The Lord’s church is not some civic organization, some country club, or some ecclesiastical “big business.” The Lord’s church is the body of His people (Col. 1:18) and has Jesus Christ as its one and only head (Eph. 5:23). As prescribed in the New Testament, this family of God (1 Tim. 3:15) is to be overseen by and shepherded by a group of qualified men (1 Tim. 3:1-7) called “elders” (1 Pet. 5:1).
The responsibility of every church member is to honor (1 Tim. 5:17), respect (1 Thess. 5:12), esteem (1 Thess. 5:13), follow (1 Pet. 5:3; Heb. 13:7), submit to (Heb. 13:17) and obey (Heb. 13:17) those who “watch out” for their souls. Elders have a tremendous responsibility in their roles to oversee the church (and its various works, programs and teachings) and to shepherd the members (in their faith, their growth and their service to the Lord).
In our efforts to “encourage one another” (1 Thess. 5:11) in the family of God, what can a church member do to encourage its elders/shepherds? This is one of the most important considerations for any Christian. Here are some ready-made ideas to get you started:
1. Pray for them—individually, personally and by name.
2. Let them know that you are praying for them.
3. Thank them for all that they do as an elder and for the sacrifices that they make for the congregation.
4. Tell them how much you appreciate some decision or action that they took.
5. Invite them into your home for a visit or a meal.
6. Encourage their wives and be nice to their children.
7. Send them a note (even electronic one) of appreciation.
8. Take advantage of opportunities that they provide to grow in personal faith and in fellowship with the congregation.
9. Help them in their shepherding efforts by personally encouraging other members and reaching out to those who seem to be struggling or have strayed from the faith.
10. Defend them when they are unfairly criticized or when defamatory comments are made about them by others.
11. Praise them, their work and their decisions to other members of the congregation.
12. Once a year, send a personal, hand-written card to each elder and his wife, and perhaps even include a small gift.
Elders bear great responsibility in shepherding the flock of God. May we do all what we can to love them, encourage them and make their work a joy!