Just What Is An Elder? Pt. 3

I’m guessing every young basketball player has dreamed that they are some NBA superstar while they shot basketball.  My player of choice was Michael Jordan.  I watched his moves, studied his shooting technique, and tried to imitate him; I even wore the number 23. 

Sadly, wearing the number 23 was about the only similarity between my basketball game and Michael Jordan’s.  Michael Jordan’s talent and athletic ability makes imitation an impossibility. 

As a young preacher, I remember trying to imitate other preachers.  There were certain preachers who were well respected and well liked, and there was a great temptation to act like, dress like, and even preach like other preachers. 

WHAT DOES SCRIPTURE TEACH ABOUT IMITATING OTHERS?

What may sound odd to some is that the Bible teaches us that we should imitate other people.  Although there is a sentiment among many that says, “I don’t follow man; I follow the Lord,” God has ordained that we follow Him by imitating others who follow Him. 

1 Corinthians 4:16, “Wherefore I beseech you, be ye followers of me.”

1 Corinthians 11:1, “Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ.”

Philippians 3:17, “Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an ensample.”

1 Thessalonians 1:6, “And ye became followers of us, and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Ghost:”

For those who would argue, “This is Paul telling people to follow him.  Who wouldn’t follow him?  A person would be crazy not to follow Paul.  If Paul were here, I’d follow him.”  For those who have this attitude, need to read Hebrews 6:12.

Hebrews 6:12, “That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.”

The mere idea of leading implies that others follow. 

IMPOSSIBLE TASK: IMITATE PAUL

It is a daunting, impossible task to follow Paul if following Paul means you have to have his power, revelation, and miracles.  Charismatics make the mistake of thinking that we can do the things Paul did, as far as miracles are concerned; that we can heal the sick with our touch, raise the dead with our prayers, cast out demons, etc.  Thankfully, that is not what scripture is speaking about when we are commanded to follow Paul. 

PAUL AND THE EPHESIAN ELDERS

Paul, on his 3^rd missionary journey, didn’t go to Ephesus.  Rather, he stopped by Miletus and sent for the elders of the church of Ephesus (“elders”, plural; “church”, singular).  When they arrived at Miletus, Paul had a warning and a charge for them.  But before he does, he gives a word of personal testimony.  In his testimony, Paul gives us a template for how an elder should live and conduct themselves, how they can follow him (Thankfully, he doesn’t mention miracles, but his manner of life). 

HOW TO LEAD

In Paul's words to the Ephesians elders in Acts 20:17-27, we find 5 characteristics of leadership that are imperative.  A leader must serve…

(1) With Integrity.             20:18, 33-34

Paul began with a defense of how he lived among them.  He said, “Ye know, from the first day that I came into Asia, after what manner [ESV – “how I lived”] I have been with you at all seasons…”

Paul was a bi-vocational preacher when he was among them, meaning he worked as a tent-maker to support himself and those who were with him.  In verse 33-34, Paul refers to it again by saying, “I have coveted no man’s silver, or gold, or apparel.  Yea, ye yourselves know, that these hands have ministered unto my necessities, and to them that were with me.” 

Paul is not saying a pastor should be bi-vocational; in fact, he later tells Timothy (who was an elder at Ephesus) that an elder who labors in the word is worthy of double honor, speaking of money.  Paul is not speaking about the pros and cons of full-time Christian ministry; rather he is speaking about the accusations that he was trying to get rich off the people of Ephesus. 

COVETOUSNESS, A MARK OF FALSE TEACHERS

For anyone who gets into the ministry for any other reason to glorify God through the spreading of the Gospel is in it for the wrong reason.  The ministry is not a launching pad to riches, fame and fortune; and those who have reduced the call of God to a means of permanent health and wealth (Benny Hinn, Kenneth Copeland, T.D. Jakes, Joel Osteen, etc.) have prostituted the highest calling in the land! 

Peter warns about entering ministry to get rich.  He said, “¹ But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. ² And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of. ³ And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you.”  (2 Peter 2:1-3)

(2) With Humility.                         20:19

Paul continues, “Serving the Lord with all humility of mind…”

Being a prideful person disqualifies them from serving as an elder or leader in a church.  That is a bold statement, and I do not wish for it to be taken wrongly.  I’m not talking about the bouts with pride we all face on a daily basis; I’m speaking about a life that is given over to pride.

Thus, a warning sounds from Paul, when instructing Timothy about ordaining elders: “Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil.” (1 Timothy 3:8)

James Montgomery Boice told of a young preacher who learned humility the hard way:  A young Scottish preacher who was quite self-confident literally bounded up the steps into the pulpit one Sunday, filled with self-esteem. Unfortunately, he lost his way in the middle of his address, became quite confounded, and forgot his message. As he came down from the pulpit humiliated, an old Scottish elder who had been present in the church that morning said to him, “Young man, if you had gone up the way you came down, you would have been able to have come down the way you went up.”

If you are prideful, ministry is about you – your class, your kids, your songs, your sermons, your, your, your.  Any ministry that wants to draw more followers after themselves than Christ has their priorities wrong.  Paul, when referring to a debate in the Corinthian church, said, “Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers by whom ye believed, even as the Lord gave to every man??  (1 Corinthians 3:5)

(3) With Sincerity.                         20:19

He served them “with many tears”.  He poured his heart and soul into the ministry there for 3 ½ years. 

Show me what moves a person to tears, and I’ll show you what you care about.  Scripture records Paul being moved to tears over a few things:

(1)      A Concern For The Church

·         2 Corinthians 2:4 – “For out of much affliction and anguish of heart I wrote unto you with many tears; not that ye should be grieved, but that ye might know the love which I have more abundantly unto you.”  Paul’s most stern, strict, and harsh letter was written with a tear in his eye!

·         Acts 20:31 – his ministry at Ephesus brought many tears to his eyes.  

            

             (2)      A Concern For The Lost

·         Romans 9:2-3 – “² That I have great heaviness and continual sorrow in my heart. ³ For I could wish that myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh.”  He was burdened for Israel, for their salvation. 

COMFORTED BY PAUL’S TEARS

It may sound odd, but I’m thankful for the hardships and tears Paul shed.  It gives me assurance that he has been where I am (and much worse).  He would write to Timothy (who was pastoring at Ephesus) and say, “Greatly desiring to see thee, being mindful of thy tears…” (2 Timothy 1:4).  Timothy, his protégé, served tearfully at Ephesus as well.  The encouragement Paul gives is from first-hand knowledge.  He’s been there.  He’s felt the pain.  He’s tasted the salty tears.  He knows!

Any preacher who hasn’t been moved to tears over a burden for his church and the unsaved around them isn’t much of a preacher!

(4) Through Difficulty.                 20:19-26a

He also served with many “tears, and temptations (ESV – “trials”), which befell me by the lying in wait of the Jews.”  From the moment he was saved, Paul was Public Enemy #1 for the Jews.  In fact, notice what happened soon after his conversion.

He preached Jesus – Acts 9:20

²⁰ And straightway he preached Christ in the synagogues, that he is the Son of God.

            He was sought after to kill – Acts 9:23-25

²³ And after that many days were fulfilled, the Jews took counsel to kill him: ²⁴ But their laying await was known of Saul. And they watched the gates day and night to kill him. ²⁵ Then the disciples took him by night, and let him down by the wall in a basket.”

BEING FORSAKEN

Paul had been forsaken by several people who once stood by him.  Demas loved this present world too much (2 Timothy 4).  Alexander the coppersmith did him much evil (2 Timothy 4).

OUR ANCHOR HOLDS!

Thankfully, in the midst of difficulty and desertion, our anchor holds.  Paul boldly proclaimed, “But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.”

WON’T ALWAYS BE WELL-LIKED

I would love to be well-liked and well-thought of among everyone.  But if you stand for the truth of the Gospel, it will create enemies.  Being criticized is part of being in the ministry.  Charles Spurgeon, after being censured by his own denomination said:

“Men cannot say anything worse of me than they have said. I have been belied from head to foot, and misrepresented to the last degree. My good looks are gone, and none can damage me much now.”

(5) With Accountability.             20:26-27

Paul was confident that no man’s blood was upon his hands: “²⁶ Wherefore I take you to record this day, that I am pure from the blood of all men. ²⁷ For I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God.”  This echoes the warning of Ezekiel 33:7-9:

“⁷ So thou, O son of man, I have set thee a watchman unto the house of Israel; therefore thou shalt hear the word at my mouth, and warn them from me. ⁸ When I say unto the wicked, O wicked man, thou shalt surely die; if thou dost not speak to warn the wicked from his way, that wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand. ⁹ Nevertheless, if thou warn the wicked of his way to turn from it; if he do not turn from his way, he shall die in his iniquity; but thou hast delivered thy soul.”

He had taught them exhaustively – “all the counsel of God” (vs. 27).  He taught them publicly – “have taught you publicly” (vs. 20).  He taught them privately – “from house to house” (vs. 20).  He didn’t shun difficult truths; he taught them God’s Word faithfully.

An elder is accountable, ultimately, to God.  He will stand before Christ and give an account of his stewardship.  In that day, the only thing that will matter is whether he is faithful or not.

An elder is accountable to others while he lives.  One of the problems in American Christianity is we have built ministries on the personality of a spokesperson, rather than the truth of the Gospel.  And, those so-called preachers (spokespeople) feel like they are accountable to no one.  When anyone tries to hold an elder (pastor) accountable, the first thing out of their mouth is Psalm 105:15, “Touch not min anointed, and do my prophets no harm.”  That verse is a warning about unjustly harming God’s men, but there is nothing wrong with holding one accountable.

When Jimmy Swaggart was caught with a prostitute, some in his church wanted to exercise discipline against him.  He refused.  He thought he was larger than the ministry.

There is no preacher larger than the ministry.  One of the advantages of a plurality of elders is that they hold one another accountable; the people also hold them accountable.

Ultimately, we know, however, that every elder, every minister, and every teacher will be judged more severely.  James 3 warns: “Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness.” [ESV]

CONCLUSION

In the end, if an elder (be it a preaching elder or a governing elder) can look back at their ministry and say that they have stood faithful and accomplished God’s will, then they are a success, regardless of who knows their name (in this world).  The heartbeat of my life is this:  I want to be able to join with Paul, at the end of my life and ministry and say with confidence:

“⁶ For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. ⁷ I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: ⁸ Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.”

2 Timothy 4:6-8

Just What Is An Elder? Pt. 2

The New Testament uses three (3) interchangeable words (elder, bishop and pastor) to describe the office of elder.  Each word speaks of the same office but a different function.

“bishop” (episkopos) – the responsibility of the leaders.  This describes what the leaders do.  They oversee the ministry and work of God.

"pastor” (poimen) – the priority of the leaders.  This describes how they lead.  They are like a shepherd who watches over the flock.

“elder” (presbuteros) – the maturity of the leaders.  This describes why they are worthy of leadership; their faith is worth following.  They are spiritually mature. 

Elders are servant-leaders who are given the following tasks:

(1) They Lead the Church

1 Timothy 5:17, “Let the elders who rule well be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in preaching and teaching.”

Hebrews 13:7, “Remember your leaders, those who spoke to you the word of God...”

(2) They Care For The Body

Acts 20:28, “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.”

James 5:14, “Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord.”

(3) They Teach and Protect The Truth

1 Timothy 5:17, “Let the elders who rule well be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in preaching and teaching.”

1 Timothy 3:2, “Therefore an overseer must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, sober-minded, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach,”

Titus 1:10-14, “For there are many who are insubordinate, empty talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision party. They must be silenced, since they are upsetting whole families by teaching for shameful gain what they ought not to teach. One of the Cretans, a prophet of their own, said, “Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons.” This testimony is true. Therefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith, not devoting themselves to Jewish myths and the commands of people who turn away from the truth.”

(4) They Model Christ-like Character.

1 Timothy 3:1-7, “The saying is trustworthy: If anyone aspires to the office of overseer, he desires a noble task. Therefore an overseer must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, sober-minded, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not a drunkard, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. He must manage his own household well, with all dignity keeping his children submissive, for if someone does not know how to manage his own household, how will he care for God’s church? He must not be a recent convert, or he may become puffed up with conceit and fall into the condemnation of the devil. Moreover, he must be well thought of by outsiders, so that he may not fall into disgrace, into a snare of the devil.”

Titus 1:6-9, “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— if anyone is above reproach, the husband of one wife, and his children are believers and not open to the charge of debauchery or insubordination. For an overseer, as God’s steward, must be above reproach. He must not be arrogant or quick-tempered or a drunkard or violent or greedy for gain, but hospitable, a lover of good, self-controlled, upright, holy, and disciplined. He must hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught, so that he may be able to give instruction in sound doctrine and also to rebuke those who contradict it.”

Hebrews 13:7, “Remember them which have the rule over you, who have spoken unto you the word of God: whose faith follow, considering the end of their conversation.”

Just What Is An Elder? Pt. 1

“What is an elder?”  I have been asked this question on more than one occasion.  Whether people know one of the brothers who have been nominated to serve as an elder, saw a Facebook post about the upcoming ordination, or heard about Lakeville moving to an Elder-led model of church government through the grapevine, people are asking this question.  So, over the next few days, I will post an overview of a series I preached at Lakeville entitled “The Gospel & Church Leadership”.  Hopefully, it will answer some of the questions people have about the office of elder.  In this post, I hope to establish the fact that the office of elder is mentioned throughout the New Testament as a vital office in the church.

Elders Are Mentioned Frequently

A survey of the New Testament (especially Acts and the Epistles) will reveal that the office of elder was a vital office of the early church.   

Scripture	Description
Acts 11:30	Elders sent Paul and Barnabas to Jerusalem with a gift that was to be distributed to the needy brethren in Judea.
Acts 14:23	Paul and Barnabas, after establishing churches, “ordained elders in every church”.
Acts 15:2	A vital question concerning the Gospel had arisen in Acts 15.  To discuss the doctrinal matter, Paul and Barnabas decided to go to Jerusalem to meet with “the apostles and elders”.
Acts 15:4	Paul and Barnabas, having arrived in Jerusalem for the meeting, were received by “the apostles and elders”. NOTE: At Jerusalem, Peter seems to be the spokesperson for the apostles and James seems to be the spokesperson for the elders.
Acts 15:22-23	After the meeting, when it was determined that we are saved by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone, “the apostles and elders” determined to send Judas and Silas to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas.  They also sent letters from “the apostles and the elders and brethren”.
Acts 16:4	Paul travelled throughout the cities on his missionary journey delivering to the people “the decrees…that were ordained of the apostles and elders which were at Jerusalem.”
Acts 20:17	Paul called for a meeting with the elders of Ephesus.  He charged them and told them that he would no longer see their face.  Verse 28 gives insight to the responsibility of being an elder of God’s church.
Acts 21:18	Paul goes to Jerusalem and gives a report to James and all the elders concerning God’s working among the Gentiles.
1 Timothy 5:17-19	The elders who rule (govern) well are worthy of honor, especially those who labor (earn their livelihood) in preaching and teaching.  A person isn’t supposed to accept an accusation against an elder unless it is substantiated with two or three witnesses.  Elders who persist in sin are to be publically rebuked before the entire congregation so people in the congregation might learn to fear.
Titus 1:5	Paul commands Titus to ordain elders in every city in Crete.
James 5:14	Elders are called upon to pray for the sick, anointing them with oil.
1 Peter 5:1-5	Peter addresses elders in church located throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia (1:1).  He refers to himself as an “elder” in 5:1 (one of only three times this word is used in the singular).  He addresses the “elders” of the congregations in the cities he previously mentioned.  He gives them a charge to “shepherd the flock of God” because God has given them oversight.  They are to shepherd God’s people willingly, not out of compulsion.  They are to shepherd sincerely, not for shameful gain.  They must be examples to the church to follow.  They are to keep in mind that they will give an account to the chief Shepherd one day.  Because of this, the congregation is to be subject (submissive) to their leadership.
2 John 1	John refers to himself as “the elder”.  Many believe it was a nickname that had been given to John the Beloved.
3 John 1	Same as 2 John 1.

You've heard it said, “If the Bible mentions something once, it is important.”  I would agree with this statement.  Yet, my question is this: How can a subject (an office in the church) that is mentioned (in the Bible) as frequently as that of an elder be glossed over and treated as unimportant?  This should at least get our minds thinking about the vital role elders should play in the congregation.  More to come…