The Church & Her Leaders
1 Timothy 3:1-13 | Acts 20:28-35
Main Idea: Jesus’ church is designed to be led by elders who shepherd the flock and deacons who serve faithfully.
I. Elders Shepherd the Flock
Terminology: Overseers (20:28a), elders (20:17), and pastors (20:28b ‘care for the church’) are used interchangeably in the NT to address the same office & position, with elder occurring the most often. Elders are pastors and pastors are elders.
Who are Elders? Elders are called men of exemplary Christ-like character who lead in a particular local church
“Called” speaks to both “aspiring” (1 Tim. 3:1 &) to the office, confirmed & commended in the local church to ensure the Holy Spirit has brought this about (Acts 20:28)
“Men”: the office of elder is reserved for men in the Scriptures and it always appears as a plurality
“Christ-like character” (1 Tim. 3:2-7) is a necessity & qualification, not a preference
What do Elders do? Elders shepherd the flock of God by:
Knowing the Sheep, caring for the flock among them.
Feeding the Sheep (1 Tim. 3:2 | Acts 20:20, 27, 32), the word of God which is able to build up.
Leading the Sheep, both in example and in organization so that it might flourish.
Protecting the Sheep, from false teachers (Acts 20:29-31) & from the dangers of sin.
Why are Elders important?
Elders who lead faithfully as “under-shepherds” will keep watch over your soul while pointing you to the “Chief Shepherd,” the one who obtained the church “with his own blood” (20:28). They reflect the authority, heart, and voice of Jesus himself, all to the benefit of the flock.
Hebrews 13:7, 17: “Remember your leaders, those who spoke to you the word of God. Consider the outcome of their way of life, and imitate their faith… Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you.”
II. Deacons Serve the Flock
Elders serve by leading, while Deacons lead the church by serving.
Who are Deacons? Men and women of exemplary Christ-like character who lead by serving the church faithfully.
While the office of Elder is consistently reserved for men in the NT, the office of deacon is less clear:
“Their wives” (1 Tim. 3:11, ESV) is simply “women” in the Greek
Phoebe in Romans 16:1 is called a deacon, and seems to have some kind of official role in the church at Cenchrea
Women have served in the role of deacon throughout church history, from the early church to modern-day amongst churches that share our theological persuasion
Since deacons do not hold a ruling or teaching office over the whole church (as the elders do), appointing both men and women to the office of deacon best honors the unique & diverse gifts that God has given to the whole body of Christ.
What do Deacons do? Deacons serve the practical ministry needs & opportunities of the flock alongside the elders.
Acts 6:1-6 shows shows us 3 principles of the (future) role of deacons:
1. Deacons care for practical ministry needs and opportunities
2. Deacons are concerned for the unity of the church
Of the many lessons for deacons from Acts 6, perhaps most overlooked is their role in preserving congregational unity. The situation was no mere culinary quibble. The apostles were faced with a natural fault line that threatened to fracture the very unity Christ died to achieve. The gospel insists, after all, that our unity in Christ supersedes any worldly difference. So make no mistake: the apostles did not delegate this problem to others because it wasn’t important, but because it was. They could have imposed a swift, superficial solution and moved on. Instead they laid groundwork for an ongoing solution and a permanent church office.” ~ Matt Smethurst
3. Deacons work in a supportive role alongside the ministry of the elders
Why are Deacons important?
Deacons ensure that the ministry of the church is maintained, unified, and carried out, while they reflect the ultimate Servant who “came not to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” (Mk. 10:45)
