God's Word on Pastors & Plurality

Say this out loud:

As a Christian, the goal is MY Sanctification

In response to that, I would tell you: As a pastor MY goal is YOUR Sanctification.

Between 1 & 2 Timothy, we’re turning to Titus 1:1-9 to lay the foundation for the Bible’s teaching on Elders.

Two questions:

1. What does the Bible say about Elders?

2. What does that mean practically?

1. What does the Bible say about Elders?

The terms: elder, pastor (or shepherd), overseer, are interchangeable.

1 Peter 5:1-2 – I exhort the elders among you..

shepherd the flock of God

overseeing not under compulsion, but willingly

³ nor yet as lording it over those allotted to you, but being examples to the flock.

Acts 20:17, 28 – talking to the elders (v. 17) the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd (pastor) the church

The Consistent Pattern in the New Testament is a plurality of pastors.

Acts 11:30, James 5:14-15, Acts 15 & 21, 

Acts 14:20, Acts 20:17, Philippians 1:11, Thessalonians 5:12, Hebrews 13:17, Titus 1:5, 1 Peter 1:1 & 5:1

Alexander Strauch: “[We] don’t challenge the plurality of deacons in an effort to create a singular deacon, yet many challenge the plurality of elders. It is odd that most Christians have no problem accepting a plurality of deacons but are almost irrationally frightened by a plurality of elders that is far more evident in the New Testament.”

There’s an abundance of instruction both about and to elders all through the New Testament. 

More than anything 

Pastors are Shepherds

First and foremost, God is our Shepherd:

Isaiah 40:11, Psalm 80:1, 95:6-7, 23

Jesus is our good Shepherd

John 11 – “I am the good shepherd; the good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep.

Pastors are actually Jesus’ undershepherds

Four primary tasks of a pastor:

1. Know

Pastors are people people — they desire to know those in their care.

John 10:14 – I am the good shepherd, and I know My own and My own know Me,

1 Peter 5:2 – shepherd the flock of God among you,

Pastors pursue their sheep - attentive to them. Knowing their spiritual, emotional, and physical needs so that they can serve, care for, and minister to needs. 

2. Feed

Sheep rely on their shepherd for healthy food. 

John 21:15-17, 2 Timothy 2:15, 4:2

A steady diet of God’s Word is absolutely essential to your spiritual growth. 

Jeremiah 3:15 – I will give you shepherds after My own heart, who will feed you on knowledge and understanding.

The pastor’s duty is to feed the sheep in his care with the Word of God

2 Timothy 2:15, 3:16-17

3. Lead

1 Timothy 5:17 - lead well means to lead faithfully

1 Timothy 3:1 -office of overseer is an office of leadership

1 Peter 5:2-3 – shepherd the flock…, overseeing (an official responsibility)

4. Protect

Sheep need protection - there are wolves out there. They have no natural ability to protect. 

The New Testament contains many warnings about false teaching:

Galatians 1:6, Acts 20:28-30, 2 Timothy 4:3

Pulling it all together:

Ephesians 4 – [Jesus] gave gifts to men.

Which includes

Some as pastors and teachers,

And He gives us these gifts:

for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ,

so that we are no longer to be children, tossed here and there… being joined and held together by what every joint supplies, according to the properly measured working of each individual part, causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself in love.

Benjamin Merkle, 40 Questions about Pastors and Deacons lays out several practical benefits of a plurality of pastors:

Biblical accountability. Godly fellow elders are a great means for holding the pastor accountable to live, teach, and lead faithfully. In addition, sharing authority among a number of men can keep one man from wrongly lording it over the congregation

Wisdom. There is more wisdom to be found in a multitude of counselors (Prov. 11:14; 24:6).

Balance. No one man has all the gifts that are necessary to build up the church. Having a plurality of elders serves the church by bringing men with different gifts into the church’s leadership who can complement the pastor’s strengths.

Burden sharing. Caring for the whole church is a burden God does not intend one man to bear alone. Even the most faithful, gifted pastor needs help from other godly men in order to pay careful attention to himself and to all the flock (Acts 20:28).

Sets an example for the church. Having a plurality of elders demonstrates that the work of ministry is not reserved for a select few. Rather, it provides an example of maturity for every man, particularly when some of the elders are men who work ordinary jobs and are not paid by the church.

Final thought:

1 Timothy 3 – if any man aspires to the office of overseer, he desires a good work.

If we’re not looking for elders… meaning if we don’t have a context in which someone aspiring can pursue that at Fellowship - we’re missing out and we’re doing one another a disservice.

If someone aspires, is examined, and is qualified - he should be affirmed and assigned to the role. 

Remember: Elders are to be practical examples of what it looks like to pursue sanctification. 

If you are truly in pursuit of sanctification, you should seek out and welcome help from those designed and gifted by God for that task.

Since elders are God’s gifts to the church, they should be received as such. There’s no perfect number, but we should seek a true plurality in our leadership team. 

Send me your questions and I’ll address them next week in Part 2.

Soli Deo Gloria!
Pastor Rob