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Elders As Shepherds

Acts 20:28 "Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood.

29 "For I know this, that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock.

Elders As Shepherds

Acts 20:28 "Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood.

29 "For I know this, that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock.

Elders As Shepherds

Acts 20:28 "Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood.

29 "For I know this, that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock.

Elders As Shepherds

Acts 20:28 "Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood.

29 "For I know this, that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock.

Few Can Fill The Office

it is an office of most awful responsibility; few there are who can fill it; and, of those who occupy this high and awful place, perhaps we may say there are fewer still who discharge the duties of it.

Elders As Shepherds

1 Peter 5:2 Shepherd the flock of God which is among you, serving as overseers, not by compulsion but willingly, not for dishonest gain but eagerly

David Was A Shepherd vs 2 as the shepherd—makes me (his sheep) to

lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters.

3 He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness For His name's sake.

4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.

5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil

Shepherds Who Fail

Prophesy against the shepherds of Israel

You eat the fat and clothe yourselves The weak you have not strengthened Nor bound up the broken Nor brought back what was driven

away Nor sought what was lost

Shepherds Who Fail

Am I more concerned about me or about you?

We all need spiritual food, but who should need it more?

Have I worked to heal those sick in sin, or better still have I done all I can to prevent the sickness in the first place?

Shepherds Who Fail

Have I worked to bring back members of this flock who was driven away by Satan?

Have I ruled with force and cruelty as did these shepherds of Israel?

The sheep are scattered, lost to sin, because ‘there was no shepherd.’

Shepherds Who Fail

My sheep are gone—scattered, because my shepherds did not do their job.

Shepherds Who Fail

Before one sheep is lost from this flock, I should know that sheep well enough to know his or her weaknesses, to encourage, to instruct, and to pull that person away from the threats of Satan.

Elders As Servant-Leaders

A king-servant The leader, yet one who serves The shepherds in the church lead by

serving the congregation and in so doing serving our God

Elders As Servant-Leaders

One bowing as it were, lowly kneeling to wash the feet of another

This time it is the Savior of the world washing feet

Unlike King Rehoboam, this King shows us how to be real servant-leaders

Elders As Servant-Leaders

Approach the work eagerly, as leaders finding the way through the valley of the shadow of death, looking for the peace of green pastures with still waters. As a servant, willing to wash feet. All the time knowing the value of your sheep—the price paid was His own blood.

Know Your Shepherds

1 Thess 5:12 And we urge you, brethren, to recognize those who labor among you, and are over you in the Lord and admonish you,

13 and to esteem them very highly in love for their work's sake. Be at peace among yourselves.

Elders Are To Rule Well

1 Timothy 5:17 Let the elders who rule well be counted worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in the word and doctrine.

19 Do not receive an accusation against an elder except from two or three witnesses.

Be Sumissive

Hebrews 13:17 Obey those who rule over you, and be submissive, for they watch out for your souls, as those who must give account. Let them do so with joy and not with grief, for that would be unprofitable for you.

Your Responsibilities

recognize those who labor among you

esteem them very highly in love for their work's sake

be at peace among yourselves obey those who rule over you be submissive

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