“The Church’s Shepherds”

Sunday morning sermon audio from Preston Highlands Baptist Church.

Sheep Rodeo

I grew up on what could be described as a large petting zoo, or the Noah’s ark of East Texas.  My family lived on ten acres just outside of Eustace, Texas and we had at least two of every kind of farm animal.  We had cows, horses, pigs, chickens, turkeys, geese, ducks, guineas, donkeys, goats, sheep, rabbits, dogs, and cats.

My brothers and I had a lot of fun with some of these animals, especially the goats and sheep.  When you don’t have cable TV or video games, you have to get creative for entertainment.  So sometimes my brothers and I would have ourselves a goat rodeo.  We’d see who could ride the goats or sheep the longest. 

My brother Josh was the best.  He could stay on way longer than any of us.  The sheep weren’t usually as fun to ride because they’d usually just sit there when you got on their backs.  But one time, unpredictably, my brother Josh got on this sheep’s back and the sheep took off at a dead sprint.  My brother Josh had a handful of wool in each hand and was hanging on for dear life.  He had to throw himself off the sheep because it was headed right for a fence!

Sheep Are Messy Creatures

Sheep are like that.  They’re unpredictable and unstable creatures.  They’re often a danger to themselves (and to those who choose to ride them!).  Sheep are messy and stinky and aren’t the most intelligent mammals in the animal kingdom. 

The Bible, in many places, describes God’s people as sheep.  This isn’t a flattering description, but I think it’s an accurate one because we also are unstable and erratic creatures.  We’re prone to hurt ourselves.  We’re not as smart as we think we are.  Our lives are messy and broken.  As the hymn says, we’re “prone to wander…prone to leave the God we love.”  Because we’re prone to wander, because we’re like sheep, we need shepherds. 

God is Our Shepherd

Amazingly, the Bible says that God himself is our shepherd.  Psalm 23:1, “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.”  Ezekiel 34:15, “I myself will be the shepherd of my sheep.”  Jesus says in John 10:11, “I am the good shepherd.”  Peter calls Jesus the “chief Shepherd” (1 Pet. 5:4).

Like any good shepherd, the Son of God wasn’t afraid to get his hands dirty.  He came and lived in a world full of sin and sinners to care for his flock.  At the cost of his life, he bought his broken and messy and rebellious and unstable lambs.  He rescued them from the slaughter and carried them home in his arms.  The spotless Lamb of God went to the slaughterhouse so that we could live in green pastures.

The Good Gift of Under-Shepherds

During the interim between his first and second coming, the Chief Shepherd put his sheep under the care of under shepherds.  In the New Testament, these men are called elders, overseers, or pastors (shepherds).  In Acts 20:28, Paul says to the elders in Ephesus, “Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood.”  God the Holy Spirit gives the church shepherds to care for, feed, nurture, and protect God’s sheep.

Jesus shepherds his sheep through elders.  He entrusts the life of his lambs into their care.  Just as you wouldn’t hire just anyone to watch your children, so Jesus was careful to teach his church who was eligible to watch his children while he was away.  In other words, not just anyone can be an elder.  This morning we’re going to look at the church’s shepherds.  First, we’ll look at the requirements for those who serve as elders in 1 Timothy 3:1-7.  After that, we’ll discuss what these elders are supposed to do.

“Desires a Noble Task”

In 1 Timothy 3:1-7, Paul lists out fifteen qualifications for the shepherds of God’s people.  This list isn’t exhaustive, but it does represent the bare minimum that must be present in the men who serve as elders.

The first requirement for being an elder is that you must want to be an elder (v. 1).  The waters can get a little muddy here because motives and ambition are tricky things and are many times selfish rather than godly.  Some men desire the office for the wrong reasons, while others think that wanting it is inherently wrong.  This is why there should be an extensive interview process.  It takes time to discern true motives. 

Let me encourage the men in our church to not be afraid to express to me or Nick a desire to serve as an elder.  In fact, every man should desire to be the kind of man that Paul describes here.  The only quality listed here that isn’t required of every man is being “able to teach” (v. 2).  In a sense, every man should aspire to be like an elder. 

“Above Reproach”

Because shepherding a church is honorable, or “noble,” work, a man must be “above reproach” to be qualified for it (v. 2).  This qualification is like the umbrella that the other qualifications fall under.  If you’re “above reproach,” then you’ll probably also meet all the other qualifications. 

Being “above reproach” means that, if you were to be charged with wrongdoing, people would be shocked.  This is the kind of man that no one would be able to bring a legitimate charge against concerning anything in the list that follows.  “Above reproach” doesn’t mean sinless perfection – only one Man ever had that.  It does mean that, over time, a man has built a reputation of godliness and integrity. 

This is the primary qualification because elders will be the primary examples of Christlikeness to the congregation.  Peter tells the elders to be “examples to the flock” (1 Pet. 5:3).  The elders show the church what following Jesus looks like.  They’ll be the ones setting the pace spiritually and morally in the congregation.  Therefore, while every Christian should be “above reproach,” elders must be “above reproach.” 

“Husband of One Wife”

Next Paul says that an elder must be the “husband of one wife,” or literally, a “one woman man” (v. 2).  This has been interpreted in various ways.  Some say it means that an elder must be married, but that doesn’t work because Paul was single and encouraged others to be single (1 Cor. 7). 

Some have said that it simply forbids polygamy, or that an elder can only have one wife at a time.  Some say that it means that only those who’ve been married once are qualified, thus disqualifying widowers who’re remarried and those who’ve been divorced.

Because this phrase is a bit ambiguous, its meaning is probably more broad than narrow.  The broad meaning is that an elder must be morally and sexually pure.  If the elder is married, there are to be no other women in his life.  If he’s single, there are to be no women, outside of friendships, in his life.  An elder must be pure when it comes to his sexuality.  An elder doesn’t have affairs (physical or emotional), he doesn’t flirt, he doesn’t look at pornography.  He’s faithful to God and to his wife if he has one.

“Sober-Minded, Self-Controlled, Respectable”

The next three qualifications can easily be grouped together.  An overseer must be “sober-minded, self-controlled, respectable” (v. 2).  These three qualifications refer to a man’s ability to master himself.  Men who lead the church need to first be able to lead themselves.

Being “sober-minded” means being “clear-headed,” or being able to think about things clearly.  A “sober-minded” man views everything through the clear lens of Scripture.  He’s sober in his thoughts, desires, feelings, and attitudes.  He’s not enamored with the latest theological fads, or the changing trends of our culture.

Because he’s able to think clearly about things, he’s also able to live with self-control.  He’s able to control his wallet, his tongue, his emotions, and his attitude.  He’s not controlled by his appetites.  He’s not given to excesses in food or drink or sleep.  He’s not ruled by his anger. 

A man who’s “sober-minded” and “self-controlled” will inevitably produce a “respectable” man.  This kind of man lives a godly, ordered life, but he knows that his ability to master himself comes from God.  Elders are men who’ve been mastered by God.    

“Hospitable”

The next qualification Paul mentions is that an elder must be “hospitable,” which literally means “to love strangers.”  All of God’s people are called to be hospitable (Rom. 12:13, 1 Pet. 4:9).  Elders are thus called to do what all Christians are called to do.  Doing hospitality reflects the love of Jesus to strangers and it helps build meaningful relationships with people. 

Elders, not their wives, must be proactive in reaching out to and engaging people.  The church should learn from and follow their example.

“Able to Teach”

Now we turn to the one qualification that sets the elders apart from the deacons, the one thing that elders must be able to do that isn’t expected of all Christians.  An elder must be “able to teach” (v. 2).  There’s a simple reason for this.  God has always led his people through his Word.  When he rescued Israel from slavery and brought them to Mt. Sinai, he didn’t give them pictures, he gave them his Word.  God sent Jesus announcing “good news,” a message of salvation.

God gives his church elders who must speak the Word of God to the people of God.  Elders will do lots of other things.  But teaching is their primary responsibility and shouldn’t be taken lightly.  James 3:1, “Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness.”

Titus 1:9 gives us a little more information on what this teaching ministry should include: “(An overseer) 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.”  An elder must be able to teach what’s true and refute what’s false. 

This means that an elder must be a student of God’s word, a man who knows his Bible and can communicate its truth and defend it against error.  Does this mean that elders must be good public speakers, or have great preaching abilities?  No, I don’t think so.  A man who’s able to explain the truths of Scripture in a one-on-one or small group setting is just as qualified as the man who’s gifted to speak publicly.  Much teaching is done in the church foyer and over coffee!

This is a life-or-death issue for Jesus’ sheep.  If sheep aren’t fed, they’ll become malnourished and eventually die.  If they’re fed bad food, they’ll get sick.  But if they’re consistently fed the good food of the Word of God, they’ll be strong and healthy and live longer and work harder.

Sober, Gentle, Peacemaker

The qualities in verse 2 qualify a man for the office of elder.  The qualities of verse 3, when present, disqualify him.  The first three of these negative qualities can be grouped together: “not a drunkard, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome.”  These are probably clumped together because where you find one, you usually find the others.

The shepherds of God’s people aren’t controlled by alcohol, or any other substance.  They’re not violent in their temperament, but gentle.  They don’t lose their minds every time they don’t get their way.  Gentleness must be their approach in any situation, even in moments of conflict.  This was Jesus’ style, he was “gentle and lowly in heart” (Matt. 11:29) and it’s also a fruit of the Spirit (Gal. 5:22-23).  Elders must therefore be like their Lord and be ruled by the Spirit rather than by their cravings and emotions.

Elders are also to be men who don’t like picking fights, they’re “not quarrelsome.”  An elder doesn’t go looking for arguments.  He knows which hills are worth dying on.  Everything’s not a life-or-death issue with him.  He’s not nit-picky and overly critical about everything.  He’s able to make distinctions between things that are more important and less important.

“Not a Lover of Money”

The next qualification is that an elder must not be a “lover of money.”  God’s shepherds aren’t in love with money.  They’re not “greedy for gain” (Tit. 1:7).  They refuse to make money in dishonest and greedy and shameful ways.

We sometimes think that a person’s wealth qualifies him for leadership.  But it’s a man’s attitude toward money, not how much he possesses of it, that qualifies or disqualifies him.  Elders are men who love God more than money, men who give generously and sacrificially to the ministry of their local church.  Men who’re content with what they have, whether that’s a lot or a little.  Both rich men and poor men can be consumed with the love of money, but a man who aspires to the office of elder is free from it, no matter how much he makes a year.

“Manages His Household Well”

Verses 4-5 tell us that if a man doesn’t manage his home well, he’s not qualified to manage God’s house.  We don’t want men who aren’t leading their homes well to start leading God’s church.

This “managing” refers to caring for, nurturing, and guiding a wife and children.  If a man isn’t nurturing his wife and kids, how do you think he’ll treat God’s children?  If at home he’s a tyrant or an absentee landlord, how do you think he’ll approach his task as overseer of the church?  Paul isn’t calling for a perfect home with perfect children.  How a prospective elder manages his home in the face of difficult circumstances is what matters.

Not a Recent Convert

Verse 6 says than an elder “must not be a recent convert.”  An elder mustn’t be a new believer because new believers aren’t ready to withstand the challenges that will come in pastoral ministry. 

Paul doesn’t give us an age requirement here, or the length of time someone must be a believer before they’re eligible to be an elder.  This is because age or length of time as a Christian doesn’t equal spiritual maturity.  There are many men who’ve been Christians for decades who lack the spiritual maturity to be elders.  And there are some men who’ve been Christians for only a short time who evidence remarkable maturity for their age. 

Much discernment is needed here, but what we’re looking for is men whose life shows conformity to Christ, where the fruit of the Spirit is evident, men who walk in humility, who’re actively seeking to put sin to death in their life.  These are signs of spiritual maturity and must be present in a prospective elder.

Respected by Outsiders

The final qualification Paul mentions is in verse 7.  For those who would be elders, it matters what unbelievers think of you.  The simple reason for this is that the opinion of people who know you outside the church will either confirm or deny who you profess to be inside the church. 

If a man has a poor reputation among people outside the church, he isn’t qualified to be an elder.  In other words, if the unbelievers you know would be surprised to find out that you’re a pastor in your church, then you’re probably not qualified to be an elder.

Character is Everything

Did you notice that all the qualifications, except being able to teach and not being a recent convert, have to do with a man’s character?  Character is everything in leadership.  God wants men who look and act and think and speak and love like Jesus leading his church.  Jesus’s sheep need shepherds who’ll show them Jesus, not perfectly, but faithfully. 

A church will go the way of its leaders.  If the character of our leaders is off, even slightly, then over time great damage can be done to a church. 

Elders Are Teachers

Now that we’ve looked at the requirements for those who’ll care for God’s sheep, let’s now discuss what these shepherds are supposed to do.  First, elders feed the flock.  An elder is a teacher.  1 Timothy 3:2 says that an elder must be “able to teach.”  Elders must be men who know the Bible and are able to teach it to others.

The elders are the guardians of the teaching of the church.  This doesn’t mean that they teach every class or preach every sermon.  It does mean that they’re the ones who’re responsible for the teaching ministry of the church.  What’s taught in Training Classes, community groups, and men’s or women’s ministry all fall under the auspices of the elders.  Even the songs we sing during our worship service fall under their purview because music is one of the most important teaching tools that God gave to the church. 

Elders Are Leaders

Second, elders govern the church.  Elders are the primary governing, or decision-making, group in the church.  This is why one the titles the Holy Spirit gives them in the New Testament is “overseer.”  They over-see the life and affairs of the church. 

1 Timothy 5:17 says that elders have “ruling,” or governing, responsibilities.  “Let the elders who rule well be considered worthy of double honor.”  The elders lead and give direction to the church.  This looks different in every church but having elders who govern means that the decision-making processes of the church are streamlined.  Instead of requiring a church vote or a committee decision on the all the details of the church’s life and ministry, the elders are entrusted with the authority to make those decisions.  This is what Peter is referring to when he tells the elders to “exercise oversight” (1 Pet. 5:2).  This streamlining of the decision-making process frees the church to do more of what God has called us to do: more ministry to one another and more disciple-making.  It also protects the unity of the church, as it prevents church-wide squabbles or debates over non-essential matters.

Elders Are Shepherds

Third, elders shepherd the church.  Acts 20:28, “Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to (shepherd) the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood.”  1 Peter 5:1-2, “I exhort the elders (to)…shepherd the flock of God that is among you.” 

“Shepherd” summarizes the complete biblical portrait of the elder.  A shepherd teaches and trains his sheep.  He leads and governs them.  And he takes care of them, making sure they’re fed, watered, healthy, and safe.

This has massive implications for the ministry of the elders.  It means that the elders aren’t merely men who sit in a board room and make decisions for the church.  It means that they’re men who’re involved in the lives of the members of the church.

Shepherds need to smell like the sheep to help the sheep smell more like Jesus.  Elders aren’t just managers who work on the organization of the church.  Elders are shepherds who work on the sanctification of the church.       

How Many Elders Should a Church Have?

Let me now quickly address two practical questions.  First, how many elders should a church have?  The New Testament doesn’t give us a number, but it does make it very clear that each local church should have more than one elder.  Acts 14:23 says that Paul and Barnabas “appointed elders…in every church.”  In Titus 1:5, Paul instructs Titus to “appoint elders in every town as I directed you.” 

The clear pattern of the New Testament is that each local church should have multiple elders.  God, in his wisdom, has designed his church to be led by more than one man.

Relationship between Senior Pastor and Elders

Second, what’s the relationship between the senior pastor and the elders?  The best way to describe it would be to say that the senior pastor is a “leader among equals.”  All elders have the same amount of authority, but there’s biblical precedent for setting aside one of the elders, supporting him financially, and giving him the primary teaching responsibility in the church (1 Tim. 5:17-18).  Some elders are supported by the flock that they shepherd.  Other elders, like Paul, work at another job.  But all the elders have equal authority, whether paid or not.

Jeramie Rinne provides a great illustration of this point.  He says, “Volunteer firefighters face the same flames as the paid firefighters, and volunteer elders confront the same challenges of shepherding as the staff pastors.  Lay elders may honor vocational pastors as ‘firsts among equals,’ but the lay elders are still equals.”

Elders are Gifts of Grace

In grace, and at the cost of his life, Jesus came and bought his lambs.  He rescued us from the slaughter and carried us home in his arms.  And in grace, Jesus gave his church pastor-teachers to feed, lead, and guide his lambs until they reach the green pastures of the kingdom of God.

Elders are gifts of grace because we don’t deserve to be protected, cared for, or taught the Word of God.  But God loves his lambs too much to let them starve to death.  He loves us too much to leave us to the wolves of this world.  God gave his people shepherds because without shepherds, sheep wander off and starve and get sick and die.  Your elders are one of the means that God intends to use to keep you alive spiritually. 

Thank God for your elders.  Pray for your elders.  And follow your elders as they follow Jesus.