The Work of Church Leaders:

Shepherds (pastor) / Elders (council member/ senator) / Overseers

(bishop/president)
Background Assumptions: these three words are interchangeable terms for one leadership
office in the local church. All three terms are equated in 1 Peter 5 and Acts 20. 1 Timothy 3
equates overseer, manager, and teacher. Titus 1 equates elder, overseer, teacher, and
steward. 1 Timothy 5 equates elder and teacher. The early church began to acknowledge a
role called bishop / overseer that we might call a “Lead Pastor”. However, I believe this
quickly developed into an unhealthy hierarchy. The scripture commands teamwork and
plurality, yet often acknowledges a functional leader (first among equals). Throughout
church history, and protestant denominations, these tensions are worked out in different
ways. The leaders’ authority can be removed because of moral disqualifications or veering
from a Biblical gospel.

1)PRAY! (with the Word)

Acts 6:4 But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of
the word.”
Acts 13:1 Now there were in the church at Antioch prophets and
teachers, Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene,
Manaen a lifelong friend of Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. 2 While they
were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set
apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.”
3 Then after fasting and praying they laid their hands on them and sent
them off.
James 5:13 Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone
cheerful? Let him sing praise. 14 Is anyone among you sick? Let him call
for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him,
anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. 15 And the prayer of
faith will save the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up.
And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. 16 Therefore,
confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that
you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great
power as it is working. 17 Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and
he prayed…
Luke 11:8 I tell you, though he will not get up and give him anything
because he is his friend, yet because of his impudence he will rise and
give him whatever he needs. 9 And I tell you, ask, and it will be
given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened
to you. 10 For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds,
and to the one who knocks it will be opened. 11 What father among you, if
his son asks for a fish, will instead of a fish give him a serpent; 12 or if he
asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? 13 If you then, who are evil,
know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the
heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”

2) LEAD HUMBLY (WITH SUFFERING)

a.Shepherd with Gentleness and Holiness
1 Timothy 5:1 Do not rebuke an older man but encourage him as
you would a father, younger men as brothers, 2 older women as
mothers, younger women as sisters, in all purity.
2 Timothy 2:24 And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but
kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil, 25 correcting
his opponents with gentleness. God may perhaps grant them
repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth, 26 and they may come to
their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, after being captured
by him to do his will.
b.Practice Humble Teamwork with Other Elders
1 Peter 5:1 So I exhort the elders among you, as a fellow elder
and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, as well as a partaker in the glory
that is going to be revealed: 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; 3 not domineering
over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock. 4 And
when the chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of
glory. 5 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.” 6
Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so
that at the proper time he may exalt you, 7 casting all your anxieties
on him, because he cares for you. 8 Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your
adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to
devour. 9 Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of
suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the
world.
Acts 15:6 The apostles and the elders were gathered together to
consider this matter. 7 And after there had been much debate, Peter
stood up and said to them… 12 And all the assembly fell silent, and
they listened to Barnabas and Paul… 13 After they finished speaking,
James replied, “Brothers, listen to me… 22 Then it seemed good to
the apostles and the elders, with the whole church, to choose men
from among them and send them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas.
They sent Judas called Barsabbas, and Silas, leading men among the
brothers…
c. Humble Yourself Before All Authorities
1Peter 2:13 Be subject for the Lord’s sake to every human
institution, whether it be to the emperor as supreme, 14 or to
governors as sent by him to punish those who do evil and to
praise those who do good. 15 For this is the will of God, that by doing
good you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish people. 16 Live as
people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but
living as servants of God. 17 Honor everyone. Love the brotherhood.
Fear God. Honor the emperor.
 1Peter 2:18 Servants, be subject to your masters with all respect, not
only to the good and gentle but also to the unjust. 19 For this is a
gracious thing, when, mindful of God, one endures sorrows while
suffering unjustly. 20 For what credit is it if, when you sin and are
beaten for it, you endure? But if when you do good and suffer for it you
endure, this is a gracious thing in the sight of God. 21 For to this
you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving
you an example, so that you might follow in his steps. 22 He
committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth. 23 When he
was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did
not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who
judges justly.

3) PUBLICLY PROCLAIM THE GOSPEL & TEACH OBEDIENCE (WITH

SUFFERING)
2 Timothy 4:1 I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus,
who is to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his
kingdom: 2 preach the word; be ready in season and out of season;
reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and
teaching. 3 For the time is coming when people will not endure sound
teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves
teachers to suit their own passions, 4 and will turn away from
listening to the truth and wander off into myths. 5 As for you,
always be sober-minded, endure suffering, do the work of an
evangelist, fulfill your ministry.
Acts 20:17 Now from Miletus he sent to Ephesus and called the elders
of the church to come to him. 18 And when they came to him, he said to
them:
“You yourselves know how I lived among you the whole time from the
first day that I set foot in Asia, 19 serving the Lord with all humility and
with tears and with trials that happened to me through the plots of the
Jews; 20 how I did not shrink from declaring to you anything that was
profitable, and teaching you in public and from house to house, 21
testifying both to Jews and to Greeks of repentance toward God and
of faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. 22 And now, behold, I am going to
Jerusalem, constrained by the Spirit, not knowing what will happen to me
there, 23 except that the Holy Spirit testifies to me in every city that
imprisonment and afflictions await me. 24 But I do not account my life of
any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the
ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of
the grace of God. 25 And now, behold, I know that none of you among
whom I have gone about proclaiming the kingdom will see my face
again. 26 Therefore I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood
of all, 27 for I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole counsel
of God. 28 Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock,
in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the
 church of God, which he obtained with his own blood. 29 I know that
after my departure fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing
the flock; 30 and from among your own selves will arise men
speaking twisted things, to draw away the disciples after them. 31
Therefore be alert, remembering that for three years I did not cease
night or day to admonish every one with tears. 32 And now I commend
you to God and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up and
to give you the inheritance among all those who are sanctified. 33 I
coveted no one’s silver or gold or apparel. 34 You yourselves know
that these hands ministered to my necessities and to those who were
with me. 35 In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this
way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord
Jesus, how he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to
receive.’”
Acts 20:36 And when he had said these things, he knelt down and
prayed with them all. 37 And there was much weeping on the part of all;
they embraced Paul and kissed him, 38 being sorrowful most of all
because of the word he had spoken, that they would not see his face
again. And they accompanied him to the ship.

4) TRAIN BELIEVERS TO SERVE.

Ephesians 4:11 And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists,
the shepherds and teachers, 12 to equip the saints for the work of
ministry, for building up the body of Christ, 13 until we all attain to
the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature
manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, 14 so
that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and
carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness
in deceitful schemes. 15 Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to
grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, 16 from whom
the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is
equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body
grow so that it builds itself up in love.

5) TRAIN OTHER TEACHERS (WITH SUFFERING)

2 Timothy 2:1 You then, my child, be strengthened by the grace that is in Christ
Jesus, 2 and what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses
entrust to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also. 3 Share in
suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. 4 No soldier gets entangled in civilian
pursuits, since his aim is to please the one who enlisted him. 5 An athlete is not
crowned unless he competes according to the rules. 6 It is the hard-working
farmer who ought to have the first share of the crops. 7 Think over what I say, for
the Lord will give you understanding in everything. 8 Remember Jesus Christ,
risen from the dead, the offspring of David, as preached in my gospel, 9 for which
I am suffering, bound with chains as a criminal. But the word of God is not
bound!
6) MANAGE AND ORGANIZE THE LOCAL CHURCH.
1Timothy 3:1 The saying is trustworthy: If anyone aspires to the office of
overseer, he desires a noble task. 2 Therefore an overseer must be
above reproach, the husband of one wife, sober-minded, self-controlled,
respectable, hospitable, able to teach, 3 not a drunkard, not violent but
gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. 4 He must manage his own
household well, with all dignity keeping his children submissive, 5 for if
someone does not know how to manage his own household, how will he
care for God’s church? 6 He must not be a recent convert, or he may
become puffed up with conceit and fall into the condemnation of the
devil. 7 Moreover, he must be well thought of by outsiders, so that he may
not fall into disgrace, into a snare of the devil.
Hebrews 13:7 Remember your leaders, those who spoke to you the
word of God. Consider the outcome of their way of life, and imitate
their faith. 8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. 9
Do not be led away by diverse and strange teachings, for it is good for the
heart to be strengthened by grace, not by foods, which have not
benefited those devoted to them…17 Obey your leaders and submit
to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who
will have to give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with
groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you.
Titus 1:5 This is why I left you in Crete, so that you might put what
remained into order, and appoint elders in every town as I directed you
— 6 if anyone is above reproach, the husband of one wife, and his children
are believers and not open to the charge of debauchery or
insubordination. 7 For an overseer, as God’s steward, must be above
reproach. He must not be arrogant or quick-tempered or a drunkard or
violent or greedy for gain, 8 but hospitable, a lover of good, self-controlled,
upright, holy, and disciplined.
a. Teach Healthy Truth
Titus 1:9 He must hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught, so that he
may be able to give instruction in sound doctrine…
b. Refute False Teachers
Titus 1:9 …and also to rebuke those who contradict it. 10 For there are
many who are insubordinate, empty talkers and deceivers, especially those of
the circumcision party. 11 They must be silenced, since they are upsetting whole
families by teaching for shameful gain what they ought not to teach.
c. Avoid Controversy / Focus on gospel and obedience /
Theological Triage
1 Timothy 4:7 Have nothing to do with irreverent, silly myths.
Rather train yourself for godliness…
1 Timothy 6:2-6 Teach and urge these things. 3 If anyone teaches a
different doctrine and does not agree with the sound words of our
Lord Jesus Christ and the teaching that accords with godliness, 4 he
is puffed up with conceit and understands nothing. He has an
unhealthy craving for controversy and for quarrels about words,
 which produce envy, dissension, slander, evil suspicions, 5 and
constant friction among people who are depraved in mind and
deprived of the truth, imagining that godliness is a means of gain. 6
But godliness with contentment is great gain…
2 Timothy 2:14 Remind them of these things, and charge them before
God not to quarrel about words, which does no good, but only ruins the
hearers. 15 Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a
worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of
truth. 16 But avoid irreverent babble, for it will lead people into more
and more ungodliness, 17 and their talk will spread like gangrene. Among
them are Hymenaeus and Philetus, 18 who have swerved from the truth,
saying that the resurrection has already happened. They are upsetting
the faith of some. 19 But God’s firm foundation stands, bearing this seal:
“The Lord knows those who are his,” and, “Let everyone who names the
name of the Lord depart from iniquity.”…
23
Have nothing to do with foolish, ignorant controversies; you
know that they breed quarrels. 24 And the Lord’s servant must not be
quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring
evil,

7) PAID PASTORS MUST EXCEL SPECIFICALLY AT MANAGING AND

TEACHING.
1 Timothy 5:17 Let the elders who rule well be considered worthy of
double honor (pay), especially those who labor in preaching and
teaching. 18 For the Scripture says, “You shall not muzzle an ox when it
treads out the grain,” and, “The laborer deserves his wages.” 19 Do
not admit a charge against an elder except on the evidence of two or
three witnesses. 20 As for those who persist in sin, rebuke them in the
presence of all, so that the rest may stand in fear.