Learning to Think Biblically About: Elders

1 Thes 2
Eph 4; gifts left from Jesus include shepherds and teachers
shepherding role include pastors, elders and overseers
- Jesus is the high shepherd and calls others to minister on His behalf

The elder’s role: love the flock
- 1 Thes 2:7-12
- love God, love others
  - must be primary motivating force
- image of mother and father parental love
  - often unseen or resented in our lives…
- love cultivated by:
  1. loving others deeply (v7)
    - like a mother nursing their child
  2. giving generously
    - giving the Gospel is the most loving thing
    - caring for others souls
    - sharing truth vs sharing yourself
      - pouring self out for others to guide them to the right purpose
    - your heart follows what you give yourself to
      - shutting others out from your time is to shut them out from your heart
  3. urge diligently
    - be willing to share what people need to hear, rather than what they merely want to hear (v11-12)
    - Prov 27:6; faithful are the wounds of a friend…
    - course correction
  4. regularly pray (v13)
    - you pray for those you love
    - the more you pray for someone the more your love for them grows
- My role?
  - 1 Thes 5:12-13
  - reciprocal love and cherishing of one another
  - should have ethos of love
  - real true love, as per 1 Cor 13:4-7
    - what if everyone in the church actually did that?
The elder’s requirement: Live in the faith
- 1 Tim 4:12
- examples of righteousness and holiness
- age is not the same as spiritual maturity!
- 1 Tim 4:16; guard yourself!
- Acts 20:28; need to effectively shepherd self first
- 5 areas to set example and qualifications (1 Tim 3):
  1. speech
    - the tongue is both a devastating weapon and helpful tool
    - heal, not bruise, with your words
    - no room for lax or frivolous speech
  2. conduct
    - measure of righteousness (Titus 1:8)
    - private life must match your public life!
    - character is who you are when no one is looking
    - desire to seek Jesus!
  3. love
    - display loving gentleness through self-control, humility…
  4. faith
    - be an example!
      1. knowledge of faith
        
        Word of God, doctrine, theology
        
        constantly growing in knowledge and understanding
      2. exemplifying/living the faith
        
        Phil 4:13
  5. purity
    - Robert M’Cheyne, “My people’s greatest need is my personal holiness”
- character is greater than gifting/competence in the Kingdom
  - shortcomings of gifting is easily forgiven when abundance in character is seen
- we have different accountability than elders/shepherds, but the same standard
- Heb 13:7; difference is the elders’ responsibility
The elder’s responsibility: lead the way
- 1 Pet 5:1-4
- spiritual responsibility of insight
- shepherding details
  - 1 Tim 3:2
  - 1 Tim 5:17
  - Tit 1:9
  - Tit 1:8
  - Tit 1:10-14
  - 2 Tim 2:2
    - elder required to have character *and* ability to teach
- reminds of great responsibility of teaching (Jas 3:1)
  - judged with greater strictness
- all elders should know how to handle the word of God
- Heb 13:17
- leaders authority is band by word of God, not people
  - best way to respond is to take the word and do something with it!
- 3 Jn 4; nothing sweeter than seeing children walk in the truth
The elder’s reliance: look to Jesus
- Mk 10:42-45
- 1 Pet 5:1-3; serve, not dominate
- servant leader found in Jesus
- look to Jesus as:
  1. Our pattern
    - don’t look to worldly CEO’s and leaders, look to Jesus instead!
    - Jn 13
    - follow Him such that others see the example
  2. Our provision
    - the closer we get to the Son, the clearer becomes our sin and shortfalls
    - He is our model and mediation
      - our hope is in Christ’s perfect servant-hood
  3. Our power
    - the strong saviour gives us empowering grace
    - Tit 3
      - we’re most effective when we recognize our weakness
    - laying of hands: affirmation and appointment of task and role