Biblical Eldership Church Leadership

The Acts of the Apostles

whole counsel of God. Thus elders must be doctrinally sound leaders who are able to defend and teach the Word. Elders are also obligated to guard “all the flock,” that is, every single member. Hence Christian elders are required to know and be involved in the personal lives of the people they shepherd. Furthermore, they are to sacrificially care for needy, suffering members of the flock. Like the life of Paul, the life of an elder must be marked by hard work, generosity, and a life of service on behalf of others. Finally, shepherd elders must take their duty seriously because the Holy Spirit Himself has sovereignly placed them in the flock as over seers for the purpose of shepherding God’s precious, blood-bought people. Elders, then, are Spirit-placed overseers. The kind of over sight Paul has in mind is shepherding: guarding, feeding, leading, and caring for God’s flock. In short, Pauline, Christian elders are respon sible for the pastoral oversight of the local church.