Lesson 6: A Shepherd’s Protection and Authority
D. Searching – Ez. 34:8-16; Luke 15:1-7; Galatians 6:1-2; James 5:19-20;
Jude 22-23
i. Shepherds are to seek out lost and wandering sheep.
ii. This begins with keeping track of members and observing level of involvement in service and worship attendance.
iii. Ideas for how this can be done.
1. Sending of cards
2. Making contact through text, call, or visit.
3. The communication is focused on demonstrating concern for their soul.
a. Listen for bitterness, anger, hurt, or frustration.
b. Look for a besetting sin or burden of the world that is the problem.
c. Let them know your love and their place in the body.
4. Keep the eldership informed and work together on wandering sheep.
E. Church Discipline
i. Discipline begins with a love and concern for their soul. Heb. 12:5- 11
ii. Discipline is done primarily to protect the church. 1 Cor. 5:1-8 iii. Discipline should be focused on rebuking sin in the life of the
believer and for the sake of the body. 1 Cor. 5:1-8; Heb. 10:24-26;
1 Thess. 5:12-14; 1 Tim. 5:20
iv. Discipline should follow the pattern set by Christ. Mat. 18:15-17 v. Public announcements and withdrawal of fellowship should be
done with wisdom, discernment, and obedience to the Lord. 1 Cor.
5:1-8; 2 John 9-11. The topic of church discipline should be considered and studied in a more thorough Bible study.
II. A Shepherd’s Authority
A. Authority is tied to the Shepherd’s Function in the Church.
i. The term authority or power is never expressly given to elders.
Jack Lewis writes, “The observation which strikes one strongest from this survey of exousia and “authority” is that though the nouns and verbs for “authority” are used for God, the devil, Jesus, the earthly rulers, the apostles, an evangelist, and even for ordinary Christians, they are never once used in connection with the
discharge of the function of an elder or with the attitude the Christian is to have toward the elder.”25
ii. The concept of positional authority is implied and given in the terminology used to describe an elder.
1. Overseers – To desire this position is to desire a “noble work” (1 Tim. 3:2). The term refers to the concept of
25 Jack Lewis, Leadership Questions Confronting the Church (Nashville: Christian Communications, 1985), 11.
“overseeing,” “oversight” or “to watch over.” “The responsibility of an overseer is described in terms of “to shepherd” (Acts 20:28)—his is a watchful, solicitous direction of the congregation. The point of the office was service, and service alone.”26 They are overseers of God’s will, not their own will and preference. Acts 20:28; Phil.
1:1; 1 Tim. 3:2; Tit. 1:7
2. Elders – The term refers directly to an “older man,” but throughout the ancient world, including Israel, the term refers to leading, respected men who had authority within the community. Acts 11:30; 14:23; ch. 15; 20:17; 1 Tim.
5:17; Tit. 1:5; 1 Pet. 5:1
3. Shepherds – The verb form is used for church leaders in Acts 20:28 and 1 Peter 5:2. It also appears as a noun in describing leaders of God’s people in Ephesians 4:11. It is deeply connected with leadership of the “flock”
(congregation). The shepherd relationship is one built on trust (John 10:3). He is to guard and protect the sheep (John 10:1, 8, 10; Acts 20:29). He leads the sheep, he does not drive them. He serves as an example to the flock (1 Pet.
5:3).
4. Stewards – Titus 1:7 – He is accountable to God. His leadership is not one of autonomy, but one of responsibility to God as a “house-manager.”
iii. They are representatives of the church selected to direct and lead the church (Eph. 4:7-16). Their authority is based on their roles of service and respect in the church. The church looks to the elders to act properly and decide wisely on their behalf. The church has the greater authority as a whole but has delegated that authority to shepherds to guide and lead them. They give organization to the body. The key is trust and respect (Hebrews 13:17 – “obey” – trusting and following; “submit” – yield your will to their will).
B. Authority must not look like the world’s kingdoms.
i. Mat. 20:25-28; Luke 22:24-27
1. Gentiles lord over their followers, but elders are not to lord over the church (1 Pet. 5:3).
2. Shepherds serve and sacrifice for the sheep. The church obeys and submits (Heb. 13:17) out of respect, trust, and love.
C. Authority is derived from respect and trust.
i. “From the viewpoint of the people, the elder is an example to be followed; a teacher from whom to learn; a shepherd whose voice one heeds; a protector from wolves; a leader to whom one submits
26 Lewis, Leadership Questions Confronting the Church, 25.
in humility because he is God’s steward; and an older man to whom due respect is gladly given. If one may state what appears a paradox, the elder should conceive of himself, not in terms of authority, but in terms of doing “a good work”; while the
congregation should relate to him as God’s steward (1 Cor. 16:15- 16).”27
ii. 1 Thess. 5:12-13; Heb. 13:7, 17
iii. “A sheep’s willingness to follow a shepherd is grounded in memories of the shepherd’s proven presence, provision, and protection. . . This takes time because trust is relationally earned, not positionally derived.”28
iv. “A people voluntarily submitting to those in whom they recognize moral and spiritual leadership they want to follow is not the same as leaders insisting on being obeyed because of their position. The authority of elders/bishops is the moral authority that comes from their loving service, their example, and their spiritual knowledge and experience.”29
D. What is the sphere of a shepherd’s authority? In what areas do elders have authority in the church?
i. “Hence the point of discussion should not be whether elders should be obeyed or not—the Bible explicitly and plainly teaches that they should be (Heb. 13:17; I assume that the leaders are elders)—but the question is, obeyed in what and for what reason?”30
ii. They certainly do not have authority over doctrine. But do have authority in matters of expediency and wisdom for the church. But this authority is given by the congregation out of respect and humility.
iii. “Often elders find themselves at odds with the church simply because they have failed to communicate their position to the congregation. It is likely that most dissatisfaction with the
decisions of elders occurs because the elders act without consulting and informing the church regarding major decisions. Of course, in matters of teaching and truth, the elders must stand for what is right regardless of what is a consensus view in the church.”31 iv. Some questions for reflection:
1. Do elders have authority over individual Christians?
27 Lewis, Leadership Questions Confronting the Church, 34.
28 Michael S. Wilder and Timothy Paul Jones, The God Who Goes before You: Pastoral Leadership as Christ-Centered Followership (Nashville: B&H Academic, 2018), 163-64.
29 Ferguson, The Church of Christ, 327.
30 Lewis, Leadership Questions Confronting the Church, 21.
31 Myers, Elders and Deacons, 147.
2. Do elders have authority over Bible versions used in church?
3. Do elders have authority over the building?
4. Do elders have authority over when and how many service times?
5. Do elders have authority over hired staff?
6. Do elders have authority over missionaries?
7. Do elders have authority over what parents take the youth group to do?
8. Do elders have authority over an area they have delegated to a minister, deacon, or coordinator?
v. A board of directors’ mindset can create major authoritative issues between the congregation and the elders. If the church feels like the elders are aloof, distant, and dictatorial (i.e. lording over them) then tension, problems, and conflict are sure to emerge. But where there is a shepherding style of leadership, sheep feel understood, respected, and loved. In this situation, members will trust, follow, and esteem their leaders even when they disagree.
E. Lynn Anderson shares a powerful personal story of the legacy of two former shepherds and why they made such a huge impact upon the churches they served.32
32 Lynn Anderson, They Smell like Sheep: Spiritual Leadership for the 21st Century (West Monroe, LA: Howard Books, 1997), 212-14.
Lesson 7: A Shepherd’s Equipping and Multiplication