Acts 20; Elders

PastorRodney’s Weblog

12/29 Acts 20; Elders at ECB; Audio available at: http://www.ephraimbible.org/Sermons/20241229_elders.mp3

Our annual meeting for Ephraim Church of the Bible is scheduled for three weeks from today. Those meetings are important, because the members of this church have the responsibility to approve things like our budget, and the officers and leaders who serve this local church. This January is especially important, because we will be installing a plurality of elders who will serve our church body, so I thought it would be appropriate for these weeks leading up to our meeting, to look at some of the things the Bible has to say about elders.

Today we will look primarily at Acts 20.

[Pray]

Paul and Ephesus

Acts 20 is toward the end of Paul’s third missionary journey. On his second journey he passed briefly through Ephesus (Ac.18:19), and after he left, Apollos and Priscilla and Aquila ministered there. At the beginning of his third journey he spent about 3 years in Ephesus (Acts19:10), and after traveling through Macedonia and Achaia,

Acts 20:16 For Paul had decided to sail past Ephesus, so that he might not have to spend time in Asia, for he was hastening to be at Jerusalem, if possible, on the day of Pentecost. 17 Now from Miletus he sent to Ephesus and called the elders of the church to come to him.

Paul summoned the elders of the church in Ephesus so that he could give them some final instructions, as he did not expect to see them again.

Acts 20:18 And when they came to him, he said to them: “You yourselves know how I lived among you the whole time from the first day that I set foot in Asia, 19 serving the Lord with all humility and with tears and with trials that happened to me through the plots of the Jews; 20 how I did not shrink from declaring to you anything that was profitable, and teaching you in public and from house to house, 21 testifying both to Jews and to Greeks of repentance toward God and of faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. 22 And now, behold, I am going to Jerusalem, constrained by the Spirit, not knowing what will happen to me there, 23 except that the Holy Spirit testifies to me in every city that imprisonment and afflictions await me. 24 But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God. 25 And now, behold, I know that none of you among whom I have gone about proclaiming the kingdom will see my face again. 26 Therefore I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all, 27 for I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole counsel of God.

Example of Service to the Lord

Paul held himself up as an example for them to follow. First of all, he served the Lord with all humility. He served the church, but he was not a servant of the church. His assignment was from the Lord Jesus, and he reported directly to him. The service he rendered in Ephesus was service to the Lord. He kept it clear who he was serving, and who he was seeking to please.

His service consisted of living among them in humility, declaring and teaching (both publicly and privately) and bearing witness to all of repentance toward God and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. He testified to the good news of the grace of God. He boldly and faithfully declared the whole council of God. He didn’t communicate only what was convenient or comfortable. He was a messenger sent by the Lord, so he faithfully communicated the message with which he had been entrusted.

Paul kept his eye on the gospel and communicated it fully and clearly. He kept the good news of grace to sinners through the cross of Jesus central to everything he said and did.

Elders Oversee and Shepherd

Paul now exhorts the elders of Ephesus:

Acts 20:28 Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood.

Notice that he is addressing the elders of the church. ‘Elders’ is plural; there was a group of men who served the church in Ephesus. Here in verse 28 he calls them ‘overseers’. ‘Elder’ literally means ‘older’; [πρεσβύτερος – where we get words like presbyter and Presbyterian]; ‘elder’ is a title that points to maturity and experience that deserves respect. ‘Overseer’ [ἐπίσκοπος] points to the function; overseers keep a lookout, pay careful attention, and watch over. The KJV used the Old English word ‘Bishop’ to translate ‘overseer’.

Elders are called to watch over the flock, and they are told to shepherd [ποιμαίνω] the church. Shepherds herd sheep. They lead the sheep to pasture, where they can eat, where they will be safe. Shepherds care for sheep. The Latin word for shepherd is ‘pastor’. Elders are also called overseers, who pay careful attention to the flock and shepherd the church.

Weighty Responsibility

Look at the weighty responsibility these men carry; ‘shepherd the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood.’ The church was obtained with the precious blood of Jesus, the very blood of God. The church is highly treasured by God, and those who are entrusted with her care will be held to a high standard. Jesus said:

John 10:8 All who came before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. … 11 ​I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.

Hebrews says:

Hebrews 13:17 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.

And James:

James 3:1 Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness.

This is why Paul warns ‘pay careful attention to yourselves, and to all the flock.’ Those entrusted with the care of others must continually be checking their own hearts and motives before God.

Holy Spirit Appointed

Notice also where these men come from; When Paul and Barnabas first brought the gospel to Asia Minor:

Acts 14:21 When they had preached the gospel to that city [Derbe] and had made many disciples, they returned to Lystra and to Iconium and to Antioch, 22 strengthening the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to continue in the faith, and saying that through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God. 23 And when they had appointed elders [πρεσβυτερους] for them in every church, with prayer and fasting they committed them to the Lord in whom they had believed.

Paul and Barnabas appointed elders. Paul writes to Titus;

Titus 1:5 This is why I left you in Crete, so that you might put what remained into order, and appoint elders in every town as I directed you—

But here in Acts 20, Paul says ‘the Holy Spirit has made you overseers’. This is a divine commission. So which is it? Are elders appointed by people, or are they given that role by God’s Holy Spirit? The answer is yes; God makes men overseers, and our duty is to recognize and install those men who by their character, gifting and calling God has made overseers.

When Paul called for the elders of the church to meet him in Miletus, the church knew who to send. This was a group of men that was recognized by the church.

Warned of Wolves

Acts 20:28 Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood.

He goes on to warn them of wolves:

Acts 20:29 I know that after my departure fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; 30 and from among your own selves will arise men speaking twisted things, to draw away the disciples after them.

We are warned of wolves from without and within. We expect wolves from outside, seeking to prey on the sheep. But we ought not be surprised when wolves arise even within the leadership of the church. This is why we must pay careful attention to ourselves; leadership is precarious; it takes conscious intentionality to keep from becoming puffed up, to keep making disciples of Jesus and guard against drawing away disciples after oneself. We must have the heart of John the Baptist;

John 3:29 The one who has the bride is the bridegroom. The friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly at the bridegroom’s voice. Therefore this joy of mine is now complete. 30 He must increase, but I must decrease.”

Remember, Paul held up humility as essential in the heart of a leader.

Gospel Confidence

Acts 20:31 Therefore be alert, remembering that for three years I did not cease night or day to admonish every one with tears.

This may seem daunting, even debilitating to any who are called to lead. But there is hope.

Acts 20:32 And now I commend you to God and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance among all those who are sanctified.

What gospel saturated hope! We are entrusted to God and to the word of his grace. God is able. His good news of grace is able to build us up. His grace is able to secure our salvation. He is able

Jude 1:24 Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy,

Not that anyone is in and of themselves blameless, but the gospel washes us clean and makes us new inside, gives a new heart, new desires, new affections. The gospel is that powerful, powerful enough to displace my pride, to create an overruling desire to please the one who called me, to give all glory to him, because he alone is worthy.

Paul attests that this has been true in his own life. He has experienced it.

Acts 20;33 I coveted no one’s silver or gold or apparel. 34 You yourselves know that these hands ministered to my necessities and to those who were with me. 35 In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”

Covetousness put to death. An elder must not be greedy for gain. A heart transformed by the lavish generosity of Jesus to be generous to others.

Acts 20:36 And when he had said these things, he knelt down and prayed with them all.

Paul took prayer seriously. He lived life in the presence of God. He said he commended them to God and to his grace, and right there and then he knelt down and entrusted them to God.

Conclusion/recap

Elders, men with maturity and wisdom; overseers who watch over the flock, who shepherd the church.

Elders serve the Lord with all humility.

Elders declare, teach and testify to the good news of God’s grace toward sinners who are forgiven through faith in Jesus Christ. It is the gospel that gives hope of cleansing, transformation and new affections.

Elders take their responsibility seriously, and pay close attention to their own hearts.

Elders are made by the Holy Spirit and recognized by the church.

Elders’ lives are to be characterized by prayer.

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Pastor Rodney Zedicher ~ Ephraim Church of the Bible ~ www.ephraimbible.org