In the New Testament, the elders in the early Christian churches (Jerusalem, Ephesus, Crete, etc.) were mature and godly men. They were blameless and free from reproach; they served together in overseeing the church; they knew, taught, and defended the truth; and they served as shepherds (pastors, Eph. 4:11) of God’s flock.

 

The words elder and overseer are used interchangeably, with elder probably denoting character and maturity, while overseer denotes function. For both terms, the main verb describing their task is poimaino, or shepherd (Acts 20:28; 1 Pet. 5:2).

 

1.      Elders are mature and blameless men.

 

The holiness and blamelessness which characterized Jesus should characterize the lives of elders. They are to be self-controlled in appetites, unimpeachable in moral purity, hospitable, generous, gentle and loving in personal relationships, discerning and responsible in judgment, mature in the faith, and well thought of by people inside and outside the church.

 

Elders are not sinless men, but they are justified and sanctified men. Elders are godly leaders.

 

2.      Elders serve.

 

The service of the shepherd must be carefully formed after the heart of the Chief Shepherd, Jesus Christ. He is the supreme model of self-sacrificial love, for He came not to be served but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many (Mark 10:45).

 

He also taught His disciples to follow His servanthood example. Elders are servant leaders.

 

3.      Elders serve together.

 

There is never a New Testament example of a solitary senior pastor or shepherd running the church single-handedly. When Paul and Barnabas returned to newly planted churches on their first missionary journey, they appointed elders (plural) in every church (singular) (Acts 14:23). Paul’s instruction to Titus on the island of Crete was to finish the task by appointing elders in every town (Tit. 1:5).

 

Shepherding is a group activity. Elders are team leaders.

 

4.      Elders oversee the church.

 

They are leaders invested with the highest responsibility of watching over believers’ souls (Heb. 13:17) and caring for God’s church (Acts 20:28). Elders do not compulsively or selfishly take the oversight of the flock. They are neither power hungry nor money hungry, but serve willingly and eagerly as examples to the flock, with an eye on the coming of the Chief Shepherd, under whom they serve (1 Pet. 5:2-4).

 

Their overseeing work is marked by longsuffering and fortitude as they patiently lead the sheep by teaching and example. Elder-overseers are shepherd-overseers.

 

They lead, they do not drive. Elders are exemplary leaders.

 

5.      Elders shepherd.

 

The word shepherd is a verb. So what does a shepherd do? Shepherds feed sheep by providing nourishing food—what Paul calls “healthy teaching.” The food for sheep is the Word. That’s why elders must be “able to teach”—the one character trait which separates elders from deacons.

 

Paul’s description of an elder in Titus stipulated not only character but biblical faithfulness—holding fast to the trustworthy Word, with an ability to not only teach others but to refute those who contradict that teaching.

 

Elders are Word-centered men who are able to feed others the Word and spot poison disguised as sheep food. Elders are teaching leaders.

 

6.      Elders lead.

 

Shepherds not only teach sheep; they also guide sheep. Shepherds protect sheep, care for sheep, seek lost sheep, and nurse sick sheep back to health. Elders not only taught the church, they also prayed for the sick and anointed them with oil (James 5:14). They are not only blameless and irreproachable; they are also gentle and hospitable.

 

Elders understand the value of the people who make up the church, because they know that they are purchased by Christ’s own blood (Acts 20:28). Elders are loving leaders.

 Making It Personal

• Does your life match the character descriptions of an elder/overseer given in 1 Timothy 3 and Titus 1?
• Does your ministry embody the metaphor of shepherd? Do you feed, lead, watch over, seek after, guard, and care for the sheep?
• Do you lead by example and love?
• Are you part of a leadership team (whether called elders, pastors, or something else)? If not, are you actively training others to become leaders?