The Role of an Elder
Text: 1 Peter 5:1-4
The Elder - Shepherd – Pastor
The Exhortation to Elders
The Elders:
Overseers / pastors / shepherds
The Expectation:
Present suffering (and future glory)
Footnotes:
Exhort: To come alongside to encourage
Acts 20:28 Be on guard for yourselves and for all the flock,
among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to
shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His
own blood.”
The Elder Role
Shepherd the flock:
Protect – Feed - Rule - Care
Exercise oversight:
Administrate – Watch over
The Elder’s Service
See 1 Timothy 3:2-7, Titus 1:6-9
Elders are to observe and look into what the flock is doing
and encountering, and then to do what is essential to
their spiritual welfare…(Hamilton) At times people are
very quick to say, ‘This isn’t any of the elder’s business.’
God commanded them to ‘oversee’. And if something is
adversely affecting your relationship with God, the
spiritual welfare of other members, or the reputation of
the congregation, then they must get involved.
See Hebrews 13:17. (Mark Dunagan)
Voluntary (not under compulsion): Not because they feel
Forced to, but because they believe that God wants them to,
and they want to obey God. God wants the motivation to
serve God to come from within the man who follows God.
Called of God: Elders are chosen by God through the revelation
of His will for that individual. Gods speaks to the heart of a
man showing him what God desires of him in his service to
his God. God reveals to the elder what is on the heart of God
for His Flock and leads the man to fulfill his service to God as
a shepherd to His flock.
Not for worldly gain: The motivation for service is not for
money, prestige, position, or power. In these days far too
many seemingly spiritual people are starting ministries and
seeking church positions for the sake of accolades,
affirmation, and status. They seek the benefits of the
position for their own sake. God called elders are motivated
by a love for God, and faithful obedience to the task that
He places before them.
Eagerly: There needs be a zeal and enthusiasm for the task
set before the elder. It’s not a job or a vocation. The work
is an outward expression of the inner working of the Holy
Spirit in the life of a person charged by God to watch over
His flock. To be engaged in a position of responsibility to
care and nurture God’s children is a high calling to be
embraced fully.
Not lording it over others: The elder must not love being
in charge or desire to be the one that makes the important
decisions. The call of the elder is to serve God and serve His
people. If the thought is to “be in charge,” or “call the shots,”
then they have a warped and unbiblical understanding of the
role and are unfit for the position!
By example: The primary means of leading and feeding the
flock must be through the example set by the shepherd in
his personal conduct and his public behavior. If what is
taught is not backed up by the life of the shepherd, his
teaching will have little impact, and his ministry will have
little fruit. If on the other hand his personal character and
conduct demonstrates a humble spirit, a genuine faith,
and a loving heart, he will find that the flock will hunger
for what is both taught and caught.
The Elder’s Reward
The unfading crown of glory!
(when Christ returns!)