Words for the Wise, Doctrine and Discipleship,

Acts 20:17-36New American Standard Bible (NASB)

Farewell to Ephesus

17 From Miletus he sent to Ephesus and called to him the elders of the church. 18 And when they had come to him, he said to them,

“You yourselves know, from the first day that I set foot in [a]Asia, how I was with you the whole time, 19 serving the Lord with all humility and with tears and with trials which came upon me [b]through the plots of the Jews; 20 how I did not shrink from declaring to you anything that was profitable, and teaching you publicly and [c]from house to house, 21 solemnly testifying to both Jews and Greeks of repentance toward God and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. 22 And now, behold, bound by the [d]Spirit, I am on my way to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there, 23 except that the Holy Spirit solemnly testifies to me in every city, saying that bonds and afflictions await me. 24 But I do not consider my life of any account as dear to myself, so that I may finish my course and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify solemnly of the gospel of the grace of God.

25 “And now, behold, I know that all of you, among whom I went about preaching the kingdom, will no longer see my face. 26 Therefore, I [e]testify to you this day that I am [f]innocent of the blood of all men. 27 For I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole purpose of God. 28 Be on guard for yourselves and for all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you [g]overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He [h]purchased [i]with His own blood.

29 I know that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; 30 and from among your own selves men will arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after them. 31 Therefore be on the alert, remembering that night and day for a period of three years I did not cease to admonish each one with tears. 32 And now I commend you to God and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance among all those who are sanctified. 33 I have coveted no one’s silver or gold or clothes. 34 You yourselves know that these hands ministered to my own needs and to the men who were with me. 35 In everything I showed you that by working hard in this manner you must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He Himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”

36 When he had said these things, he knelt down and prayed with them all.

“I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole counsel of God.” From The Gospel Coalition

—The Apostle Paul to the Ephesian elders, Acts 20:27

D. A. Carson explains what he meant:

When Paul attests that this is what he proclaimed to the believers in Ephesus, the Ephesian elders to whom he makes this bold asseveration know full well that he had managed this remarkable feat in only two and a half years.

In other words, whatever else Paul did, he certainly did not manage to go through every verse of the Old Testament, line by line, with full-bore explanation. He simply did not have time.

What he must mean is that he taught the burden of the whole of God’s revelation, the balance of things, leaving nothing out that was of primary importance, never ducking the hard bits, helping believers to grasp the whole counsel of God that they themselves would become better equipped to read their Bibles intelligently, comprehensively.

It embraced

• God’s purposes in the history of redemption (truths to be believed and a God to be worshiped),
• an unpacking of human origin, fall, redemption, and destiny (a worldview that shapes all human understanding and a Savior without whom there is no hope),
• the conduct expected of God’s people (commandments to be obeyed and wisdom to be pursued, both in our individual existence and in the community of the people of God), and
• the pledges of transforming power both in this life and in the life to come (promises to be trusted and hope to be anticipated).

—D. A. Carson, “Challenges for the Twenty-first-century Pulpit,” in Preach the Word: Essays on Expository Preaching: In Honor of R. Kent Hughes, ed. Leland Ryken and Todd Wilson [Crossway, 2007], pp. 177-178; bullets and italics added.

“I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole counsel of God.”

The Whole Counsel of God from the Christian Post

BY GREG LAURIE,

For I have not shunned to declare to you the whole counsel of God.

- Acts 20:27

When I speak I try to keep it interesting. I try to keep it real. I try to keep it understandable. But I am not there to entertain an audience or to make people feel good. My job, if you will, is to exposit the Word of God. Because it really doesn't matter what Greg Laurie thinks about anything. My opinion isn't any better than anyone else's opinion.

For me as a pastor, I have a responsibility to declare the whole counsel of God and feed the flock of God. That is the advantage of expository preaching and teaching. By expository, I mean taking the text and letting it unfold. We don't impose our views on the text; we let the text impose its views on us. It is not for us to add things to the text.

Sometimes pastors use a text as a point of departure for their messages. A verse will be read, and then whoever is speaking will just tell stories. They might be good stories. They might be good jokes. They might be very entertaining. And as you leave, you might say, "That was so good. I loved that. It was really good." You have no idea what he said, but you know it was fun.

The apostle Paul told the Ephesian elders, "For I have not shunned to declare to you the whole counsel of God" (Acts 20:27). I think that is the most important thing. We need to get our minds oriented toward what the Bible says.

Too often we build our opinions on our feelings. But it doesn't matter what we feel. What does the Bible say? Do what the Bible says, because feelings can mislead you. Don't base decisions in life on mere feelings. Base them on the Word of God.

We build our Christian Life and Witness not on the latest fads or fashions, the opinions or perspectives of others however appealing or relevant they seem, we don’t build on what the non-Christian or anti-Christian demands of our Society are.  We build on God’s Word the Bible that has been and still is God’s Inspired Word; there is nothing more relevant to us today than God’s Word

The Apostle Paul wrote in 2 Timothy 3: 15-17 NLT, “15 You have been taught the holy Scriptures from childhood, and they have given you the wisdom to receive the salvation that comes by trusting in Christ Jesus. 16 All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. 17 God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work.

To develop and progress in our Christian walk and witness, to be more effective disciples of our Lord and Saviour we must read and study God’s Written Word daily.  When I was in Sunday school, I remember singing this song “Read your Bible, Pray every day, if you want to Grow “If that was important for me as a child how much more important is for me as a more mature Christian today?

When someone builds a foundation for a building, if they decide to use cheap or substandard building materials wouldn’t that building look strange or be dangerous and likely to collapse, yet if we don’t as Christians build using the correct building materials wouldn’t our lives and our Christian Witness look equally strange, look dangerous or likely to collapse see 1 Corinthians 3:

1 Corinthians 3 New American Standard Bible (NASB)

Foundations for Living

3 And I, brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual men, but as to men of flesh, as to infants in Christ. 2 I gave you milk to drink, not solid food; for you were not yet able to receive it. Indeed, even now you are not yet able, 3 for you are still fleshly. For since there is jealousy and strife among you, are you not fleshly, and are you not walking [a]like mere men? 4 For when one says, “I am of Paul,” and another, “I am of Apollos,” are you not mere men?

5 What then is Apollos? And what is Paul? Servants through whom you believed, even as the Lord gave opportunity to each one. 6 I planted, Apollos watered, but God was causing the growth. 7 So then neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but God who causes the growth. 8 Now he who plants and he who waters are one; but each will receive his own [b]reward according to his own labor. 9 For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s [c]field, God’s building.

10 According to the grace of God which was given to me, like a wise master builder I laid a foundation, and another is building on it. But each man must be careful how he builds on it. 11 For no man can lay a foundation other than the one which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12 Now if any man builds on the foundation with gold, silver, [d]precious stones, wood, hay, straw, 13 each man’s work will become evident; for the day will show it because it is to be revealed with fire, and the fire itself will test [e]the quality of each man’s work. 14 If any man’s work which he has built on it remains, he will receive a reward. 15 If any man’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire.

16 Do you not know that you are a [f]temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? 17 If any man destroys the [g]temple of God, God will destroy him, for the [h]temple of God is holy, and [i]that is what you are.

18 Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you thinks that he is wise in this age, he must become foolish, so that he may become wise. 19 For the wisdom of this world is foolishness before God. For it is written, “He is the one who catches the wise in their craftiness”; 20 and again, “The Lord knows the reasonings of the wise, that they are useless.” 21 So then let no one boast in men. For all things belong to you, 22 whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life or death or things present or things to come; all things belong to you, 23 and you belong to Christ; and Christ belongs to God.

The Bible Panorama

Acts 20

V 1–6: TRAVELS TO TROAS After going to Macedonia and Greece, where his travel plans are changed because of Jewish opposition, Paul and his party travel to Troas. They meet other Christians there who have gone ahead of them. 

V 7–12: PREACHING TO PEOPLE Paul speaks on the Lord’s day, until midnight, to the people who are there. He has to depart early the next day. He restores to life a young man, Eutychus, who falls asleep during Paul’s preaching and drops from the third storey to his death. After that, Paul continues preaching to the people until daybreak. His passion is preaching the word to people, notwithstanding personal tiredness and effort. 

V 13–16: JOURNEYING TO JERUSALEM Paul’s extensive travel plans are based on his desire to be at Jerusalem for Pentecost. He meets up with the rest of his party who went ahead of him to Assos. 

V 17–35: FAREWELL TO FAITHFUL Paul exhorts the Ephesian elders who come to him at Miletus. He reminds them how his life has been completely focused on the need to testify to Jews and Greeks about repentance towards God and faith towards Christ. Everything has been put into that priority task. He knows that opposition awaits him, and he is willing to die for the gospel. They will see him no more. He has declared to them ‘the whole counsel of God’. He warns them about error from outside and being drawn away by false disciples from within. He commends them to God’s grace and reminds them that the important thing is to give to the Lord and to others, and not to seek personal gain. He shares the words of the Lord Jesus that ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive’.

 V 36–38: GRIEVED TO GO They pray together, weep, and embrace Paul. They are grieving most of all because he will go and they will see him no more. They then go with him to the ship.

Dictionary of Bible Themes

7756 preaching, content of

Preaching is centred on the nature and will of God and his claims on all people. Expressed in prophecy, declaration or teaching, it includes the proclamation of the way of salvation to unbelievers and instruction about the faith to believers.

Preaching and the revelation of God’s character, word and will

Ac 20:26-27 See also Ex 8:1; 1Ki 12:21-24; Jer 7:1-11; Eze 2:3-3:4

Preaching and the declaration of the gospel

Declaring the kingdom Mk 1:14-15 pp Mt 4:17 See also Mt 4:23 pp Lk 8:1; Ac 19:8; Ac 20:25

Declaring the person of Jesus Christ and his life Ac 2:22 See also Ac 10:36-38; Ac 28:31; 2Co 1:19

Declaring the facts of the cross and the resurrection Ac 2:23-24 See also Ac 5:30; Ac 10:39-42; Ac 13:28-31; 1Co 1:22-24; 1Co 15:12-17

Declaring the victory and exaltation of Jesus Christ Ac 2:33-35 See also Ac 5:31; 1Pe 3:18-22

Declaring that Jesus is both Messiah (Christ) and Lord Ac 2:36 See also Ac 5:42; Ac 8:5; Ac 9:20-22; Ac 10:36; Ac 18:5

Declaring the call to repent Ac 17:30 See also Mk 1:15 pp Mt 4:17; Ac 2:38; Ac 3:19; Ac 26:20

Declaring the promise of forgiveness Ac 13:38 See also Lk 24:46-47; Ac 2:38; Ac 5:31; Ac 10:43

Preaching finds expression in the teaching of believers

The central place of teaching in the lives of the first Christians Ac 2:42 See also Ac 6:2; Ac 11:25-26; Ac 15:35; Ac 18:24-26; Ac 20:20

Teaching from the Scriptures Ac 18:11 See also 2Ch 17:7-9; Ne 8:2-8

Teaching on how to live Mt 28:19-20 See also Eph 4:20-24; 1Th 4:1-2; Tit 2:1-15

Preaching and the edification of believers

2Ti 4:2 See also Ac 13:42-43; Ac 14:21-22; Ac 20:2; 1Co 14:26-31

Preaching and the continuation of apostolic doctrine

Preaching should be rooted in apostolic doctrine, which is to be faithfully handed on 2Ti 2:2 See also 1Co 11:2; 2Th 2:15; 2Ti 1:13-14

Preaching that does not conform to apostolic doctrine is to be rejected 1Ti 1:3-4 See also Gal 1:6-9; 1Ti 4:1-7; Tit 1:9-14

Preaching and the rejection of merely human wisdom

1Co 2:1-5 See also 1Co 1:18-25

^{2 Tim 3 16} All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, ¹⁷ that the man of God^[a] may be competent, equipped for every good work.

Acts 2:42-47New International Version - UK (NIVUK)

The fellowship of the believers

42 They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. 43 Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. 44 All the believers were together and had everything in common. 45 They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. 46 Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, 47 praising God and enjoying the favour of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.

Ephesians 4:11-16New International Version - UK (NIVUK)

11 So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, 12 to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.

14 Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming. 15 Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ. 16 From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.

Colossians 3:16-17New American Standard Bible (NASB)

16 Let the word of [a]Christ richly dwell within you, [b]with all wisdom teaching and admonishing [c]one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing [d]with thankfulness in your hearts to God. 17 Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father

Yours by His Grace and for the sake of His Church and Kingdom

Blair Humphreys

Southport,  Merseyside

Words for the Wise, Equipping The Saints, Ephesians 4 English Standard Version Anglicised (ESVUK)

 

Unity in the Body of Christ

4 I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, 2 with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, 3 eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. 4 There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call— 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. 7 But grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ's gift. 8 Therefore it says,

“When he ascended on high he led a host of captives,

    and he gave gifts to men.”

9 (In saying, “He ascended”, what does it mean but that he had also descended into the lower regions, the earth?[a] 10 He who descended is the one who also ascended far above all the heavens, that he might fill all things.) 

11 And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds[b] and teachers,[c] 12 to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, 13 until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood,[d] to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, 14 so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. 15 Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, 16 from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.

The New Life

17 Now this I say and testify in the Lord, that you must no longer walk as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their minds. 18 They are darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, due to their hardness of heart. 19 They have become callous and have given themselves up to sensuality, greedy to practise every kind of impurity. 20 But that is not the way you learned Christ!— 21 assuming that you have heard about him and were taught in him, as the truth is in Jesus, 22 to put off your old self,[e] which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, 23 and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, 24 and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.

25 Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbour, for we are members one of another. 26 Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, 27 and give no opportunity to the devil. 28 Let the thief no longer steal, but rather let him labour, doing honest work with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with anyone in need. 29 Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear. 30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31 Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamour and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. 32 Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.

Matthew Henry's Commentary

Ephesians  4v11ff

3. Which is taken from Christ’s great end and design in giving gifts unto men. The gifts of Christ were intended for the good of his church, and in order to advance his kingdom and interest among men. All these being designed for one common end is a good reason why all Christians should agree in brotherly love, and not envy one another’s gifts. All are for the perfecting of the saints (Eph. 4:12); that is, according to the import of the original, to bring into an orderly spiritual state and frame those who had been as it were dislocated and disjointed by sin, and then to strengthen, confirm, and advance them therein, that so each, in his proper place and function, might contribute to the good of the whole.—For the work of the ministry, or for the work of dispensation; that is, that they might dispense the doctrines of the gospel, and successfully discharge the several parts of their ministerial function.—For the edifying of the body of Christ; that is, to build up the church, which is Christ’s mystical body, by an increase of their graces, and an addition of new members. All are designed to prepare us for heaven: Till we all come, etc., Eph. 4:13. The gifts and offices (some of them) which have been spoken of are to continue in the church till the saints be perfected, which will not be till they all come in the unity of the faith (till all true believers meet together, by means of the same precious faith) and of the knowledge of the Son of God, by which we are to understand, not a bare speculative knowledge, or the acknowledging of Christ to be the Son of God and the great Mediator, but such as is attended with appropriation and affection, with all due honour, trust, and obedience.—Unto a perfect man, to our full growth of gifts and graces, free from those childish infirmities that we are subject to in the present world.—Unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, so as to be Christians of a full maturity and ripeness in all the graces derived from Christ’s fullness: or, according to the measure of that stature which is to make up the fullness of Christ,

Asbury Bible Commentary

V. 11 returns to the theme of v. 7. It was Jesus who gave the church its leaders (apostles, prophets, evangelists, and pastor/teachers). This is confirmed in other passages, notably 1Co 12:4-11; 12:28. Here, however, the emphasis is altered slightly to suggest that Spirit-endowed persons are God's gift to the church. Apostles are those commissioned to preach the Gospel. Accordingly, in 1Th 2:6 Timothy and Silas are counted among the “apostles of Christ,” as is Barnabas in Ac 14:4. Prophets speak in the churches under the direct prompting of the Spirit; evangelists lead people to knowledge of the Gospel; pastor/teachers (“shepherds”) help converts to understand and apply the Gospel.

Why are they given to the church? Their purpose is to prepare God's people for works of service. To what end? These offices are of first importance because those who have these gifts/offices direct others to perform their respective ministries for the common good. As persons perform better their particular ministries, the entire body is strengthened. The body builder knows that each muscle must be strengthened if the whole body is to be developed properly. Some persons in the community fill the vital role of assisting others to exercise their gifts that the whole body of Christ might be built up.

A powerful calling! Elim Missions
Ephesians 4v1

Your calling is the same as that of Christ Jesus.

The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil's work, and so must we. (1 John 3:8)

We must not live in fear of the evil one more spend time shouting at him. We must move into our culture to have such an effect on the poor, injustice, offering grace, healing broken lives, that we destroy him!

Jesus wrapped a towel around his waist ... and so must we. (John 13:3-4)
You are never too big to get small. In fact the higher you get the lower you must become. Take off the garments of recognition, letting people see you in a way that is humbling, human and honest.

Your calling is right now.

For Paul it was this prison he had been called to. 

Where are you now? Are you displaying your calling?

Two years ago I had the privilege of speaking with the director of a woman's ministry in Swaziland. A wonderful woman helping women live lives of freedom and find Christ in the midst of their HIV death sentences. The difference is she herself is a HIV patient and has 4 years expectancy, at times the doctors have said to her that she could die that day or the next, but she carries on in her calling. Her calling is right now in this body wrecked with disease. Two years on she continues in her calling. 

Stop thinking of what people think of your circumstance and live the calling right now. It may not be perfect but neither is the world. Do you know how many days you have left to live? So why wait another day to begin to live your calling? 

Where can God take you if you believe in the calling He has given you?

What can God do with you if you believe in His calling?

An extract from Kingdom Dynamics from the New Spirit Filled Life Bible.

, “Shepherding amid the Supernatural, Ephesians 4:11ff teaches us that all leadership gifts are given by Christ the Lord of the church to “equip” (that is to mend, prepare and enable to function) the whole body of the congregation............ , true supernatural ministry at work in the church begets vital, spiritually functional people throughout the whole church family. The body is to be built up by the mutual efforts of all members supplying their contribution to the whole.  The call to empower people requires mentoring, training, imparting and discipling/discipleship - all aimed at preparing the body for stability and increase.”

" Ephesians 4:12 equipping,  Strongs #2677   A making fit, preparing, training, perfecting,  making fully qualified for service. In classic language the word is used for setting a bone during surgery,

Matthew 10:2 shepherd, poimon, Strong’s #4166

“a herdsman, sheepherder, one who tends, leads, guides, cherishes, feeds, and protects a flock. The New Testament uses the word for a Christian pastor to whose care and leadership others will commit themselves.”

Not often, but every once in a while, God brings us to a major turning point--a great crossroads in our life. From that point we either go more and more toward a slow, lazy, and useless Christian life, or we become more and more on fire, giving our utmost for His highest--our best for His glory." --Oswald Chambers, from the My Utmost for His Highest

Not called!' did you say? 'Not heard the call,' I think you should say. Put your ear down to the Bible, and hear him bid you go and pull sinners out of the fire of sin. Put your ear down to the burdened, agonized heart of humanity, and listen to its pitiful wail for help. Go stand by the gates of hell, and hear the damned entreat you to go to their father's house and bid their brothers and sisters, and servants and masters not to come there. And then look Christ in the face, whose mercy you have professed to obey, and tell him whether you will join heart and soul and body and circumstances in the march to publish his mercy to the world." William Booth.

The Bible Panorama

Ephesians 4

V 1–6: UNITY Paul urges the Ephesians to a worthy walk which reflects the oneness of the body of Christ in spiritual unity. In so doing, he clearly emphasises that there is only ‘one Lord, and one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all’. Unity for him does not mean sacrificing truth. It is because of his stand for God’s truth that he writes as ‘the prisoner of the Lord’. V 7–10: INDIVIDUALITY This unity does not detract from the fact that grace is individually given to each person who trusts Christ, and that God gives enabling gifts to individual believers. He is the universe’s highly ascended Lord, and can do that easily! V 11–16: COMMUNITY God has given certain gifted people to His church. They are apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers. His aim, through them, is to equip and edify His people so, together, they know Christ, stand firm on biblical doctrine against those who would deceive, and recognise how they all together fit into the body of Christ of which He is head. V 17–19: FUTILITY The Christian Gentile is to be contrasted with the other Gentiles who, as unbelievers, walk ignorantly, blindly, and in sin and greediness. V 20–24: IDENTITY In coming to know Christ, their old ways are dispensed with and the ‘new man’ is put on, in righteousness and holiness. There is a spiritual renewal of the mind and a radical change of identity for the born-again Christian. V 25–32: QUALITY There is a new quality of life of the Christian which reflects the fact that he does not ‘grieve the Holy Spirit of God’. He rejects former sinful ways, words and works, and applies himself to replacing them with positive good. He gives the devil no place in his life and rejects his former negative behaviour and sin. His new quality of life is shown by tender-heartedness, showing forgiveness to others, and avoiding grieving the Spirit. The springboard for this is that ‘God in Christ forgave you’.

Dictionary of Bible Themes

7789 shepherd, as church leader

Church leaders are likened to shepherds, on account of their pastoral responsibilities and tasks.

Jesus Christ, the archetypal shepherd

1Pe 5:4

Appointment of shepherds

Eph 4:11 See also Mk 3:14; Ac 14:23; 1Co 12:28

Shepherd responsibilities

Feeding the flock Jn 21:15 See also Mk 6:34; Jn 21:17; 1Co 3:2; Heb 5:12-14; Jude 12

Caring for the flock Jn 21:16 See also Mt 25:36; Ac 20:28; Php 1:1; 1Ti 3:1-2; 2Ti 1:17; Tit 1:7; Jas 1:27; 1Pe 5:2

Protecting, from false teachers Ac 20:29 See also Mt 7:15; Jn 10:1,10

Leading, not exploiting 1Pe 5:3

Being accountable See also Heb 13:17

Risking death Jn 10:15; Ac 12:1-4; Ac 21:13

7026 church, leadership of

Jesus Christ is the absolute head of the church. He sets leaders in the church to enable the whole church to grow into maturity. Christ’s authority in the church is acknowledged more by the church’s obedience to God than through any particular form of government.

The appointment of leaders in the church

God calls and equips leaders Eph 4:11 See also Mt 16:18; Ac 1:24-26; Ac 9:15-16; Ac 20:28; Ac 26:16-18; 1Co 12:28; Gal 1:15-17

Delegated leadership Ac 6:3-6; Ac 14:23; Tit 1:5

The appointment of apostles Mk 3:13-19 pp Mt 10:1-4 pp Lk 6:12-16 As founders of the church: 1Co 9:1-2; 2Co 3:3; Eph 2:20; Rev 21:14 As leaders of the church: Ac 2:42; Ac 15:6,22-23; 1Th 2:6; 2Pe 3:2; Jude 17

Prophets as leaders Ac 15:32 Judas and Silas were leaders in the Jerusalem church (Ac 15:22). See also Ac 11:27-30; Ac 13:1-2; Ro 12:6 The role of prophets as leaders is distinct from the gift of prophecy, which was in principle available to all; 1Co 12:28; 1Co 14:29-30; Eph 3:5

Evangelists as leaders Ac 21:8 See also Eph 4:11; 2Ti 4:5

Pastors and teachers as leaders Ac 20:28 See also Jn 21:15-17; Ac 13:1; Ro 12:7; 1Co 12:28; 1Ti 3:2; Tit 1:9; Jas 3:1; 1Pe 5:2 Pastors are also called “shepherds”.

Elders as leaders 1Ti 3:1 “Elder” and “overseer” or “bishop” are more or less interchangeable. See also Ac 11:30; Ac 14:23; Ac 15:2,22; Ac 20:17; 1Ti 5:17; Tit 1:5; Jas 5:14; 2Jn 1

Deacons as leaders Php 1:1 “Deacon” means “one who serves”. See also Ac 6:5-6; 1Ti 3:8

Responsibilities of church leaders

To preach the gospel Ro 1:15; 1Co 1:17; Gal 2:8; Eph 3:8; 1Ti 2:7

To teach sound doctrine 1Ti 4:6,13; 1Ti 5:17; Heb 13:7

To give direction in church life Ac 15:2,6,22-23; Ac 16:4; Ac 20:28-31; 1Ti 5:17; 1Pe 5:2

To be an example in loving service Mt 20:26-28 pp Mk 10:43-45; Mk 9:35; Jn 13:13-15; Heb 13:7; 1Pe 5:3

To train and appoint other leaders Ac 14:23; 1Ti 4:14; 2Ti 2:2; Tit 1:5

To pray for the sick Jas 5:14

Some Scriptures to consider.

1 Peter 5:2New International Version - UK (NIVUK)

2 be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, watching over them – not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not pursuing dishonest gain, but eager to serve;

Jeremiah 3:15New International Version - UK (NIVUK)

15 Then I will give you shepherds after my own heart, who will lead you with knowledge and understanding.

Psalm 78:70-72New American Standard Bible (NASB)

70 He also chose David His servant

And took him from the sheepfolds;

71 From [a]the care of the [b]ewes with suckling lambs He brought him

To shepherd Jacob His people,

And Israel His inheritance.

72 So he shepherded them according to the integrity of his heart,

And guided them with his skillful hands.

John 15:1-17 New International Version - UK (NIVUK)

The vine and the branches

15 ‘I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. 2 He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes[a] so that it will be even more fruitful. 3 You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. 4 Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.

5 ‘I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. 6 If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. 7 If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. 8 This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.

9 ‘As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. 10 If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love. 11 I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. 12 My command is this: love each other as I have loved you. 13 Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. 14 You are my friends if you do what I command. 15 I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. 16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit – fruit that will last – and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you. 17 This is my command: love each other.

Isaiah 6:8 English Standard Version Anglicised (ESVUK)

Isaiah's Commission from the Lord

⁸ And I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?” Then I said, “Here am I! Send me.”

Further Reading

Part 1 Words for the Wise, The Predestination and Purpose, Ephesians 1 NIV

Part 2 Words for The Wise, Called to Serve, Ephesians 2 Nasb

 

Part 3 Words for The Wise, The Gospel Centred Life , Ephesians 3 English Standard Version Anglicised (ESVUK)

Part 5 Words for the Wise, Living in the Light Ephesians 5 NIV