Living Hope for Elders and Young Alike
Posted: April 30, 2023 Filed under: Church, Elders, Humility, Jesus, Leadership, Sermons, Submission, Young Leave a commentIf you were going to create a list of the people who you need most in your life, who would be on it? Family? Friends? Teachers? Coaches? Co-workers? Would you include Church Elders? The Bible does. Church Elders are gifts from God to us, His Church. They have walked longer with Jesus and are to be examples to you of how to live faithfully for God in a hostile world. The household of Christ has structure. Every organization – government, school, company, family and team has a structure. We may try to flatten organizational structure, but structure is needed for a household not to collapse. The household of Christ has structure. Jesus is the Head. And under Him in authority are the Elders. Bible teacher Tom Schreiner reminds us “The most common New Testament term for church leaders is not CEO, President, Director, Manager Pope, Bishop, Cardinal, Deacon or even pastor, it is Elder.”[1] Don’t think elderly or Elders are grown-up Deacons! Elders are to be spiritually mature, but Elder is not age-specific. Some younger men are spiritually mature and some older men are spiritually immature. If you want to know where you are on that continuum, ask yourself, “Am I an example of Jesus?” I dare say that God has used Elders in my life to be the closest thing to Jesus being physically here on earth. Let’s read about church Elders and our relationship to them from 1 Peter 5:1-5. If you don’t have a Bible, we would love to give you one. Read 1 Peter 5:1-5!
Elders and young alike are to be examples of Jesus. I’ll say that again: Elders and young alike are to be examples of Jesus. For some of us, that is a scary thought. You may think that this going to be a guilt-inducing sermon where you are not measuring up to Christ. However, recall how Peter started out his letter in 1:2 – grace and peace be multiplied to you. All the grace you and I need for not measuring up is ours in abundance. Confess your sin to Jesus right now and embrace the grace that Jesus constantly offers us. Then walk in your identity as born again elect exiles being examples of Jesus. Elders and young alike are to be examples of Jesus.
Peter was an example of Jesus, especially as he matured. We see this growth. Peter sees himself as an equal among the elders, not a superior, even though he knew Jesus personally and already identified himself as an apostle (1:1). Look again at 1 Peter 5:1-2, “So I exhort the elders among you, as a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, as well as partaker in the glory that is going to be revealed: shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight …” This verse is pregnant with meaning and is a directed message to Elders in verses 1-4 and then for the rest of the church in verse 5. Let me start with some definitions. “The terms ‘shepherd’ and ‘exercising oversight’ emphasize the function of Elder, while the title ‘elder’ focuses on the office.”[2] Many can be functioning as an Elder, fewer may hold the office at any given time. This is especially true since the New Testament teaches that Elders are to be men only as they give protective leadership to the family of God. Paul taught Timothy in 1 Timothy 2:12, “I do not permit a woman to teach or exercise authority over a man; rather, she is to remain quiet.” Paul goes on to say in listing the qualifications of an Elder in 1 Timothy 3:2, “The husband of one wife.” I say that with both clarity and compassion. Men are to provide protective leadership and serve their family and church family. They are to shepherd their families. Functioning as an Elder precedes being an official Elder. Elders are to manage their own household before managing God’s house (1 Timothy 3:5) If you aren’t shepherding people to the green pastures of God’s Word, you are probably not an Elder. True Elders shepherd whether they have the office or not. Such Elders lay down their lives for the sheep. They put their families and flock before themselves. When we elect Elders at Temple, it should never be a surprise because they have been functioning as an Elder for some time without the title. It should be a “no-brainer.” Bible teacher William Barclay once said, “The great characteristic of the shepherd is his selfless care and his sacrificial love for the sheep.”[3] Elders are to be examples of Jesus as He is the Good and Chief Shepherd. What is an Elder? An Elder shepherds and gives oversight to the church by leading, protecting, feeding and caring for the flock of God. Furthermore, The KJV translates 1 Peter 5:2, “Feed the flock of God.” “The word ‘feed’ means ‘shepherd or care.’”[4] “Shepherding should not be reduced to only preaching.”[5] I like what Dr. Rick Reed says about ministering (close up camera shot of my body) it requires vision for the mission, a shepherd heart, the Bible in one hand, a compass pointing north to God in the other as a leader, spiritual vitality on one foot and personal godly character on the other so both feet help the elder walk with God. Steve Adams taught us pastors, “If you are looking for the qualifications of an Elder, you shouldn’t start in 1 Timothy 3 and Titus 1. You should start in Galatians 5:22-23 and see if this man exhibits the fruit of the Spirit – love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.”[6] And remember that the fruit of the Spirit is concinnated – they all go together. One can’t just be joyful and not exhibit the rest of the fruit. Back to 1 Peter 5:2, Bible commentator Ramsey Michaels summarizes, “Elders must guide and shepherd their charges not for financial gain or ego satisfaction, but willingly and without complaint. Instead of taking on themselves more and more emergency powers, they must become examples of servanthood and humility to the entire flock of God.”[7] What is an Elder? A shepherd who oversees the flock.
Now that we have defined what is an Elder, let’s go back to our big idea. Elders and young alike are to be examples of Jesus. We need more Elders and young alike to be examples of Jesus. The late Steve Baxter, former pastor at Grandview, used to say, “A church will eventually look like their Elders.” He didn’t mean Elders’ physical characteristics, but their spiritual characteristics. Godliness happens by the combination of the Holy Spirit, human discipline, and osmosis – being close in community with one another. Are you wanting to be an example of Jesus? How can we be examples of Jesus? Let’s quickly walk through this passage to learn how to be examples of Jesus. I see five ways we can be examples of Jesus. The first isn’t fun, but fundamental. How can we be examples of Jesus? Painfully! (v. 1) Peter says in verse 1, “Therefore, I exhort the elders among you, as your fellow elder and witness of the sufferings of Christ.” Peter not only mentions that he is a fellow elder, but a witness of the sufferings of Christ. I do not believe Peter was talking only about Christ’s crucifixion since Peter Himself wasn’t there. Remember, he was a disciple of Christ who became a denier of Christ and then was restored being a disciple-maker for Christ. Certainly, Peter experienced some of the sufferings of Christ at Jesus’ arrest, but Peter was also thinking about the sufferings he experienced as a witness for Christ, not just an observer of Christ. The word “as” is supplied and modifies both the nouns “fellow elder” and “witness.”[8] This is important because to be an elder will involve some pain. It’s painful to see sheep you love and care for suffer. It’s painful to see sheep leave for another pen. It’s painful to have to stand up for the truth or make decisions for the group that may mean certain individuals do not go with you. Jesus experienced all these in caring for us as His flock, including the pain of us going astray. I might be doing a terrible job of recruiting new Elders, but maybe today some of you men today are being tapped on the shoulder by God to serve as a future Elder here at TBC. There is a leadership shortage in our church and in many churches across the land. If you respond to God’s call then understand: Choose to shepherd, choose to suffer. But also responding to God means being rewarded by God. Could there be anything better than helping people grow in their faith? How can we be examples of Jesus? Painfully! Are you suffering for Christ, which actually every believer will do if they follow the Suffering Saviour? You are being an example of Jesus.
How can we be examples of Jesus? Painfully and willingly. How can we be examples of Jesus? Willingly! (v. 2) Peter goes on in 1 Peter 5:2, “Shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you.” NOTE: Elders are to shepherd the flock God has entrusted to them, not a flock they are not entrusted with. Elders are to be among the sheep. This is why if you just follow a preacher on TV, the radio or on a podcast, they are really not your elders or pastors. You don’t really know them. And they surly do not know you! I have driven some celebrity pastors around and was very disappointed once they stepped from behind their pulpit as to their attitudes and actions. Instead, I commend our Elders to you because they are from among you and you get to know their lives. They are examples to you of Jesus. They care for you, not begrudgingly, but because they love you. Jesus was an example to us who voluntarily laid down His life for the sheep. In contrast, Jesus’ words in John 10:11, “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep.” Jesus’ martyrdom was for the redemption of those who caused His death. He served supremely. We are examples of Jesus when we willingly serve His flock.
But it isn’t just painfully and willingly we are examples of Jesus. How can we be examples of Jesus? Eagerly! (v. 2) Look again at verse 2, “Shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you; not for shameful gain, but eagerly.” There are days of difficulty, but almost every day, I wake up eager to get to church. This is true after coming home from vacation. God has given me a love for you and serve you. Even when there are challenges, I still have an eagerness to serve. Case in point. Back on February 25, Lori and I flew down to Florida to watch our college son Josiah play baseball. I have learned through the years that I need to get out of town to find rest and stop thinking about church. I eat, sleep and drink church because God has given me an eagerness for the ministry. So it was February and our Elders Council had been wrestling with how we should respond to the 2022 deficit. As we met with you at our Church Family Meetings, we knew that it would require greater obedience and generosity of God’s people. However, we wondered if we needed to do more? We had been praying about me going co-vocational. I was considering applying for a role that would serve the global church without having to move from Temple because I still feel very called to Cambridge. This way I could “keep the band together and do solo tour of ministry” while being a lesser burden to the church financially. Who would fault a father taking on another job to help provide for the family? I even had the sermon ready promising that though I made minimum wage, I would not give you my minimum. So Lori and I went down to Florida for rest, prayer and baseball. God ministered to me on that plane. Not only did I get to witness to a man who has become “dechurched,” but I watched a movie entitled “Faith Heist.”[9] Faith Heist will never win an Academy Award. It is rated 25 on Rotten Tomatoes. However, I believe that Faith Heist was created for me, if for nobody else. This cheesy movie had me laughing and lamenting. The pastor, Benjamin Wright, had invested funds unknowingly with a scam artist dealing in bit coin. The pastor took this very hard because he candidated with the slogan “Protect the Church at all costs!” (As an aside, many churches have become part of the Church Too movement because they thought it was their job to protect the church as an institution at all costs rather than the people.) Pastor Wright devised a plan to steal the money back from the thief and recruited members from the church to use their various skills and abilities to help get the money back by breaking into the thief’s highly secure office. Here is the spoiler alert: The solution wasn’t scheming: it was God’s providence and the Church Members. One of the lines that stood out to me was “invest in faith.” It is not a direct quote from the Bible, but God used it in my life when I had my own faith heist – my faith was stolen for a moment. I knew what our Guiding Principles stated in Boundary Principle 1.3, “With respect to actual financial activities, the Lead Pastor shall not allow the development of financial jeopardy, run a deficit for operational expenses…”(Emphasis added) I was taught by my father that if you want to shepherd like Jesus, you have to lay down your life for the sheep. You need to be a living sacrifice, not a dead one. How can we be examples of Jesus? Eagerly, but without trying to be the Messiah. He has already come and heaven is no longer taking more applications.
How can we be examples of Jesus? Painfully, willingly, eagerly and gently. How can we be examples of Jesus? Gently! (v. 3) Look what verse 3 declares, “not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock.” Church leaders must be gifted and gentle. “Human nature is such that for many people, prestige and power are even more attractive than money. Elders are not to be petty tyrants, but shepherd and be examples to the flock.”[10] There is no arch leader in the New Testament save Jesus. There is only one King and one Lord – Jesus. A good course correction in our generation is that leaders who abuse their power, lose their position. Abuse your power, lose your position. Elders are to be gentle as the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome. “Even admonitions should be gentle.”[11] Isn’t this what Jesus did and described Himself as? In Matthew 11:29 Jesus challenged us, “Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart and you will find rest for your souls.” I love Jesus has been gentle with me. It motivates me to be gentle with others. How can we be examples of Jesus? Gently!
While we are on Matthew 11:29 and thinking about Jesus being gentle, let’s not forget the other word Jesus uses to describe Himself – lowly. The King of kings was lowly. This leads us to our fifth way to be an example of Jesus. How can we be examples of Jesus? Painfully, willingly, eagerly, gently and humbly. How can we be examples of Jesus? Humbly. (v. 5) We already learned in verse 3 that elders can’t be large and in charge. They have to be gentle and humble. In verse 5, we see the call for humility now extended to the young and the rest of the church, “Likewise, you who are younger be subject to the elders. Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” When you get dressed in the morning, do you put on humility along with the armour of God? Or are you thinking about all you can accomplish? It’s tough. We all need this. I need this – HUMILITY. Remember, I told you that our Elders Council was prayerfully considering whether I should become co-vocational. The Elders thought it would be best for the church family, my family and for my long-term health not to try to give point leadership to both Temple and this other role. According to 1 Corinthians 9, tent-making for the sake of not letting money be a barrier to the gospel is allowed, but they reminded me that Paul didn’t do that for long and received financial support from other churches. I have learned not to run ahead of my Elders, but submit to them. As Dr. Rick Reed says, “God places Elders to work alongside Pastors for their direction, correction and protection.”[12]One thing I have always been puzzled about is why more people do not turn to their Elders for advice. I am not talking about control, but consultation. It’s strange to me that God has given you godly men who stand up here each week and you aren’t lined up asking questions like, “I am thinking about taking this job, what you do you think and can we pray about this?” Or I was thinking about buying this house or car, or dating this person or going on this mission trip or whatever piece of advice you need? These men are going to give an account for your soul (Hebrews 13:17), they love you and care for you. God has imbued them with His wisdom. I consult with them regularly on many things outside the scope of my ministry and into my personal life. I commend them to you. They are examples of Christ to you – free of charge. Jesus didn’t leave you without His examples. He Himself was example for you who suffered willingly, eagerly, gently and humbly.
And now, what do we get if we painfully, willingly, eagerly, gently, and humbly be examples of Jesus? Amazingly a crown of glory. As 1 Peter 5:4 promises, “And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory.”
[1] Thomas R. Schreiner, ESV Study Bible (Wheaton: Crossway, 2008), 2413.
[2] Schreiner, 2413.
[3] William Barclay, The Daily Study Bible (Toronto: G.R. Welch Co. Ltd., 1976), 266.
[4] Warren Wiersbe, The Bible Exposition Commentary – Volume 2 (Wheaton: Victor Books, 1989), 428.
[5] R.C.H. Lenski, The Interpretation of the Epistles of St. Peter, St. John and St. John (Columbus: Wartburg Press, 1945), 217.
[6] Steve Adams, “Next Level Preaching Cohort,” Temple Baptist Church, Cambridge, April 13, 2023.
[7] J. Ramsey Michaels, 1 Peter – Word Bible Commentary (Nashville: Thomas Publishers, Nashville, 1988), 291.
[8] Dr. Wayne Baxter explains, “It’s a Granville-Sharp construction, so ‘the fellow elder and witness’ are grouped together as a unified whole; so, it’s ‘fellow elder-witness,’ i.e., an elder-witness. I think the idea is that serving as an elder necessarily involves bearing witness (to/for Christ); as you serve as an elder you’re bearing witness.”
[9] You can find out more about the movie Faith Heist and watch the trailer at https://www.imdb.com/title/tt12939368/. Accessed April 16, 2023.
[10] Barclay, 266.
[11] Craig S. Keener, 1 Peter – A Commentary (Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2021), 353.
[12] Personal conversation with Rick Reed, April 14, 2023.
Commissional 