When the apostle Paul saw the Ephesian elders for the last time he was well aware of the dangers on the horizon. The last things he said to these men revealed his knowledge of the future and his deep concern for God’s people. It was for those reasons his last words were not compliments but warnings! Satan, the lion, was going to try to devour the faithful at Ephesus. The elders needed to know that and make every preparation necessary to arm themselves and the congregation with the truth. Paul had preached "all the counsel of God" in Ephesus for three years. He knew it would be truth and truth alone that would carry the day against Satan.

Elders must be devoted to truth. Truth is the only thing that can make men free. Truth is not a commodity that can be bartered away for the sake of unity because there is no unity without truth. In Acts 20:32 Paul said, "And now, brethren, I commend you to God and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified." The "word of His grace" is the foundation upon which every elder stands. If I had one opportunity to speak to my shepherds I would make these observations.

1. Shepherds bring people to Christ. In Matthew 11:28 Jesus said, "Come unto me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." I fear people are falling into the trap of trying to convert the lost to their local congregation rather than to Jesus. The denominational world has embraced the concept of polling the local community to identify what unbelievers want in a religious institution. When the results of the survey are tallied, the top five or ten most often mentioned items are used as the foundation for community outreach. This may sound like a plausible approach in our consumer oriented world, but the question is, "Where is Christ in all this?" Look at page 194 of "The Purpose Driven Church" by Rick Warren for an example. Among the suggested items offered are "…meeting new friends and getting to know your neighbors, upbeat music with a contemporary flavor, dedicated nursery workers…" Warren has some good things to say in his book, but I disagree with this approach. Do those who visit come for salvation or satisfactory day care? The lost ought not to be drawn to a local group because it promises to fulfill mundane desires like quality daycare or upbeat music with a contemporary flavor. What should draw people is eternal salvation in Jesus Christ. The only need that is of real importance is forgiveness from sin. I don’t believe Philip mentioned either child care or contemporary music to the Ethiopian eunuch. Those things had nothing to do with what he needed. What Philip did preach was Jesus! How much did the eunuch know about local fellowship when Philip disappeared? I don’t know and neither does anyone else, but I do know he had all he needed to be saved. Philip did not preach "The Church of Christ;" Philip preached Jesus. When the eunuch obeyed the gospel, God made him a member of the church for which Christ died.

The church does not save, the gospel saves! We do not worship truth, we worship God. We do not worship the church, we worship God. The lost should not be converted to the church; they are to be converted to God. Therefore, the lost must be taught and brought to Jesus, not primarily to a local fellowship. Good shepherds recognize the differences involved in these ideas. Assembling with fellow saints is of tremendous importance. It is commanded by God in Hebrews 10:25. It just makes sense to assemble with fellow Christians. The danger we’re talking about is in making our assembly either the drawing factor or a necessary part in bringing someone to Christ.

Some of the methods used by the International Church of Christ bring this danger into sharp focus. The oversight of members exercised by the ICOC is simply not scriptural in many instances. Allegiance and accountability are too often tied to the organization rather than to Jesus. It would seem from their arrangement and organization that a person comes to Christ through the church, which is an unscriptural concept.

It is not just the ICOC that displays this problem. I had lunch with a fellow preacher years ago. He was having a Bible study with an unbeliever who had expressed a desire to be immersed into Christ. The preacher told him he would be happy to baptize him if he would make a personal commitment to regularly attend all the services at the local congregation. The force with which this was presented caused the man to demure on the request for baptism. It was not that the man refused to attend, it was simply intimidating to him to make a commitment at which he might fail. He then perceived his fear to make the commitment as an indication of inability to be accepted by Christ. I am convinced of the good intentions of my fellow preacher. However, I believe a man must be born before he can grow. While fellowship with a local group is important, conversion to Christ is more important! If true conversion takes place, the fellowship issue will eventually solve itself.

True shepherds magnify Jesus Christ, not themselves, not the local congregation. In Acts 20:30 Paul said, "Also from among your own selves men will rise up, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after themselves." The godly elder has no interest in developing a personal following. While he surely appreciates the flock that will follow his lead, he constantly points the flock to Jesus. A personal relationship with Jesus is what shepherds are seeking for themselves and the congregation. A relationship with Christ will transcend congregational difficulties and personality clashes people sometimes find in a local fellowship.

While there is a certain level of trust and dependence Christians have for each other, it is paramount that our faith rest in God. Too frequently people place most of their trust in other people, which is why I stress this point about bringing people to Christ. Men will fall and fail as we all have. We all suffer failure from time to time and people have lost their souls because they placed their faith in fallible men. Good elders circumvent many of the problems of human weakness by making sure everyone has their eye on the Lord, not the brethren. Men are not the icons to which we aspire. Jesus is our model. Elders, preachers and teachers have a role in the Kingdom. That role is to point everyone to Jesus. True shepherds lead the flock to The True Shepherd.

2. Shepherds should be a congregation’s greatest servants. If we are not in the kingdom to serve, we are dreadfully mistaken about our spiritual responsibilities. Sacrificial service was a hallmark of Jesus and ought to be the same among His shepherds. In Matthew 20:27-28 Jesus said "And whoever desires to be first among you, let him be your slave, just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and give His life a ransom for many."

Assuming the role of leadership and servanthood often produces conflicts. Personal recognition for a job well done is wonderful. Everyone likes to have their work recognized and appreciated. This is certainly true in positions of authority which carry such grave implications as that of elders. Praise and power are also terribly dangerous! Seeking personal recognition in the business world for the work we do is normal and appropriate, but the same cannot be said for our spiritual labors. Jesus constantly battled the Apostles’ inclination for personal recognition. They were constantly concerned about personal greatness while Jesus was most concerned about personal service. The patience of the Master was on constant display when the Apostles argued over who would be the greatest. At no time was this more acutely manifested than when He washed the feet of the apostles the night before He was crucified. John 13 is the record of His washing their feet while Luke 22: 24 indicates they had argued about personal greatness that very evening! Perhaps it was because of the authority they had been given or maybe it was because Jesus had promised them thrones (Matt.19:28) that they struggled with humble service. In any case, the lesson of humility and service is constantly repeated in the Gospels.

Since it was so difficult for the Apostles to digest this lesson from Jesus, then we can rightly assume it is just as difficult for us. God’s spiritual kingdom is not like that of the Gentiles (Matt. 20:25-28), and yet far too often elders can be like the Gentile kings in the way they exercise their leadership. Leadership positions can move men to forget they are servants and cause them to act like they are superintendents. Some elders seem to believe their job is to crack the whip and expect compliant response from the sheep. As Smelser observes, "The alarming thing is that some would see nothing wrong with the notions of such elders, even if they might not like all the consequences. After all, elders are appointed to oversee. Accordingly, the tenor of some articles in recent years would lead one to hold the above elders’ stance unassailable. If perhaps not an example of the best judgment, it is still the elder’s judgment to make. And it is the responsibility of the flock to submit without question." Loving servitude is not seen in this style of leadership. I believe Jesus is appalled by any shepherd who behaves this way. The sheep of God cannot be driven; they must be led if they are to be fed.

A servanthood mentality provides a constant reminder to earthly shepherds that they are also sheep. They do not stand above the congregation like a judge in a tennis match. They consider themselves sheep like every other member. Good shepherds consider themselves to be fellow laborers and fellow servants with the brethren. Paul made this very point in I Corinthians 4:6 when he said, "And these things, brethren, I have figuratively transferred to myself and Apollo’s for your sakes, that you may learn in us not to think beyond what is written, that none of you may be puffed up one on behalf of one against the other." The Corinthian church was wracked with selfish ambition and carnal aspirations. Those without spiritual gifts envied those who had gifts. People with the gift of miracles envied people with the gift of tongues. It seems few wanted to be servants while many wanted to be masters. Paul used a shocking word to jolt them into proper thinking about their selfish ambitions. The English word servant in I Corinthians 4:1 is the Greek word for the lowest kind of slave. Few Corinthians would feel comfortable with such an analogy. For elders to be truly effective in their work they must completely embrace the slave mentality. In concert with slave imagery Paul also spoke at length about love to the Corinthians. Their selfishness was not the product of godly love. Just as selfishness and service are antithetical so are selfishness and love. Good elders are good servants because they love God and His people.

The book Shepherds Smell like Sheep by Dr. Lynn Anderson does a marvelous job with the concept of a shepherd who is one of the sheep. If someone were trying to identify one of the elders at a congregation they would look among the sheep for the one who serves the others. The true shepherd is first a servant that is gentle, kind, and merciful. He understands the admonition Jesus gave in Luke 17:10 when He said, "So likewise you, when you have done all those things which you are commanded, say, ‘We are unprofitable servants. We have done what was our duty to do.’ " No matter how great a job they might do they realize that in reality they have only done their duty. They refuse extraordinary recognition for their work.

The elder’s duty is service for others, not satisfaction of self. James 3:16 says, "For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing will be there." A self-seeking eldership poisons the church. How can the world see Christ in us if our leadership is self absorbed? If the leadership is concerned with itself, chances are the congregation will be also. Why would anyone want to associate with a local group which is characterized by petty selfishness? This is fundamentally what Paul is saying to the Corinthians. Selfishness is to be left behind in the Kingdom of God. Surely elders are able to recognize the power of the paradox of Jesus’ words in Matthew 20:16, "So the last will be first, and the first last."

God renounced the shepherds of Israel for their selfish leadership. Ezekiel 34:1-6 says, "The Lord spoke his word to me. He said, "Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel. Prophesy to these shepherds. Tell them ‘This is what the Almighty Lord says: How horrible it will be for the shepherds of Israel who have been taking care of only themselves. Shouldn’t shepherds take care of the sheep? You eat the best parts of the sheep, dress in wool, and butcher the finest sheep. Yet, you don’t take care of the sheep. You have not strengthened those that were weak, healed those that were sick, or bandaged those that were injured. You have not brought back those that strayed away or looked for those that were lost. You have ruled harshly and violently." The image of this passage is one of heartless selfishness. When earthly shepherds are determined to serve the flock and sacrifice themselves for the sheep, they will not be guilty of feeding off the flock (Ezek. 34:10). Their concern will be for others not themselves.

3. Truth helps Shepherds to know the difference between opinion and Biblical mandate. God has revealed in His word everything He requires of His people. No one has the authority to either add to or take from His Divine revelation. The opinions of elders are not the same as God’s revealed will. No one will be held accountable for not agreeing with or conforming to the opinions of another man. Elders cannot demand that their opinions take precedent over the faith of any member. Elders’ opinions are not the Law of God!

God commands His people to observe the Lord’s Supper on the first day of the week. The time of day, arrangement of songs, number and length of prayers etc. are all matters of opinion. God allows great latitude in our expressions of worship. For someone to demand three songs and a prayer followed by a song of preparation before the Lord’s Supper is to force mere opinion on others. Good shepherds will neither make these demands nor will they allow a congregation to be held hostage by the personal opinions of stubborn members. While everyone’s feelings will be given proper respect, no one should be allowed to railroad the congregation into conformity to their opinion. A clear understanding of what is Biblical and what is personal opinion will be invaluable for resolving issues of this kind.

Times and circumstances change. What may have been the most effective worship arrangement fifty years ago could well be ineffective today. A willingness to adjust in areas of opinion is a hallmark of quality leadership. I am familiar with the adage, "It is not good because it’s old; it’s old because it’s good." However, every area of opinion must be measured by present effectiveness. If the old way is still best for you, by all means stay as you are. If there is a better way, please have the courage to make changes! "Experimentation" is an intimidating word among people in our fellowship. To many it smacks of a liberal, situationalist approach to worship. While some religious groups would be guilty of that kind of approach, that is not what I have in mind. Godly leadership clearly understands God’s requirements. Godly leadership also understands the right and even the possible necessity for experimentation in areas of opinion.

Inordinate pressure from outside influences is often brought to bear on local congregations. Elders can feel pressured to make decisions based on what other congregations might think. This pressure can range from the subtle suggestion to conform to brotherhood standards all the way to overt accusations of apostasy. No eldership is free to dismiss Divine instructions; however, matters of judgment are left to local assemblies. The historical problem of outside influence and interference has been noted by Ed Harrell. "In the absence of denominational organization, the churches of Christ, more than most religious groups, has been molded by personalities of powerful editors, college presidents, and preachers. Much of the interminable turmoil in the churches was inspired by influential leaders rallying supporters, either for their views or as personal devotees." Since God wants congregations to honor local autonomy, no eldership ought to feel bound by judgments and opinions of other congregations, preachers or editors. If changes need to be made, the decisions regarding those changes should not be based on the misgivings of others, but rather on what is best for the local congregation.

We have preached local autonomy for years and rightfully so! Yet far too often local autonomy is not honored by those who should understand it best. God’s shepherds need to have a firm grip on the subject of autonomy. If they do not, the congregation will be vulnerable to a false denominational conformity which will only produce sedentary paralysis.

4. Truth calls for elders to have a vision for the future. Implicit in the admonitions Paul gives the Ephesian elders in Acts 20 is the need to prepare for the future. The past is behind us and cannot be changed. The future, however, is in our hands. Elders have a profound effect on the future of their local congregation. If the congregation is going to grow, it will be because elders lay the foundation for evangelism. If the members are going to mature in the faith, it will be because the elders are proactive in teaching. If the young people are going to come to Christ, it will be based in large part on what they see and hear in our worship services. If marriages are rooted in Christ, it will be because the elders see that the proper teaching is done. If loving discipline happens, it will be because elders take the lead in such matters.

It is quite common for an elder to have the oversight over members that are one fourth his age. The elder may live ten or fifteen more years and then be released to his reward. What he does in those ten to fifteen years will be remembered by the younger man and woman all their lives. It will set a standard of conduct, attitude and action for other elders for years to come. The congregation he leaves behind will continue to reflect the leadership he provided. I could not forget Marshal Buchannon and Richard Roper if I tried! They were the elders of the congregation where I grew up. These men were not only kind and giving, but more importantly they were dedicated to the truth. It has been thirtyfour years since I left the congregation where they were shepherds. I regularly think about their leadership and what it means to me today. If they accomplished nothing else, they instilled in me the understanding of Divine authority. That lesson will always stand the test of time.

It is for the future that we strive. A vision of what will be happening coupled with a firm commitment to truth is a fundamental necessity for shepherds. Twentyfive years ago Floyd Thompson was asked what he thought would be the next grave question facing God’s people. He replied, "It will be about authority. Every question is always about authority." It makes no difference what the future holds for God’s people. The essence of their lives and their faith will be planted in Divine authority. Every shepherd should recognize that simple fact. Any plans, programs or policies you have for the congregation you serve must be centered on Biblical authority.

There are false voices calling out to our young people today just like they were calling in Paul’s day. Shepherds must recognize the voices for what they are. Some of these call for "gender justice." They cry foul when women are not allowed to exercise authority as men do in local congregations. The pressure of society is brought to bear on congregations to remove the supposed discrimination against women in congregational service. In an attempt to validate their claim to gender justice, passages like Galatians 3:26 are twisted out of their context and used to dismiss other passages; like I Timothy 2 and I Corinthians 14. Only the elders who have a proper grasp of authority will be able to identify this false voice. They understand that when Biblical authority is undermined on one scriptural point, the door is open for any other scripture to be dismissed.

Any dream of the future elders might have that does not include Biblical authority would be, in reality, a nightmare. Any shepherds who do not provide a diet of command, example and inference along with their necessary corollaries has lost sight of what the future will require. Every question and every response will rest on a fundamental understanding of authority. For this reason elders are interested in explaining how to arrive at truth as much as they are interested in teaching the truth itself. They want people to be able to think for themselves and study on their own. That is why good shepherds give the sheep the tools they need to arrive at correct conclusions about Biblical truth. They are just as concerned about how to think as they are about what to think.

Too many people are content to let others do their thinking and their study for them. They allow the preacher and the Bible class teacher tell them what they need to know. Godly shepherds will do everything in their power to keep this from happening. They understand that while a congregation may be strong, individuals in the group are weak. Those weak Christians will only become strong when they get personal exercise and food. Watching others work and eat does not strengthen the weak member. Since elders know they will give account for the weak, they expend tremendous energy to build them up.

Since an elder’s vision for the future of the congregation rests on members knowing the truth, godly elders will not build artificial hedges in an effort to protect the weak. It is a temptation to overstate the requirements laid out by God for fear that those who are young in the faith or those having poor judgment will make a bad decision. To circumvent these problems it is not uncommon for well meaning Christians to go beyond what God actually teaches. For instance, if someone taught it was a sin for a woman to wear pants they would not be representing truth fairly. While there are many kinds of pants that are wrong because they are immodest, there are pants that are completely modest, more than some dresses. Modesty and proper judgment is what God teaches in His word. When the young Christian finally realizes wearing pants is not necessarily a sin, it would undermine the confidence they placed in their teachers. Rather than protecting them, such an experience could easily hinder their faith. What God actually says about modesty, dancing, slavery, alcohol, instrumental music and every other Bible topic is more than sufficient to protect His people. Anything beyond His word is wrong no matter how noble the intentions.

Every elder wants his flock to know God’s word. They heed the admonition of Paul in Ephesians 4: 15 where he says, "but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things unto Him who is the head, Christ." Any vision shepherds have for the future must include the truth, but it must also include a loving attitude. The warning Paul gives the Ephesian elders in Acts 20 about false teachers is counterbalanced by the condemnation John gives the church at Ephesus in Revelation. When John wrote to the Ephesian church he said, "I know your works, your labor, your patience, and how you cannot bear those who are evil. And you have tested those who say they are apostles and are not, and have found them liars." (Rev. 2:2). From this verse it is plain to see the elders and the congregation was unwilling to endure false teaching and false teachers. In spite of this wonderful commendation they were at fault. John goes on to say in verse 4, "nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love." There are numerous suggestions of what this might mean. One recurring idea is that the Ephesian church had lost its initial zeal and enthusiasm. Harkrider says, "They had lost the enthusiasm and fervor they once had when first forgiven of sins. They had ceased to remember the cross with its matchless love and sacrifice involved." Speaking the truth also includes the correct attitude. When we correct those in error, we need to do so with a heart filled with love. Shepherds will be just as concerned about the attitude as they are about the truth. Zeal for the truth springs from a heart filled with love for lost souls. When we understand what Jesus has done of us in redemption, we should naturally want to share this gift with everyone.

Speaking the truth from a heart of anger, frustration or disgust will not serve the cause of Christ. We can easily fall into the trap of self righteousness set by Satan. In Luke 18 Jesus addressed this exact problem. Notice what Luke says in Luke 18:9. "And He spoke this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others." Jesus tells the parable of the two men who went up to the temple to pray. One was a Pharisee while the other was a tax collector. The point of the parable was the humble, loving attitude of the tax collector contrasted with the smug, self righteous attitude of the Pharisee. Despising others because of their faults is not the way to win them to Christ. A local congregation is the place where people go for healing. The truth proclaimed from congregations should sound like offers for help not expressions of personal hatred. Elders play a key role in making sure a Christ like love is at the root of all teaching.