SHEPHERD'S WORK ASPIRING TO THE A Biblical Examination Of How One Might Prepare Himself For The Eldership

The Prospective Shepherd Having established where we find such a man, we now must examine him personally Areas where Divine revelation provides information that addresses who he should be His character Ù does he possess the “moral fiber” necessary to serve?

The Prospective Shepherd Having established where we find such a man, we now must examine him personally Areas where Divine revelation provides information that addresses who he should be His family Ù do his domestic successes or failures either qualify or disqualify him?

The Prospective Shepherd Having established where we find such a man, we now must examine him personally Areas where Divine revelation provides information that addresses who he should be His work Ù will he be able to do such a work?

The Prospective Shepherd Character If men are going to be the people of God, character is an issue God is a moral, spiritual Being Jn 4:24 Man is also moral, spiritual Gen 2:7 Eccl 3:11 12:7 Character is especially important re: those who would lead His people cp. Ex 18:21 Character

The Prospective Shepherd Character Two areas where the Biblical qualifications address the shepherd & his character: How he presents himself How he interacts with others Character The first to be examined cp. Acts 20:28 2 Cor 13:5

The Prospective Shepherd Character The shepherd himself Not greedy for money 1 Tim 3:3 Titus 1:7 Other translations say “Not fond of sordid gain” or “Free from the love of money” or “Not given (fond) of filthy lucre” or “Not a money lover” or “Not greedy for shameful gain” Character

The Prospective Shepherd Character The shepherd himself Not greedy for money 1 Tim 3:3 Titus 1:7 The issue is not just affection for money, but really is the way in which money is obtained No “questionable” way to obtain wealth is allowed Character

The Prospective Shepherd Character The shepherd himself Not greedy for money 1 Tim 3:3 Titus 1:7 The issue is not just affection for money, but really is the way in which money is obtained No “questionable” way to obtain wealth is allowed Not covetous 1 Tim 3:3 Not loving or no insatiable appetite for money Character

The Prospective Shepherd Character The shepherd himself Not greedy for money 1 Tim 3:3 Titus 1:7 Not covetous 1 Tim 3:3 Character Required of all disciples Col 3:5 1 Tim 6:9-10, 17-19 Heb 13:5

The Prospective Shepherd Character The shepherd himself Not self-willed Titus 1:7 Lit. “To not be consumed with himself” To be so wrapped up in himself that nothing else will please him cp. Prov 21:24 [Sept.] Character

“Self-assertive; arrogant.” Greek From The “Self-assertive; arrogant.” Expositor’s Greek Testament, p. 187

Greek From The “Such a one obstinately maintains his own opinion and asserts his own rights, regardless of the rights, feelings, and interests of others. With no motive at all, he is quick to act contrary to

the feelings of others, rather than to fall in with them.” Greek From The the feelings of others, rather than to fall in with them.” Trench, Synonyms of N.T. Words, pp. 367-368

The Prospective Shepherd Character The shepherd himself Not self-willed Titus 1:7 Such a one would be so proud of himself, it would be impossible for him to serve as a shepherd for the flock, mindful of their needs He would also not easily serve in a plurality of elders, at times yielding to fellow elders Character

The Prospective Shepherd Character The shepherd himself Not self-willed Titus 1:7 What kind of husband/father/disciple would a self-willed man be? Character Required of all disciples 1 Pet 5:5 Jas 4:6 (pride seeming to be the root issue) What kind of elder?

The Prospective Shepherd Character The shepherd himself Not given to wine 1 Tim 3:3 Titus 1:7 Not addicted to intoxicating drink; no drunkard Lit. “One who sits long at his wine” Secondary definition – “One not quarrelsome over his wine” Character

The Prospective Shepherd Character The shepherd himself Not given to wine 1 Tim 3:3 Titus 1:7 One who would shepherd God’s people must himself be free from effects of intoxicating drink Character Required of all disciples 1 Pet 4:3

The Prospective Shepherd Character The shepherd himself Temperate 1 Tim 3:2 To be “vigilant” or “watchful” A man who is in complete control of himself Character

Greek From The “Sober, temperate; abstaining from wine, either entirely or at least from its immoderate use…” Thayer, p. 425

The Prospective Shepherd Character The shepherd himself Temperate 1 Tim 3:2 To be “vigilant” or “watchful” A man who is in complete control of himself It is to be calm, dispassionate, circumspect (meaning of root word) Character

The Prospective Shepherd Character The shepherd himself Temperate 1 Tim 3:2 To be “vigilant” or “watchful” Character Required of older (more experienced) disciples Titus 2:2

The Prospective Shepherd Character The shepherd himself Sober-minded 1 Tim 3:2 Titus 1:8 To be prudent, sensible, sober, discreet Character

Greek From The “Of sound mind, sane; to be in one’s senses; curbing one’s desires & impulses, self-controlled, temperate.” Thayer, p. 613

Greek From The “Complete control over passions & desires, so that they are lawful & reasonable…the certain curtailment & regulation of passions, both removing those that are improper and excessive and also arranging those that are necessary to the

proper time and in moderation.” Trench, Synonyms of N.T. Words, p. 84 Greek From The proper time and in moderation.” Trench, Synonyms of N.T. Words, p. 84

The Prospective Shepherd Character The shepherd himself Sober-minded 1 Tim 3:2 Titus 1:8 To be prudent, sensible, sober, discreet Notice what is recorded in Lk 8:26-35 Character Required of all disciples 1 Tim 2:9 Titus 2:4, 6, 12 1 Pet 4:7

The Prospective Shepherd Character The shepherd himself Of good behavior 1 Tim 3:2 To be respectable, modest (in decorum); seemly A well-arranged, well ordered life with decorum It is to not be found where one ought not to be Character Required of all disciples 1 Tim 2:9

The Prospective Shepherd Character The shepherd himself Gentle 1 Tim 3:3 To be patient, equitable, fair, mild, gentle This character trait is especially important due to the shepherd’s constant need in dealing with people who are under his charge Everyone is not “cookie-cutter stamped” Character

The Prospective Shepherd Character The shepherd himself Gentle 1 Tim 3:3 Considerate of, toward others, their situations Kind, humane treatment of others cp. 1 Pet 2:18 Character Required of all disciples Phil 4:5 Titus 3:2 Jas 3:13-18

The Prospective Shepherd Character The shepherd himself Just Titus 1:8 To be righteous Character

Greek From The “One who observes Divine and human laws; one who is such as he ought to be; upright & virtuous, keeping the commands of God.” Thayer, p. 148

The Prospective Shepherd Character The shepherd himself Just Titus 1:8 To be righteous More specifically (narrower sense), able to pass “just” judgment on others in how he deals with them cp. Jn 5:30 Character

The Prospective Shepherd Character The shepherd himself Just Titus 1:8 To be righteous Character Required of all disciples Rom 1:17 Jas 5:16

The Prospective Shepherd Character The shepherd himself Holy Titus 1:8 To be undefiled by sin, free from wickedness To observe and reverence moral & religious obligations imposed by God It is to be “pure” or “sanctified” (set apart) [synonyms] Character

The Prospective Shepherd Character The shepherd himself Holy Titus 1:8 Descriptive of one who is pious toward God Character Required of all disciples 1 Pet 1:16 1 Tim 2:8

The Prospective Shepherd Character As it relates to him personally… Character Not greedy for money Sober-minded Not covetous Of good behavior Not self-willed Gentle Not given to wine Just Temperate Holy

The Prospective Shepherd Character The next set of character traits deal with how the shepherd interacts with others There is justification in examining the shepherd’s attributes re: himself first before looking at how he deals with other people As already stated, notice the wording found in Acts 20:28 Character

The Prospective Shepherd Character The next set of character traits deal with how the shepherd interacts with others What is under discussion is the difference between “character” and “reputation” Both are important, but they must be put in the proper order to accurately portray a person Character

Such a one is devoid of character The Prospective Shepherd The next set of character traits deal with how the shepherd interacts with others Character doesn’t depend upon reputation For one to care only about reputation w/o regard to character = politically wetting the finger to see which way the current winds blow before deciding how to act re: others Character Such a one is devoid of character

The Prospective Shepherd Character The next set of character traits deal with how the shepherd interacts with others Reputation does depend on character The type of person one truly is on the inside will be how one acts on the outside, allowing others to form their opinions [reputation] cp. Mt 15:17-20 Prov 23:7 Character

The Prospective Shepherd Character The next set of character traits deal with how the shepherd interacts with others How one appears before others needs to be considered cp. 2 Cor 8:16-22 Character