Greg Chandler
01/15/15
Any man interested in the spiritual work of shepherding a local church will do well to listen to Paul’s words to the Ephesian elders. Their last meeting with Paul could have been marked by nostalgic reflections, yet Paul saw this as an occasion to remind them of the work at hand. Consider his sober words to these shepherds in Ephesus (Acts 20:28-32).
Pay Careful Attention To Yourselves And To All The Flock
Self-examination is an important part of good health. When physical problems begin to arise, the wise will seek medical help immediately so that a small concern does not grow into a major crisis. Paul admonished the elders to first spiritually examine themselves. Appointment as an elder does not make a man immune from temptation nor spiritual failing. To maintain his strength, he must make sure that the qualities that qualified him to become an elder are still strong and growing. Elders do well to regularly read Paul’s instructions regarding elders as given to Timothy and Titus (I Timothy 3/Titus 1). This is a reminder of the caliber of man God expects to lead churches and an admonisher to continually grow in these qualities.
In their role as shepherds, elders are also told to pay careful attention to the flock. A shepherd would certainly be watchful if one of his sheep developed a sickness. Not only could this cost the life of the sheep, it could also easily spread to the rest of the flock. On several occasions, Paul warned of this very thing occurring in local churches. Paul admonished the problem-riddled church at Corinth due to their failure to deal with wrong. Because they ignored a clear case of spiritual immorality, the Apostle wrote, “Your boasting is not good. Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump?” (I Corinthians 5:6). To the elders at Ephesus he warned, “And from among your own selves will arise men speaking twisted things, to draw away the disciples after them” (Acts 20:30). In paying careful attention to the flock, elders make sure that sinful behavior in members is dealt with for their own protection and the protection of the congregation. They make sure that preaching both in the pulpit and classroom is solidly tethered to the Word of God. In so doing, elders help to strengthen the spirituality of the congregation and prevent problems from growing to epidemic proportions.
Care For The Church Of God
Sadly, many churches view the eldership as more of a board of directors. These men are expected to make rather impersonal decisions such as caring for the church building, paying the bills, and the like. This is a far cry from the picture God lays down for an eldership. The bond between sheep and shepherd is used by Jesus Himself to illustrate the care He has for His own. He stated, “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. He who is a hired hand and not a shepherd, who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming, and leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. He flees because he is hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep” (John 10:11-13). Elders and the church they shepherd must have a similar bond. There must be mutual love and concern as the eldership seeks to encourage spiritual growth in each member. Members, in turn, must not resist these efforts, but rather love the elders for the care they show. Spiritual sickness and spiritual wounds are a top priority of a caring eldership. They seek the best interest of every member and do all within their power to make sure the very best care is shown.
Be Alert
A shepherd is always on guard for elements that would seek to harm his flock. The same must be true for elders. In keeping with his analogy, Paul described false teachers as wolves that will come in, not sparing the flock. Throughout the Bible, God continually warns against the dangers of false teaching. Whether in the days of ancient Israel or in the days of Christianity, the impact is the same; people are led away from the truth of God. This may sometimes require going against eloquent and well-liked orators who have parted ways with God’s standard. This was the case with the prophet Jeremiah. While he was told to preach of a coming seventy year captivity, his false counterparts proclaimed that no captivity would come. Even as Babylonian troops proved them wrong, they quickly changed their story to a short captivity of two years. Their message resonated well with a people willing to exchange truth for a more pleasant teaching. Such men still abound. Though the standing of false teachers may be high with some, elders must not fear the consequences of boldly standing for the truth. Alertness on the part of the eldership will prevent such false teachings from becoming entwined within the congregation, leading to the spiritual death of some of its members. Instead, the danger is stamped out in short order.
Conclusion
The U.S. Peace Corps once boasted, “It is the toughest job you will ever love.” Perhaps the same could be said for elders. Though placed in difficult circumstances, godly men commit themselves to helping a church grow in grace and aid each member on the road to Heaven. Paul certainly understood the difficulties involved and offered these admonitions to help the Ephesian elders carry out their work effectively. May each man who commits himself to this noble work do so with the sobriety found within the words of the Apostle.