Why do churches have elders? | Acts 14 (Part 2) | Join The Journey Podcast

All right, all right, join the journey, All right, all right, join the journey, family, friends, and guests. You're family, friends, and guests. You're family, friends, and guests. You're listening to Join the Journey podcast listening to Join the Journey podcast listening to Join the Journey podcast with your host, Emma Dotter. with your host, Emma Dotter. with your host, Emma Dotter. >> Thanks for joining. [music] This week, >> Thanks for joining. [music] This week, >> Thanks for joining. [music] This week, we are reading Acts 14, and today, we're we are reading Acts 14, and today, we're we are reading Acts 14, and today, we're answering the question, why is it answering the question, why is it answering the question, why is it important to belong to a shepherding important to belong to a shepherding important to belong to a shepherding church? church? church? Now, have you ever noticed how every Now, have you ever noticed how every Now, have you ever noticed how every nature documentary has that moment where nature documentary has that moment where nature documentary has that moment where one animal gets separated from the one animal gets separated from the one animal gets separated from the group? group? group? And suddenly, And suddenly, And suddenly, the narrator's voice changes. Like the narrator's voice changes. Like the narrator's voice changes. Like everything's peaceful, everything's peaceful, everything's peaceful, the zebras are grazing, the music is the zebras are grazing, the music is the zebras are grazing, the music is calm, and then one little gazelle calm, and then one little gazelle calm, and then one little gazelle wanders off. wanders off. wanders off. And immediately, the narrator's like, And immediately, the narrator's like, And immediately, the narrator's like, "Separated from the herd, the young "Separated from the herd, the young "Separated from the herd, the young gazelle is now extremely vulnerable to gazelle is now extremely vulnerable to gazelle is now extremely vulnerable to predators." predators." predators." And every single person watching this And every single person watching this And every single person watching this documentary is like, documentary is like, documentary is like, thinking, thinking, thinking, "Oh, no. [clears throat] "Oh, no. [clears throat] "Oh, no. [clears throat] This is not going to go well." This is not going to go well." This is not going to go well." What's interesting What's interesting What's interesting is that the Bible repeatedly describes is that the Bible repeatedly describes is that the Bible repeatedly describes believers as sheep, not wolves, not believers as sheep, not wolves, not believers as sheep, not wolves, not bears, bears, bears, sheep.

sheep. sheep. Which is a little humbling, because Which is a little humbling, because Which is a little humbling, because sheep aren't exactly known for their sheep aren't exactly known for their sheep aren't exactly known for their independence, intelligence, or survival independence, intelligence, or survival independence, intelligence, or survival skills. Sheep need shepherds. They need skills. Sheep need shepherds. They need skills. Sheep need shepherds. They need protection, guidance. They need a flock. protection, guidance. They need a flock. protection, guidance. They need a flock. After Paul and Barnabas preached the After Paul and Barnabas preached the After Paul and Barnabas preached the gospel and plant churches, gospel and plant churches, gospel and plant churches, they don't just leave new believers they don't just leave new believers they don't just leave new believers alone with a Bible and good intentions. alone with a Bible and good intentions. alone with a Bible and good intentions. They go back for them. They strengthen They go back for them. They strengthen They go back for them. They strengthen them, encourage them, appoint elders, them, encourage them, appoint elders, them, encourage them, appoint elders, establish the churches. establish the churches. establish the churches. Because life as a follower of Jesus was Because life as a follower of Jesus was Because life as a follower of Jesus was never designed to be lived alone. never designed to be lived alone. never designed to be lived alone. We live in a season in history where We live in a season in history where We live in a season in history where many people want Jesus without the many people want Jesus without the many people want Jesus without the church, sermons without accountability, church, sermons without accountability, church, sermons without accountability, and Christian content without Christian and Christian content without Christian and Christian content without Christian community. community. community. We live in an age of podcasts, live We live in an age of podcasts, live We live in an age of podcasts, live streams, reels, endless spiritual streams, reels, endless spiritual streams, reels, endless spiritual content, and while those things can content, and while those things can content, and while those things can absolutely encourage us, absolutely encourage us, absolutely encourage us, they can't shepherd us. they can't shepherd us. they can't shepherd us. They can't know us, protect us, correct They can't know us, protect us, correct They can't know us, protect us, correct us, pray over us, notice when we're us, pray over us, notice when we're us, pray over us, notice when we're drifting, or walk with us through drifting, or walk with us through drifting, or walk with us through suffering.

suffering. suffering. Acts 14 reminds us that the early church Acts 14 reminds us that the early church Acts 14 reminds us that the early church didn't view following Jesus as an didn't view following Jesus as an didn't view following Jesus as an individual spiritual journey. individual spiritual journey. individual spiritual journey. Paul and Barnabas didn't just make Paul and Barnabas didn't just make Paul and Barnabas didn't just make converts and move on. converts and move on. converts and move on. They returned to strengthen believers, They returned to strengthen believers, They returned to strengthen believers, appoint elders, and establish churches appoint elders, and establish churches appoint elders, and establish churches because they understood something we because they understood something we because they understood something we often forget. often forget. often forget. Isolated followers of Jesus are Isolated followers of Jesus are Isolated followers of Jesus are vulnerable followers of Jesus. vulnerable followers of Jesus. vulnerable followers of Jesus. Sheep need shepherds, and believers need Sheep need shepherds, and believers need Sheep need shepherds, and believers need a spiritual family that helps them a spiritual family that helps them a spiritual family that helps them persevere, grow, persevere, grow, persevere, grow, and remain faithful to Jesus over the and remain faithful to Jesus over the and remain faithful to Jesus over the long haul. long haul. long haul. So today, again, we're answering the So today, again, we're answering the So today, again, we're answering the question, question, question, "Why is it important to belong to a "Why is it important to belong to a "Why is it important to belong to a shepherding church?" shepherding church?" shepherding church?" Here at Watermark, our elders have Here at Watermark, our elders have Here at Watermark, our elders have explained this value by saying, explained this value by saying, explained this value by saying, "The Bible describes church leaders as "The Bible describes church leaders as "The Bible describes church leaders as shepherds watching over a local flock of shepherds watching over a local flock of shepherds watching over a local flock of church members. church members. church members. Those occupying the office of an elder Those occupying the office of an elder Those occupying the office of an elder have the God-given responsibility to have the God-given responsibility to have the God-given responsibility to know, lead, feed, care for, correct, and know, lead, feed, care for, correct, and know, lead, feed, care for, correct, and protect the people of the church.

protect the people of the church. protect the people of the church. Church membership is a meaningful Church membership is a meaningful Church membership is a meaningful identification with our flock and a glad identification with our flock and a glad identification with our flock and a glad submission to our elders' spiritual submission to our elders' spiritual submission to our elders' spiritual guidance, care, and correction. guidance, care, and correction. guidance, care, and correction. We desire to be marked by a joyful We desire to be marked by a joyful We desire to be marked by a joyful submission to our elders as they are submission to our elders as they are submission to our elders as they are joyfully submitted to Christ. Hebrews joyfully submitted to Christ. Hebrews joyfully submitted to Christ. Hebrews 13:17." 13:17." 13:17." But why do I bring up this idea of a But why do I bring up this idea of a But why do I bring up this idea of a shepherding church here in Acts 14? shepherding church here in Acts 14? shepherding church here in Acts 14? Well, Well, Well, the shepherding theme is all over the the shepherding theme is all over the the shepherding theme is all over the ending of the chapter. ending of the chapter. ending of the chapter. After Paul is nearly killed in Lystra After Paul is nearly killed in Lystra After Paul is nearly killed in Lystra and the missionaries continue preaching and the missionaries continue preaching and the missionaries continue preaching in other cities, in other cities, in other cities, Acts says this in verse 21 and 22. Acts says this in verse 21 and 22. Acts says this in verse 21 and 22. They returned to Lystra, Iconium, and They returned to Lystra, Iconium, and They returned to Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch of Pisidia, where they Antioch of Pisidia, where they Antioch of Pisidia, where they strengthened the believers. strengthened the believers. strengthened the believers. They encouraged them to continue in the They encouraged them to continue in the They encouraged them to continue in the faith, reminding them that we must faith, reminding them that we must faith, reminding them that we must suffer many hardships to enter the suffer many hardships to enter the suffer many hardships to enter the kingdom of God. kingdom of God. kingdom of God. Notice, Paul didn't simply preach the Notice, Paul didn't simply preach the Notice, Paul didn't simply preach the gospel, collect converts, and move on. gospel, collect converts, and move on. gospel, collect converts, and move on. He goes back for them. He goes back for them. He goes back for them. Why? Why? Why? Because believers need strengthening, Because believers need strengthening, Because believers need strengthening, encouragement, and care if they're going encouragement, and care if they're going encouragement, and care if they're going to persevere following Jesus. This is to persevere following Jesus. This is to persevere following Jesus. This is shepherding language.

shepherding language. shepherding language. And Luke says, And Luke says, And Luke says, "Paul and Barnabas also appointed elders "Paul and Barnabas also appointed elders "Paul and Barnabas also appointed elders in every church. With prayer and in every church. With prayer and in every church. With prayer and fasting, they turned the elders over to fasting, they turned the elders over to fasting, they turned the elders over to the care of the Lord in whom they had the care of the Lord in whom they had the care of the Lord in whom they had put their trust." put their trust." put their trust." This is huge because it shows the This is huge because it shows the This is huge because it shows the apostles intentionally establishing apostles intentionally establishing apostles intentionally establishing leadership structures within the local leadership structures within the local leadership structures within the local church. Why? church. Why? church. Why? Again, sheep need shepherds. Again, sheep need shepherds. Again, sheep need shepherds. The role of elders, as described The role of elders, as described The role of elders, as described throughout the New Testament, is to throughout the New Testament, is to throughout the New Testament, is to lead, feed, protect, and care for God's lead, feed, protect, and care for God's lead, feed, protect, and care for God's people. people. people. The early church didn't view following The early church didn't view following The early church didn't view following Jesus or Christianity as merely a Jesus or Christianity as merely a Jesus or Christianity as merely a private individual faith experience. private individual faith experience. private individual faith experience. Believers were gathered into local Believers were gathered into local Believers were gathered into local churches with real spiritual oversight, churches with real spiritual oversight, churches with real spiritual oversight, encouragement, accountability, encouragement, accountability, encouragement, accountability, protection, and care. protection, and care. protection, and care. Which makes even more sense when you Which makes even more sense when you Which makes even more sense when you remember the context. These believers remember the context. These believers remember the context. These believers were facing persecution almost were facing persecution almost were facing persecution almost immediately. immediately. immediately. Paul himself had just been stoned and Paul himself had just been stoned and Paul himself had just been stoned and left for dead earlier in the chapter.

left for dead earlier in the chapter. left for dead earlier in the chapter. So, he knows these followers of Jesus, So, he knows these followers of Jesus, So, he knows these followers of Jesus, they won't survive long-term on hype, they won't survive long-term on hype, they won't survive long-term on hype, emotion, or occasional spiritual emotion, or occasional spiritual emotion, or occasional spiritual inspiration. They needed stable inspiration. They needed stable inspiration. They needed stable community. They needed truth. They community. They needed truth. They community. They needed truth. They needed encouragement. They needed needed encouragement. They needed needed encouragement. They needed shepherds helping them persevere through shepherds helping them persevere through shepherds helping them persevere through suffering and remain faithful to Jesus. suffering and remain faithful to Jesus. suffering and remain faithful to Jesus. Then when we zoom out to the rest of the Then when we zoom out to the rest of the Then when we zoom out to the rest of the New Testament, New Testament, New Testament, we start to realize that Acts 14 is we start to realize that Acts 14 is we start to realize that Acts 14 is revealing a pattern, not just a singular revealing a pattern, not just a singular revealing a pattern, not just a singular moment. moment. moment. Paul and Barnabas never just really Paul and Barnabas never just really Paul and Barnabas never just really preached the gospel and moved on. They preached the gospel and moved on. They preached the gospel and moved on. They strengthened believers, encouraged strengthened believers, encouraged strengthened believers, encouraged perseverance, and appointed elders in perseverance, and appointed elders in perseverance, and appointed elders in every church. Acts 14:23, every church. every church. Acts 14:23, every church. every church. Acts 14:23, every church. In other words, the apostles assumed In other words, the apostles assumed In other words, the apostles assumed followers of Jesus would belong to local followers of Jesus would belong to local followers of Jesus would belong to local churches with identifiable leadership, churches with identifiable leadership, churches with identifiable leadership, spiritual care, accountability, and spiritual care, accountability, and spiritual care, accountability, and community. So, why then does belonging community. So, why then does belonging community. So, why then does belonging to a shepherding church matter? Let's to a shepherding church matter? Let's to a shepherding church matter? Let's look at a few key reasons we find look at a few key reasons we find look at a few key reasons we find throughout the scriptures.

throughout the scriptures. throughout the scriptures. First, First, First, believers need spiritual shepherding and believers need spiritual shepherding and believers need spiritual shepherding and care. Hebrews 13:17 reads, "Obey your care. Hebrews 13:17 reads, "Obey your care. Hebrews 13:17 reads, "Obey your spiritual leaders and do what they say. spiritual leaders and do what they say. spiritual leaders and do what they say. Their work is to watch over your souls Their work is to watch over your souls Their work is to watch over your souls and they are accountable to God." and they are accountable to God." and they are accountable to God." That verse assumes believers are part of That verse assumes believers are part of That verse assumes believers are part of a local church a local church a local church where leaders actually know them and are where leaders actually know them and are where leaders actually know them and are responsible for caring for them responsible for caring for them responsible for caring for them spiritually. spiritually. spiritually. 1 Peter 5 similarly calls elders to 1 Peter 5 similarly calls elders to 1 Peter 5 similarly calls elders to shepherd the flock of God that is among shepherd the flock of God that is among shepherd the flock of God that is among you. And Acts 20 warns church leaders to you. And Acts 20 warns church leaders to you. And Acts 20 warns church leaders to protect the church from spiritual danger protect the church from spiritual danger protect the church from spiritual danger and false teaching. and false teaching. and false teaching. Shepherding though, it's not about Shepherding though, it's not about Shepherding though, it's not about control. control. control. Biblically, it's about knowing, leading, Biblically, it's about knowing, leading, Biblically, it's about knowing, leading, feeding, protecting, and caring for feeding, protecting, and caring for feeding, protecting, and caring for God's people. God's people. God's people. Apparently, the New Testament doesn't Apparently, the New Testament doesn't Apparently, the New Testament doesn't envision Christians wandering through envision Christians wandering through envision Christians wandering through life spiritually unsupervised and life spiritually unsupervised and life spiritually unsupervised and completely disconnected from the church. completely disconnected from the church. completely disconnected from the church. Second, Second, Second, believers are meant to live in a believers are meant to live in a believers are meant to live in a committed biblical community.

committed biblical community. committed biblical community. The New Testament repeatedly describes The New Testament repeatedly describes The New Testament repeatedly describes the church as a body, a family, a the church as a body, a family, a the church as a body, a family, a household, and a flock. household, and a flock. household, and a flock. These are deeply relational images. These are deeply relational images. These are deeply relational images. First Corinthians 12 says believers are First Corinthians 12 says believers are First Corinthians 12 says believers are made their members of one body who need made their members of one body who need made their members of one body who need one another. one another. one another. Hebrews 10:24-25 Hebrews 10:24-25 Hebrews 10:24-25 commands Christians to regularly meet commands Christians to regularly meet commands Christians to regularly meet together and encourage each other. together and encourage each other. together and encourage each other. James 5 talks about confessing sin and James 5 talks about confessing sin and James 5 talks about confessing sin and praying with one another. praying with one another. praying with one another. Following Jesus was never designed to be Following Jesus was never designed to be Following Jesus was never designed to be a private, isolated experience. a private, isolated experience. a private, isolated experience. The early church didn't think of church The early church didn't think of church The early church didn't think of church as merely attending an event once or as merely attending an event once or as merely attending an event once or twice a month and then disappearing into twice a month and then disappearing into twice a month and then disappearing into anonymity, nor did they envision anonymity, nor did they envision anonymity, nor did they envision believers like spiritually freelancing believers like spiritually freelancing believers like spiritually freelancing their way through life. their way through life. their way through life. Third, Third, Third, meaningful church membership helps meaningful church membership helps meaningful church membership helps clarify spiritual responsibility clarify spiritual responsibility clarify spiritual responsibility and commitment. and commitment. and commitment. Membership, signing up and saying, "Hey, Membership, signing up and saying, "Hey, Membership, signing up and saying, "Hey, I I'm willing to be shepherded. I'm I I'm willing to be shepherded. I'm I I'm willing to be shepherded. I'm committing to this local body." It's not committing to this local body." It's not committing to this local body." It's not about earning salvation or joining a about earning salvation or joining a about earning salvation or joining a country club with a logo and free coffee country club with a logo and free coffee country club with a logo and free coffee on Sunday mornings. Biblically, church on Sunday mornings. Biblically, church on Sunday mornings. Biblically, church membership is a way of identifying who membership is a way of identifying who membership is a way of identifying who belongs to a local church body, who's belongs to a local church body, who's belongs to a local church body, who's committed to living in biblical committed to living in biblical committed to living in biblical community, and who the elders are community, and who the elders are community, and who the elders are responsible for shepherding before God.

responsible for shepherding before God. responsible for shepherding before God. Without some form of meaningful Without some form of meaningful Without some form of meaningful commitment, chapters about church commitment, chapters about church commitment, chapters about church leadership, care, encouragement, leadership, care, encouragement, leadership, care, encouragement, discipline, and accountability become discipline, and accountability become discipline, and accountability become really difficult to practice really difficult to practice really difficult to practice consistently. consistently. consistently. Fourth, God designed the church to have Fourth, God designed the church to have Fourth, God designed the church to have spiritual leadership. spiritual leadership. spiritual leadership. Acts 14 specifically says Paul and Acts 14 specifically says Paul and Acts 14 specifically says Paul and Barnabas appointed leaders in every Barnabas appointed leaders in every Barnabas appointed leaders in every church. church. church. That matters because leadership in the That matters because leadership in the That matters because leadership in the church isn't merely a modern-day church isn't merely a modern-day church isn't merely a modern-day organizational strategy. It is a organizational strategy. It is a organizational strategy. It is a biblical design. biblical design. biblical design. According to the New Testament, again, According to the New Testament, again, According to the New Testament, again, elders are called to a high call to elders are called to a high call to elders are called to a high call to lead, teach, protect doctrine, care for lead, teach, protect doctrine, care for lead, teach, protect doctrine, care for people, help the church mature people, help the church mature people, help the church mature spiritually. spiritually. spiritually. Ephesians 4 says God gives leaders to Ephesians 4 says God gives leaders to Ephesians 4 says God gives leaders to the church to equip God's people to do the church to equip God's people to do the church to equip God's people to do his work and build up the church. In his work and build up the church. In his work and build up the church. In other words, healthy church leadership other words, healthy church leadership other words, healthy church leadership is one of God's gifts to his people. And is one of God's gifts to his people. And is one of God's gifts to his people. And honestly, honestly, honestly, most of us will eventually discover, if most of us will eventually discover, if most of us will eventually discover, if we try to do it on our own, we try to do it on our own, we try to do it on our own, we're far less spiritually we're far less spiritually we're far less spiritually self-sufficient than we originally self-sufficient than we originally self-sufficient than we originally thought.

thought. thought. All of these principles are important All of these principles are important All of these principles are important and they're especially important when and they're especially important when and they're especially important when we're living in a culture that's we're living in a culture that's we're living in a culture that's marked by distraction, isolation, marked by distraction, isolation, marked by distraction, isolation, autonomy, what one theologian called autonomy, what one theologian called autonomy, what one theologian called disembodied relationships. This I idea disembodied relationships. This I idea disembodied relationships. This I idea that we have endless digital interaction that we have endless digital interaction that we have endless digital interaction without meaningful in-person connection. without meaningful in-person connection. without meaningful in-person connection. The church is meant to push up against The church is meant to push up against The church is meant to push up against any form of isolation by becoming a any form of isolation by becoming a any form of isolation by becoming a place where believers are known, loved, place where believers are known, loved, place where believers are known, loved, corrected, encouraged, protected, and corrected, encouraged, protected, and corrected, encouraged, protected, and strengthened over time. strengthened over time. strengthened over time. In Acts 14, In Acts 14, In Acts 14, these new believers were immediately these new believers were immediately these new believers were immediately faced with suffering and persecution. faced with suffering and persecution. faced with suffering and persecution. Again, Paul had just been stoned and Again, Paul had just been stoned and Again, Paul had just been stoned and left for dead. left for dead. left for dead. The apostles understood what we need to The apostles understood what we need to The apostles understood what we need to remember today. remember today. remember today. Followers of Jesus don't persevere Followers of Jesus don't persevere Followers of Jesus don't persevere through hardship on accident. through hardship on accident. through hardship on accident. God often sustains his people through God often sustains his people through God often sustains his people through care, encouragement, teaching, and of care, encouragement, teaching, and of care, encouragement, teaching, and of course shepherding, all within the course shepherding, all within the course shepherding, all within the context of the local church.

context of the local church. context of the local church. So, if you're local to Dallas and you So, if you're local to Dallas and you So, if you're local to Dallas and you don't have a church home, a place where don't have a church home, a place where don't have a church home, a place where you're being shepherded, we'd love for you're being shepherded, we'd love for you're being shepherded, we'd love for you to consider becoming a member here you to consider becoming a member here you to consider becoming a member here at Watermark. We'll put more information at Watermark. We'll put more information at Watermark. We'll put more information in this episode's show notes for you to in this episode's show notes for you to in this episode's show notes for you to check out. check out. check out. But as always, I'm so glad we're all on But as always, I'm so glad we're all on But as always, I'm so glad we're all on this journey of abiding in Jesus this journey of abiding in Jesus this journey of abiding in Jesus together.