God’s Design for Church Leadership #2 - The Elder’s Calling: Shepherds, Not Professionals

As we engage in this conversation about elders, let me first clarify something: in the Bible, the terms elder, pastor, and bishop refer to the same role. There is no distinction. For this reason, in our church, we use these terms interchangeably. An elder is a leader in the church who exercises his leadership by shepherding (pastoring) and overseeing (bishop-ing) the people of God entrusted to his care.

When talking about pastors, we need to identify three important things: their responsibility, their necessary qualifications, and their biblical pattern in the church. In this text, I want to deal with the first of these three—their responsibilities.

📖 The Elder’s Responsibilities

So, what do elders do? Many people immediately think of preaching—and while this instinct isn’t wrong, it can be reductionistic. Pastors do more than preach, and even the preaching must be qualified: not every preacher is a pastor. So, let me lay it out clearly:

• Shepherd the Flock of God (1 Peter 5:1–3; Acts 20:28; John 21:15–17)

  Pastors are called to feed, lead, and protect the congregation as under-shepherds of Christ. They do this by faithfully teaching and applying God’s Word to the life of the church.
  

• Teach and Preach Sound Doctrine, and Set an Example in Godliness (1 Timothy 3:2; 2 Timothy 4:2; Titus 1:9; 1 Peter 5:3; 1 Timothy 4:12; Hebrews 13:7)

  Being a pastor is not about charisma or being a good speaker. It’s about faithfully teaching sound doctrine. Pastors not only preach the truth—they are also called to embody the truth, teaching by their example. As teachers, they must guard the church from false teachers, protecting the flock from dangerous doctrines and wolves in sheep’s clothing.

  
  

• Equip the Saints for Ministry (Ephesians 4:11–12)

  Pastors are not paid to live the Christian life on behalf of others. They are godly men set apart to equip you, Christian, to walk in the good works God has prepared for you—and to be a minister of the Gospel in your own context (family, workplace, neighbourhood, etc.).

  
  

• Pray for the Church (Acts 6:4; James 5:14)

  Pastors are to spend time in prayer for the church—both for the body as a whole and for specific individuals. Much of pastoral work is accomplished through faithful prayer.

  
  

• Manage the Household of God Well (1 Timothy 3:4–5; 1 Timothy 5:17)

  Pastors are called to lead with integrity, order, and care, just as a spiritual father manages his home. People’s lives should flourish under the pastor’s care. Like a good father, pastors lead church members into healthy growth and maturity, helping them become the people God created them to be.

 ----

So yes, pastors preach—but their preaching is pastoral. It’s not a talk or a lecture about the Bible. They preach as a father teaches his children—with concern for their development, protection, effectiveness, and joy in the Lord.

Pastors are not hired workers, not paid lecturers, and not professional counsellors. They are to be the living embodiment of Christ’s loving, firm, and truthful care among God’s people.

May God gift His church with more men like that—and may He give every pastor His heart for His people.

Nino Marques