Good morning everyone! Thanks for so faithfully joining us online. Time feels like it’s just flying by. Next week, we will conclude our Stand Firm series by looking at one of the starkest warnings found in all of Scripture. This morning, we’re going to look briefly at the Characteristics and Responsibilities of Church Elders.
Before we do, I want to challenge your faith. Over the past few months we’ve paid down our parking loan from well over $100,000 to just over $50,000. It would be utterly amazing if we could decimate this bank note by year-end. Everything given to VISION achieves our goal. If you would like to make a stock gift, or another kind of special gift, tell us on the Check-In form and we’ll contact you.
As you know, our church is called “Lakeside Christian Church.” Yet many of you are new to the “Christian Church.” Historically, our church has been part of something called “The Restoration Movement.” The goal of our movement has been to restore Christ’s sole authority over the church, as expressed through the New Testament, as preached by the Apostles, as practiced by the first Christians (The early Church). We are an “Independent” Christian Church. We are not part of any denomination, national or otherwise. We freely associate with a brotherhood and sisterhood of like-minded Christians, and Churches, and Bible Colleges (Like Lincoln Christian University). We have no creed but Christ. No book but the Bible.
In the New Testament, churches were led by teams of Elders. In 1 Peter 5:1-5, Peter appeals to a team of Elders to shepherd well. It is true that Jesus Christ is the head of the church. Back in 1 Peter 2:25 (CSB) Peter refers to Jesus as “The “Chief Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.” And now here also in 1 Peter 5:4 he uses the same language. Yet when it comes to the local church, Christ has appointed Elders to lead and shepherd. The Elders are accountable to the church, but more gravely, they are accountable to Christ Jesus himself.
Let’s first consider Four Characteristics of Elder Teams. In 1 Peter 5:1 (CSB) Peter says, “I exhort the elders among you as a fellow elder and witness to the sufferings of Christ, as well as one who shares in the glory about to be revealed.” Four takeaways...
First, Elder teams must be “Teachable.”
Church attendees possess a great diversity of beliefs and opinions, not unlike what you find in the world. When you become a member of Lakeside, you agree to pursue unity. A common slogan in our movement is that: “In matters of faith, we seek unity; in matters of opinion, liberty; and in all things, love.” But when you become a leader of Lakeside, the standard is doctrinal purity. No single leader is above correction. Once the Apostle Paul rebuked Peter to his face! Elders must “exhort” and “be exhort-able.”
Second, Elder Teams are a “Plurality.”
Peter addresses them as “Elders.” What does Ecclesiastes 4:12 (CSB)say? “A cord of three strands is not easily broken.” If Jesus needed Peter, James, and John to keep watch and pray with him in his hour of trial, how much more do we? The devil might be able to get one man over a barrel, but he doesn’t easily get three or four godly men over a barrel.
Third, Elder Teams have “Mutuality.”
Notice Peter appeals to them as a “fellow elder” himself. In an Elder team the only “chief” is Christ Jesus. As an Apostle, think of the recognition and prominence Peter must have had. He could have pulled rank on any Elder in any of these churches he’s writing to. But there isn’t a hierarchy or rank… the hierarchy is flattened. At Lakeside, you might assume I’m some kind of “chief.” But I am just one, subject to a team of Elder equals.
Fourth, Elder Teams are “Sojourners.”
Sojourners are not just fellow travelers, they are temporarily fellow travelers, they are fellow aliens and strangers passing through together. Peter says he is both a, “. . .witness to the sufferings of Christ, as well as one who shares in the glory about to be revealed.” Elders serve at the pleasure of God, giving witness to Christ’s sufferings. Elders give witness to Christ’s sufferings by point people to the cross. But Elders also give witness to Christ’s sufferings by taking up their cross. In the end however, the Elder longs to share in the glory that’s to be revealed on the day of Christ Jesus. The Elder lives in light of ultimate things (God’s Glory), not temporary or momentary things. Every Elder is going somewhere worthwhile, following Jesus. If an Elder isn’t following Jesus it’s the duty of other Elders to correct and exhort him.
I want to tell you that our Elder team exudes these characteristics. I consider it such a great honor, and great pleasure, to sometimes lead, but most often “be led” by Lakeside’s Elders.
Now let’s drill down a little more specifically and talk about the Characteristics and Responsibilities of Individual Elders. Let’s break 1 Peter 5:2-5 down phrase by phrase.
First, An Elder Shepherds the Flock.
1 Peter 5:2 (CSB), Peter exhorts, “Shepherd God’s flock among you. . .” There had long existed this tension between shepherding the flock (the 99) and shepherding individual lambs (the one). We’re all familiar with Jesus parable of the good shepherd leaving the 99 to search for the little one that was lost. But let me assure you, a good shepherd wouldn’t leave the 99 in total jeopardy just to save one. The Elder must see to both priorities—caring for the flock, while also caring for lambs. The work must be shared, distributed, managed.
God appointed Moses as shepherd over Israel—it was terrifically burdensome. If you’ve pastored, the needs of just “one tiny lamb,” chasing them through the hillside, can thoroughly exhaust you! Moses’ Father-in-Law Jethro taught him to appoint shepherds of tens, fifties, hundreds, and thousands. Not all leaders have the same capacity. Some can barely lead themselves, much less one or a few others. But in the church we need the whole spectrum. Shepherds that can pursue the 1, lead the group of 10, teach class of 30-50, manage a ministry of 100s, build a church of 1,000, or a build a movement of 1,000(s)!
Second, An Elder Shepherds Willingly and Eagerly.
1 Peter 5:2 (CSB), “Shepherd God’s flock among you, not overseeing out of compulsion but willingly, as God would have you; not out of greed for money but eagerly;” Yes, there can (and have always been) “paid” Elders. I am a paid Elder. But the rest of our Elders are “paying” Elders who occupationally earn a living but vocationally answer Christ’s call to serve. In 2 Peter, the Apostle goes hard after leaders motivated/greedy for selfish gain. In the gospels, Jesus goes hard after shepherds who possess a “hired hand” mentality. When trouble arises, the hired hand runs for the hills and abandons the flock. The true shepherd remains faithful.
I’m very proud to say that every one of Lakeside’s Elders is an eager and willing servant. Sometimes duty demands extra meetings, long hours, or some excruciating price be paid. Our Elders always stand in the gap. The most excruciating price Elders often pay isn’t in time, nor is it material or monetary. The greatest price is often personal and relational. The Elder has to say and do the hard things most other men run from. Exhortation. Rebuke. Church Discipline. Most would say no thanks. But our Elders eagerly do hard things, it’s so refreshing.
Third, An Elder Shepherds Genuinely.
1 Peter 5:3 (CSB), “. . .not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock.” Being an Elder isn’t some kind of power trip.
Peter is surely thinking of Jesus’ words in Matthew 20:25-28 (CSB), “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and those in high positions act as tyrants over them. 26 It must not be like that among you. On the contrary, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, 27 and whoever wants to be first among you must be your slave; 28 just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
Paul says in Romans 12:10 (CSB)if we’re going to outdo one another, it ought to be in "loving" and "honoring" one another! Not in pulling rank, but in setting example of love and service. Such is the mindset of the godly leader.
Fourth, An Elder Shepherds Accountably.
In 1 Peter 5:4 (CSB) Peter says, “And when the chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory.”
I want to come back to something I said earlier. The greatest sacrifice an Elder, pastor, minister makes is personal and relational. When I walk around Springfield, there are people who are angry at me, some who avoid me, some who will never speak to me again, even a few who hate me. So often, Christ’s interests are diametrically opposed to someone’s personal interests. It doesn’t matter how hard you try to “speak the truth in love.” If people hate the truth, or don’t want to accept the implications of the truth, it doesn’t matter how loving or softly you try to say it.
I try to remember what Jesus said in Luke 10:16 (CSB), “Whoever listens to you listens to me. Whoever rejects you rejects me. And whoever rejects me rejects the one who sent me.” It’s true, people aren’t rejecting me. The Shepherd must learn to differentiate between himself and his role. My “role” is to shepherd, its to do hard things no matter the cost. But my “identity” is that I belong to Christ. He accepts me. He loves me. The more rooted a leader’s identity in Christ becomes the more greater the cross they can bear.
Once in Matthew 19:27 (CSB) Peter lamented, “See [LORD], we have left everything and followed you. So what will there be for us?” But what did Jesus say? Matthew 19:28-29 (CSB), “Truly I tell you, in the renewal of all things, when the Son of Man sits on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or fields because of my name will receive a hundred times more and will inherit eternal life.” The Chief Shepherd will appear. Lead in light of that reality!
Fifth, An Elder Shepherds Humbly & Authoritatively.
1 Peter 5:5 (CSB), “In the same way, you who are younger, be subject to the elders. All of you clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because 'God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble."
We have all known church leaders who have been spiritually abusive, proud, arrogant. I’ve known a far greater number of leaders to be spiritually passive—refusing to humbly exercise, command, shepherd, direct, lead—with the authority they’ve legitimately been given by Christ! Authoritative leadership doesn’t have to be “authoritarian.” But authoritative leader can and should be humble and gracious. If the Elders of a church has all these other characteristics, you shouldn’t think twice about being subject to their authority.
*Lakeside is blessed with 1 Peter 5 Elders—we’d all do well if as a Church, followed, honored, and respected these leaders.