God’s People, God’s Design:
God has empowered His people through the atoning work of Christ to take on their God-given mantle in being priest/kings—i.e., image bearers—over the created world (for more click here). Simultaneously, the gathering of the saints under the cloak of the church formulates the new covenant temple which hosts God’s presence through the indwelling power of His Spirit.[1] The people of God, then, are empowered by the Spirit of God to magnify and image forth the Creator God. The church lives as the community of the kingdom administering His presence through the proclamation of the Gospel.[2]
However, within the covenant community God has structured an authority system that is designed to provide sharpening, refinement, and distillment. Though the congregation collectively has final authority (for more click here), there is oversight built into the fabric of the community that ensures growth and accountability.[3] That is to say, God has given the church elders and deacons as overseers—i.e., soul watchers (for more click here)—for the good of the church and the purification of her witness.
Therefore, what is an elder? What is his duty? By what standard are we—the church—to hold him accountable to the office of elder?
The Work of an Elder:
The aim of this blog will be to articulate the responsibilities of an elder. I want to provide practical markers that will assist in helping the people of God to discern the fidelity and vitality of the elder and his flock—the church. In saying this, we will examine four central markers: (1) the elder as exemplar, (2) the elder as teacher, (3) the elder as intercessor, and (4) the elder as shepherd.
An Exemplar. In 1 Peter 5:3 the Apostle Peter describes one of the essential qualities of a faithful elder as that of “being [an example] to the flock.” This shouldn’t surprise us because the prerequisite to the office itself is tied to godly character; that is, the indispensable criterion for eldership is an ongoing evidential godliness (1 Tim. 3:1-7; Titus 1:5-16). This godly character, then, does not terminate upon itself. Rather, this godliness is one that can say with the upmost confidence and, simultaneously, with the deepest sense of humility: “Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ” (1 Cor. 11:1).
To this end, Thomas R. Schreiner asserts, “What it means fundamentally to be an elder is to teach in accord with orthodoxy, to counter false teaching, and to live in a way that pleases God.”[4] Or simply put, an elder’s role is to model an ongoing faithfulness, integrity, and steadfastness toward conformity into the image of Christ.
A Teacher. An elder’s teaching ministry is intrinsically linked to his lifestyle and vice versa. If an elder is to be an exemplar of the faith, this precedence must be fuel by his devotion in meditating upon the truth of the Gospel and dispersing that truth in word and deed (cf. 1 Jn. 3:18). As Paul contends in 1 Timothy 4:16 (italics mine), “Keep a close watch on yourself and on the teaching. Persist in this, for by so doing you will save both yourself and your hearers.” To this end, teaching is no small matter when it pertains to the office of elder.[5] By being steadfast in the relaying of biblical orthodoxy, “you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus, being trained in the words of the faith and of the good doctrine that you have followed” (1 Tim. 4:6b; italics mine). Teaching, then, is part and parcel to the work of shepherding the flock as an elder (cf. Eph. 4:11; 1 Tim. 3:2; 5:17; Titus 1:9).
Furthermore, teaching is one of the markers—if not the marker—that differentiates elders and deacons. Meaning, the elders have been uniquely given to wash the body through the Word (cf. Eph. 5:26). An elder, then, must be able to teach (cf. 1 Tim. 3:2; Titus 1:9). Their authority to direct, guide, and position the church toward biblical fidelity is intrinsically tied to their faithfulness in persuading the flock through sound exegetical reasoning. Alex Strauch articulates it by saying, “The elders protect, guide, lead, nourish, comfort, educate, and heal the flock by teaching and preaching the Word.”[6] Simply put, elders provide regular teaching, preaching, and learning sessions—since disciples are learners of Christ—for the covenant community of saints.
An Intercessor. In James 5:14, it is encouraged for those marred by sickness or despair to “call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the Name of the Lord.” Additionally, the apostles were not willing to leave their ministry to wait on tables (thus, the ministry of deacons were formed). The Apostle Peter states, “It is not right that we should give up preaching the Word of God to serve tables. . . . But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the Word” (Acts 6:2b, 4; italics mine). Elders, then, are called to the spiritual nurturing of the flock. This is not only built upon the preaching/teaching of the Word, but it is marked by intercessory prayer. The leadership of the elders is a reliance upon the power of God—a power that is channeled through the Word and prayer.[7]
Simply put, one of the major duties of an elder is to intercede on behalf of the flock; that is, to ask the covenantal Lord to bring about faith, nourishment, encouragement, fidelity, and transformation for the sheep.[8] Without the presence of God, our efforts are in vain (Ex. 33:15; Ps. 127:1-2; cf. 1 Cor. 15:58)
A Shepherd. Though the Greek terms for elder (Gk. presbuteros), pastor (Gk. poimēn), and overseer (Gk. episkopos) point to the same office and function, these descriptors depict for us images of the work that is to be done through this God-ordained office—shepherding.[9] Elders, then, are to shepherd the flock of Christ; meaning, they are to give oversight for the flourishment, growth, and vitality of the people of God (1 Pet. 5:1-2). Or practically speaking, elders teach and counsel in such a way as to lead the people of God toward greater faithfulness in imaging Christ.
Consequently, the elders “are responsible,” according to Andreas J. Köstenberger, “to carry on the activities of the Chief Shepherd and must give an account for how well they performed their shepherding duties.”[10] Marriages are fortified through ongoing shepherding. Addictions are confronted and addressed through shepherding. Renewal of minds are formed through shepherding. Shepherding, then, presupposes and assumes an intimacy level with the flock that moves beyond surface level knowledge and toward greater confidential awareness of the flock for their spiritual betterment.
Simply put, elders shepherd the people of God toward conformity to God for the glory of God.
Shepherding through the Shepherd:
The duty and task of an elder is not merely a vocational endeavor. Rather, the nature and function of an elder is commissioned by the establishment of the Redeemer in representing His ongoing work through His bride (for more click here). “The fourth evangelist conceived of the mission of the Christian community," Köstenberger contends, "as ultimately the mission of the exalted Jesus carried out through His followers.”[11] Thus, the pastoring and shepherding of God’s people is not a small endeavor. It has eternal consequences. Or as the Scriptures warn, “Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness” (Jas. 3:1).
With that being said, may the elders of any and every local church take heed to the gravitas that is coupled within the office of the elders. It is a task that should not be taken lightly. It is a mantle marked with privilege in warding off ferocious wolves and battling ravenous prey to safe-keep the flock of Christ (for more click here). Shepherding, then, is a responsibility that should draw its participants to their knees in an ever dependence upon His grace in providing the strength for local church Gospel ministry (Col. 1:29). May the grit and sacrifice done amid the office of the elders bring glory, honor, and praise to the great Shepherd of the sheep Himself—Christ Jesus our Lord (Heb. 13:20). Soli Deo Gloria!
***footnotes***
[1] See Beale, G. K. The Temple and the Church’s Mission: A Biblical Theology of the Dwelling Place of God. New Studies in Biblical Theology. Downers Grove, IL: IVP, 2004.
[2] See Mark E. Dever, “The Priesthood of All Believers: Reconsidering Every-Member Ministry” in The Compromised Church: The Present Evangelical Crisis, ed. John H. Armstrong (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Books, 1998), 85-116.
[3] See Leeman, Jonathan. Don’t Fire Your Church Members: The Case for Congregationalism. Nashville, TN: B&H Academic, 2016. See also Dever, Mark. The Church: The Gospel Made Visible. Nashville, TN: B&H Academic, 2012.
[4] Thomas R. Schreiner, “Overseeing and Serving the Church in the Pastoral and General Epistles” in Shepherding God’s Flock: Biblical Leadership in the New Testament and Beyond, ed. Benjamin L. Merkle and Thomas R. Schreiner (Grand Rapids, MI: Kregel Ministry, 2014), 92. Italics mine
[5] See Boersma, Hans. Scripture as Real Presence: Sacramental Exegesis in the Early Church. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 2017. See also Dever, Mark and Greg Gilbert. Preach: Theology Meets Practice. Nashville, TN: B&H Publishing Group, 2012. Kuruvilla, Abraham. A Vision for Preaching: Understanding the Heart of Pastoral Ministry. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 2015.
[6] Alex Strauch, Biblical Eldership: An Urgent Call to Restore Biblical Church Leadership, revised and expanded ed. (Littleton, CO: Lewis & Roth Publishers, 2016), 23-24.
[7] See Timothy Keller, Prayer: Experiencing Awe and Intimacy with God (New York, NY: Dutton, 2014), 9-18.
[8] See Mark Dever and Paul Alexander, How to Build a Healthy Church: A Practical Guide for Deliberate Leadership, 9Marks (Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2021), 44-46.
[9] Benjamin L. Merkle, “The Scriptural Basis for Elders” in Baptist Foundations: Church Government for an Anti-Institutional Age, ed. Mark Dever and Jonathan Leeman (Nashville, TN: B&H Academic, 2015), 246.
[10] Andreas J. Köstenberger, “Shepherds and Shepherding in the Gospels” in Shepherding God’s Flock: Biblical Leadership in the New Testament and Beyond, ed. Benjamin L. Merkle and Thomas R. Schreiner (Grand Rapids, MI: Kregel Ministry, 2014), 53.
[11] Andreas J. Köstenberger, The Mission of Jesus and the Disciples According to the Fourth Gospel: With Implications for the Fourth Gospel’s Purpose and the Mission of the Contemporary Church (Grand Rapids, MI: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1998), 210.
McYoung Y. Yang (MDiv, SBTS; ThM, MBTS) is the husband to Debbie and a father to their four children. He is a Pastor of Preaching/Teaching at Covenant City Church in St. Paul, MN and the Executive Editor of Covenant City Church Content Team. Along with his ministerial duties, he is a homeschool dad. McYoung is continuing his doctoral studies at Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Kansas City, MO, and his ambition is to use his training as a means to serve the local church in living life through the Gospel lens.
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