I want to tell you, that’s often the expectation. We’re going to put them out. His children have been sinlessly perfect. What? Who could ever qualify? For this? Well, what kind of leader has he been? What kind of manager has he been? And after all, if he hasn’t been able to guide these two souls in some way, how’s he going to guide 150 souls? That’s really what that’s about.

Has he demonstrated those kinds of leadership qualities in his own household?

6. He Has Some Experience in This Area

So that’s just a word about the qualifications. We’re not putting a man to serve in this position who is absolutely sinlessly perfect and will be from henceforth. And then this. Well, I already mentioned Hebrews 12 and verse 13 and 1 Thessalonians 5. And then this final point.

He has some experience in this area. He’s already demonstrated that he can help people and guide them and serve them. And now he’s ready to serve in this capacity. And that’s why I said, especially you young men. You need to be thinking about this now. Because you do have to demonstrate these kinds of leadership qualities and this kind of loyalty to your companion. And the way you raise your children has a bearing on the confidence that people have in you. You need to be thinking about this now, as young men, because this is a high sphere of service to which Jesus calls a man and his family. And again, it’s not about, oh, I’ve arrived at the pinnacle, the top position in the local church, I’m an elder.

Conclusion

Wow. No. It’s about being the kind of person who can do this great work that brings great glory to God. It’s about being his servant in the most ultimate way that we can so that he receives the glory. Well, let’s understand what it’s not and what this role is. And be thankful that we have godly men who serve us to the best of their ability in this way. I want to conclude tonight by reading in Acts 20, 28 through 31. There are many threats to the flock. And Paul saw fit as he was leaving those elders from the church at Ephesus to whom he was closely affectioned. He says to them, Be on guard for yourselves. Notice that for yourselves. The elder is not beyond the attacks of the evil one.

Be on guard for yourselves and for all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers to shepherd. There’s the verb. To shepherd the church of God, which he purchased with his own blood. You know, that’s just the thing. We didn’t purchase the church with our blood. Jesus did. He’s the chief shepherd. We’re just carrying on his work. Shepherd the church of God, which he purchased with his own blood. Savage wolves will come in. They won’t spare the flock. They will speak perverse things and draw disciples after them. Therefore, be on the alert, he tells elders. Be watchful for the flock. Well, you may not ever be able to serve in the capacity of elder. If you’re a woman, you won’t be able to serve in that capacity.

But I’ll tell you, there’s still things you can do in shepherding sheep. And being a servant of Jesus Christ. Let the greatest among you be his servant. And that’s what we’re all called to be. His servants. And may we serve and serve well to the glory of God. If there’s someone in this audience who needs to respond to the invitation of the gospel to the salvation of your soul, we’re here to encourage that response. We sing a song to encourage you. Let’s stand and sing.