The Work of Elders

2. The Work of Elders Part 2

3. The work of elders • God’s work as a shepherd, modeled from Psalm 23 • The work spelled out in their job description • Elders- mature, teachers, able to discern as judges • Overseers- oversee the work of watching for souls, rescuers

4. Impertinence with Jewish leaders • The man answered, “Why, this is an amazing thing! You do not know where he comes from, and yet he opened my eyes. We know that God does not listen to sinners, but if anyone is a worshiper of God and does his will, God listens to him. Never since the world began has it been heard that anyone opened the eyes of a man born blind. If this man were not from God, he could do nothing.” (John 9:30-33 ESV)

5. Given a chance to believe, he did! • Jesus heard that they had cast him out, and having found him he said, “Do you believe in the Son of Man?” He answered, “And who is he, sir, that I may believe in him?” Jesus said to him, “You have seen him, and it is he who is speaking to you.” He said, “Lord, I believe,” and he worshiped him. (John 9:35-38 ESV)

6. Jesus rebukes them as shepherd/leaders • Jesus said, “For judgment I came into this world, that those who do not see may see, and those who see may become blind.” Some of the Pharisees near him heard these things, and said to him, “Are we also blind?” Jesus said to them, “If you were blind, you would have no guilt; but now that you say, ‘We see,’ your guilt remains. (John 9:39-41 ESV)

7. John 10:1, Uses image of the city fold • Doorkeeper with several flocks • Shepherd calls his sheep • They know his voice • Won’t follow a stranger • Those who listen are Jesus’ sheep

8. John 10:6, Uses image of the country fold • Shepherd IS the door • Shepherd is provision • Shepherd is protection • There is relationship • Shepherd cares for other sheep • Pharisee/leaders/shepherds did none of this

9. Jesus is the model shepherd • ““Truly, truly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door but climbs in by another way, that man is a thief and a robber. But he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. (John 10:1-2 ESV) He enters openly, with good motives

10. Jesus is the model shepherd • To him the gatekeeper opens. The sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. (John 10:3 ESV) He has a relationship with his sheep

11. Jesus is the model shepherd • When he has brought out all his own, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. A stranger they will not follow, but they will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers.” (John 10:4-5) He leads because they follow, they know his voice

12. Jesus is the model shepherd • He who is a hired hand and not a shepherd, who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. He flees because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep. (John 10:12-13) He doesn’t flee in difficult times

13. Jesus is the model shepherd • I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, (John 10:14 ESV) The good shepherd knows his sheep, it is not that they just know his voice.

14. Ezekiel 34 and shepherding • “Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel; prophesy, and say to them, even to the shepherds, Thus says the Lord GOD: Ah, shepherds of Israel who have been feeding yourselves! Should not shepherds feed the sheep? You eat the fat, you clothe yourselves with the wool, you slaughter the fat ones, but you do not feed the sheep. (Ezekiel 34:2-3 ESV) “Hirelings” motives are selfish, self-serving

15. Ezekiel 34 and shepherding • The weak you have not strengthened, the sick you have not healed, the injured you have not bound up, the strayed you have not brought back, the lost you have not sought, and with force and harshness you have ruled them. (Ezekiel 34:4 ESV) “Hirelings” uncaring, unsympathetic, and they ruled harshly

16. Ezekiel 34 and shepherding • So they were scattered, because there was no shepherd, and they became food for all the wild beasts. (Ezekiel 34:5 ESV) “Hirelings” were not alert, abandoned sheep as prey

17. Ezekiel 34 and shepherding • I will feed them with good pasture, and on the mountain heights of Israel shall be their grazing land. There they shall lie down in good grazing land, and on rich pasture they shall feed on the mountains of Israel. I myself will be the shepherd of my sheep, and I myself will make them lie down, declares the Lord GOD. I will seek the lost, and I will bring back the strayed, and I will bind up the injured, and I will strengthen the weak, and the fat and the strong I will destroy. I will feed them in justice. (Ezekiel 34:14-16 ESV) Different intentions for the church

18. Ezekiel 34 and shepherding • “Therefore, thus says the Lord GOD to them: Behold, I, I myself will judge between the fat sheep and the lean sheep. Because you push with side and shoulder, and thrust at all the weak with your horns, till you have scattered them abroad, I will rescue my flock; they shall no longer be a prey. And I will judge between sheep and sheep. (Ezekiel 34:20-22 ESV) Bullies and bosses will be judged

19. HOW shall shepherds feed/protect the flock? • He must hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught, so that he may be able to give instruction in sound doctrine and also to rebuke those who contradict it. (Titus 1:9 ESV) “healthy teaching” NET

20. Must a shepherd be a teacher? • YES! • The elders of Israel were/are teachers • They oversee the work of watching for souls • They feed, protect, care for the flock of God They exhort, encourage, refute, silence, reprove, and do all things to edify by use of sound and healthy doctrine