Out in the Pasture
Out in the Pasture: Elders & The Church – Kenneth Mick
Argyle Church of Christ, Jacksonville, FL
November 12, 2006
Jesus is in the front as our example – the pioneer. We are looking for the roots of leadership.
“Out in the pasture” means hands on and in the field. If you are a true leader, people will be following you. If you look behind you and no one is there, you are merely out for a walk.
Acts 20:17-21 From Miletus, Paul sent to Ephesus for the elders of the church. When they arrived, he said to them: “You know how I lived the whole time I was with you, from the first day I came into the province of Asia. I served the Lord with great humility and with tears, although I was severely tested by the plots of the Jews. You know that I have not hesitated to preach anything that would be helpful to you but have taught you publicly and from house to house. I have declared to both Jews and Greeks that they must turn to God in repentance and have faith in our Lord Jesus.
I. Central to everything we are is this response:
A. Turn to God in repentance
1. You are not where you want to be. You open your eyes and ask, “How
did I get here?”
2. God knows more about living your life than you do.
3. Repentance: changing direction, asking God where He wants you to be.
B. Have faith in our Lord Jesus.
1. It is easy to get lost focusing on job, world, cars, kids….
2. Don’t lose sight about God’s direction – relying on Jesus
II. Paul as a model for elders:
Acts: 20:22 And now, compelled by the Spirit, I am going to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there. I only know that in every city the Holy Spirit warns me that prison and hardships are facing me. However, I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the gospel of God’s grace.
A. If you have placed faith in our Lord Jesus, life is not random happenings.
There is supposed to be Spirit influence in your life.
B. Three anchors in life
1. Repentance
2. Faith in our Lord Jesus
3. Gospel of God’s grace
a. Jesus is worthy – balanced with our own unworthiness
b. God has made up for our inadequacy
C. Paul’s words are risky
1. “If you want to do this, be more like me.”
2. Jesus made himself accountable: (John 8:29;42) “Which one of you convicts me of sin.” “I always do the will of my father.”
3. Paul is confident people could see Jesus manifest in himself.
Acts: 20:31 – So be on your guard! Remember that for three years I never stopped warning each of you night and day with tears.
D. Paul’s model
1. Sacrifice, humility and tenacity (“blood, sweat and tears”)
Acts 20:33-35 I have not coveted anyone’s silver or gold or clothing. You yourselves know that these hands of mine have supplied my own needs and the needs of my companions. In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said:” It is more blessed to give than to receive.”
2. Paul is asking for a demonstration of the words in their lives
3. Points to Jesus – learn from Him
a. It is more blessed to give than to receive
b. It challenges us to believe Jesus when it doesn’t “sound.”
4. Paul is saying to the elders at Ephesus
a. Expend yourself on behalf of other people
b. I made a mid-course correction in my life to embrace Jesus
in faith (this man has credibility) - be like me in following Jesus as one who lives sacrificially for the benefit of others.
III. Pointedly to elders:
Acts: 20:28-30 Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God, which he bought with his own blood. I know that after I leave, savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare the flock. Even from your own number men will arise and distort the truth in order to draw away disciples after them.
A. Watch over yourselves
B. Insure your own integrity and character
1. When you are in a leadership position, integrity issues and character
issues bubble up.
2. You all know horror stories of church leaders
C. Demonstrate sacrifice and commitment
D. Watch the flock (herding and feeding)
1. Shepherds feed the church of God
2. Shepherds protect from wolves that threaten
a. False teaching - distorting truth
b. Those who draw away disciples after them
3. Protect the weak
Ezekiel 34: 1-8 A message came to me from the Lord. He said, “Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel. Tell them, ‘The Lord and King says, “How terrible it will be for you shepherds of Israel! You only take care of yourselves. You should take good care of your flocks. Instead, you eat the butter. You dress yourselves with the wool. You kill the finest animals. But you do not take care of your flocks. You have not made the weak ones in the flock stronger. You have not healed the sick. You have not bandaged those that are hurt. You have not brought back those that have wandered away. You have not searched for the lost. When you ruled over them, you were mean to them. You treated them badly. ‘ “So they were scattered because they did not have a shepherd. They became food for all of the wild animals. My sheep wandered all over the mountains and high hills. They were scattered over the whole earth. No one searched for them. No one looked for them.” ” ‘Shepherds, listen to the Lord’s message. He says, “My flock does not have a shepherd. Many of my sheep have been stolen. They have become food for all of the wild animals. My shepherds did not care for my sheep. They did not even search for them. Instead, they only took care of themselves. And that is just as sure as I am alive,” announces the Lord and King.
E. Elders are trustees of transition (moving the church to the point God wants it
to be
F. Don’t lose sight
1. With all the concerns of making a church function – profit/loss,
workman’s comp, mortgage payments and parking lot issues, we
can lose sight of searching for the lost and strengthening the weak
G. The Holy Spirit has made you:
1. Overseers, Bishops, Supervisors, Managers (Episkopeo – Gk)
a. Hands on visiting and care
b. Being present in the field
c. Sharing the wisdom and skill of living the good news of
redemption
d. Serving families in desperate times: loneliness, sadness,
finances
2. Servants of “blood, sweat and tears”, not board members
H. Jesus through Paul says: Now I commit you to God and to the word of his grace, which can build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified. (Acts 20:32)
1. Operating on your own wisdom is not a true leader
2. If your nose is in the word, letting the message define for you God’s call to service for others: that is a true leader
Character sketches of elders from I Timothy and Titus
What follow are descriptions of “watching yourselves” – these “lists” describe personal integrity and ethical behavior that would suggest men are holding themselves to higher standards in their quest to be Godly men.
I Timothy 3:1-7
Here is a saying you may trust:
“To aspire to leadership is an honorable ambition.”
A bishop, therefore, must be above reproach,
husband of one wife, sober, temperate, courteous, hospitable,
and a good teacher.
He must not be given to drink or brawling,
but be of a forbearing disposition, avoiding quarrels,
and not avaricious [greedy].
He must be one who manages his own household well
and controls his children without losing his dignity,
For if a man does not know how to manage his own family,
How can he take charge of a congregation of God’s people?
He should not be a recent convert; conceit might bring on him the devil’s punishment.
He must moreover have a good reputation with the outside world,
so that he may not be exposed to scandal and be caught in the devil’s snare.
Titus 1:5-9
My intention in leaving you behind in Crete was that you should deal with any outstanding matters, and in particular should appoint elders in each town
in accordance with the principles I have laid down:
Are they men of unimpeachable character?
Is each the husband of one wife?
Are their children believers, not open to any charge of sensual extravagance or indiscipline?
For as God’s steward a bishop must be a man of unimpeachable character.
He must not be overbearing or short-tempered or given to drink;
no brawler, no money-grubber,
but hospitable, right minded, temperate, just, devout and self-controlled.
He must keep firm hold of the true doctrine, so that he may be well able
both to appeal to his hearers with sound teaching and to refute those who raise objections.
Listen to the Audio Sermon Here
11.12.2006 Ken Mick: “Out in the Pasture: Elders and the Church”
(Acts 20)
Download it here
