God’s People Are Like Sheep
The Bible, in many places, describes God’s people as sheep. This isn’t a flattering description, but I think it’s an accurate one because we’re unstable and erratic creatures. We’re prone to hurt ourselves. We’re not as smart as we think we are. Our lives are messy and broken.
This is good news by the way. Many people think that the gospel means something like this: if I clean up my life, then God will accept me. But that’s not the gospel. The gospel says: God has accepted you in Jesus, despite the messiness of your life. The good news of the gospel is that there’s grace and forgiveness for everyone who’ll admit that they’re broken and come to Jesus in faith. The gospel isn’t about what you do, it’s about what God has already done.
Even those who’re following Jesus are prone to go their own way, to pursue things we know are harmful to us, to live erratically. We’ll get messy along the way. This is why God says his people are like sheep. He knows that we’re “prone to wander…prone to leave the God we love.” Because we’re prone to wander, because we’re like sheep, we need shepherds.
God is Our Shepherd
Amazingly, the Bible says that God himself is our shepherd. Psalm 23:1, “The Lord is my shepherd.” Ezekiel 34:23, “I will set up over them one shepherd, my servant David, and he shall feed them: he shall feed them and be their shepherd.” Jesus, a direct descendant of King David, fulfills this Old Testament prophecy. In John 10:11, he says, “I am the good shepherd.” Jesus is the ultimate shepherd, sent by the Father to die for his sheep. He’s the “chief Shepherd” (1 Pet. 5:4) who leads his people as a servant, not a dictator.
Like any good shepherd, God wasn’t afraid to get his hands dirty. He came and lived in a world full of sin and sinners in order to save his flock. Jesus paid the price that his broken and messy and rebellious and unstable sheep owed. He’s a “good shepherd,” and through his death, resurrection, and exaltation, he’s earned the right to be called the “chief Shepherd.”
The Good Gift of Under-Shepherds
As if the gift of his life wasn’t enough, Jesus has also given his sheep under-shepherds to take care of them until he returns (Eph. 4:11). Jesus has provided his sheep with godly men to care for and feed and nurture and protect the flock that he died for. In the New Testament, these men are called elders, overseers, and pastors, or shepherds. In Acts 20:28, Paul says to the Ephesian elders, “Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for (or shepherd) the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood.”
Jesus shepherds his people through elders. He delegates some of his authority to them, giving them the responsibility of teaching, governing, and shepherding his sheep. Eldering ministry is a weighty responsibility. It should be entered into with much sobriety. Jesus will talk to his shepherds one day about how they cared for each sheep that he entrusted to them (Heb. 13:17). Local churches, therefore, need to be wise and careful and patient as they consider who they place in this role. Not just anyone should be an elder.
The New Testament actually says that not just anyone can be an elder. In two places, we find lists of public and observable qualifications that are meant to help the church measure men who step forward as elder candidates. Those two passages are 1 Timothy 3:1-7 and Titus 1:5-9.
“Desires a Noble Task”
The First Timothy passage is more comprehensive, so we’ll focus on it. Paul lists out fifteen qualifications for those who shepherd God’s people. This list isn’t exhaustive, but it does represent the bare minimum that must be present in the men who serve as elders.
Notice the first qualification, which often goes overlooked. Verse 1, “If anyone aspires to the office of overseer.” The first requirement for being an elder is that you have to want to be an elder. An elder should “exercise oversight willingly, not under compulsion” (1 Pet. 5:2).
The waters can get a little muddy here because motives and ambition are tricky things, and are many times selfish rather than godly. One pastor says it this way, “Some men may ‘want the office,’ but their wanting is really lust for power, and so they are not fit. Conversely, some men who are fit for the office, think that wanting it shows pride, ungodly ambition, or impoliteness. Finally, some men are probably qualified, but they either lack the desire or think they are not qualified because they’re holding onto some idea of a ‘super elder.’”
Some men want the office for the wrong reasons, while others think that wanting it is inherently selfish. This is why there should be an extensive interview process. It takes time to discern true motives. Let me encourage men in our church to not be afraid to express to me a desire to serve as elder. In fact, every man should desire to be the kind of man that Paul describes here. The only quality listed here that isn’t required of every man is being “able to teach” (v. 2). In a sense, every man should aspire to be like an elder.
The problem that many churches face is that most of the men have no aspirations whatsoever. They have no vision or ambition or goals for their life. They live in perpetual cruise control, only doing the bare minimum of what’s expected of them. Their goal in life is comfort and so they avoid anything that smells like responsibility. Churches need men to own the fact that God has designed us to be the servant-leaders of our homes and the church. Not for our glory and not because we’re better than women, but because God designed us to shoulder the weight of leadership responsibility.
Desiring this responsibility is to desire a “noble task” (v. 1). Leadership responsibility is a good gift from God. Many men see leadership as a burden or a headache, not a joy and a blessing. Join me in praying for God to continue raising up men in our church who “desire” this “noble task.”
“Above Reproach”
Verse 2, “Therefore an overseer must be above reproach.” This qualification is like the umbrella that all the other qualifications fall under. If you’re “above reproach,” then you’ll probably also be the husband of one wife, self-controlled, etc.
Being “above reproach” means that you’re the kind of man that, if you were to be charged with wrongdoing, people would be absolutely shocked. This is the kind of man that no one would be able to bring a legitimate charge against concerning anything in the list that follows. “Above reproach” doesn’t mean sinless perfection – only one man ever had that: Jesus. It does mean that, over time, a man has built a reputation of godliness and integrity.
This is the primary qualification because elders will be the primary examples of Christlikeness to the congregation. Peter tells the elders to be “examples to the flock” (1 Pet. 5:3). The elders will be the ones setting the pace spiritually and morally in the congregation. While every Christian should be “above reproach,” elders must be “above reproach.”
“Husband of One Wife”
The first thing that Paul mentions under the umbrella of “above reproach” is that an elder must be the “husband of one wife,” or literally, a “one woman man” (v. 2). This has been interpreted in many ways over the years. Some say it means that an elder must be married. But that doesn’t work because Paul was single and encouraged others to be single so that more work for the gospel could get done (1 Cor. 7).
Some have said that it simply forbids polygamy, that an elder can only have one wife at a time. Some say that it means that only those who’ve been married once are qualified, thus disqualifying widowers who’ve been remarried and those who’ve been divorced.
Because this phrase is a bit ambiguous, its meaning is probably more broad than narrow. The broad meaning is that an elder must be morally and sexually pure. If the elder is married, there are to be no other women in his life. If he’s single, there are to be no women, outside of friendships, in his life. An elder must be pure when it comes to their sexuality. An elder doesn’t have affairs (physical, emotional, or otherwise), he doesn’t flirt, he doesn’t look at pornography. He’s faithful to God and to his wife. He’s a “one woman man.”
“Sober-Minded, Self-Controlled, Respectable”
The next three qualifications can easily be grouped together. An overseer must be “sober-minded, self-controlled, respectable.” These three qualifications all refer to a man’s ability to master himself. Men who lead the church need to first be able to lead themselves.
Being “sober-minded” means being “clear-headed,” or being able to think about things clearly. It means having a right view of reality. A “sober-minded” man consistently views himself, the world, and God through the clear lens of Scripture. He’s sober in his thoughts, desires, feelings, and attitudes. He’s not enamored with the latest theological fads or the changing trends of our culture. He has good self-awareness. He’s honest and humble about his sin and struggles.
Because he’s able to think clearly about things, he’s also able to live with self-control. He knows how to bridle himself. He’s able to control his wallet and his tongue, his emotions and his attitude. He’s not controlled by his appetites. He’s not given to excess in regards to food or drink or sleep. He’s not ruled by his anger. An elder doesn’t act rashly. He doesn’t do things without first thinking through the consequences and seeking godly counsel. Elders think clearly and have themselves under control.
A man who’s “sober-minded” and “self-controlled” will inevitably produce a “respectable” man. This kind of man lives a godly, ordered life, but he’s quick to admit that any level of growth in these areas is only by the grace of God. He knows that “self-control” is a fruit of the Spirit (Gal. 5:23). He knows that his ability to master himself comes from God. Elders are men who’ve been mastered by God.
“Hospitable”
The next qualification Paul mentions is that an elder must be “hospitable,” which literally means “to love strangers.” All of God’s people are to be hospitable. 1 Peter 4:9, “Show hospitality to one another without grumbling.”
Elders are called to do what all Christians are called to do: to love and care for strangers and to love and care for other Christians. Why? Doing hospitality reflects the love of Jesus and it helps build meaningful relationships. Some people say, “I don’t know anyone in my church.” Well, when was the last time you courageously pursued hospitality? When was the last time you had a conversation with a new person in the church? Invited them to lunch? Asked them to have coffee? Invited people over for a game night?
I love the way one author puts it: “Hardly anything is more characteristic of Christian love than hospitality. Through the ministry of hospitality we share the things we value most: family, home, financial resources, food, privacy, and time. In other words, we share our lives.” We all should be doing hospitality, but elders lead the way through their example.
“Able to Teach”
Now we turn to the one qualification that sets the elders apart from the deacons, the one thing that elders must be able to do that isn’t commanded of all Christians. An elder must be “able to teach” (v. 2). There’s a simple reason for this. God has always led his people through his word. When he rescued Israel from slavery and brought them to Mt. Sinai, he didn’t give them pictures, he gave them his word. God sent Jesus announcing “good news,” a message of salvation that can only be believed when it’s spoken.
Elders must be able to speak the word of God to the people of God. Elders will do lots of other things, like counseling and administration. But teaching is their primary responsibility, as it’s God’s chosen means of leading his people.
Titus 1:9 gives us a little more information on what this teaching ministry should include. An elder must be able to teach what is true and refute what is false. This means that an elder must be a student of God’s word, a man who knows his Bible and can communicate it and defend its truth against error. Does this mean that elders must be good public speakers or have great preaching abilities? No, it does not. A man who’s able to explain the truths of Scripture in a one-on-one or small group setting is just as qualified as the man who’s gifted to speak publically. A lot of teaching is done in the hallway and over coffee and over the phone.
If sheep aren’t fed, they’ll become malnourished and eventually die. If they’re fed bad food, they’ll get sick. But if they’re consistently fed the good food of the word of God, they’ll be strong and healthy and live longer and be able to accomplish more for the glory of God.
Sober, Gentle, Peacemaker
The qualities in verse 2 qualify a man for the office of elder. The qualities of verse 3, when present, disqualify him. The first three of these negative qualities can be grouped together: “not a drunkard, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome.” These are probably clumped together because where you find the one, you usually find the others.
The shepherds of God’s people aren’t controlled by alcohol, or any other substance. They’re not violent in their temperament, but gentle. They don’t lose their minds every time they don’t get their way. Gentleness must be their approach in any situation, even in moments of conflict (2 Tim. 2:24-25a). This was Jesus’ style, he was “gentle and lowly in heart” (Matt. 11:29) and it’s also a fruit of the Spirit (Gal. 5:22-23). Elders must therefore be like their Lord and be ruled by the Spirit rather than by their cravings and emotions.
Elders are also to be men who don’t like picking fights, they’re “not quarrelsome.” An elder doesn’t go looking for arguments. He knows which hills are worth dying on. He’s able to make distinctions between things that are more important and less important. Everything’s not a life or death issue with him (2 Tim. 2:23). An elder patiently teaches and doesn’t pick fights.
“Not a Lover of Money”
The next qualification is that an elder must not be a “lover of money.” In light of the prosperity gospel that’s all over Christian television, it should come as no surprise that many people just see pastors and churches as out for their money. But God’s shepherds aren’t in love with money. They’re not “greedy for gain” (Tit. 1:7). They refuse to make money in dishonest and greedy and shameful ways.
We sometimes think that a person’s wealth qualifies him for leadership. Os Guinness says, “If a man is drunk on wine, you’ll throw him out. But if he’s drunk on money, you’ll make him a deacon.” A man’s attitude toward money, not how much he possesses of it, is what qualifies or disqualifies him. Elders are men who love God more than money. Men who’re storing up treasures in heaven, not on earth. Men who give generously and sacrificially to the ministry of their local church. Men who’re content with what they have, whether that’s a lot or a little. Both rich men and poor men can be consumed with the love of money, but a man who aspires to the office of elder is free from it, no matter how much he makes.
Manage His Home
Verses 4-5 tell us that if a man doesn’t manage his home well, he’s not qualified to be an elder. This qualification is a prerequisite for being an elder, not something he can learn on the job. We don’t want men who aren’t leading their homes well to start leading God’s church.
This “managing” refers to caring for, nurturing, and guiding a wife and children. If a man isn’t nurturing his wife and kids, how do you think he’ll treat God’s children? If at home he’s a tyrant or an absentee landlord, how do you think he’ll approach his task as overseer of the church? Paul isn’t calling for a perfect home with perfect children, none exist. How a prospective elder manages his home in the face of difficult circumstances is what matters.
Not a Recent Convert
Verse 6 says than an elder “must not be a recent convert.” Why? Paul tells us. So that he doesn’t become “puffed up with conceit and fall into the condemnation of the devil.” An elder must not be a new believer because new believers aren’t ready to withstand the challenges that will come in pastoral ministry.
Paul doesn’t give us an age requirement here, or the length of time someone must be a believer before they’re eligible to be an elder. This is because age or length of time as a Christian doesn’t equal spiritual maturity. There are many men who’ve been Christians for decades who lack the spiritual maturity to be elders. And there are some men who’ve been Christians for only a short time who evidence remarkable maturity for their age.
Much discernment is needed here, but what we’re looking for is men whose life shows conformity to Christ, where the fruit of the Spirit is evident, who walk in humility, who’re actively seeking to put sin to death in their life, who’re actively discipling and serving others in the church. These are signs of spiritual maturity and must be present in a prospective elder.
Respected by Outsiders
The final qualification Paul mentions is in verse 7. For those who would be elders, it does matter what unbelievers think of you. The simple reason for this is that the opinion of people who know you outside the church will either confirm or deny who you profess to be inside the church.
Paul even seems to suggest that a neutral opinion of you isn’t enough. “He must be well thought of by outsiders.” If a man has a poor reputation among people outside the church, he isn’t qualified to be an elder. This doesn’t mean elders won’t bear reproach for the name of Christ in their workplace. It simply means that any reproach they do bear is because of Christ and not because of their character or poor attitude or lazy work ethic. In other words, if the unbelievers you know would be surprised to find out that you’re a leader in your church, then you’re not qualified to be an elder.
Character is Everything
These are the qualifications for those who serve as elders. The bar is set high because a church will go the way of its leaders. If the character of our leaders is off, even slightly, then over time great damage can be done to a church.
That’s why all these qualifications, except being able to teach and not being a recent convert, have to do with a man’s character. Character is everything in leadership. God has made character and godliness the prerequisite for leadership in his church. Not personality or position or wealth or influence in the community or even giftedness. God wants men who look and act and think and speak like Jesus leading his church so that he gets the glory and not us. And because sheep are messy, shepherds must be men of high moral fiber if they’re going to be able to lead, nurture, care for, and protect them.
The bar is also set high in order to protect the gospel. Local churches are gospel lighthouses, gospel schools, and gospel missions. If the lives of the church’s leaders discredit the gospel, then the mission of the church is compromised, the gospel is undermined, and Jesus is dishonored.
May we commit ourselves to only appointing men who meet these qualifications, not perfectly but increasingly, to be elders at Preston Highlands. May we be diligent to pray for those who’ll shepherd God’s people here so that the great and chief shepherd may be glorified.