Eldership in Church Life (Pt. 2)
Eldership in Church Life (Pt. 2) • Sermon • Submitted
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· 3 viewsPaul directs the Ephesians elders to continue the pastoral ministry they saw in Paul.
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Last week I led us in a discussion of something we don’t talk much about, church polity, which is just simply church government. Some of you are back today, thinking to yourself, “Are we really going to talk about this again?!”
Well this is the last week, I promise. Why is this so important that I would take two weeks to discuss this with you? There are several reasons:
First is that next Sunday morning, we will be voting on a bylaw change to shift us from a Pastor Led polity to an elder led polity. I talked about the difference between these polities last week.
This is an important change. And, one that I believe is the wisest and most biblical way for God’s church to be governed. I’ve been leading us this direction for years now. After having a very difficult transition at Mount Gilead, I asked the church to nominate some advisors to the Senior Pastor. And, the church did just that.
They had to be biblically qualified as elders, as I am. The six men are: Andy Maxwell, Carl Blackman, Patrick Davenport, Greg Vinson, Jim Whaley, and Bobby Martin.
For years now, I have treated them as elders. I’ve not made a single decision that didn’t have the wise consent of the Pastor Advisory Team. Each of them, have become extremely dear to me. I believe it is time to change our polity officially to reflect a biblical, elder led polity.
The second reason is that when the church doesn’t have good leadership, the gospel message and mission is compromised. So many people have been hurt in churches and even turned away from God because the church had a unbiblical leadership structure where people are fighting to get power or keep power.
This is completely foreign to what we find in Scripture. The model we see most clearly in scripture is the church being led by a group of leaders described as elders, overseers, or pastors.
Each of these refer to a different aspect of this leadership role. Elder refers to the fact that a leader in this role should not be a new believer. They should have some wisdom and experience with Christ to them.
English Standard Version Chapter 3
6 He must not be a recent convert, or he may become puffed up with conceit and fall into the condemnation of the devil.
I. Elders should follow Paul’s example.
I. Elders should follow Paul’s example.
The term “overseer”, this is also translated “bishop.” God wants the work of his church to be administrated well. And “Pastor” is the work of the shepherd. The people of God should be protected, fed, and loved.
It’s really important to understand that these are all the same ordained position. In our text, . We see them called “elder” in v. 17 and in v.28, they were called “overseers.”
These are the roles of the ordained position of elder. Elders are servant leaders. They served the Lord by leading the church. The only other ordained position are the body of deacons. Deacons are servant leaders. They lead in their service work for the Lord.
We see both of these spoken of in Paul’s letter to the Philippians.
1 Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus, To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are at Philippi, with the overseers and deacons:
We are use to thinking of deacons as a group of men. And, we see a plurality of deacons referred to here. But notice that we also see a plurality of overseers referred to here.
In the same way, we see a plurality of elders in Acts 20. A group of elders that he had won to Christ, discipled, and the church had ordained.
+Some ask, “Why not allow the Senior Pastor and the the Associate Pastors of the church be the elders? That’s a group.” That’s a good question and some churches do that. The problem that I see with that is the Senior Pastor has the authority to fire Associate Pastors. Which makes it unlikely that they are going to be able to Senior Pastor accountable if they are afraid that they are going to lose their job.
English Standard Version Chapter 1
1 Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ,
To those who are elect exiles of the Dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, 2 according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in the sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ and for sprinkling with his blood:
May grace and peace be multiplied to you.
Now let’s get into our text. What we see here is a very touching scene of Paul leaving the elders that he had grown to love deeply after spending almost 3 years in Ephesus.
The first thing that he does is to point them to himself, his life, his character, and his work. It’s like that he’s saying, “I’ve sought to show you what it means to lead the church and train you to do the same. Now you go and do likewise.”
John Maxwell said, “A leader is one who knows the way, goes the way, and shows the way.”
Paul says that elders should Follow Paul’s Example. So, how should elders live so that they are following Paul’s example.
I. Elders should follow Paul’s example.
I. Elders should follow Paul’s example.
A. Paul lived serving the Lord (vv. 18-19)
A. Paul lived serving the Lord (vv. 18-19)
18 And when they came to him, he said to them: “You yourselves know how I lived among you the whole time from the first day that I set foot in Asia,
19 serving the Lord with all humility and with tears and with trials that happened to me through the plots of the Jews;
18 And when they came to him, he said to them: “You yourselves know how I lived among you the whole time from the first day that I set foot in Asia,
19 serving the Lord with all humility and with tears and with trials that happened to me through the plots of the Jews;
20 how I did not shrink from declaring to you anything that was profitable, and teaching you in public and from house to house,
Acts
Acts
Paul had earned credibility with the people. People could see that he was the real deal. From the first day, they could see that his faith was real. And, the reality of his faith could be seen in his life.
His faith could be seen in his attitude. He was humble. His faith should be seen in passion. He served with tears for God’s people. His attitude and his passion is what carried him through a great deal of persecution by the Jews.
+For an elder, serving the church can’t be a hobby or something that you do in your free time. It must be who we are. It must be something that we feel deeply and we are passionate about. We will serve the Lord when we love the Lord. And when we love the Lord, people around us know it.
B. Paul lived declaring the gospel (vv. 20-21)
B. Paul lived declaring the gospel (vv. 20-21)
20 how I did not shrink from declaring to you anything that was profitable, and teaching you in public and from house to house,
21 testifying both to Jews and to Greeks of repentance toward God and of faith in our Lord Jesus Christ.
20 how I did not shrink from declaring to you anything that was profitable, and teaching you in public and from house to house,
Paul declared the gospel. He built the church on the gospel. He knew that the gospel was profitable to people. It’s why we do evangelism and why we go to mission around the world, because the gospel is profitable.
1. Paul would teach anywhere. (v. 20)
1. Paul would teach anywhere. (v. 20)
20 how I did not shrink from declaring to you anything that was profitable, and teaching you in public and from house to house,
It didn’t matter where Paul was he would teach the gospel. He would share in the market place. He would go from house to house. The idea here is that he took every opportunity to teach.
2. Paul would share with anyone. (v.21)
2. Paul would share with anyone. (v.21)
21 testifying both to Jews and to Greeks of repentance toward God and of faith in our Lord Jesus Christ.
This is a big deal. He shared Jesus with everyone he could. Even with the Jews. The Jews had tried to kill him. But he didn’t care.
C. Paul lived sacrificing for the gospel (vv. 22-25)
C. Paul lived sacrificing for the gospel (vv. 22-25)
22 And now, behold, I am going to Jerusalem, constrained by the Spirit, not knowing what will happen to me there,
22 And now, behold, I am going to Jerusalem, constrained by the Spirit, not knowing what will happen to me there,
23 except that the Holy Spirit testifies to me in every city that imprisonment and afflictions await me.
He’s going to Jerusalem. My question is, “Why?” The Holy Spirit has told him that if he goes to Jerusalem, he is going to prison. The answer is that he was “constrained by the Spirit.” He’s saying that he was bound by the Spirit. He didn’t have any choice. He had to do what the Spirit was calling him to do. It didn’t matter what it cost him.
Acts 20:He’s going to Jerusalem. My question is, “Why?”
22 And now, behold, I am going to Jerusalem, constrained by the Spirit, not knowing what will happen to me there,
23 except that the Holy Spirit testifies to me in every city that imprisonment and afflictions await me.
24 But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.
25 And now, behold, I know that none of you among whom I have gone about proclaiming the kingdom will see my face again.
There are allusions of how the gospel portray Jesus going into Jerusalem in order to go to the cross.
51 When the days drew near for him to be taken up, he set his face to go to Jerusalem.
Luke
Paul also set his face toward Jerusalem, not because it was what was going to be easy for Paul, but because it was what the Spirit was leading him to do.
20 as it is my eager expectation and hope that I will not be at all ashamed, but that with full courage now as always Christ will be honored in my body, whether by life or by death.
21 For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.
But, of course, Paul was known to gladly suffer for Jesus.
9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit,
10 to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another the ability to distinguish between spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues.
9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
10 For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
21 For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.
Phil.
Paul didn’t care what happened to him as long as the gospel went forward and disciples were made.
24 But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.
The most intense suffering is that he was leaving forever people that he loved.
25 And now, behold, I know that none of you among whom I have gone about proclaiming the kingdom will see my face again.
Acts 20:
So, elders seeking to follow Paul’s example must realize that God will send us into difficult situations where things are not easy and they are not fun. But, God will use our sacrifice to bring him glory.
Difficult
So, elders seeking to follow Paul’s example must realize that God will send us into difficult situations where things are not easy and they are not fun. But, God will use our sacrifice to bring him glory.
I’ve been in some bad situations as a pastor. Definitely some situations that I would not have chosen for myself. Do you know the one thing that carried me through those times? I’m not alone. I’m with men of God that I trust. And it is God that has called us together to be here.
We do it because there is nothing more important than making disciples.
D. Paul lived with no regrets (v. 27)
D. Paul lived with no regrets (v. 27)
26 Therefore I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all,
26 Therefore I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all,
27 for I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole counsel of God.
This is an illusion to .
This is an illusion to .
1 The word of the Lord came to me:
2 “Son of man, speak to your people and say to them, If I bring the sword upon a land, and the people of the land take a man from among them, and make him their watchman,
3 and if he sees the sword coming upon the land and blows the trumpet and warns the people,
4 then if anyone who hears the sound of the trumpet does not take warning, and the sword comes and takes him away, his blood shall be upon his own head.
5 He heard the sound of the trumpet and did not take warning; his blood shall be upon himself. But if he had taken warning, he would have saved his life.
6 But if the watchman sees the sword coming and does not blow the trumpet, so that the people are not warned, and the sword comes and takes any one of them, that person is taken away in his iniquity, but his blood I will require at the watchman’s hand.
Ezek
If the watchman does his job and the people listen, they will avoid destruction. But, if the watchman does his job and the people don’t listen and destruction comes. It’s on them. But, if the watchman doesn’t do his job and destruction comes. The guilt is on the watchman.
Paul’s saying that he’s been a faithful watchman. He’s done his job. He’s preached to everyone he could. He preached everywhere he could. Now he is going to leave the church at Ephesus with a clear conscious. If anything goes wrong now, it was on someone else.
+Wouldn’t it be nice to leave this life with no regrets. I’ve sought the Lord. I’ve given him all I can. That is what elders are called to do.
II. Elders should be watchman for the church.
II. Elders should be watchman for the church.
A. Pursue Purity (v. 28)
A. Pursue Purity (v. 28)
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.
Acts 20:
1 The saying is trustworthy: If anyone aspires to the office of overseer, he desires a noble task.
2 Therefore an overseer must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, sober-minded, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach,
3 not a drunkard, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money.
Think about the enormity of what is being said here. Christ died to create the Church and now he’s placed it in your hands to care for it!
So how do we need to care for it? First, we need to care for ourselves. God intends for his church to be holy, that means elders must keep themselves holy.
That means we must guard our hearts. The character of elders matter. That’s why when we look at the qualifications for elders given in is mostly character based.
1 The saying is trustworthy: If anyone aspires to the office of overseer, he desires a noble task.
2 Therefore an overseer must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, sober-minded, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach,
3 not a drunkard, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money.
ddd
5 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—
6 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.
7 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,
8 but hospitable, a lover of good, self-controlled, upright, holy, and disciplined.
Titus 1:5-8
If elders are to be like Paul and call people to follow us as we follow Christ, we have to pursue holiness.
B. Protect the Flock (vv. 29-30)
B. Protect the Flock (vv. 29-30)
29 I know that after my departure fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock;
30 and from among your own selves will arise men speaking twisted things, to draw away the disciples after them.
Wolves will enter into the church and try to tear it apart. They are even going to find themselves into the elder body. We find out later in 1 Timothy that that is exactly what was happening as Timothy was having to deal with false teachers.
How do we protect our flock from wolves and how to we protect the integrity of the elder body. We have to use weapons. And there is no other greater weapon than the Word of God.
12 For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.
The sharp two-edged sword of the Word of God is without a dull book, a blunt chapter, or a flat verse. -Steven Lawson
The sharp two-edged sword of the Word of God is without a dull book, a blunt chapter, or a flat verse. -Steven Lawson
This is why Paul says that the elder must be able to teach ().
English Standard Version Chapter 1
9 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.
9 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.
We must protect the teaching of the church. That’s why we use confessions, to clarify what we believe and why. Most people get led away into destruction because they don’t know what they believe. And, if they know what they believe, they don’t know why. Just because there pastor said it was true is not enough.
We should be like the Bereans who Paul said listened to him and then went and test what he said with the word of God.
C. Equip Others with the God’s Word (vv. 31-32)
C. Equip Others with the God’s Word (vv. 31-32)
31 Therefore be alert, remembering that for three years I did not cease night or day to admonish every one with tears.
32 And now I commend you to God and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance among all those who are sanctified.
And so I commend you to the word of God as we seek to build a God glorifying church. We should base our leadership structure on God’s word to build a strong church.
We should base our lives on God’s word, if we want our lives to have real meaning and enjoy lives drenched in God’s grace.
We love our spouses based on God’s Word. We raise our kids based on God’s word. And we rest in the hope of eternal life based on God’s word.
Jesus said that a life built on God’s word was built on the rock. Everything else is just shifting sand.
The Bible will keep you from sin, or sin will keep you from the Bible.- D. L. Moody
The Bible will keep you from sin, or sin will keep you from the Bible.- D. L. Moody
A life of holiness is built on God’s word. Our elders help ensure we are people of the word, building our lives and others with the word.