The Pastors of God’s Flock Held Accountable
1 Timothy 5:17-22
Purpose: The Overseer/Elder/Pastors of God’s flock are held accountable by fellow elders, the church, and ultimately the Chief Shepherd, Christ himself.
- The Accountability of The Plurality (1 Tim. 5:19-22; 1 Peter 5:1)
Luke 22:32 – “Strengthen your brothers”
1 Timothy 1:19-20
- The Accountability of The Body (1 Tim. 5:20)
Matthew 18:15-17
- The Accountability of The Chief Shepherd (1 Timothy 5:21; 1 Peter 5:2,-4)
James 3:1
Hebrews 13:17
2 Peter 2:1-3
The Pastors of God’s Flock
Purpose: rediscovering the God-given way Pastors Shepherd God’s Flock
- Shepherds as Teachers
-Ephesians 4:11 “pastors and teachers”
-1 Timothy 4:16 “Pay close attention to yourself
and to your teaching”
-1 Timothy 3:2 “An overseer, then, must be … able
to teach”
-2 Timothy 2:2 “entrust these to faithful men who
will be able to teach others also”
-2 Timothy 2:24 “The Lord’s bond-servant must …
be kind to all, able to teach, patient when
wronged”
- Shepherds as Guardians
-Titus 1:9 “able both to exhort in sound doctrine
and to refute those who contradict”
- Shepherds as Stewards
-2 Timothy 1:8-14 “in Christ Jesus… Guard, through
the Holy Spirit… the treasure”
-2 Timothy 3:14 – 4:5 “Preach the Word”
-Titus 1:7 “the overseer… God’s steward”
- Examples of Shepherds as Teachers, Guardians, and Stewards
Peter’s Example
- Peter’s 3 Denials of Jesus (John 13:38; 18:15-17; 25-27)
- Jesus Restores Peter 3 Times “Shepherd My Sheep” (John 21:15-19)
- Peter’s Teaching, “long for the pure milk of the word” (1 Peter 2:1-9)
- Peter’s Exhortation, “elders… shepherd the flock of God” (1 Peter 4:14-5:5)
Paul’s Example (Acts 20:17-38)
- “with you the whole time” (18)
- “serving the Lord… humility… tears… trials” (19)
- “did not shrink back from declaring … anything… profitable” (20)
- “solemnly testifying… repentance toward God and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ” (21)
- Paul’s willingness to testify unto death (22-24)
- “preaching the kingdom” (25)
- “innocent… for I did not shrink from declaring… the whole purpose of God (27)
- “be on guard… for all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit made you overseers” (28)
- “shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood” (28)
- Why? “savage wolves… not sparing… speaking perverse things… draw away” (30)
- “be on alert… remembering… admonish each one with tears” (31)
- “now I commend you to God and to the word of His grace” (32)
- “coveted no one’s silver or gold… ministered to my own needs” (33-34)
- “remember the words of the Lord Jesus” (35)
The Leaders Qualified by God
1 Timothy 3:1-7, Titus 1:5-9
Purpose: Jesus, the head of the Church, has given overseer/elder/pastors to his church to care for their souls as undershepherds. As such, he has called and qualified these men to serve the church he created.
1. Aspiration and Ability (1 Tim. 3:1, 2)
A man who Aspires
A man able to teach
2. Character and Maturity (1 Tim. 3:2-4, 6; Titus 1:6-9a)
Possess exemplary Integrity and maturity, not perfection.
Above reproach* Husband of One Wife* Temperate
Prudent Not accused of dissipation Sensible
Respectable Hospitable Able to teach
Not addicted to wine* Not pugnacious* Not Self-willed
Not Quick tempered Gentle Peaceful
Not accused of rebellion Free from love of money Not fond of sordid gain
Manages Household well Children who believe Not a new convert
Loving what is Good Just Devout
Holding fast to the faithful Word (Gospel) Good Reputation outside of the Church
3. Reputation and Responsibility (1 Tim. 3:5,7; Titus 1:5,9b, Acts 6:4)
In a specific locale
Guarding the local church
The Church Created by God
Purpose: to rediscover the true church created by God
- Jesus Builds His Church
The Foundation is The Great Confession of Jesus Christ
Matthew 16:15-19 – “You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God.”
- Jesus Purchases His Church from Among All Nations
The Message is The Gospel of Christ
Matthew 26-28, esp. 26:31-32 – The crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus Christ
Luke 24:44-47 – The resurrection: All of Scripture, All in Jesus Christ, for All Nations
Acts 20:28 – overseers, shepherding the flock, created by the Trinity
- Jesus Gathers His Church
The Covenant Sign is Baptism Into the Body of Christ
Matthew 22:35-39 The Great Commandments
Matthew 28:18-20 The Great Commission
Acts 2:29-47
Gospel Preached, People Repent & believe then baptized, & discipled in the body
- 39 “as many as the Lord our God will call to Himself”
Rom 6:3-4 – baptized, buried, and raised with Jesus Christ!
1 Corinthians 12:13 – “baptized into one body”
Galatians 3:27 – “baptized into Christ”
1 Corinthians 11:20-26 – the Lord’s Supper, the New Covenant in His blood
Ephesians 2:19-22 – God’s holy temple in Christ, built on the apostles & prophets: Bible
- Jesus is Head of His Church
Jesus Christ, not any man, is Head of the Church Created by God
Ephesians 1:22-23; 3:10, 21; 5:23, 27 – Jesus is Head of the church, His body
Colossians 1:18 – Jesus is Head of the body, the church
2 Cor 2:14-17 – Jesus leads believers in triumph
Ephesians 2:8-10; 2 Cor 5:17-21 – believers are new creatures, ambassadors for God
Acts 14:23, 20:28 – elders (pl) appointed in every church (sg) to shepherd the flock
bought with His blood
1 Timothy 3:15 – the church is the Pillar and Support of the truth
Hebrews 12:22-24 – the New Covenant church enrolled in heaven
- Jesus is the Bridegroom of the Bride, His Church
The Eternal Destiny of God’s People is to be With Christ
John 3:29 – Jesus is the bridegroom
Ephesians 1:4 – chosen in Jesus before the foundation of the world, holy and blameless
Ephesians 5:27 – present to Himself the church in all her glory, holy and blameless
Colossians 1:22 – reconciled, in order to present you before Him holy and blameless
Revelation 19:7; 21:2, 9; 22:17 – the marriage of the Lamb and His bride