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

3. 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?

4. 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?

5. 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?

6. 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: :7
Character is especially important re: those who would lead His people cp. Ex 18:21
Character

7. 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: Cor 13:5

8. 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

9. 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

10. 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

11. 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: Tim 6:9-10, Heb 13:5

12. 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

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

14. 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

15. 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

16. 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

17. 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?

18. 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

19. 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

20. 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

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

22. 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

23. 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

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

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

26. 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

27. 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

28. 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, Pet 4:7

29. 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

30. 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

31. 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

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

33. 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

34. 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

35. 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

36. 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

37. 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

38. 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

39. 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

40. 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

41. 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

42. 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: Prov 23:7
Character

43. 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