Leadership: Elders

Intro

Elders are a biblical term seen as important for leadership in the church since before the early church:

Illus: Thomas Chalmers (1780-1847) pastor of Tron church in Glasgow

It was a standard practice and rule that pastors would visit their people once a year in rural churches

He vowed to visit every family in the church within the year

11,000 - 12,000 souls

visits end up being brief and had little substance. Not even time for prayer.

When asked by one little lady why he didn’t spend time and pray with her he replied: “If I were to pray in every house I entered, it would take me ten years to get through the work.”

His view of the elder changed. He realized he could not shepherd by himself so he started using his elders as they should be.

He took them with him and trained them and then they became the ones visiting and spending time shepherding the church

Elders are shepherds of God’s people in the church.

It is not:

An office for men who are unqualified

who are only influential in town, but not spiritual leaders and who meet the qualifications in

An office that should be viewed as less than the pastor

It is:

A biblical ordained office

A name for the men who govern the church and shepherd the people, of which the pastor is one

English Standard Version Chapter 5

17 Let the elders who rule well be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in preaching and teaching.

Biblical Eldership, Alexander Strauch: “First among equals.”

point is that elders/ministers are one office with differing functions.

Shepherds with different roles

Spoken and unspoken expectations

realistic and unrealistic expectations

Biblical Principles

Shepherding: (19) Paul obviously desired to Shepherd the elders (His Flock)

What you should expect from your elders:

Elders serve:

Leading by example

(17-19) serving with humility

Paul- lived among them. He didn’t think more highly of himself

willing to suffer with them

(20-21) by teaching the gospel

spoke the truth with boldness

One who teaches without partiality

Leading people to repentance

accountability

(22-23) walk by faith

Led by the HS

willing to take risks and lead God’s people

(24-28) walk with integrity

willing to serve

puts the gospel above all else

teaches the whole counsel, not just the things that comfortable or helps them only

remind the flock of Jesus Christ

Shepherd the flock

(29-30) by protecting them

from false teaching

admonish them

(31-32) by admonishing them

pleading for them to live according to God’s truth

building up and encouraging them in the faith

(33-35) by giving to them

not coveting the sheep’s money or status

work hard for Jesus

Serve by giving themselves to the flock

Spend time with the flock

(36) relational

relating to

praying with and for

loving them

(37) well loved

miss them when they are gone

spend time with them while they are here

Conclusion

Elders are to serve with all of these things in mind.

Congregation:

These should be the standards that we hold our elders to:

nominate and vote for men who fit these qualifications and standards

avoid setting other expectations on your elders

Pray with and for your elders often

Dilemma in the church:

Pray for the next generation of elders within the church

Generation Z