Elders: Servant Leaders

Four Responsibilities of Elders:

1. Lead under the authority of Christ.

“When they had appointed elders for them in every church and prayed with fasting, they committed them to the Lord in whom they had believed.”
Acts 14:23

“Be on guard for yourselves and for all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has appointed you as overseers, to shepherd the church of God, which he purchased with his own blood.”
Acts 20:28

• Elders belong to the church and are appointed by the Spirit of God.
• The church belongs to Christ and elders are accountable to the Son of God.

2. Care for the body of Christ.

“I know that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock.”
Acts 20:29

“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; not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock.”
1 Peter 5:2-3

• Nurture the body of Christ
• Protect the body of Christ

3. Teach the Word of Christ.

“And now I commit you to God and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up and to give you an inheritance among all who are sanctified.”
Acts 20:32

“Holding to the faithful message as taught, so that he will be able both to encourage with sound teaching and to refute those who contradict it.”
Titus 1:9

• Know the Word extensively.
• Communicate the Word effectively.

4. Model the character of Christ.

“An overseer, therefore, must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, self-controlled, sensible, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not an excessive drinker, not a bully but gentle, not quarrelsome, not greedy. He must manage his own household competently and have his children under control with all dignity. (If anyone does not know how to manage his own household, how will he take care of God’s church?) He must not be a new convert, or he might become conceited and incur the same condemnation as the devil. Furthermore, he must have a good reputation among outsiders, so that he does not fall into disgrace and the devil’s trap.”
1 Timothy 3:2-7

Bottom Line: In order to display the glory of Christ, the church appoints and follows servant leaders who are wholeheartedly committed to accomplishing the mission of Christ.