091 Elders learning to be better shepherds
Being an elder is more than a title—it’s a calling. In this episode, we examine Peter’s appeal to elders and Jesus’ model of shepherding to ask hard questions about leadership. Drawing from 1 Peter 5 and John 10, we challenge common assumptions and call all leaders to Christ-shaped shepherding under the Chief Shepherd. If you care about the health of the flock, this episode is for you.
When I’s planning to begin a blog on Church leadership in the winter of 2014, I did a survey to get ideas and encouragement for the project. This is one of the replies I received:
“I don’t wanna hear another preacher telling elders what to do. He hasn’t been an elder. He doesn’t know what he’s talking about.” I understand someone tiring of being instructed by a person who seems to have no reason to understand. I wondered if that same principle’d apply to elders who make suggestions on how preachers need to preach. Does lack of personal experience prohibit any assistance? Most male doctors’ve never had a baby and yet they help women deliver some very good ones.
Let’s look at two sources who might be able to help all of us — elders, preachers, and others — learn more about good leadership.
Surely the author of the book of 1 Peter is qualified to talk about elders. He’s been, and is at the time of his writing, an elder, an apostle, a preacher, and an inspired writer of the Bible.
In 1 Peter 5:1-4, he outlines leadership qualities. He says the person who performs this service must:
- Be old. That’s the meaning of the word elder. Facts can be retained easily by younger people. Wisdom comes only with age and seeing the results in ourselves and others of not being wise.
- Be a shepherd. This concept may be difficult to understand if we haven’t observed sheep.
- Be an overseer. Shepherd has been the description of choice for some instead of elder or overseer. However, all these words are used by the Holy Spirit, Who makes shepherds, and all designations are important. A good shepherd oversees the sheep, green pastures, or lack thereof, and sources of still water.
- Be an example. Perhaps the most powerful leadership trait a person has is what he is.
The shepherd and overseer of shepherds and overseers is Jesus, the Chief Shepherd. He’s qualified.
- Jesus is old enough. He was alive before Abraham. John 8:58
- Jesus was and is the Good Shepherd. John 10:14
- Jesus is an excellent overseer since He promised to be with us until the end of the age. Matthew 28:20
- Jesus is the perfect example. He experienced every type of temptation, won every war, and conquered every enemy. Hebrew 4:15
Before someone takes position, it’s good to understand the job description. If there’re parts of the responsibility that you don’t like, can’t stand, and won’t tolerate, don’t take the job. Find something else to do.
Elders, shepherds, overseers’ll be working with sheep. It’s good to understand the nature of sheep. Do you like to work with sheep? If not, don’t take the job.
Sheep are:
1. Dependent.
O Lord, I know the way of man is not in himself; It is not in man who walks to direct his own steps (Jeremiah 10:23, NKJV).
2. Dirty.
for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23).
If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us (1 John 1:8).
3. Disoriented.
There is a way that seems right to a man, But its end is the way of death. (Proverbs 16:25).
All sheep are this way.
All we like sheep have gone astray;
We have turned, every one, to his own way;
And the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all (Isaiah 53:6).
What Can Elders Learn from Jesus About Being Shepherds?
Sheep in Jesus’ fold, have Jesus for a shepherd. They hear voice of the Shepherd. But sheep in Jesus’ sheep pen are still sheep: dependent, dirty, disoriented. They still need a shepherd, including the shepherds that serve under Jesus as the Chief Shepherd.
The example for this process that shepherds today can imitate is found in John 10:1-18.
1. He calls his own sheep by name. He has to know their names. That’s not done in board meetings deciding on whether to use barbed wire or electric fence to keep the sheep in.
To him the doorkeeper opens, and the sheep hear his voice; and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. (John 10:3).
2. The sheep know the voice of the shepherd. They trust only the Good Shepherd. This comes by talking and listening to the sheep.
And when he brings out his own sheep, he goes before them; and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. (John 10:4).
3. The shepherd isn’t a hired hand. He doesn’t run when danger comes. One of the most devastating things a shepherd can do is run away from the sheep when they’re in danger and not even say, “Good-bye.”
The hireling flees because he is a hireling and does not care about the sheep (John 10:13).
An elder, shepherd, overseer who wants to continue to learn and grow assumes some things:
1. He isn't there.
2. He wants to go in the direction of Jesus.
3. The eldership group can’t grow without individuals in the group growing.
Growth needs to be continual and balanced.
God’s interested in all of life. Wisdom comes from acknowledging God and asking Him for help in every area: spiritually, but also in the family, mentally, physically, and financially.
Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
And lean not on your own understanding;
In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He shall direct your paths. (Proverbs 3:5, 6).
If I look to God in only one or two areas of life, my “life wheel” will be out of balance, and the trip won’t be smooth.
The question isn't whether elders are in charge of the sheep, but whether they're still listening to the Shepherd. When elders keep learning, keep growing, and keep following Jesus, the flock hears His voice—and that makes all the difference!
