... Elders

Psalm of the Day: Psalm 39

Psalm 39 ESV

To the choirmaster: to Jeduthun. A Psalm of David. I said, “I will guard my ways, that I may not sin with my tongue; I will guard my mouth with a muzzle, so long as the wicked are in my presence.” I was mute and silent; I held my peace to no avail, and my distress grew worse. My heart became hot within me. As I mused, the fire burned; then I spoke with my tongue: “O Lord, make me know my end and what is the measure of my days; let me know how fleeting I am! Behold, you have made my days a few handbreadths, and my lifetime is as nothing before you. Surely all mankind stands as a mere breath! Selah Surely a man goes about as a shadow! Surely for nothing they are in turmoil; man heaps up wealth and does not know who will gather! “And now, O Lord, for what do I wait? My hope is in you. Deliver me from all my transgressions. Do not make me the scorn of the fool! I am mute; I do not open my mouth, for it is you who have done it. Remove your stroke from me; I am spent by the hostility of your hand. When you discipline a man with rebukes for sin, you consume like a moth what is dear to him; surely all mankind is a mere breath! Selah “Hear my prayer, O Lord, and give ear to my cry; hold not your peace at my tears! For I am a sojourner with you, a guest, like all my fathers. Look away from me, that I may smile again, before I depart and am no more!”

Scripture Reading: Psalm 23:1-3

Psalm 23:1–3 ESV

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.

Sermon:

Well once again and as always, good morning church, i truly was glad when they said to me, let us go and worship in the house of the lord.

There is a story that sort of lives in Poland family, infamy and history. One day, my little sister, she was probably six or seven, was asked by someone, i don't know who, what my dad does for a living. And my little sister answered according to sort of, probably what she heard around the dinner table, what she had in her mind pieced together as to what my dad does for a living. So in case any of you are wondering what my dad did before he retired, his job was to “eat cake, read emails and fire people.”

Now, that's not really what he did, but my sister that's what she saw, that's what she heard, that's what she assumed. And so that is how She answered. And while we could pick on her, i think it's a cute and probably not super wrong. Answer in some sense. The the fundamental problem, my sister had is, she did not know what my dad truly did. What his job description was, what his role encompassed, what his responsibilities really were? She didn't know why he needed to Read emails. she didn't understand what would cause him to need to eat cake at his job. She didn't understand the weight and the responsibility that goes into what is it actually means to fire someone.

Well, i bring this story up because we are about to start a new series that a tiny little mini series that I'm calling “the church needs.”

And the goal is, we will walk through the different roles, the different offices, the different jobs inside of the church that the church needs in order to function properly. And my goal, my intention and my heart in doing this is that you will be able to give a better answer. Then maybe my sister did if you were to ask well why does your church have elders? In in future weeks. Why does your church have deacons? What's the deal with church membership? How do you sort through these things? And so this tiny miniseries there's sort of two thoughts as to why we are starting this.

The first it is this: i believe it will prepare our hearts for the next series through a book which is starting on the 21st. as a side note in your bulletin you have a little card that's kind of for you but not really… It's for anyone, you know who you think might be interested in our next new sermon series We're starting. So that's for you to look at, but then give away and if you want to invite more people, I printed out more of those things, they're in the back. So if you would like to give these out to people, you would love to invite to church. I think our next full series will be important.

But the other reason i felt the need to do this sort of miniseries is this: We just spent over two years in the book of Matthew. and Matthew had a very particular view, very intentional goals to lay out who jesus was to show us that jesus is the fulfillment of all the old testament pointed us to, to teach us the nature of jesus authority. to have us, Ultimately, i would say if we were to ask Matthew, what is your goal, it is to have all of us bow, our knees in humble, reverence to the Authority of the king of kings, and the lord of lords.

So he didn’t have as his pouropse of Goal to show us what is the church looks like. And so, i think it's important, we take a step back and refocus ourselves in some ways to understand what is happening and what is going on with. The nature of the church.

The sort of Added bonus Third reason to this is this: We are having our congregational meeting on the 21st. And you'll be asked to, We're not going to put any new people up for elders, but you'll be asked to vote. Do you want these people to continue as elders? Well, what are they doing? What, are you actually voting for? Deacons will do the same thing. We're going to lay these things out so it's good that we have a foundation. So our goal today is to talk about what the bible says, in some sense about what it means to be an elder. So before we dive in, let's open with a word of prayer.

Dear lord. We thank you for today. We thank you for all of the precious gifts that you have given us. For your goodness and your mercy and your grace. And we even thank you for your church. Thank you for The body of believers joined together in faith and love Through you. Thank you for this particular body. This church here that we are at. May you guide our thoughts this morning, may you speak to us, according to your word. I pray that you would teach us, mold us, and shape us. Help us as people but also as a church to glorify you in all that we do, It's in jesus name that we pray. Amen.

So this morning our goal is to look at Elders. And to lay out, what is, Of all the callings we see in scripture, One of the most difficult, beautiful, But also one of the highest callings that we see.

So What does it mean to be an elder? What does it mean to to have that call? Well, first thing we need to do is understand what are the duties. Of elders.

The DUTIES of Elders

And there's a lot of places we could go. In truth, We are not going to A lot of places in scripture that We could. Rather I picked, and we will be looking at, three different texts this morning to help us grasp what it is We're talking through here.

Ultimately, i would say, we could go to act six and see that the duties of elders are prayer and the preaching of the word, that's an important one. But if you were to flip to Acts chapter 20 starting in 17

Paul is in this passage speaking to the ephesian elders. For a little bit of biblical context, the church in Ephesus was, Probably one of paul's most beloved churches. He cared for loved and and wanted to instill, this church with all that it needed. If you go to the book of Ephesians, paul's letter to that church, it is one of the most lofty and beautiful Exhortations of god's love and for them to rest in god's love that we find anywhere in scripture.

And here Paul is going to leave this church that he loves. In fact, he has left and calls for the elders to come to him for some final instruction. And so he's going to put elders in place to run and to operate the church while he is gone. And so this is what we read, Acts chapter 20, starting in verse 17.

Acts 20:17–38 (ESV)

Now from Miletus he sent to Ephesus and called the elders of the church to come to him. And when they came to him, he said to them:

So, Paul is calling the elders. He needs to give them instruction. And here is the instruction, Paul gives the elders

“You yourselves know how I lived among you the whole time from the first day that I set foot in Asia, serving the Lord with all humility and with tears and with trials that happened to me through the plots of the Jews; how I did not shrink from declaring to you anything that was profitable, and teaching you in public and from house to house, testifying both to Jews and to Greeks of repentance toward God and of faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. And now, behold, I am going to Jerusalem, constrained by the Spirit, not knowing what will happen to me there, except that the Holy Spirit testifies to me in every city that imprisonment and afflictions await me.

Before we even get to the commands, that Paul has for the elders, note, Paul's heart. Because ultimately, i would say the most fundamental duty of the elders is to love the church in the way That Paul here loves the Ephesian church and to do for them What Paul says here. Which is what? Teaching everything that you need not shrinking back from what may be difficult or what may not please the world. The weight of this is that Paul only knows one thing... If we we're to look at this: what does Paul know about his ministry? He doesn't know where he's going the next day. Paul is led by the holy spirit and very particular way wherein he's going and going wherever the holy spirit he leads. and so he knows i'm going to jerusalem Well, what are you going to do there? Paul. This is the only thing i know verse 23 that in every city imprisonment and afflictions away me, but he will endure. One of the calls of elders is to endure for those who they love.

Continuing verse 24:

But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.

this is the duty of elders to proclaim and testify, the beauty of the glory of the gospel of the grace of god:

Verse 25:

And now, behold, I know that none of you among whom I have gone about proclaiming the kingdom will see my face again.

Paul knows the end is coming soon.

Therefore I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all, for I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole counsel of God.

Here's Paul’s summary of his ministry: I didn't shrink from declaring to you. All of the gospel. every minuscule detail of the gospel of jesus christ is the duty and responsibility of every elder to proclaim. So what is the pay off, how does Paul’s ministy impact the ministry of all the Ephesian elders? Verse 28:

Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers,

what is the duty of elders to pay careful attention? First and foremost to them themselves, their own heart and their own soul. But then also, for the hearts and minds and souls of all of those who are under their care, Pay careful attention to yourselves and do all of the flock in which the holy spirit has made you overseers.

to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood.

elders are called the duty of elders is to care for those people saved by jesus,

Continuing on to verse 29:

I know that after my departure fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; and from among your own selves will arise men speaking twisted things, to draw away the disciples after them. Therefore be alert,

Elders are called to be alert. We are called to look out to see and to try in all of our strength and might to protect the church from wolves both outside and within To protect to care and... note this... therefore be alert ...

remembering that for three years I did not cease night or day to admonish every one with tears.

The elders duty is to love and care for the church so much that it brings them to tears. We are called. This is what's difficult with a sermon like this as an elder of this church we including myself are called to love you all to protect you all such that. It drives us to tears. If a elder does not love his church enough to cry for it. He's not fulfilling his duty as an elder.

and Verse 32:

And now I commend you to God and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance among all those who are sanctified. I coveted no one’s silver or gold or apparel. You yourselves know that these hands ministered to my necessities and to those who were with me. In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ ”

Elders are called to be servants. Servants Who proclaim, who protect, who love the church, love the gospel, and seek to encourage, and lift up the body as we all desire and endeavor to seek after him. And so, the call of elders. To be an elder is to be one who loves and cares for and protects and guards, the church.

But who can do that? How can we as a church? Look at someone and say yes this person can guard and protect the church but in this person maybe needs more training is not there yet. And this person is one that we need to completely avoid. How do we know?

Well, luckily for us scripture lays out qualifications, It lays out for us, what we should look for as we seek to find elders.

The QUALIFICATIONS of Elders

We can move to what often called the “pastoral epistles” first and second Timothy, but then also Titus,

We'll be looking at Titus chapter 1. Paul is writing here to Pastors that he has left... in some sense, he's writing to elders that he's given this same Sort of speech we just looked at. He writes to, you will never guess in 1 and 2 Timothy,to Timothy, and to another pastor he loved and cared for Titus.

He left Titus in a place called Crete. The church there... Maybe not the best church. The people of Crete.... Maybe not the most upstanding moral citizens. Maybe not the most sanctified, the most qualified But yet. You still must find elders. So what do you look for? Paul is writing to Titus and says, okay, you need to find elders. You need people, you Titus need other elders to help, you do everything that we've just talked about. So who do you look for? Titus chapter 1. Starting in verse 5.

Titus 1:5 (ESV)

This is why I left you in Crete...

Again, Note, Crete is not a great place. Later in this chapter 1 verse 12 Paul says....

So maybe you don’t love it there, maybe these guys are not the best BUt this is what you need to do:

so that you might put what remained into order, and appoint elders in every town as I directed you—

And then, after that, he will lay out the qualifications.

I'm going to read them all and give us sort of how i Help myself quantify and run through these things. Verse 6.

Titus 1:6–9 ESV

if anyone is above reproach, the husband of one wife, and his children are believers and not open to the charge of debauchery or insubordination. For an overseer, as God’s steward, must be above reproach. He must not be arrogant or quick-tempered or a drunkard or violent or greedy for gain, but hospitable, a lover of good, self-controlled, upright, holy, and disciplined. He must hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught, so that he may be able to give instruction in sound doctrine and also to rebuke those who contradict it.

These are simply, put the qualification for elders. There's a lot here. How do i think through them? There's three categories. All held together by this phrase “above reproach”,

So On one level, elders must be above reproach. This does not mean perfect. This does not mean that we will not mess up in some way. It does not mean we will not struggle from time to time. “Above reproach.” Just means they live their life to such a standard. That you can't go in and say, You're not. Trying, you're not endeavoring, you're not serving, you're not loving, you're not. Whatever it is. Though we may fail form time to time, the pattern of the life is one that is above reproach in all of these things.

First and foremost, they are above approach in their personal life. Paul gives these instructions, he talks about being the husband of one wife. The, children must also be Well-behaved. They must not be open to charges of debauchery or insubordination. In other words, His personal life must reflect the order and the strength of the gospel that he lives out.

And so much like the church… we have to get the whole picure right… The husband and wife are to be a reflection of christ's love for the church. And so, how an elder deals with his wife is important. An elders call to lead and guide the church if he can't lead and guide his family. How could he guide the church? Well, And so as you look to an elder is his personal life above approach, this is difficult. It means his elders. We must be open to be seen.

You get to and really have to see and to know that you know our lives. And then ultimately to have confidence in the work of christ in our lives that: Yep, that's above reproach.

Above approaching the personal life, but also Above approach in the public life.

Verse 7 and overseer as gods steward must be above approach.

There's that phrase again.

He must not be arrogant or quick temper or a drunkard or violent or greedy for gain.

As you look at how he runs his business, his life, how he interacts with his neighbors, as you look at how he lives his life in public.

In timothy is Paul writes to timothy. In 1 timothy 3:7 He, he talks about having this good reputation in the community. The public life of an elder must also be above approach. Because note this he is an overseer verse 7 as god steward,

And so as we select elders, we are allowing the world outside to see them. And if the way they live, the way they operate the way they act, the way they carry them themselves Brings shame upon themselves... If they have a bad reputation... that will infiltrate into the church. And so, are they above approach in their personal life? Their public life but also the final note, are they above reproach in their spiritual life?

Do they… Here's the short, way to say this.... Reflect the fruits of the spirit. Love joy, peace, patience. Kindness goodness faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Or here the list we have in Titus: hospitable a lover of good. Self-controlled upright, holy disciplined and he must hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught.

Elders are not called to go make up invent for themselves, different thoughts and ideas. As they relate to scripture scripture, do they hold firm the word as taught by the apostles and christ jesus. So that we may give instruction and protect And rebuke. Those who contradict.

The qualification for an elder is to be above reproach and we see this in their personal life in their public life, in their spiritual life. This is the measure of if a man is qualified to be an elder.

Full Confession:I don't do this perfectly. No one. Perfectly in all times, in all ways, does this? But you can think of this a lot as like the qualifications for a job. And i want to be careful how i say this Because theis is the standard that God lays out and we cannot do less than this. But here is a quick example... if we look at someone and say, here's the qualification of job, and they need it. You know, i wish their GPA would have been a little higher. But they have a degree. The standard is a Degree, not where it is from…

So no I can say: I wish In my own life, That i was more self-controlled. But i try to meet that standard. I i wish in my own life. I was a better husband. But i still seek. To maintain this standard. I hope That in my life, i have a good repute that i'm above reproach in my public life, but there's some people who may have qualms with me. People who see me drive. I'm not perfect, but we endeavor to live up to these standards. The ones god has laid out that these are what an elder must live up to. Because i want to end with one final thought. Which is ultimately the responsibility of the elders.

The RESPONSIBILITY of the Elders

This is tied up. In the duties. You know, this was one who pays attention to yourselves and the church, who cares for the church with tears to, to help to, to lead, to guide to rebuke those who contradict sound doctrine. But ultimately, This is what i would say. What is? The responsibility of elders. This is a weighty thoughts. But they are called to give an account. For your soul.

In some sense, the the responsibility of your elders is to Be responsible with you for your soul before a holy God

hebrews. Chapter 13. Verse 17.

In my own life, i have a very Interesting relationship with this verse.

Hebrews 13:17 (ESV)

Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account.

The responsibility of elders is to keep watch over your souls knowing that we will one day give an account for your soul. Many people read this verse. And they think this is just old fashioned archaic thoughts. This isn't how the world works because they just read the first part. Obey your leaders and submit to them. WE don’t really like either of thsoe words, OBEY is something for children and SUBMIT, its 2023… 2024 tomorrow... So It just doesn't sound right to our culture, but this is the exhortation of the writer of Hebrews for you submit to your elders. But that is not why I struggle with that verse...

But here's my relationship with this verse This verse, Is to me the most terrifying verse in all of scripture. As a pastor, this is terrifying verse Because here's the deal. I have to give an account for my own soul. And that's scary enough. This is why i think that love is so important…Because I'm also going to be given account for yours. This is why i think fundamentally elders have to love. I love you enough to be willing to say Yeah. Oh, I'll be accountable for them.

It is yes For what i taught to you, but also for what, i let them do for what i let them say. For what i let them believe for what i proclaim from the pulpit, to try to minister to their souls. For what i instilled in the church for whatever it is. We are willing to give and account As we keep, watch over your souls. It's a weighty job. It's a heavy job but it's an important one.

Why does the church need elders? Because elders. Are called to guard. And shepherd, the flock of god, keeping watch over them loving them passionately, praying for caring for weeping tears as we oversee the body of christ. Keeping watch over your souls protecting from enemies both within And with out... ultimately being willing to give an account before a, holy righteous judge for your soul.

It's a heavy responsibility. It's one that Is not taking lightly. By any of the elders we have here. This is a little bit different of a sermon. This is more practical how the church operates. But here's the hope. Here, At this church, We have elders who love and care for: The gospel of jesus christ. And the people here.

Our goal is to help you learn to love god, to love, jesus, to serve him to be conformed into the image of his son each and every day. So, come talk to us. This is what we desire more than anything else.

Is to love and care for your souls. Because we do this as elders. Serving the great shepherd. Jesus christ. Our lord, let's pray.