One of the many ways God cares for His people in this age is through shepherds or elders. This is God’s idea. We save ourselves a lot of mental stress when we accept this just as He presents it to us in the New Testament. To attempt to design some other scheme or program is a waste of energy and will never feed the flock well. It is evident from the New Testament that God’s intention is that believers find themselves under the care of spiritual elders. This was Paul’s intention too, according to Acts 14:23 and Titus 1:5.
We learn that elders are always a plurality. They are spiritual men of character. They handle things with discretion and confidently, being trustworthy with the sheep. They are to be mature in spiritual things and impartial in judgment. Elders are men of compassion for the flock, yet ready to act in fierce confrontation when the flock is attacked. They are men of spiritual discernment–able to detect error or evil in what might appear orthodox or spiritual on the surface.
The repeated emphasis throughout the New Testament with regard to elders is their ability to feed the flock in the Word of God and correct and refute error. This appears quite apart from a spiritual gift in teaching and preaching. Every elder needs to be a man who is well-read in the Scriptures, looking to them as the final authority and comprehensive application in the matters of the flock.
When the shepherds equip themselves in the Word of God they are equipped to feed and care in a way that is healthy and satisfying for the sheep. Notice the passionate appeals in the New Testament:
“Feed My lambs…feed My sheep…feed My sheep…” (Jn. 21:15-17).
“And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified” (Acts 20:32).
“Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honor, especially they who labor in the word and doctrine” (1 Tim. 5:17).
“For a bishop (elder) must be…holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers. For there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers…whose mouths must be stopped” (Titus 1:7, 9-11).
“The elders which are among you I exhort… Feed the flock of God…among you” (1 Pet. 5:1-2).
The flock can only be nourished when they are given a healthy diet of the Word. They have a sense of security when they know the elders are (with all their faults) men who are committed to the Bible. Any Christian who does not respond positively to this is exposing a spiritual problem that needs attention.
It is not a matter of the elders necessarily being gifted public teachers, although some may be. Many men can effectively communicate the truth of the Scriptures in private and less formal ways. Both are needed.
Elders need to recognize teaching gift in the assembly and encourage its development by giving opportunity. The Christians need to be exposed to itinerant gift given to the whole church (both full-time commended workers and employed men who are able to give of their time in this way).
It is not a matter of simply preaching at the saints and letting them fend for themselves. The truth must always be spoken in love. This is especially true of the shepherds.
This, however, will cost the shepherds in terms of time, hobbies, career and business opportunities. It will require sacrifice on the part of the elder’s family. It will mean being alert to even small pockets of time when the Word can be read, studied, or meditated on.
This takes real men. Spiritual wimps need not apply. But the rewards are more than worth it. To really feed the flock you need to give them the Word. It will more than satisfy, equip, nourish, and preserve them. It will enable you to “give account with joy” (Heb. 13:17) and will earn a “crown of glory that fadeth not away” (1 Pet. 5:4).