Biblical Eldership Pt. 2
Text: Selected Scriptures
Core Idea: Elders must know the sheep, feed the sheep, lead the sheep, and protect the sheep. Isn’t that the kind of leadership we long to see in our church? Then, let’s ask God to raise up elders who are not only strong, passionate, and wise but also faithful, humble, and deeply reliant on the Lord in all they do.
INTRODUCTION
Last week, we began a sermon series on biblical leadership in preparation for appointing elders and deacons at our church – and this is what we talked about so far. We talked about terminology – pointing out that Scripture uses the titles elders, overseers, and pastors interchangeably. We emphasized the importance of plurality – recognizing that a team of elders not only helps them share the burden of leadership but also enables the church to be better served and cared for. We also affirmed that the office of elder is reserved for qualified men – not all men, but those whose lives reflect the character required for this weighty calling. In fact, for that reason, we took time to carefully walk through the qualifications outlined by Paul in 1 Timothy 3:1-7 to observe the kind of men we ought to look for in the future. Lastly, I mentioned that what grounds and drives an elder must be the gospel – that only those who rest in the finished work of Christ can bear the weight of these qualifications without being crushed by them. An elder is not a super-Christian – he’s, like all of you, a sinner saved by grace. So, by God’s grace, he’ll continue to grow into the man God is shaping him to be. And by that same grace, he’ll be empowered to carry out the call that he has received. Then, what exactly is the calling God has given to elders? That’s what we’ll explore today, along with a couple of other things. Now, because we have a few things to cover, I’ll be moving through several passages rather than staying in one. So, follow along as I go through these three points today:
· THE ROLES (WHAT ELDERS DO)
· THE APPOINTMENT (HOW ELDERS WILL BE INSTALLED HERE)
· APPLICATION (HOW WE AS A CHURCH SHOULD RESPOND)
1) THE ROLES (WHAT ELDERS DO)
Let me begin by reading 1 Peter 5:1-2 – “To the elders among you, I appeal as a fellow elder and a witness of Christ’s sufferings who also will share in the glory to be revealed: Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care.” If we had to summarize an elder’s job description, it would be that they’re under-shepherds who serve the Good Shepherd by lovingly caring for His sheep. Then, what does it mean to shepherd God’s people? Let me share four key responsibilities. First, shepherds know the sheep. Listen to what Jeramie Rinne wrote: “Stop for a moment and envision a literal shepherd. Perhaps you have seen one at work in the countryside, whether in person or in a movie. Maybe you have never seen one but have read enough about shepherds in the Bible that you can paint a mental picture. What do you see? Whatever we each imagine, there is probably at least one common feature to our mental screenshots. In all of them, the shepherd is among the sheep. He’s not off somewhere else. He is walking in the midst of the animals, touching them and speaking to them. He knows them because he lives with them. As a result, he even smells like sheep.” I love that imagery – a shepherd who smells like sheep because he’s been so close to them, caring for them day in and day out. In fact, isn’t that exactly what Jesus did? If we read the Gospels, we see that apart from His moments of private prayer, Jesus was constantly with His disciples and the crowds. He touched lives, taught truth, and trained people wherever He went. In other words, He did life with them. And if elders are under-shepherds of Christ, that’s what they should do as well – do life with God’s people. No wonder hospitality is one of the qualifications. So, if elders aren’t growing in their relationships with the people, they’re not walking faithfully in the calling God has given them. Elders are not meant to lead from a distance or elevate themselves over the congregation. Instead, they’re called to walk closely with the flock – to know the joys and struggles of their people so that they can care for them more personally, minister to them more effectively, and pray for them more specifically. This is why visitation must be a vital part of an elder’s ministry – counseling couples, visiting the sick, comforting the grieving, strengthening the weak, and gently guiding those who have fallen into sin back to repentance. In short, the best elders are those who genuinely love their people, delight in being with them, and stay deeply engaged in their lives. Now, can every elder personally know every member? Probably not – and that’s precisely why a plurality of elders is so important. While not every elder can be present for everyone, each member should have at least one elder who knows them well and is actively building a meaningful relationship with them. All that to say, the elders’ work is people-oriented work – which is why their priority must always be the spiritual well-being of the flock, not the success of programs. They don’t define success by attendance numbers, the variety of ministries offered, or the size of the offering. Instead, they measure it by the spiritual growth and maturity of the members – in how they love one another, pursue holiness, endure trials with faith, and reflect the character of Christ in everyday life.
Second, shepherds feed the sheep. According to McGill University, the average person can survive up to 70 days without food, but only about 5 days without food and water. In other words, without nourishment, the human body dies. The same principle applies to the body of Christ. You’ve probably heard someone say, “I’m not getting fed at my church.” When the gospel isn’t being faithfully preached, the people become spiritually starved. But like a loving Father, God desires His children to be well-fed, nourished by the truths of His Word – which is why He entrusted elders with the responsibility to feed the church by preaching the Word. Listen to what Paul said to Timothy, a young pastor, in 2 Timothy 4:1-2, “In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of His appearing and His kingdom, I give you this charge: Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage – with great patience and careful instruction.” Elders must be men of the Word. They must love the Word, treasure the Word, and meditate on the Word – but more than that, they must be able to explain and apply the Bible with clarity so that the Word can come alive in the hearts and lives of those who hear it.
Now, you might be thinking, “But wait – aren’t we talking about lay elders? Are we really expecting them to preach from the pulpit?” To some extent, yes. While not every elder will regularly preach sermons, if a lay elder is gifted in preaching, we absolutely want to encourage and equip him to bless the church through the public ministry of the Word. Of course, not everyone will have that particular gifting – and that’s okay. But it doesn’t change the fact that all elders must be able to teach which may take different forms, in that it could be in small groups, one-on-one discipleship, youth or children’s ministry, or visitations. Now, this doesn’t mean they’ll all be great teachers right away. If I’m being honest, when I read my old sermons, I cringe because they were so bad – I think to myself, “How in the world did I think that this was presentable in any way? And why didn’t anyone say anything?” It must be that either they were just incredibly patient with me, or they tuned out because it was that bad. I remember Moon saying to me not too long ago, “Woohyun, you’ve come a long way.” And I agree wholeheartedly. In fact, I’m sure some of you who heard me preach in the early days of my ministry would agree as well. But I only got here because the church didn’t give up on me. In the same way, our future elders may not start off as strong teachers – but with God’s help and the support of the church, I have no doubt that they will grow to be one.
Now, elders are not only called to teach the Word – they’re also entrusted with the responsibility of guarding it. They must be prepared to correct those who distort the gospel or misinterpret Scripture – which means that they need to really know the Word inside out. They should never stop studying the Word so that they’ll have a firm grasp of biblical doctrine, understand the theological convictions of our church, and be equipped to defend them faithfully. This is so important because we live in a world where the Word is often distorted, ridiculed, and manipulated to serve personal agendas. Then, elders must guard the gospel – ensuring that the standards of the world do not become the standards of the church.
Third, shepherds lead the sheep. I know this sounds obvious, but the truth is that elders can easily feel under-qualified to lead the church, especially in challenging or uncertain times. Even with years of experience and countless books read, they may still feel the weight of inadequacy when facing seasons of transition, suffering, or conflict within the church. But the Bible clearly teaches that elders are entrusted by God with the authority to lead and oversee the life of the local church – which means that they should never shrink back from this calling. Now, as a member, your concern may not be with elders being too passive, but with the possibility of them misusing their authority. You’re not worried about elder timidity but elder tyranny. That is a legitimate concern – and that’s why what grounds an elder must be the gospel, for the gospel alone will cultivate both humility and the boldness needed for godly leadership.
Now, how do elders lead? It might involve casting a clear vision, making difficult decisions, overseeing various church ministries, or managing administrative responsibilities. But above all, elders must lead by example – demonstrating through their own lives what it looks like to faithfully follow Jesus Christ. Peter says in 1 Peter 5:2-3, “Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, watching over them – not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock.” Listen to what Robert Thune wrote – “A good elder knows that he leads the flock well by leading himself well. He pays attention to the depth and strength of his inner life. He pursues self-awareness and relentlessly seeks sanctification in areas of weakness. He realizes that God’s people will follow him based primarily on who he is, not what he says. He is compelled to say to people, ‘Follow me as I follow Christ’ (1 Cor. 11:1), and he strives to pay close attention to himself in order to ensure that he’s providing a reliable model of Christian maturity.” Isn’t this the kind of elder we long to see in our church – strong yet humble men who lead with joy and integrity? Pray that God would raise up elders whose lives are truly worth imitating.
Fourth, shepherds protect the sheep. This means elders must faithfully watch over the flock so that no one wanders away or drifts from the body of Christ. In other words, part of an elder’s responsibility is to keep track of the people – to know where they are spiritually. So, if you haven’t been at church for a while, an elder may reach out – not to bother you, pressure you, or make you feel guilty, but because they genuinely love and care for you. Their desire is to see you return to the fellowship, knowing that no one grows and matures in isolation from the community. Now, Jeramie Rinne offers five types of straying sheep – categories of people that elders are called to watch over with care. I want to briefly share them with you, because some of you may find yourselves in one of these categories. And if that’s the case, please don’t stay hidden. Reach out to me. I’d be more than happy to walk with you, listen to you, and help you. So, with that in mind, here are the five types. One, sinning sheep – those who are engaging in open or private sin. They need to be gently led to feel the weight of their sin so they can repent but also be reminded of the freedom and forgiveness found in God’s grace. Two, wandering sheep – those who have slowly drifted from the church. It may stem from the busyness of work, the draw of leisure activities, family responsibilities, children’s schedules, or just feeling like an outsider in the church. Whatever the reason may be, they need to be shown the danger of being away from the body and lovingly called to make it a priority to worship together. Three, limping sheep – those weighed down by suffering or hardship. It could be a job loss, a broken relationship, health issues, or a personal crisis – whatever the case may be, they are in danger of being left behind, which means that they need someone who will slow down, walk with them, and remind them that they’re not alone. Four, fighting sheep – those in conflict with others in the church. They need to be encouraged to forgive and make peace with each other for God’s glory and for the sake of the gospel. Five, biting sheep – those who have been hurt by church leaders. They need to be heard and understood. And depending on the situation, an elder may need to clarify, explain, or even ask for forgiveness, so that nothing will stand in the way of their return to the church. Now, do any of these resonate with you? If so, please don’t stay silent. Reach out. I would love to listen, pray, and walk alongside you because this is exactly what elders are called to do – it would be our joy and privilege. Elders know, feed, lead, and protect the sheep.
2) THE APPOINTMENT (HOW ELDERS WILL BE INSTALLED HERE)
So, Lord willing, it is our plan to appoint elders and deacons by the end of this year – or next year at the latest. Just on a side note, if you’re wondering why we didn’t do this at the outset of our journey together, early on, we said we would wait to ordain leaders until we were part of a denomination so that their office would carry greater credibility and accountability. Now that we’ve officially joined the AGC, we believe this is the appropriate time to move forward with this important step. God has been incredibly faithful in our journey so far – and I have no doubt that He’ll continue to guide us as we prayerfully appoint some people to lead this community. Then, with that in mind, let me go through the three steps for appointing elders. The process for deacons will be similar, but I’ll speak more on that next week when we focus on deacons. Three steps. First, elder candidacy. This is a time of nomination, examination, and training. One of the key responsibilities I hope our future elders will take on is identifying potential elder candidates. They will look for men who are already shepherding and serving the church faithfully – and if they discern that someone meets the biblical qualifications, they will prayerfully approach him to consider the calling of eldership. Now, this doesn’t mean we’re asking the rest of the church to sit back and wait passively for elders to do all the work of finding the right people. No, we want our members to actively participate by nominating candidates as well because the elders may not be aware of everyone’s character and service – especially those faithfully serving behind the scenes. But when making a nomination, we’ll ask members to provide clear reasons and scriptural evidence supporting the candidate’s qualifications. Now, all those who have been nominated will go through a careful and thorough evaluation. Using passages like 1 Timothy 3:1–7 and Titus 1:5–9, we’ll seek to discern whether he truly meets the biblical qualifications. This, of course, means that not everyone who is nominated will advance to the next phase – but the elders will continue to walk with them, helping them grow and prepare for future opportunities, because after all, our desire is for all our men to grow in elder-like character, whether or not they hold the office. But if the elders conclude that this individual is ready, we will inform the church of our decision, and he will then enter a season of intentional and rigorous training. This process is designed to prepare and equip elder candidates well before they are presented to the congregation for a vote – so, in one sense, it’s our way of saying to the church, “These men before you have faithfully completed the training, and we are very confident that they’re ready to shepherd in a way that honors God and serves His people well. So, I hope you’ll affirm him to be your next elder.”
Second, elder recommendation. Once they are affirmed by the leadership and finish the training, a congregational meeting will be called to share more information about the candidates – like their family status, vocational background, how long they’ve been part of the church, their personal testimony, ministry involvement, evidence of elder qualifications, and affirmation of their character. And soon after, the members will be given two weeks to pray and, if necessary, to submit any concerns or reasons as to why a candidate may not be qualified to serve as an elder. Now, we want to be clear: feedback about elder candidates should not be based on personal preferences. Comments like “I don’t like his personality,” or “His leadership style doesn’t suit me,” or “I just don’t connect with him” are not valid grounds for disqualification. Nor should feedback come from unresolved grievances, such as “He once said something I didn’t like” – or from a spirit of comparison or jealousy, like “Why him? I could do better,” or “My friend is more qualified.” I want to make it clear that feedback that isn’t grounded in Scripture will not be given serious consideration. Remember, this is not a popularity contest. Elders are not chosen for their charisma, public presence, or social skills, but for their faithfulness, character, and calling, which is why, if you have concerns, we ask that you express them clearly and respectfully, providing specific, Scripture-based reasons related to the qualifications of an elder – not just hearsay or personal opinions. You should examine the candidate’s life, heart, doctrine, reputation, relationships, gifts, and more to discern whether he is truly fit to serve as a shepherd in this church. Now, if a legitimate concern is raised, the elders will carefully investigate. And if the matter is serious, we may postpone the candidate from proceeding to the next stage. But if the concern has already been addressed, we’ll communicate that to the congregation and continue with the process. Again, we’re not looking for perfection – if that were the case, no one would ever be qualified to serve. Instead, we’re looking for those who have demonstrated consistent growth in godliness – those who love the Lord, love his family, love our church, and love the world.
Third, congregational affirmation. After two weeks, if no valid objections are raised, the church will hold a vote of affirmation. While we have not yet finalized the specific percentage required for affirmation, the leadership will be working to determine that in the coming days. Also, we won’t be setting a predetermined number of elders to appoint. So, for example, some of you may be familiar with a process where, if a church wants to appoint four elders, they nominate six candidates – and then the top four based on votes are selected. But that’s not what we’re going to do. If there are four candidates and all four are found to be qualified, pending they receive sufficient affirmation, then all four will be appointed. We’re not going to treat this as a competition, but a recognition of calling and character. Listen to what Lawrence Eyres wrote, “If we fix the number of elders, there is the matter of competition for office, as when there are more nominees than there are offices to be filled. To set a fixed number of elders is a dangerous precedent. If a man is ready to serve Christ’s church as an elder, by what arbitrary rule is he to be kept back because another man is also ready? If the Holy Spirit makes men elders, then the church ought to be ruled by those men the Spirit has prepared.” Now, if a candidate does not receive enough votes, that doesn’t mean the journey ends there. We will continue to walk alongside him, offering support, teaching, and guidance, so that he may be better prepared when the next opportunity arises. But those who receive enough votes will be ordained in front of the congregation to make their role more official. And we’re going to celebrate and thank the Lord for His goodness in our community.
Now, how long will an elder serve at our church? In one sense, eldership is a lifelong calling in that once an elder, always an elder. Just as I hope to keep discipling others even after I retire as a pastor, my hope is that our elders will continue to serve and shepherd the church in whatever capacity they can, until the Lord makes it clear their season of service has come to an end. That being said, there are many valid reasons an elder may need to step down for a season – it could be due to personal circumstances, health challenges, family responsibilities, spiritual struggles, burnout, or other concerns. For this reason, we’ll check in with each elder every three years. If an elder feels the need for a break, the church will wholeheartedly support and encourage him to rest – even if his absence is deeply felt. In fact, if necessary, we may actually force him to take that break. But if no break is needed, we’ll simply revisit the conversation again in another three years. To be clear, I’m not saying elders can’t rest or even retire from active service – of course they can. What I’m saying is that the calling of eldership isn’t something that’s taken away unless a man becomes disqualified through sin. Now, you might be wondering, “But how can they just keep going without burning out?” The truth is – they shouldn’t. I don’t want our elders to constantly be working without rest. I don’t want that for myself either. That’s exactly why a plurality of elders matters – we need to share the load so that we don’t just work, work, work. My hope is that our elders would learn to rest well but also work hard, so that their ministry remains a joy and never becomes a heavy burden. Again, elders will have times of rest, sabbaticals, and breaks. I emphasize this because I don’t want anyone thinking, “That sounds too intense. I could never serve as an elder.” You’ll be taken care of.
3) APPLICATION (HOW WE AS A CHURCH SHOULD RESPOND)
First, obey. The Bible makes it clear that elders have been given the authority to lead the church, and the congregation has the responsibility to submit to their leadership. Hebrews 13:17 says, “Have confidence in your leaders and submit to their authority, because they keep watch over you as those who must give an account. Do this so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no benefit to you.” I realize that this could sound countercultural, especially in the West, where leadership is often met with skepticism – where questioning, resisting, and even rejecting authority is common. But this does not honor God because, as I said before, church leadership is not a human invention – it’s God’s design. The author of Hebrews reminds us that God calls Christians to obey and submit to their leaders – not because leaders are meant to control or burden them, but because they are meant to encourage and lead them toward greater faithfulness to Christ. It’s for your good. All that to say, if elders are accountable before God to lead in a way that displays the glory of God, the congregation is accountable before God to obey and follow the shepherds so that they can fulfill their callings with joy. Of course, this does not in any way mean that leaders have absolute authority over the church – not at all. Their authority will always be limited by the Word of God – which means that if they stray from the Word, the church should boldly stand against them. Benjamin Merkle writes, “The authority that the elders possess is not so much found in their office but in the duties they perform (and the Christlike character they display). Elders are not to be obeyed simply because they are elders. Rather, they are to be obeyed because they have the responsibility of shepherding and teaching the congregation. When their shepherding and teaching stray from Scripture, their authority as shepherds and teachers is no longer binding on the congregation.” Yes, the church affirms and appoints elders – but it’s ultimately God who calls and establishes them. So, we should learn to trust and follow our leadership, while also holding them accountable to remain faithful to God’s Word.
Second, pray. When someone once asked Charles Spurgeon, “What was the secret of your success?” he simply replied, “My people prayed for me.” Then, in that same spirit, I ask that you pray for us – your leaders. Pray that we would remain faithful to God’s Word, diligent in our work, humble in our service, and wholehearted in our love for God. Pray that we would live holy lives and follow the example of Christ in all that we do so that we can inspire others to do the same. Pray for our preaching, our passion, our needs, our joy, our rest, our marriage, and our children. Fight for us in prayer, for your prayers are what sustain us.
Lastly, imitate. If you look closely at the qualifications in 1 Timothy 3:1-7, you’ll notice that, aside from the ability to teach, these are not unique to elders – they’re qualities every Christian is called to pursue. If this is what elders are called to be, model your life after them. Follow their example and grow in your godliness. In fact, here’s my challenge for you this week: take some time to reflect on this list and ask yourself, “Where do I need to grow?” – because think with me. Can you imagine what God could do in and through us if we all strive to live with these kinds of qualities? Can you imagine the strength of our witness and the impact we could have on the world if we were all growing in elder-like character? May that be true of our church today.
CONCLUSION
Lighthouse family, elders must know the sheep, feed the sheep, lead the sheep, and protect the sheep. Isn’t that the kind of leadership we long to see in our church? Then, let’s ask God to raise up elders who are not only strong, passionate, and wise but also faithful, humble, and deeply reliant on the Lord in all they do.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
1) As you reflect on the roles of elders (knowing, feeding, leading, protecting), what kind of elders do you want to see at our church? How can you be part of cultivating the kind of church culture that supports and strengthens elder leadership?
2) Which elder qualifications in 1 Timothy 3:1-7 do you most need to grow in? What impact would it have on our church if every member pursued elder-like character?
3) How might your relationship with your leaders change if you regularly prayed for them? What are specific ways you can pray for your elders this week?
4) For the men, have you ever considered the calling to be an elder? If so, in what ways are you preparing yourself for that responsibility? If not, what’s holding you back? Are there specific obstacles or concerns keeping you from pursuing it?