God’s Design for Leadership
God has never left His people without guidance. In every age, He has appointed leaders to serve, to protect, and to teach. Under the new covenant, that leadership within the local church is assigned to a specific group—the elders, also called overseers or shepherds. This role is not honorary or symbolic. It is a serious, God-ordained work, designed to care for souls.
In Acts 20:28, Paul said to the Ephesian elders, “Be on guard for yourselves and for all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood.” These men were appointed by the Spirit—not through popularity or politics, but as churches applied God’s revealed qualifications under His direction. In the days of the apostles, some elders were appointed through the laying on of hands, and in certain cases, this was accompanied by spiritual gifts (cf. Acts 14:23; 1 Tim. 4:14; 2 Tim. 1:6). Today, while we do not expect such signs, the Spirit still appoints elders—through the Word He revealed and as churches faithfully apply those qualifications. This remains a sacred task, and the responsibility is as weighty now as it was then.
This article will examine who the overseers are, how they serve, and what the rest of the church must understand about their role. This is not about tradition or organizational preference—this is about God’s will for His people.
1. Elders Are Appointed to Lead
The New Testament consistently shows that elders were appointed in every congregation. Paul and Barnabas “appointed elders for them in every church” (Acts 14:23). This was not an optional structure—it was God’s plan for local church leadership. Without elders, a congregation is lacking a vital part of God’s design.
These men are called by different terms in Scripture: elders (presbyteros), overseers (episkopos), and shepherds or pastors (poimēn). These titles are not separate offices—they describe different aspects of one role. Elders are to be spiritually mature (thus, “elders”), responsible for overseeing the church (thus, “overseers”), and actively involved in caring for souls (thus, “shepherds”).
Titus 1 and 1 Timothy 3 outline the qualifications required—these are not loose guidelines but firm expectations. Elders must be “above reproach,” “able to teach,” “holding firmly the faithful word” (Titus 1:6–9). God is not asking for perfect men, but qualified and proven servants.
Additionally, these qualifications are not just for evaluation during the appointment process—they define how an elder must continue to live. An elder who ceases to meet these qualifications is no longer fit to serve.
2. Authority Comes From the Word, Not Personal Power
Hebrews 13:17 instructs Christians, “Obey your leaders and submit to them—for they keep watch over your souls as those who will give an account.” Elders are not rulers in the worldly sense; they do not dominate or control. Their authority is not personal—it flows from Scripture.
Jesus said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me” (Matthew 28:18). Elders lead under the authority of Christ by teaching and applying His Word. When they speak where Scripture speaks, they must be followed. When they act outside of Scripture, they must not be.
This demands both courage from the elders and discernment from the congregation. But this authority is not administrative in nature—it is spiritual. And that distinction must remain clear. Elders must have the strength to lead according to God’s Word, not the will of the crowd. Members must resist the urge to undermine biblical leadership with personal preference. And where elders do overstep their bounds, Scripture—not personality—must be the standard of correction.
3. Elders Oversee the Church with Spiritual Priorities
A common confusion arises between spiritual oversight and practical responsibility. Some treat elders like corporate executives, primarily focused on budgets or buildings. But Scripture defines their role differently.
Peter writes, “Shepherd the flock of God among you, exercising oversight… not lording it over those assigned to your care, but by proving to be examples to the flock” (1 Peter 5:2–3). The focus is always spiritual: teaching, correcting, praying, and leading by godly example.
Acts 6 shows a situation where physical needs could have distracted the apostles from spiritual priorities. Instead, others were appointed to serve so that the leaders could remain devoted “to prayer and to the ministry of the word” (Acts 6:4).
That principle remains. Elders are not financiers or figureheads—they are shepherds. Their primary charge is the health of souls—not managing logistics for their own sake—and they will give account for how they shepherded God’s people (Hebrews 13:17).
Still, it’s important to recognize that so-called “temporal” tasks—benevolence, finances, administration—are not outside the realm of spiritual concern. They are part of the church’s function as a spiritual body, and must be carried out with spiritual priorities. Elders ensure these tasks align with Christ’s purpose and teaching, not merely that they are executed efficiently. Their oversight touches every area, not because they micromanage, but because all things done in the church are ultimately spiritual.
4. Congregations Must Submit to God’s Order
God has always expected His people to respect the order He establishes. In Numbers 16, Korah and others rebelled against Moses’ leadership, and God judged them severely. Paul warns that these accounts were “written for our instruction” (1 Corinthians 10:11).
To reject the oversight of God-appointed elders is not merely a matter of disagreement—it is rebellion. Hebrews 13:17 reminds us that these men “keep watch over your souls as those who will give an account.” Elders are not volunteers—they are stewards.
For this reason, congregations must resist the temptation to elevate preachers or deacons into positions God has not assigned. While every member serves in some capacity, only elders are charged with the oversight of the church. And while preachers may teach, they do not rule. Authority in the church belongs to Christ, exercised locally through qualified elders.
Peter cautions, “Not as lording it over those assigned to your care, but by proving to be examples.” Elders must lead with humility, and members must respond with respect. Unity comes when each part of the body accepts its God-given role.
Conclusion: Honor the Work and Follow the Word
The church is a spiritual body with a spiritual mission, and its leadership must reflect that. Overseers are not celebrities or board members—they are shepherds of souls. Their work is weighty, their calling high, and their accountability real.
Paul writes, “The elders who lead well are to be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who work hard at preaching and teaching” (1 Timothy 5:17). We honor them best not by flattery or formality, but by heeding their leadership as they follow Christ.
Elders are not above the Word—they are men under it. Their teaching must be examined (Acts 17:11), and their lives must reflect the gospel they preach. When they do, they are a blessing to the church and a reflection of Christ, the Chief Shepherd (1 Peter 5:4).
May every congregation take this role seriously. May every elder remember the gravity of his work. May the whole church strive together—elders and members alike—to fulfill the purpose of Christ’s body with reverence, love, and faithful obedience to His Word. Let us return to the pattern God gave, and hold it with conviction.
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