Elders: Primary Tasks / Functions, Part 1

Driving home: Now few matters are of more crucial importance to the well-being of any church than the answers we both give and live by with respect to the church. Respect to these questions.

The analogy of a king, his captains, and quartermasters in an army is used to illustrate the king's commands regarding the functions, authority, and relationships of church officers.

Now today we take up the fifth crucial aspect of a biblically framed standard for church officers. And we shall address as the fifth element of this biblically established standard, the biblical standard for the specific functions, authority, and mutual relationship of these officers. The biblical standard for the specific functions, authority, and mutual relationship of these officers. Now in opening up this avenue of concern, we'll be addressing such things as, what has the king commanded his captains to do in the ordering of his army? Going back to the analogy of two weeks ago. What duties ...

0:04 - 1:05 Read in full sermon

The point: Do not be weary in whatever mental and spiritual energy is essential to come to distinct scriptural views on this critical subject of church officers.

An extended quotation from John Brown's commentary on 1 Peter is used to underscore the crucial importance of submission to office bearers and the dangers of both tyrannical leadership and congregational anarchy.

Or when is the congregation guilty of taking too much upon themselves when God has not given such authority to them? Now few matters are of more crucial importance to the well-being of any church than the answers we both give and live by with respect to the church. Respect to these questions. For both the Bible and church history constitute a sad saga of the ruin and wreckage that comes in the wake of the tyranny of unbiblically exercised authority on the one hand, and the anarchy of unbiblical independence on the part of the congregation on the other. Now John Brown in his classic commentary ...

1:37 - 2:53 Read in full sermon

Driving home: If Christ heard and he is first Peter five, four, when the chief in a context where he says to the lesser. Shepherds, you El Shepard, the flock, are we prepared to have authority to his people than his people have one to…

The contemporary term 'facilitator' is used as a negative example to contrast with the biblical role of a shepherd, arguing that it diminishes the elder's comprehensive responsibility.

Where elders are mere. And this is the in word, if you don't know it. Facilitators. You know, that's the in word.

14:53 - 15:00 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: Addressing concerns that human shepherds denigrate Christ's headship, Martin uses Old Testament examples (Moses, Aaron, David) to show that God appoints lesser shepherds who…

The Old Testament example of Jehovah as Israel's shepherd, who also led His people 'by the hand of Moses and Aaron,' illustrates how human shepherds do not detract from Christ's unique glory as Chief Shepherd.

shepherds. They give a form for the care of the flock. And there are some who think that to take that position, though it seems to me patent in the passages, is to denigrate on the one hand the headship of Christ as the chief shepherd, and to denigrate the realities of new covenant blessings resident among the sheep on the other hand. But you see, you must not set up a dichotomy that is not recognized in the word of God. Now let me illustrate it from two clear Old Testament passages. Who was the shepherd of Israel? You say Jehovah. Exactly. The Israel is my shepherd.

17:42 - 18:33 Read in full sermon

Driving home: And there's a qualitative difference between the sheep who are led, and the shepherd who leads. And the shepherd who leads them is to distort the word of God and to fly into the face of the wisdom of Jesus Christ, who ha…

Psalm 78:70-72, describing David as the shepherd of Jacob, is used as a second Old Testament example to show that God appoints human shepherds to lead His people.

Pray it out loud. Pray it out loud. Amazing of David, verse 70, he chose David also his servant, and took him from the sheepfolds, from following the ewes that have their young, he brought them, now notice, to be the shepherd of Jacob his people, and Israel his inheritance. So he was their shepherd, according to the integrity of his heart, and guided them by the skillfulness of his hands.

21:21 - 21:54 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: Martin outlines the first two distinctive functions of a shepherd: securing wholesome food for the sheep (requiring elders to be apt teachers) and protecting the sheep from…

The story of David protecting his father's sheep from a lion and a bear (1 Samuel 17) is used as a vivid example of a shepherd's responsibility to protect the flock from predators, applied to elders protecting the church from heretics and divisive people.

You children will remember this in 1 Samuel 17. When David shows up there on the plains where that big giant was bragging and mocking God and his people. And David says I'm ready to take him on in the name of Jehovah. And they try to shut up David.

29:52 - 30:12 Read in full sermon

The point: Do not be spiritually stupid by resenting shepherds who lovingly butt into your life to help with spiritual sickness.

An analogy of a sick sheep kicking and resisting a shepherd who is trying to heal it is used to illustrate the foolishness of professing Christians who resent elders 'butting into their lives' for spiritual care.

Aggressively to seek out the wandering, the sick, the diseased, the feeble with a view to restoring them to the flock. Now what happens you see when a shepherd does this with dumb attitude? Animal sheep? We would think it utterly incongruous if the sheep could think and talk.

37:21 - 37:38 Read in full sermon

The point: Do not resent shepherds checking up on your spiritual attendance or involvement, as they are protecting you from the enemy.

Jesus' use of the simile of a shepherd separating sheep from goats (Matthew 25) is explained as a common function of shepherds, illustrating the elder's responsibility to discern and separate true believers from false ones in the church.

And you don't use similes as figures of speech. When you're trying to be understood and use as the likeness something that people don't know anything about.

41:19 - 41:30 Read in full sermon

The point: Pastors should commit to their flock for life, not engaging in 'corporation ladder climbing' for bigger salaries or perks.

Martin shares a personal anecdote from his early itinerant ministry, observing pastors who frequently moved churches for 'corporation ladder climbing,' contrasting this with the true shepherd's commitment to his flock.

Pastors in our day is sickening. I remember encountering it as a relative stripling like David in my early twenties. When I was in the itinerant ministry. Going around little churches across this country.

49:57 - 50:12 Read in full sermon

The point: Pastors should commit to their flock for life, not engaging in 'corporation ladder climbing' for bigger salaries or perks.

Martin shares a personal story of enduring slander and criticism, explaining that he does so out of love for his congregation, demonstrating the self-sacrificial spirit of a true shepherd.

And I vowed under God if he ever made me a shepherd. It was a commitment in principle for life until God wrenched me loose from it. My flesh. Sure my flesh likes it.

50:48 - 51:01 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: Martin emphasizes that all shepherding functions must be discharged in the spirit and disposition of the Chief Shepherd, Jesus Christ, characterized by self-sacrificial love. He…

Martin recounts an instance of 'tough love' with a man who threatened suicide, illustrating that true pastoral love sometimes requires shocking honesty to bring someone to deal with God.

To be true shepherds to your souls. Because we love you. The man sitting here this morning. Who one time was in such bad spiritual shape.

52:38 - 52:49 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: Martin emphasizes that all shepherding functions must be discharged in the spirit and disposition of the Chief Shepherd, Jesus Christ, characterized by self-sacrificial love. He…

The analogy of shepherds removing ticks from sheep is used to illustrate elders confronting sin and spiritual problems in congregants' lives, even when it is uncomfortable or resisted.

I can say those things with him sitting here. And I have his conscience on my side. There are others of you. You've been straying sheep.

53:25 - 53:31 Read in full sermon