Faithful Elders and Fruitful Churches

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INTRO - What is an elder?

Elder [Presbyter] (v.12) - an older/mature man.

Overseer [Bishop] (v.28) - guardian or superintendent.

Pastor [Shepherd] (v.28) - to tend, care, or rule.

The Faithful Elder

Faithful elders choose calling over comfort.

Acts 20:18–21 NASB95

And when they had come to him, he said to them, “You yourselves know, from the first day that I set foot in Asia, how I was with you the whole time, serving the Lord with all humility and with tears and with trials which came upon me through the plots of the Jews; how I did not shrink from declaring to you anything that was profitable, and teaching you publicly and from house to house, solemnly testifying to both Jews and Greeks of repentance toward God and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ.

After six years of ministry at Barberville we had turned a major corner in the health and spiritual maturity of the church. A lot of the big battles had been won and things were fruitful and fulfilling. We had a beautiful home, a loving church family, and a fully support ministry. It was comfortable, but we weren’t called to stay there.

Ministry is hard, and anyone who says otherwise is compromising with the world.

Faithful elders teach easy truth and hard truth.

Acts 20:26–27 NASB95

“Therefore, I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all men. “For I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole purpose of God.

One of the greatest gifts God can give to His under-shepherds is a clear conscience. The pastor who has joy amidst trials in his church is preaching like Paul did.

Faithful elders call out sin despite status.

During the speech of Pope John Paul II at the 1988 European Parliament meeting, Presbyterian pastor Ian Paisley stood and shouted “I denounce you as the Antichrist!” He held a poster saying the same while other shouted at him. When the poster was taken from him, he pulled another from his pocket and continued. He was removed from the building and later claimed that he was assaulted by other members of Parliament for his actions.

Acts 20:28–31 NASB95

“Be on guard for yourselves and for all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood. “I know that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; and from among your own selves men will arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after them. “Therefore be on the alert, remembering that night and day for a period of three years I did not cease to admonish each one with tears.

John Calvin said that the pastor has two voices, one for the sheep and one for the wolves. Paul says that as far as it concerns us we should be at peace with everyone.

Elders who look for fights aren’t qualified for the office, and neither are elders who won’t fight when someone is hurting God’s Church.

1 Corinthians 4:11–21 NASB95

To this present hour we are both hungry and thirsty, and are poorly clothed, and are roughly treated, and are homeless; and we toil, working with our own hands; when we are reviled, we bless; when we are persecuted, we endure; when we are slandered, we try to conciliate; we have become as the scum of the world, the dregs of all things, even until now. I do not write these things to shame you, but to admonish you as my beloved children. For if you were to have countless tutors in Christ, yet you would not have many fathers, for in Christ Jesus I became your father through the gospel. Therefore I exhort you, be imitators of me. For this reason I have sent to you Timothy, who is my beloved and faithful child in the Lord, and he will remind you of my ways which are in Christ, just as I teach everywhere in every church. Now some have become arrogant, as though I were not coming to you. But I will come to you soon, if the Lord wills, and I shall find out, not the words of those who are arrogant but their power. For the kingdom of God does not consist in words but in power. What do you desire? Shall I come to you with a rod, or with love and a spirit of gentleness?

Faithful elders work to earn a crown, not a check.

Acts 20:32–35 NASB95

“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 have coveted no one’s silver or gold or clothes. “You yourselves know that these hands ministered to my own needs and to the men who were with me. “In everything I showed you that by working hard in this manner you must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He Himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ ”

1 Peter 5:1–4 NASB95

Therefore, I exhort the elders among you, as your fellow elder and witness of the sufferings of Christ, and a partaker also of the glory that is to be revealed, 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, but with eagerness; 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.

Christmonger - But everyone who comes in the name of the Lord, let him be welcomed. And then, having tested him you will know him. ⌊Then you will be able to distinguish whether he is true or false⌋. If the one coming is a traveler help him as much as you are able. But he shall remain not among you ⌊more than⌋ two or three days, if he has need. And if he desires to stay with you, being an artisan, let him work and let him earn his keep. And if he has no craft, take this into consideration according to your understanding how he shall live among you as a Christian without being idle. And if he does not want to act in this way, he is a Christmonger. Beware of such as these.

Faithful elders respect God’s will more than God’s Church.

Acts 21:4–6 NASB95

After looking up the disciples, we stayed there seven days; and they kept telling Paul through the Spirit not to set foot in Jerusalem. When our days there were ended, we left and started on our journey, while they all, with wives and children, escorted us until we were out of the city. After kneeling down on the beach and praying, we said farewell to one another. Then we went on board the ship, and they returned home again.

One of the pastors who has discipled me said when I was preparing to move to New York, “The hardest thing about being a pastor is wanting better for people than they want for themselves.”

Like a parent who instructs their child to do something now that will benefit them later, faithful elders must lead God’s people to do things now that will bless them later.

The Fruitful Church

Since faithful elders choose calling over comfort…

We honor God by honoring them.

1 Timothy 5:17–21 NASB95

The elders who rule well are to be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who work hard at preaching and teaching. For the Scripture says, “You shall not muzzle the ox while he is threshing,” and “The laborer is worthy of his wages.” Do not receive an accusation against an elder except on the basis of two or three witnesses. Those who continue in sin, rebuke in the presence of all, so that the rest also will be fearful of sinning. I solemnly charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus and of His chosen angels, to maintain these principles without bias, doing nothing in a spirit of partiality.

Since faithful elders teach easy truth and hard truth…

We submit to God’s Word by submitting to them.

Hebrews 13:7–9 NASB95

Remember those who led you, who spoke the word of God to you; and considering the result of their conduct, imitate their faith. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. Do not be carried away by varied and strange teachings; for it is good for the heart to be strengthened by grace, not by foods, through which those who were so occupied were not benefited.

Since faithful elders call out sin despite status…

We grow spiritually by encouraging them.

Hebrews 13:17–18 NASB95

Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they keep watch over your souls as those who will give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with grief, for this would be unprofitable for you. Pray for us, for we are sure that we have a good conscience, desiring to conduct ourselves honorably in all things.

Since faithful elders respect God’s will more than God’s Church…

We become mature by bearing with them.

Colossians 3:12–17 NASB95

So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience; bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you. Beyond all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity. Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body; and be thankful. Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God. Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father.

There are no perfect Apostles, there are no perfect elders, and there are no perfect church members.

But when a church’s elders are striving to imitate the Great Shepherd and care for His sheep, and the church receives and follows God’s leadership through His under-shepherds the result is a strong, mature, and fruitful church for God’s glory.

May we be that church for Him now and forever.