A Call to Eldership

1 Timothy 3

​Only the Holy Spirit of God can really make a man an overseer of believers by placing a humble calling and a passionate burden in their heart to serve His church as His servant.
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“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,” Acts 20:28 (ESV)

The Holy Spirit lays a burden on a man’s heart to take up this important work and equips him for it. It is impossible to make a man a bishop, pastor, or elder by just voting him into office or by ordaining him as one would a popularity contest or political position. The responsibility of the local assembly is to recognize these men in their midst who have been made elders by God’s Holy Spirit.

“We ask you, brothers, to respect those who labor among you and are over you in the Lord and admonish you, 13 and to esteem them very highly in love because of their work. Be at peace among yourselves.” 1 Thessalonians 5:12-13 (ESV)

“Overseer” is interchangeable in the NT with the term elder. It’s also interchangeable with the office of pastor, because overseers and elders are charged with the pastoral duty of “shepherding” and serving as the final human authority in the church.

“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— 6 if anyone is above reproach, the husband of one wife, and his children are believers and not open to the charge of debauchery or insubordination. 7 For an overseer, as God’s steward, must be above reproach. He must not be arrogant or quick-tempered or a drunkard or violent or greedy for gain, 8 but hospitable, a lover of good, self-controlled, upright, holy, and disciplined. 9 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 1:5-13 (ESV)

It is true that we find the appointment of elders in the book of Titus, but there it was simply a matter of Titus’ singling out those men who had the qualifications of elders. At the time of Paul’s letters 1 Timothy and Titus, the followers of Jesus did not have the New Testament in printed form, as we have it today—in print and at our fingertips; therefore, they did not know what the exact qualifications for bishops, pastors or elders were. So, Paul sent Titus to them with this information and instructed Titus to set apart those men who had been raised up by the Spirit of God for the work.

"According to the Believer’s Bible Commentary, “The recognition of elders by a local assembly might be quite informal. It often happens that Christians instinctively know who their elders are because they have acquainted themselves with the qualifications of elders in 1 Timothy 3 and Titus 1. On the other hand, the recognition of elders may be a more formal procedure. A local church might gather together for the express purpose of publicly recognizing the elders. In this case, the procedure usually is to read the pertinent Scripture passages, to have them expounded, and then to have the local Christians designate whom they consider to be the elders in that assembly. The names are then announced to the entire congregation. If a church does not have qualified elders, then its only resource is to pray that the Lord will raise up such men in days to come.” Believer’s Bible Commentary: Old and New Testaments. (A. Farstad, Ed.) (pp. 2085–2086). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

If a man desires the position of a bishop, pastor, or elder, he desires a good work. There is the tendency to think this is a dignified, ecclesiastical office, entailing little or no responsibility, whereas an overseer is actually a humble service among the people of God; it is a difficult work.

Being a leader of God’s people is a serious task, and no one should accept an office who is not qualified and willing to use that office to help the church become more like Jesus and equip them to do the work of Jesus by sharing the Gospel with everyone, everywhere, discipling others, and serving others.

“The saying is trustworthy: If anyone aspires to the office of overseer, he desires a noble task. 2 Therefore an overseer must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, sober-minded, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, 3 not a drunkard, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. 4 He must manage his own household well, with all dignity keeping his children submissive, 5 for if someone does not know how to manage his own household, how will he care for God’s church? 6 He must not be a recent convert, or he may become puffed up with conceit and fall into the condemnation of the devil. 7 Moreover, he must be well thought of by outsiders, so that he may not fall into disgrace, into a snare of the devil.” 1 Timothy 3:1–7 (ESV)

God’s people are like sheep; they need shepherds to watch over them, protect them, and lead them. Pray for your spiritual leaders that they might more and more be what God wants them to be.

“Deacons likewise must be dignified, not double-tongued, not addicted to much wine, not greedy for dishonest gain. 9 They must hold the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience. 10 And let them also be tested first; then let them serve as deacons if they prove themselves blameless. 11 Their wives likewise must be dignified, not slanderers, but sober-minded, faithful in all things. 12 Let deacons each be the husband of one wife, managing their children and their own households well. 13 For those who serve well as deacons gain a good standing for themselves and also great confidence in the faith that is in Christ Jesus.” 1 Timothy 3:8–13 (ESV)

The word deacon means “servant.” The deacons assist the elders in carrying out the work of the church. As with the elders, the deacons should be qualified spiritually and set the right example in their homes.

“Now in these days when the disciples were increasing in number, a complaint by the Hellenists arose against the Hebrews because their widows were being neglected in the daily distribution. 2 And the twelve summoned the full number of the disciples and said, “It is not right that we should give up preaching the word of God to serve tables. 3 Therefore, brothers, pick out from among you seven men of good repute, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we will appoint to this duty. 4 But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.” 5 And what they said pleased the whole gathering, and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolaus, a proselyte of Antioch. 6 These they set before the apostles, and they prayed and laid their hands on them. 7 And the word of God continued to increase, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests became obedient to the faith.” Acts 6:1–7 (ESV)

The church is much more than a group of like-minded people who assemble from time to time. The living God is in their midst, and the truth of God has been deposited with them! They worship the Son of God who alone is worthy of praise!

“I hope to come to you soon, but I am writing these things to you so that, 15 if I delay, you may know how one ought to behave in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, a pillar and buttress of the truth. 16 Great indeed, we confess, is the mystery of godliness: He was manifested in the flesh, vindicated by the Spirit, seen by angels, proclaimed among the nations, believed on in the world, taken up in glory.” 1 Timothy 3:14–16 (ESV)

Yes, it is a serious thing to be a part of a local church. Do you take it seriously? Is the Holy Spirit prompting to pursue the high calling of the humble role as an elder or pastor? In a servant role of a deacon? Are you praying for your bishop, pastor, elders, and deacons?

Today, it is a good thing to aspire or desire the calling to the office of pastor, elder, or deacon. The qualifications demand high standards and a life consistently well lived for Jesus. As with any position in God’s Kingdom, character always supersedes capacity, for if the heart is prepared and the Holy Spirit is calling, He will equip the “called” to do this great work for which Jesus has left for us to do.

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