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Introduction:
Last week, we talked about shepherds
from Psalm
23 and learned the shepherd’s role in the congregation
is to lead, feed, protect and restore the sheep. I hope you’ll
take that as a goal for personal growth whether you are an elder
or not. This week, however, I think we should balance that by
taking a look at the sheep. After all, while the shepherds have
some pretty significant responsibilities, the sheep have
responsibilities as well. A few months ago, I was able to sit at
the feet of Bill Hall at the Lanton congregation’s monthly
men’s study. He ended his session on the eldership with a list
of statements we as sheep in the congregation should say to our
shepherds. I want to share those with you.
To be honest with you, I fear we sometimes get out of
balance on things. You all know I agree that each and every one of
us needs to study, develop our own faith and pursue righteousness
on our own. We won’t go to heaven on our shepherds’ faith and
righteousness (cf. Ezekiel
14:14, 20). I also know elders can be wrong sometimes and
may need to be rebuked before all (cf. I
Timothy 5:20). However, I fear we have taken this
individuality and this responsibility to hold even shepherds
accountable to God’s word to such an extreme that we forget we
are the sheep and they are the shepherds. This doesn’t mean we
never talk with them about issues. It doesn’t mean we never
voice concerns to them about where we think they may be missing
something. But it does mean they are the shepherds and we are not.
We need to remember that the sheep’s job is not to lead the
shepherds, but vice versa. So, what are we saying or what ought we
to be saying when we select men as elders or become part of a
congregation that already has shepherds? Discussion: I.
“We’re selecting you as overseers and we’re willing
to place ourselves under you.” A.
In I
Timothy 3:1 and Titus 1:7, Paul called the elders
overseers (some translations use “bishop”). The word
translates “episkopos,”
which literally means a watcher over. This is a word picture that
literally presents something I experienced in high school. I was
in marching band. When we were being taught how to march and when
we were marching, our instructor and our drum major actually got
up in a small tower and oversaw us. They got above us and looked
down to where we were so they could actually see what we were
doing and correct us when we needed it. They were over seers. B.
However, if shepherds are the overseers, we are the watched
who are under. If we are going to appoint men as bishops and
overseers, we are agreeing to allow them to watch us. We are
agreeing to submit to their watchful eyes. We are agreeing to
submit under them. C.
Acts
20:28
says the shepherds are to pay careful attention to us because the
Holy Spirit has made them overseers. We need to think about that
for just a moment. Paul did not say the congregation made them
overseers. He said the Holy Spirit did. I recognize this happened
through growth in the revelation of the Holy Spirit, but we need
to back up for a minute and recognize that the shepherds are not
subject to our oversight. They don’t have to turn to us for
approval of their shepherding. We are under them because God made
them shepherds. If you can’t submit to an eldership, you go to
one you can. Once you agree to submit to them, then do so. II.
“We’re choosing you to be our shepherds and we’ll
follow you as long as you lead where the Chief Shepherd leads.” A.
John
10:3-4
presents an amazing picture of shepherding. The sheep hear the
voice of their shepherd and then they follow him. That is true
with our Chief Shepherd Jesus, but that is also true with our
congregational shepherds. When we hear their voice, we need to
follow. Certainly, some churches have a problem of shepherds who
don’t actually lead. But for each of these, there are also sheep
who simply won’t follow. They dig their little hooves into the
earth and buck against the authority of the shepherds. They decide
that they know better than the shepherds and simply won’t go
where the shepherds lead. Sometimes they demonstrate a kind of
“I’ll show you” attitude. Of course, almost always they’ll
throw out some kind of Bible verse to say why they don’t have to
submit to the shepherds. B.
Obviously, there are exceptions. Clearly, our shepherds are
to submit to the chief Shepherd (I
Peter 5:4). We know Acts
5:29, we must obey God rather than men. If our shepherds
start to lead in a direction contrary to the chief Shepherd, we
must not follow. But, please understand there is a big difference
between leading in a direction contrary to the chief Shepherd and
simply not going where we want them to go. C.
For instance, I remember once having lunch with an elder
from another congregation. While together, he received a phone
call about one of the teachers who had decided he didn’t like
the part of the curriculum he was supposed to teach for the junior
high class so he was going to teach what he wanted. I listened as
the elder responded that the brother was not obligated to teach a
class. If he didn’t want to teach that material, he didn’t
have to teach. But if he was going to teach he would teach the
curriculum selected. This was a case of a sheep not wanting to
follow, not because the sheep believed the shepherds were going
against the chief Shepherd, but just because the sheep didn’t
like the shepherds’ choice. We need to remember, we are the
sheep. The shepherd’s job is to lead; ours is to follow. III.
“We will not listen to an accusation against you except
by the mouth of 2 or 3 witnesses.” A.
I
Timothy 5:19
says we are not to admit, receive or listen to an accusation
against an elder accept on the basis of two or three witnesses. Of
course, this passage is actually written to Timothy as an
evangelist. As an evangelist myself, I can tell you I know why.
Sadly, there is too much politicking in churches these days. This
really happens when an evangelist moves to a congregation. The
different parties and cliques, especially those groups of sheep
that don’t want to follow the elders or at least one of the
elders, start vying for the evangelist’s ear. That is sad and
unscriptural. I am commanded not to receive an accusation against
an elder accept on the basis of two or three witnesses. So, unless
you’ve got you and two other folks with you who witnessed the
sin, not just those that believe you when you say you witnessed
it, then don’t even bring it to me. I will not admit, receive or
listen to it. B.
While this statement is directly made to Timothy as an
evangelist, the principle applies across the board for all of us.
When we select shepherds, we’re saying we will not listen to
gossip about them. We will not receive that. This doesn’t mean
we’ll go ahead and hear and then decide not to do anything with
it. We won’t even receive it. We won’t accept it. We won’t
listen to it. C.
Yes, if there are 2 or 3 witnesses we may then go to the
shepherd. If the report is true and the shepherd persists in the
sin, refusing to repent, we must rebuke him before the entire
congregation (I
Timothy 5:20). However, we shouldn’t even listen to the
accusation if it comes from only one source. IV.
“You can count on us to cooperate with you in anything
that is lawful.” A.
According to Ephesians
4:11, God gave us pastors to equip us for the work of
ministry. Their job is to build us up and provide us with training
so we can minister to one another and minister the gospel to the
world. That means each and every one of us is part of the work
here. Our shepherds lead us, they challenge us, they equip us to
work. That means we have a responsibility to work. By selecting
men as shepherds, we are agreeing to cooperate in the work they
establish for us. B.
Allow me to share with you one of the great causes of
discouragement for elderships everywhere. I’ve heard more than
one elder sadly ask, “Why doesn’t anyone ever want to meet
with us to ask what they can do for the work here? Why is it
always because they are trying to express something they don’t
like?” Certainly, there is an appropriate time to share with the
elders concerns you have regarding the congregation. But why not
be a joy to the elders as well and instead of coming to them to
straighten them out or express dislike, why not come volunteering
to work and help move the congregation in a positive direction. V.
“We will conduct ourselves so you can do your work with
joy and not with groaning.” A.
Hebrews
13:17
says we need to remember our shepherds are watching over us
because they have to give an account of us when they stand before
God in judgment. Their responsibility is to be ever watchful. Ours
is to let them do this with joy and not with groaning. We are to
make it as easy for them as possible and as joyous. B.
We do this by working on our own growth instead of waiting
to be pushed and challenged. We do this by cooperating as we noted
in the last point. We do this by following God’s will. We do
this by listening when the elders speak and following where they
lead. We do this by submitting and not challenging their
authority. We need to make their leadership as easy as possible. VI.
“We will pray for you and be understanding as you grow in
your work of shepherding.” A.
Sadly, some sheep can’t seem to respect the shepherds
unless they are perfect. They pick apart every little thing the
shepherds do acting as if every little mistake makes the elder’s
qualification suspect. The fact is, even though the qualifications
demonstrate maturity (I
Timothy 3:1-7; Titus 1:5-9), even elders are not perfect.
They are growing just as we are. II
Peter 1:5-8 applies to shepherds as well as the sheep. B.
That means we need to be understanding as our shepherds
grow. We need to recognize they’ll make mistakes. Instead of
kicking them while they’re down, we need to pray for them. I’m
not aware of a passage that specifically commands us to pray for
our shepherds. Yet, when we consider Paul’s request for prayers
as an apostle, I think we can recognize our shepherds need our
prayers as well. We need to pray that God hold them up, that they
have courage and boldness, that they’ll have opportunity to
lead, that they’ll grow. We need to pray with and for our
shepherds. VII.
“If you need to talk to me about anything, I will agree
to talk and set up a suitable time to talk because I know that is
an integral part of your responsibility as a shepherd.” A.
Sheep are willing to go along, but when the shepherds come
calling, they often start packing their bags. We need to
understand that if shepherds are going to lead us, they’ve got
to know us. If shepherds are going to restore us, they’ve got to
talk to us. We must be willing to talk to them. If they call us up
and ask for a meeting, instead of blowing them off, we need to
work to meet with them. B.
This is really part of the earlier statements that say
we’re willing to submit to the elders and we will cooperate with
them. Let’s face it, if the elders’ job is to give sound
instruction (cf. Titus
1:9), then we need to be willing to receive that
instruction. When an elders starts calling you, don’t put it off
or run from it, get with them and receive the instruction they
have to offer. VIII.
“We do not want you to domineer us, but we will respect
you and the leadership you provide.” A.
Hebrews
13:7
says we are to remember those who lead us and those speak the word
of God to us. That is, we are to take note of them. Included in
this is the respect we should have for them because of the work
they do on our behalf. B.
This means we need to show respect in the way we speak to
our shepherds. It means we need to show respect in the way we
speak about our shepherds. It means we need to show respect in the
way we treat our shepherds. Even if we disagree, they are worthy
of respect for their work in the kingdom and in the local
congregation. C.
I
Timothy 5:17
says elders who rule well are worthy of double honor. We need to
honor our elders for their good rule even when we disagree with
them about something. Being a good elder doesn’t mean agreeing
with the sheep all the time. Conclusion: Sometimes I fear we appoint men as shepherds simply because we know we’re supposed to without considering what that means about the new relationship we have with those men. These are the things we are saying when we select men as elders or come into a congregation with elders and agree to be members. If we’re not able to say these things about our shepherds we need to change and grow, humbling ourselves and submitting to the shepherds the Holy Spirit has established over us.
Glory
to God in the church by Christ Jesus
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