Church Elders | Papers

Church Elders

The thesis of the book is to instruct and bring clarity to what an elder is and how they should function biblically in and for the local church. With brevity it explained an elder’s job description according to texts from the bible. Elders are to shepherd the flock, like Jesus, toward spiritual maturity. Rinne intended the book for new or potential elders to teach what elders are and do. [1 Timothy 3:2-7] Rinne also wrote it for church members so they can “understand God’s plan for the local church, including his plan for leadership.” (Rinne 15) The book hopes to bring health to church bodies by helping them grow in unity “around a biblical vision for ministry and leadership in the local church.” (Rinne 15) The author also prayerfully intended this book to call men who read it into pastoral ministry.

While many churches do not have elders, all churches should. Elders are not to be thought of as an optional add on, but instead are “central to God’s plan for shepherding his churches.” (Rinne) [Acts 14:23] We should look to the model and pattern for church leadership in the Bible, not according to human or denominational tradition. The New Testament is clear that a plurality of elders is the biblical model for leadership in the local church. The majority of the New Testament authors address elders, and the Bible clearly lays out qualifications for them. [Titus 1:6-8)

Elders are not meant to manage the church or its members, they are called instead to shepherd the flock. [1 Peter 5:1-3] That means they are among the sheep, not just in imortant meetings. They should “smell like sheep,” (Rinne 35) being in and among the members fostering relationships with them. Church members are God’s sheep. Elders are to be overseers and caretakers of the sheep, not owners. They should know the church members so they can care for them well. They should tend to them, feeding them spiritually with the word and teaching them sound doctrine. [Titus 1:9]

Like Jesus, elders should lead by example. People should be able to look to elders and follow them. [1 Corinthians 11:1] One important way to lead is in daily bible reading and prayer. Elders should pray and be daily in the word not because they are church leaders, but because it is the only way they have the “strength each day to resist temptation or to serve the Lord.” (Rinne 107) [Romans 15:4] Leaders desperate for God who seek to slay pride and humbly follow Christ, and make his name great, create followers who do the same. Elders should be hospitable, inviting members into their homes for meals. Elders should seek and care for the lost sheep, going after members who have wandered away and are not healthy. They welcome people into their lives and seek them out rather than managing them from afar. When Elders are involved in the lives of the church members, and lead by example, the people of God grow in Christian maturity. When elders shepherd, instead of lording their spiritual authority over the members, they are following Christ’s example of being a servant leader. They don’t seek power and prestige or to show off their gifts, but instead the growth and well being of the body. Elders also care for the flock by growing them in Christian maturity. They should work to “produce healthy, full-grown sheep that reproduce.” (Rinne 40).

Elders are teachers. They should be able to handle the word faithfully and teach it to others. [2 Timothy 2:15] Elders who teach are following the example of Jesus. [Mark 6:34] Elders should look to Jesus’s exhortation in The Great Commission to make disciples, “teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.” [Matthew 28:19-20] Jesus said “If anyone loves me, he will keep my word,” [John 14:23] Elders shepherd the flock when they teach the word and how to keep it. This means that church elders must be in the word themselves. They cannot satisfy the church body with the living water found in Jesus and his word if they are not constantly drinking from the well themselves. Knowing biblical truth also helps them guard against false teaching.

This book impacted me in many ways. As the author intended, it encouraged me even more to pursue eldership and pastoral ministry. What a privilege it is to shepherd God’s people. I have known a plurality of elders is the biblical model, thanks to my local church, but this book made me further appreciate its importance. It fleshed out why and how Elders should help the church grow and produce a healthy body of believers. When I am in pastoral ministry, I will promote and teach on the importance of a plurality of elders. If there is not one present, I will work to raise one up so the local church can grow into Christian maturity under their leadership, and the existing pastors can have men to shepherd them. I loved when Rinne shared about the interim pastor Ray who trained him, especially the quote, “Ray’s consistent Christian walk compelled me to listen to his message.” What an encouragement to let your light shine [Matthew 5:16] so that people will listen all the more when you preach. [1 Timothy 4:16] If they know you walk the walk then they will listen to you talk the talk. I want to live in such a way as to minister to other believers and help them grow in Christian maturity not just in the things I teach but also in the way I live day in and day out. Encouraging with my life not just my words. I can see how the business world has infiltrated thinking on leadership in the church. This the second book we’ve read that warned pastors not to be professionals but instead shepherds. I loved the implications of the teaching in this book that an Elder is to lead by example grow the members into maturity. Elders cannot do this unless they themselves are growing in Christian maturity. It’s one of those obvious things that nonetheless struck me as ringing so true. Healthy leaders who are growing themselves will in turn produce healthy members. [Luke 6:43–45] I liked the way Rinne encouraged Elders to look for teaching opportunities and “get busy expounding the Bible.” (Rinne 48) I also appreciated the encouragement for elders to be shepherded by other elders. “So humble yourself and allow the other elders care for you.” (Rinne 92) This book gave me more appreciation for elders, their role, and their importance for the local church.

Scriptures References

1 Timothy 3:2-7

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.

Acts 14:23

And when they had appointed elders for them in every church, with prayer and fasting they committed them to the Lord in whom they had believed.

Titus 1:6-9

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. 9 He must hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught, so that he may be able to give instruction in sound doctrine and also to rebuke those who contradict it.

1 Peter 5:1-3

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.

1 Corinthians 11:1

Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ.

Romans 15:4

For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.

2 Timothy 2:15

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.

Mark 6:34

When he went ashore he saw a great crowd, and he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. And he began to teach them many things.

Matthew 28:19-20

19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age."

John 14:23

Jesus answered him, "If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.

Matthew 5:16

In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.

1 Timothy 4:16

Keep a close watch on yourself and on the teaching. Persist in this, for by so doing you will save both yourself and your hearers.

Luke 6:43–45

43 “For no good tree bears bad fruit, nor again does a bad tree bear good fruit, 44 for each tree is known by its own fruit. For figs are not gathered from thornbushes, nor are grapes picked from a bramble bush. 45 The good person out of the good treasure of his heart produces good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure produces evil, for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.