ELDERS – SHEPERDS OF CHRIST’S CHURCH

By Michael K. Farrar, O.D.

© God’s Breath Publications

 

Christ is head of the universal church but He ordained that certain individuals in a local body of believers would be shepherds of His flock. Such individuals are called elders. Many churches choose to be led by a single pastor who is appointed by a board of individuals. The true Biblical model for church leadership though is one of multiple men overseeing leadership. Multiple-leadership is the structure Jesus Christ chose to form the group of men who would care for and oversee the needs of the early church. He called the first of these men “Apostles” who would form the foundation of His church. These Apostles traveled all over the known world and established churches where they appointed elders to oversee the teaching and administration of each local church.

 

The presence of elders in the church in the New Testament indicates that this position in church oversight was modeled after the structure God had ordained within the Jewish faith. Local synagogues had elders who oversaw the religious life of the Jewish nation. Our Christian faith has its origin in the Jewish religion so it is only natural that God’s pattern for leadership would carry on according to his ordained plan.

 

Elders were associated with James in Jerusalem in the local church’s government (Acts 11:30; 21:18) and, with the apostles, in the decisions of the early church council (Acts 15). Elders were appointed in the churches that were planted throughout the known world during the Apostle Paul’s first missionary journey (Acts 14:23). Paul addressed the elders at Ephesus (Acts 20:17-35). Elders served an important role in church ministry as they comforted the sick (James 5:14, 15), taught the Word to the local congregation (1 Timothy 5:17; 1 Peter 5:5), and shared the gospel with those that they met at local gatherings.

 

Another term used to identify an elder was “bishop.” It had the same meaning as elder when it came to ministry within the local church Body. An overseer, elder, or pastor was charged with the responsibility of spiritual leadership in a local church in New Testament times. In the Old Testament it represents a Hebrew term that refers to those who are overseers or officers (Numbers 4:16; Nehemiah 9:9). In Acts 20:17, 28 and Titus 1:5, 7, the terms bishop and elder are used synonymously. Also the word bishop, or its related words, appears to be synonymous with the word shepherd (Acts 20:28; 1 Peter 2:25; 5:2).

 

The ministry of a bishop or elder was to oversee the flock of God. He was to shepherd the people of faith, protect them from enemies and false teachers, encourage and exhort them in their spiritual walk with the Lord Jesus Christ and minister to them in whatever way the Lord led. He was to accomplish this primarily by being an example to his people. He was to do this willingly and with an eager spirit, not by coercion or for financial gain. To desire a position as elder or bishop, the apostle Paul declared, was to desire a good work (1 Timothy 3:1).

 

The type of leadership that Jesus modeled and expects elders to live out is what might be called “servant leadership.” They are to serve not as authoritarian tyrants but as kind, knowledgeable, sensitive servants of those in the local church. While they will at times have to confront believers regarding false doctrine and sinful behavior, it is expected that more of their time will be spent discipling, encouraging, comforting and serving those who live alongside them in the local church. They are responsible to Christ for not only how they live out their example of Christ, but also of how they oversee the local believers.

 

In the New Testament, Jesus is called the “Overseer of your souls” (1 Peter 2:25).In this portion of scripture this is associated with the term shepherd. It is also used to identify the leader of a Christian community or the one who filled the office of overseer. In Acts 20:28 the elders of the church at Ephesus were summoned to meet Paul and are identified as overseers. Their responsibility, given by the Holy Spirit, was “to shepherd the church of God.”

 

The qualifications of elders are laid out in 1 Timothy 3:2-7 and Titus 1:7-9. Such godly standards include; personal as well as family life and also includes relationships with non-believers as well as fellow believers in the community where they live.

 

Those who serve presently as elders perform the selection of elders within a local Body. It is critically important that elder selection is carefully done. Current elders evaluate the need for additional elders and evaluate men within the body through their relationships with them and by making observations of how such possible future elders serve in ministry. Elders must evaluate how a man will function in the role as elder and determine if he is able and willing to function in that role. Many men are qualified but due to family, business or personal responsibilities may not be able to serve in this capacity.

 

The specific areas of function or responsibility of elders are many. The New Testament gives clear evidence that the care of the church was committed to elders. There are three main areas in which they carry out their duties.

 

First is oversight of the local body of believers. In Acts 1:20; 1 Timothy 3:1 and Titus 1:7 the word for overseer or elder speaks of responsible shepherding care for those in the church. Hebrews 13:7, 17 and 1 Thessalonians 5:12, 13 implies a very significant level of responsibility for those who serve as elders. The passage in Hebrews 13 uses the phrase “they keep watch over” which means literally to give “sleepless attention to.” These elders will also give account of how they served in this capacity of leadership to Christ Himself. 1 Timothy 3:4, 5, 5:17 speaks of elders as set over, ruling, presiding or governing over those in the local body. This is done in a loving and servant-motivated manner.

 

Secondly elders serve in the capacity of giving instruction or teaching. One of the qualifications of an elder is one who is “able to teach” which is spoken of in 1 Timothy 3:2. This does not mean that each elder must be a Bible scholar, have attended a seminary or be a full-time pastor, but it does mean he must be able to adequately handle the Word of God. This is in agreement with the scripture passage in Titus 1:9 which implies that elders are ones “holding fast the faithful word… that he may be able to exhort in sound doctrine and to refute those who contradict.” It is often the case that some of the elders of an elder board may teach more than others. This is mentioned in 1 Timothy 5:17 where it describes such elders as “those who work hard at preaching and teaching.” This may be the case when a pastor also serves as an elder on the elder board. It can also be the case when a certain man has specific spiritual gifts that lend themselves to the teaching and preaching of the Word to the local body.

 

The last general area that elders minister in is the area of care of the body. This manifests itself in the genuine and practical concern for the needs of those in the local church. This is reflected in 1 Timothy 3:5 and since elders are to model themselves after Christ Himself, those examples in scripture where Jesus demonstrated compassion and concern for those who were sick or oppressed would serve as ways an elder should behave. 1 Peter 5:1-4 indicates the need for elders to be loving and sensitive in their approach to those in the church. James 5:14 indicates a very personal involvement by the elders in ministering to the specific needs within the body of Christ. Acts 20:28-30 describes the protective care that the elders should have for Christ’s sheep. The elders should know that false doctrine could cause severe damage to the flock both individually and corporately.

 

Because there are diversities of spiritual gifts, personalities and abilities among not only the members of the Body of Christ but also among the elders, the level of involvement in ministry as an elder will vary. There is a diversity of function in the responsibilities of an elder and so it is only natural that we might find certain elders taking on more responsibilities than others. We might see some elders functioning more in roles of teaching and others serving in other capacities that are more appropriate to their specific spiritual gifts and talents. Because some elders may have more time available these elders may appear to be more visible in ministry activities than others. 1 Timothy 5:17 implies that it may be necessary to materially or financially assist those elders who commit more time to elder duties than others. Often these elders are what we call pastors who may be full or part-time ministers in the Body.

 

Decisions made by elders at a meeting are done by consensus. In other words, all those on the elder board must agree together. This is patterned on the idea that the Holy Spirit will speak with one voice to each man. Just as Christ desires unity within the Body of Christ, He desires unity among elders as they make decisions regarding the function of the church.

 

I would encourage you to pray for the elders of your church. It is quite a responsibility and requires lots of supportive prayer. Pray that elders will have the mind and heart of Christ as they serve. Pray for their spiritual protection for they are targets for attacks from Satan. Pray also for their spiritual growth and that they seek to be filled with the Holy Spirit.