What do Elders do?

made with Proclaim

Nathan Klahsen

Knollwood London

Churchology: the Who and What We Are • Sermon • Submitted 4 years ago • Presented 4 years ago • 42:13

1 Peter 5:1–5

Elders

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Introduction

Illustration: Simon Says. It’s a fun game, but the object is to ultimately to confuse. When you have someone saying one thing and doing another, it confuses the people and they begin to fall and the game ends.

TRANSITION: This is why this passage is important. This passage shows us that those who serve or lead the church aren’t playing a game of Simon says. It’s not about do what I say and not what I do. It’s about do what I say and watch me as I do what I say.

Read 1 Peter 5:1-5

Pray

What are Elders?

There are a couple of places in the Old Testament and the New Testament that talk about Elders and answer that question of “what are elders?”

At the basic level: An elder is a man who:

1) Meets the qualifications in 1 Timothy 3:1-7 and Titus 1:6-9,

2) Is recognized by his congregation as an elder,

3) Leads the congregation by teaching the Word (1 Tim. 3:2), praying for the sheep (Jas. 5:14), and overseeing the affairs of the church (1 Pet. 5:2).

They are spiritually minded men tasked with the shepherding the flock through prayer and teaching of God’s Word.

Oversight: An elder must watch over the flock. He must instruct all the sheep, strengthen the weak ones, guard the vulnerable ones, rebuke the obstinate ones, and bear with the difficult ones (2 Tim. 2:24-25; Acts 20:28; 1 Thess. 5:14). An elder watches over the members of his church as one who will give an account to God (Heb. 13:17)

Plurality: In the New Testament, local churches consistently have a plurality of elders (Acts 14:23, 20:17; Phil. 1:1; 1 Tim. 5:17; Jas. 5:14). Christ, the Chief Shepherd, means to care for his flock through a number of godly men who together teach, guard, guide, protect, and love the sheep. This means that every local church should look out for men who are already doing the work of an elder and appoint them to the office.

Firefighter Illustration: What is the difference between a paid firefighter and a volunteer? Regardless of the paid statues, they both run into a fire.

Transition: So briefly, that’s who elders are, but what do they do. Well, a lot of who they are is tied to what they do. As a congregation, you are to vote for men who meet these qualifications.

What do Elders do?

They watch over the flock. What does that mean? They are the chief disciple makers in the church.

Vs. 1 So Where does the word “so” point us to? 4:19. Peter is giving some foresight here as how the elders, who make up the visible leadership of the local church, would be the first people to endure persecution. The suffering and persecution all believers puts a special strain on leaders. That’s why Paul gets into is exhortation to elders here, they need to understand what is required of them, especially when the sheep are being harassed. So, it’s in that context that Peter comes and exhorts his fellow elders, the elders should suffer first as under-shepherds. They are tasked with feeding, leading and PROTECTING the flock. Who stands in the lurch between the sheep and predators (ravenous wolves).... shepherds.

I love what Peter does here. He identifies himself as a witness of Christ’s sufferings. He connects his witness and that he is also an elder. His witnessing of Jesus’ suffering gives him the credentials of authority to instruct others but also shows his humanity. I have authority to say what I am about to say, but I am also one of you. as a partaker in the glory that is going to be revealed. Peter comes with authority telling his fellow elders to live for the gospel, but he also says he desperately needs it.

THE GOSPEL MOVE: Peter, as an elder, is proclaiming the gospel and not only his need for it but all of is.

Elders have the humility to say that I can’t do it. The gospel reminds us daily we can’t. Christ died for our sins and rose again. We didn’t save ourselves, Christ did it. If you are in Christ, he sovereignly loves you. He died for you while you were still an enemy of him. He paid the price that you in no way could pay. So that when we rest in him and his work, we will have eternal life. We will be made right before the holy God. Peter is saying, “Oh how I need you, every hour, oh how I need you. The gospel is for sinners like Peter. Peter make no abomination without acknowledging his own vulnerabilities.

Elders talks about the dignity and gravity of the person who serves. All local churches in the New Testament were governed by a plurality of elders. The New testament knowns nothing of a local church in which only one elder exercises authority.

Vs. 2 Summer statement: The Elders are to function as shepherds of God’s flock. All Elders exercise pastoral responsibilities. They are not to be like the shepherds that you can read about in Ezekiel 34 who treated their flock “harshly and brutally”. They are to take their example of the chief Shepherd who appoints under-shepherds to lead, feed, nurture, and protect God’s flock. The elders are to exercise oversight. So basically, they are to lead. They are the ones that are out front leading the direction of the local church.

How is that fundamentally done? Martin Luther said it well that the elders shepherd God’s flock by preaching the gospel.

They exercise oversight in three ways:

not under compulsion, but willingly --> not under compulsion, God wants those who want too be elders to be elders. Elders must shepherd willingly. You can’t strong arm someone into it. The impulse to lead must come gladly from within, not oppressively from the outside. 1 Timothy 3:1 As God would have you (Lit) according to God. We aren’t free to structure or organized the church according to what we want, it must be according to what God wills. Which means that the duties of oversight have a sense of accountability to God. In other words, Elders exercise oversight not for the love of praise.

not for shameful gain, but eagerly —> Elders shepherd “eagerly”. So this isn’t a condemnation about how you shouldn’t pay for some elders. This about men who have a love of gain and the abuse of trust. 1 Corinthians 9:14 and 1 Timothy 5:17. This is the pastor who is in it for the money. We can think that this doesn’t happen, but it does. But keep in mind this isn’t about “gain” but “shameful” gain. Titus 1:7. When money-loving men lead a church, spending towards the poor, church planting, and global evangelism dries up. In other words, they exercise oversight not for the love of profit.

not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock —> They aren’t concerned with holding a position of power, but rather, being a faithful steward of what Christ has entrusted them with. God calls this man to not exploit his position of authority to lord over others. There is no room for the man who is always demanding and never serving, always insisting on his way even when he knows he is wrong, always flaunting his position. Why? Because of that following bit there: but being examples to the flock. Elders shepherd the flock by being an example to their flock of what it mean to grow in Christlikeness. They are to be an example of humility, self-sacrifice, love for God, passion in worship, generosity, devotion to family, and most of all, obedience to Jesus in all things. Love of Power

As the Church, we are the blood bought bride of Christ that is now called to live as those we have been changed. Our lives are to exemplify Christ.

I was watching this video of a toddler Son and a Dad playing with lightsabbers. So they were sword fighting, it was super cute. But where did he learn to do that great acting?

Elders are to exemplify Christ to the flock they have been entrusted to. At some point, I will die. You will die.

Peter takes time to exhort his fellow elders in light of what Christ has done for them with a foresight that there will be suffering and that the Elders will need to shepherd Christ’s Church in light of that. Peter is giving some foresight here as how the elders, who make up the visible leadership of the local church, would be the first people to endure persecution. The suffering and persecution all believers puts a special strain on leaders.

Many times I have been told from farmers to bay street bankers “I don’t know how you do what you do.” Like Peter, I know my vulnerabilities and I fall at the feet of my loving Saviour. But here’s the thing, if you long to be an elder, if it be a lay elder or a paid elder, this is you.

Vs. 4 But I leave this final reminder that Peter also reminds his fellow elders: and when the chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory. The chief Shepherd will provide a crown of glory to those who serve in his own pattern of selfless leadership for his flock.

But Jesus is first chief Shepherd. Elders are under-shepherds. They submit to to Christ. They are the first to ask “What does the Bible say?” They are the example of Christlikeness.

But in these verse, we have the motivation of why these Spiritually minded men are to be like this, here lies the power to obey: looking back to Jesus’ sacrifice that justifies us and looking forward to Jesus’ return that will glorify us. All is taken care of. And all is of grace, enabling us to live and lead with selfless confidence, for him and for his people. Rest in him. Church, pray that they rest in him.

Christ is the chief Shepherd of God’s people. The elders are to submit to Christ. I am an under-shepherd; he is the chief Shepherd. And one day…I will hand this flock off to him, and he will hand her to another under-shepherd. I am just a steward. Which means, I need to be a discipler and active in raising up other men who seek these very things.

Men, I know you are tired and I know that this time especially has been hard. But let me remind you of the hope you have. Serve will in the office that you serve in. So that when the chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory. I know it’s hard. I know the attacks are there. I know the discouragement is real. I know that life can feel like it’s piling on. Keep your eyes on Christ. Keep your eyes on the author and finisher of our faith. Strives to be men who are worthy of being an example.

Transition: What do elders do? They shepherd the church. How do they do that? by preaching the gospel. They are to exercise oversight. How do they do that? By shepherding in such a way that points to the chief Shepherd.

So What?

Why does it matter?

We can’t be a healthy church without men who shepherd God’s flock in this way. Spiritually minded men who love the bride of Christ. Leading also involves trust, and the congregation needs to trust the leadership. Safe guard the churches witness in the community.