The Basic Leadership
Back to the Basics: A First Century Church • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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Transcript
Opening Comments:
Opening Comments:
Please meet me in your copy of Gods Word today in Acts 20:17–38. If you’re using one of our church provided Bibles you can find your place on pg. 874-875 we’re going to read a lengthy passage for context but then focus in only on just small portion of the passage.
17 Now from Miletus he sent to Ephesus and called the elders of the church to come to him.
18 And when they came to him, he said to them: “You yourselves know how I lived among you the whole time from the first day that I set foot in Asia,
19 serving the Lord with all humility and with tears and with trials that happened to me through the plots of the Jews;
20 how I did not shrink from declaring to you anything that was profitable, and teaching you in public and from house to house,
21 testifying both to Jews and to Greeks of repentance toward God and of faith in our Lord Jesus Christ.
22 And now, behold, I am going to Jerusalem, constrained by the Spirit, not knowing what will happen to me there,
23 except that the Holy Spirit testifies to me in every city that imprisonment and afflictions await me.
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.
25 And now, behold, I know that none of you among whom I have gone about proclaiming the kingdom will see my face again.
26 Therefore I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all,
27 for I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole counsel of God.
28 Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all 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.
29 I know that after my departure fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock;
30 and from among your own selves will arise men speaking twisted things, to draw away the disciples after them.
31 Therefore be alert, remembering that for three years I did not cease night or day to admonish every one with tears.
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.
33 I coveted no one’s silver or gold or apparel.
34 You yourselves know that these hands ministered to my necessities and to those who were with me.
35 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.’ ”
36 And when he had said these things, he knelt down and prayed with them all.
37 And there was much weeping on the part of all; they embraced Paul and kissed him,
38 being sorrowful most of all because of the word he had spoken, that they would not see his face again. And they accompanied him to the ship.
Introduction:
Introduction:
We’re now three weeks into our series “Back to Basics: Becoming a First Century Church.” Two weeks ago, we saw in Matthew 16 that Jesus is the foundation of the church. Last week in Ephesians 4, we learned that unity, built through humility, shared faith, and godly leadership, acts like the supporting walls.
Today, borrowing from the image of a house, we’re asking: What holds it all together? What keeps the walls from collapsing inon themselves?
The New Testament gives us a clear answer: elders—a team of biblically qualified men called by God and affirmed by the church to shepherd, teach, and protect the flock.
If Christ is the foundation and unity is the walls, then elders are the truss—strong, interconnected supports that hold the structure together, bearing the weight and keeping everything aligned.
This is a far cry from the “CEO pastor” model many churches, including ours, have followed. One-man leadership may seem like the standard, but it’s actually a trend that didn’t rise to prominence until the 20th century, it’s NOT the biblical precedent.
In the first-century church, leadership was shared. Elders, also called overseers, worked together to care for God's people.
That brings us to Acts 20, where Paul gives a heartfelt farewell to the elders of the Ephesian church. In his final charge, he shows us three ways a plurality of elders strengthens the church:
Elders share the weight.
Elders Guard the flock
Elders Feed the body
Let’s unpack those together.
1.) Elders Share the Weight. (v. 17–21, 36–38)
1.) Elders Share the Weight. (v. 17–21, 36–38)
Notice in verse 17 that Paul called for “the elders of the church”
Plural form of presbuteros- person of responsibility and authority in matters of socio-religious concerns, both in Jewish and Christian societies. Johannes P. Louw and Eugene Albert Nida, Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament: Based on Semantic Domains (New York: United Bible Societies, 1996), 541.
Paul didn’t summon just one Pastor, he calls the team. From the very beginning of the New Testament, elder plurality was the norm.
23 And when they had appointed elders for them in every church, with prayer and fasting they committed them to the Lord in whom they had believed.
5 This is why I left you in Crete, so that you might put what remained into order, and appoint elders in every town as I directed you—
In v.18 Paul begins to recount his time with the Ephesians and in v.19 we read
19 serving the Lord with all humility and with tears and with trials…
Paul didn’t dominate. He didn’t distance himself. He lived among the people, serving them with humility, enduring hardship, and even weeping with them.
In versus 36–38, we see the tenderness of this relationship as he prays with them, and they embrace him in tears.
A.) Humility Reflects Christ
This kind of humble servant, leadership, mirrors, Jesus.
45 For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
We saw last week in Philippians 2, where Jesus humbled himself, taking on the form of a servant.
That’s the kind of pattern that elders are called to follow. Not lording authority over the church, but leading by example. Servant leadership.
3 not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock.
Here at Heritage, we’ve always operated under a single-pastor model. But let’s be honest, when all the weight is on one man’s shoulders, it’s not only exhausting, it’s dangerous.It opens the door to pride, isolation, imbalance, and even abuse.
A plurality of elders doesn’t erase pastoral leadership, it strengthens it, by surrounding the main pastor–teacher, with brothers, who share the load, speak the truth, offer, counsel, and walk in humility together. They model mutual submission under the chief Shepherd, the Lord Jesus.
B.) Plurality serves the church better.
Why is this model so healthy?
It prevents burnout- A singular pastor simply cannot do everything. When all the preaching, counseling, decision making are done by one man, fatigue sets in rapidly. Plural elders distribute the burden, so the church gets better care.
It provides accountability- No one man holds all of the authority. The team of elders correct, sharpen, and keep each other tied to scripture. So that there are no unchecked decisions.
It strengthens the mission- Multiple elders bring multiple gifts; be they teaching, or counseling, administration, discernment, all working together to strengthen the body.
Going back to the analogy of a house. If a home has only one load bearing truss, that beam will eventually crack from all the weight pulling down on it.
But a system of interlocking trusses support and strengthen each other, so that they support the whole structure.
One man will eventually crack, sadly we’ve seen that all to well all over the news and even in our own history.
Application: We should be praying that the Lord would raise up qualified men as we begin to transition our church. Some of you who were hurt by leadership in the past need to begin asking the Lord to restore your trust not in a man, but in His design.
2.) Elders Guard The Flock. (v. 28-31)
2.) Elders Guard The Flock. (v. 28-31)
In v.28 Paul’s tone become more intense:
28 Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all 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.
Overseers (episkopoi)- Plural from, also translated as bishop, watchman, or overseer.
To care for (poimaino)- To watch out for other people, shepherd. William Arndt et al., A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature (Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2000), 842.
This is a sacred responsibility. The church belongs to Jesus, He bought it with His blood. He entrusts it to under shepherds, men, who will guard it.
What and why do elders guard?
A.) Guard against wolves.
29 I know that after my departure fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock;
30 and from among your own selves will arise men speaking twisted things, to draw away the disciples after them.
Sometimes, the church is attacked from without, but all to often, the wolves that threaten the church the most arise from within.
False teaching, personal agendas, moral compromise.
Elders serve as watchman, guarding the Lord’s church from these wolves, divisive people, who threaten the flock.
This is why a plurality is so vital, one man can miss a wolf but a team is more likely to see the wolf coming.
Together, they can correct error, call for repentance, and guide the church back to the truth of God’s word. The plurality ensures better vigilance.
B.) Guard unity.
Wolves aren’t the only threat to the church. Disunity will destroy a church just as fast (maybe faster).
Bitterness, gossip, divisiveness, etc. threaten the unity of the church.
Elders are called to be peacemakers who watch, listen, and address these things with truth and love.
Not with a heavy hand, but also not with a blind eye. They guard all the time, “day and night” following the example set forth by the Apostle himself.
31 Therefore be alert, remembering that for three years I did not cease night or day to admonish every one with tears.
A plurality balances perspectives and prevents heavy handed rule and keeping us Gospel focused.
Application: Guarding unity isn’t just the job of elders, you do it too.
3 eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
Don’t entertain gossip
Don’t fuel division.
Get into God’s word so that you can spot error when you hear it.
When we set out to raise up elders, pray for men who will be vigilant. Men who will love you enough to tell you the truth.
3.) Elders Feed The Body. (v.32-35)
3.) Elders Feed The Body. (v.32-35)
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.
“Word of his grace”- This is the elders greatest tool. The church isn’t built through personality or innovation or business savvy. It is built by opening the Bible and proclaiming its truth.
A.) Feed with sound doctrine.
28 Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all 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.
Other translations say “shepherd”- This includes feeding. We feed the flock through teaching, explaining and applying the Scriptures. Because the Word that saved us is the same word that sustains us!
Elders must be men of the Word. Not just nice guys, or successful leaders in the community, but men rooted deeply in God’s word who are able to teach it, defend it, and who live it. (More on that next week)
B.) Feed with sacrificial care.
35 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 feed the church not just with doctrine, but with love.
They visit the hurting and shut in.
They counsel the confused.
They grieve with the broken.
They pour themselves out for the good of others.
And when that load is shared, more people are cared for. One pastor simply can’t do it all. But a team of shepherds, each playing their part, ensures that no sheep is neglected.
I only counsel and make visits on Mondays and Tuesdays, but on those days I also have emails to return, phone calls to make, coordinating with service people, etc. Wed-Thurs are then spent in Study for Sunday. Friday is my off day. Sat is often spent doing ministry. Sunday is spent here and then often with people around our table. Several nights a week people are in our home. One man can only do so much. Imagine if that were multiplied.
Conclusion:
Conclusion:
Family, the church belongs to Jesus. He purchased it with his blood (v.28). It’s built upon His truth and he leads it by using faithful, humble, Spirit led and Spirit appointed leaders.
A truss of elders all sharing the load together.
We’ve observed this morning that:
Elders share the weight through humility.
Elders guard the flock through watchfulness.
Elders feed the body through the Word.
This isn’t a new trend, it’s a return to an old truth. The first century model for a 21st century church.
You may be asking: What does this mean for us?
It means we are moving toward this model, prayerfully, and carefully.
It means that in the near future we will update our governing documents to allow for this model.
It means we will then begin looking for men who meet the biblical qualifications. (We’ll explore those qualifications from 1 Timothy 3 next week)
It means the load of leadership won’t, rest on one man shoulders, but will be carried by a team committed to Christ and to you.
Above all, it means this church is not about one man, one style, or one generation. It’s about Jesus. He’s our chief Shepherd. He is the head of this body. And he invites everyone of us to walk in humility, truth, and unity under his reign.
Have people stand to their feet and bow their heads. Give invitation instructions.
Final Applications:
Final Applications:
Pray for the process- Ask God to lead us to his model of church leadership. Ask him to raise up qualified men and prepare our hearts to follow their leadership. If you’re unsure what elder plurality means, ask questions (EXPLAIN FORM). Come to the Q&A will be holding in a few weeks. Read the passages. Join in the conversation prayerfully
Seek Unity- Confess division. Extend grace. Commit to growing together.
Step into service- Don’t wait until things are perfect, start using your gifts now, because a healthy elder–lead church thrives when the whole body serves.
Gospel Invitation:
Gospel Invitation:
But maybe you’re here today and you realize, you’re not part of the body yet. You’ve never trusted in Christ. Maybe you’ve attended church, maybe you’ve served, but you’ve never turned from your sin, and believed in Jesus.
The church cannot save you. Elders cannot save you. Only Jesus saves.
He died for your sins. He rose again. And he calls you to turn from your sin and place your trust in him alone.
Don’t leave today without surrendering to him. Let today be the day. You are joined to his body, not just by attendance, but by faith.
Prayer:
Prayer:
Lord Jesus, you are the builder of your church in the shepherd of our souls. Thank you for your word, for your design, and for the grace that holds us together. We pray that you would raise up, godly leaders. Shape us into a unified, faithful, Christ – exulting people. And for any here who don’t know you, yet, call them by Your Spirit. Save, redeem, and make them part of your body today.
In Jesus name, Amen.
