If you are a Pastor, Elder or Overseer, you have great responsibility. Elder and overseer may be read synonymously, as according to Titus 1:5-7, the appointment of elders (v.5) is directly linked to the qualifications of overseer (v.7) by the conjunction "namely" (v.6). (ESV and NASB render this best).
James says that "greater judgement we shall receive" as teachers (Jam. 3:1), and for this reason, not many should become teachers, but Paul says that God Himself calls pastors and teachers (Eph. 4:1), and one of the qualifications of an elder is the ability to exhort and refute (in sound doctrine) (Tit. 1:9) and to teach (1 Tim. 3:1). So if you are called as an elder, you are (a) called by God; and (b) called to teach.
Called by God
When Jesus saw the crowds, He had compassion because they were like sheep without a shepherd (Matt. 9:36) and used this as an illustration to His disciples for the need for workers to harvest the plentiful crop, and to plead with God to send the workers. As an Elder/overseer, you are a response to that prayer, and have been called.
"...I could hold on to who I am and never let You
Change me from the inside
And I could be safe
... here in Your arms and never leave home
Never let these walls down
But You have called me higher
You have called me deeper..."
Has God called you as a believer, a Christ-follower? Has he further called you to leadership as an Elder, Overseer or Pastor? Will you sincerely obey and pray the last line of the song, "And I'll go where You will lead me Lord"? When you pray this, don't do it lightly or complacently, because as we seek to be like Christ, remember that The Good Shepherd lays down His life for the sheep (John 10).
Shepherding is challenging: A shepherd's primary tools are the rod and the staff (Psalm 23). The Psalmist says "Your rod and your staff comfort me." As a sheep is to the shepherd, so we are to Jesus, the Great Shepherd. As the rod offers protection, so does the Holy Spirit protect us. As the shepherd's staff is a guide to the sheep, so does the Holy Spirit guide us. But there's another angle to this: the rod is also a measure of discipline. In his classic book, "A Shepherd Looks at Psalm 23", W. Phillip Keller says, "If a shepherd saw a sheep wandering away on its own, or approaching poisonous weeds, or getting too close to danger of one sort or another, the club would go whistling through the air to send the wayward animal scurrying back to the bunch." (p.83) Nobody likes being disciplined, and nobody likes implementing it. Maybe that is why we are not good at it, and often let disciplinary issues slide, to the detriment of the sheep.
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. (Col 3:16 ESV). In The Lost Art of Lingering, Forman says that admonition is "one of the least popular and least employed" biblical commands used by Christ-followers because we like to keep the peace. One of the reasons he offers for this reluctance to admonish is that we have become conformed to this world. Pray to God that this is not true! He also says that "admonition demands that we turn disobedient christians around" which requires backbone and a strong relational bridge. Strive to get relational credit in the bank of leadership so that when it is required, you can make a withdrawal! Your courage comes from the Holy Spirit; your relationship is solidly founded in Jesus.
Called to teach
Ours is not to lord it over them as some in worldy authority would do (Mt. 20:25, Mk. 10:42, Lk 22:25) but in gentleness guide and teach the flock. In Acts 6, we have the account of the disciples being tempted to neglect the teaching in order to serve at the tables. They recognised the importance and responsibility to teach the Word of God and ensured that it remained a priority. Other distractions and temptations were dealt with promptly.
Pray for opportunities to teach corporately and privately; in small groups and individually. Jesus spent time with the crowds, the 12 disciples, the 3 disciples, and individuals. Paul spent time teaching the church, and devoted time to Timothy. Seek and respond to teaching opportunities.
Some resources:
Afshin Ziafat's message on Eldership
http://www.podcastchart.com/podcasts/southeastern-baptist-theological-seminary-audio-podcast/episodes/afshin-ziafat-what-elders-are-called-to-be-and-do-acts-20-28
(As an aside, a comment related to Afshin's message but not directly on-point with this blog post: In his sermon, Afshin makes reference to the book, "I Would Die for You" by authors Brent & Deanna Higgins. This is a hard-hitting story about BJ Higgins' love for Jesus and his willingness to obey to the point of death. I have read the book and recommend it.)
The Lost Art of Lingering
https://www.amazon.com.au/Lost-Art-Lingering-Mentoring-Transformation-ebook/dp/B00DUWC0PS/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1469248291&sr=8-1&keywords=lost+art+of+lingering
Coaching Life Changing Small Group Leaders; an EXCELLENT resource. SG Leaders - not really relevant for your role. I’ve spent a lot of time in this book, and it really is geared for coaching.
https://www.amazon.com.au/Coaching-Life-Changing-Small-Group-Leaders-ebook/dp/B0058CVWGG/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1469246649&sr=8-2&keywords=coaching+life+changing
Leading Life Changing Small Groups: This one IS for SG Leaders!
https://www.amazon.com.au/Leading-Life-Changing-Small-Groups-Copies-ebook/dp/B006BEVXIC/ref=sr_1_5?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1469246755&sr=1-5
References:
Casting Crowns, Called Me Higher, 2016, https://www.castingcrowns.com/called-me-higher-lyrics/ (accessed 23/7/16)
Casting Crowns photo from www.castingcrowns.com (23/7/16)
Forman, R., The Lost Art of Lingering, 2013 Kindle Edition, Confia, Amazon.com.au
Keller, W. Phillip, A Shepherd Looks at Psalm 23, 1970, 2007, Zondervan, Grand Rapids
Wolf photo from http://americaoutloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/WolfSheep.jpg (23/7/16)
