Living with Biblical Eldership

Introduction

As we come into our third week on eldership.

Week one we covered what is an elder and the need for elders.

Week two we looked at the strict qualifications they must meet.

Week Three: The Congregation and their elders or elders to be.

Now, today we turn the focus on the body of believers, to the congregation this may soon have elders. We understand that God’s plan always has been for a plurality of elders forming and eldership, now today what does it look loke for the rest of the body to live under that leadership?

We will see as we work our way through this this morning that the Bible, specifically the New Testament gives clear instructions for how the church should relate to its Elders. So, please open your bibles to 1Pt4, and put something there to mark, and also in Heb13. I will have a few other scriptures along the say too.

Recognize and Appreciate them

Below is on the screen with the title

1 Thessalonians 5:12–13 “But we request of you, brethren, that you appreciate those who diligently labor among you, and have charge over you in the Lord and give you instruction, and that you esteem them very highly in love because of their work. Live in peace with one another.”

How can we as a congregation do it?

Acknowledge their labor - Paul says “diligent labor among you”

Recognize that shepherding is a spiritual work that is often unseen, emotionaly heavy, and spiritually demanding.

Notice the effort that elders put into teaching, counseling, praying, and guarding the flock.

Appreciation begins with awareness—-seeing their labor as real, sacrificial work.

Respect their God-given role - Paul says “have charge over you in the Lord”

Eldership is not a human invention but a divine arrangement; respecting elders is ultimately respecting God’s design for the church.

This includes receiving their leadership without a critical spirit.

Respect does not mean blind obedience— it means honoring the role God has placed them in

Value their instruction - Paul says they “Give you instruction”

The congregation shows appreciation by being teachable, receptive, and eager to grow.

Listening attentively, applying lessons, and engaging with the Word honors their work.

A teachable spirit strengthens unity and encourages elders in their ministry to and for the flock.

Esteem them highly in love - Paul commands a heart posture, not just outward courtesy.

Appreciation is not flattery; it is genuine love rooted in gratitude for their spiritual care.

This including praying for them, speaking well of them, and defending them against unfair criticism.

“Highly in love” means going beyond minimal respect —it is active, intentional honor

Promote peace in the congregation- Paul ends the passage with “Live in peace with one another”

One of the greatest ways to appreciate elders is to avoid division, gossip, and unnecessary conflict.

A peaceful, cooperative congregation makes their work joyful rather than burdensome. Consider Hebrews 13:17 “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.”

Unity is a gift to the elders and a testimony to the world.

Honor and Support Them

1 Timothy 5:17 “The elders who rule well are to be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who work hard at preaching and teaching.”

Recognize and affirm faithful leadership - Paul highlights “elders who rule well”

Honor begins with acknowledging when elders lead with integrity, wisdom, and consistency

The congregation should affirm godly leadership and not take it for granted.

Public and private encouragement strengthens their resolve to continue leading well.

Provide practical support - “Double honor” includes both respect and tangible support.

Paul’s language implies financial and practical provision for those who labor in teaching.

Supporting elders frees them to focus on shepherding without unnecessary burdens

This includes meeting needs, offering help, and ensuring they are not stretched beyond what is healthy.

Value their teaching ministry - Paul singles out those who “work hard at preaching and teaching.”

The congregation honors elders by taking their teaching seriously.

Show support by engaging with lessons, applying the Word, and expressing gratitude for their labor.

A responsive, hungry-for-the-Word congregation is one of the greatest supports an elder can receive.

Protect their reputation with fairness and integrity - the verses that follow (vv.19-20) emphasize careful handling of accusations.

Honor includes refusing to entertain gossip or unfounded criticism

Elders should be held accountable, but not slandered or judged unfairly.

A congregation that guards the reputation of its shepherds fosters a healthy spiritual environment.

Share the Load Ministry - - - supporting elders means not leaving all the work to them.

Members honor elders by serving, volunteering, and taking ownership of the congregation’s mission.

When the body works together, elders can focus on shepherding rather than being overwhelmed by tasks.

This reflects the pattern shown of shared ministry in Ephesians 4:11–12 “And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ;”

Other Considerations

Pray for them regularly —intercession is one of the most powerful forms of support.

Respect their time and family — honor includes protecting their rest and home life.

Stand with them in difficult seasons — support is most meaningful when leadership is costly.

Receive correction with humility —- honoring elders trusting their spiritual care even when it challenges you.

Submit to and obey their leadership

Hebrews 13:17 “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.”

Follow Their Leadership With A Willing Spirit - Heb13:17 calls for obedience, not grudging compliance

Submission is not passive resistance; it is active cooperation

A willing spirit reflects trust in God’s design for shepherding.

The congregation honors Christ by following the shepherds He has placed over them.

Trust Their Spiritual Oversight — “They keep watch over your souls”

Elders carry a unique responsibility before God for the spiritual well-being of the flock.

Submission means trusting their discernment, wisdom, and intentions — even when decisions are difficult or not fully understood.

Trust grows when the congregation remembers elders are accountable to God for their leadership.

Make Their Work a Joy, not a Burden - - “. . . so that they may do this with joy and not with grief.”

A congregation can either lighten or multiply the weight elders carry.

Joyful leadership flourishes where members are cooperative, gracious, and peace-loving.

A burdened eldership often reflects a resistant or contentious congregation.

Receive Correction With Humility - - - Submission includes accepting admonition and guidance.

Elders shepherd through teaching, counsel, and sometimes correction.

Humility allows the Word to shape us through their leadership.

A teachable heart strengthens unity and spiritual growth

Support Their Decisions Even When You Disagree — Submission is tested most when preferences differ.

Elders must make decisions for the whole flock, not individual preferences.

Members show maturity by supporting decisions that are biblical even if not personally preferred.

Unity is preserved when the congregation chooses harmony over personal preference.

Other Considerations

Avoid Grumbling and Undermining: Submission includes guarding your speech and your attitude

Seek Clarification, Not Confrontation: Questions are welcome; combative spirits are not

Pray for wisdom in Their Decisions: Submission is strengthened through intercession

Model Submission for Younger Believers: Your example teaches the next generation how to honor leadership

Follow Their Example and Humble Yourselves

1 Peter 5:5 “You younger men, likewise, be subject to your elders; and all of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, for God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”

Submit yourself to Your Elders - - - Peter begins with a clear call: “be subject to your elders”

This is a posture of teachability not inferiority

Submission reflects trust in God’s order for the church

It mirrors the humility that Elders themselves are commanded to show (you can look at our vv.1-4)

Adopt the same humility Elders are called to model- - - The surrounding context

The congregation follows their example by embracing the same spirit

Humility is learned by watching Christlike shepherds

A humble church reflects a humble Savior - Maybe we should stop and now read

1 Peter 5:1–4 “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.”

Clothe yourself with humility toward one another - - Peter uses vivid image “clothe yourselves with humility”

Humility is not occasional — it is a daily garment

It shapes our speech, our service, it is forgiveness in action and impacts our relationships

A humble congregation becomes a safe, unified, Christ-centered community.

Reject pride because God actively opposes it - Peter quotes Proverbs 3:34 “Though He scoffs at the scoffers, Yet He gives grace to the afflicted.”

Pride disrupts unity and resists leadership

Pride makes it difficult to

Pursue Humility because God gives grace to the humble - The promise is a strong as the warning: “He gives grace to the humble.”

Humility invites God’s help, favor, and spiritual growth

A humble congregation becomes receptive to correction, wisdom, and unity

Supporting elders becomes natural when humility is the shared posture

Summary - Biblical eldership is God’s design for the health, unity and spiritual growth of His church. Scripture calls for the congregation to respond to their shepherds/elders/overseers/pastors/bishops with honor, humility and cooperation. We are to:

Recognize their labor (1The5:12-13)

Support their work (1Tim5:17)

Submit to their leadership (Heb13:17)

Follow their example of humility (1Pt5:5)

“When the church and its elders walk together in these ways, the boy thrives and Christ is glorified!”

Conclusion: God has entrusted Elders with the weighty task of shepherding souls, and He has entrusted the congregation with the responsibility of supporting, honoring and following them. These commands are not burdens but blessings. The create peace, unity and spiritual strength within the local body, the church. A church that embraces biblical eldership experiences stability, maturity and deeper love for Christ and one another.

Major Take Away — Living with biblical eldership means responding to our shepherds in a way that reflects our trust in God –honoring their work, supporting their ministry, submitting with humility, and following their Christlike example