Hey folks, my name is Johnny Ardavanus and this is Dial In. In our previous episode, we looked at the

calling, the qualifications, and the attitudes of an elder within the church. An elder is

synonymous with the terms pastor, shepherd, and overseer in scripture. They described the same

role and the same function. In our previous episode, in short, elders are those who are appointed by the Holy Spirit

and then are affirmed by the church.

And they are those who possess the necessary qualifications of being a godly man

who has the ability to teach and preach the word of God.

And they do so, not under obligation, but with great

eagerness. In this episode, I want to extrapolate more fully on their function and then look finally

at the motivation that the elder possesses for serving as a shepherd in the body of Christ.

This is important for every single believer who understands that if they are a member of a

church, which they should be, they are called by God to submit to and pray for their leaders.

Therefore, understanding what they do as an elder is crucially important.

Let's dial in.

I want to look first with you at the function of an elder.

First Peter five, and we looked at this in our previous episode,

Peter says, therefore, I exhort the elders among you

as your fellow elder and the witness of the sufferings of Christ and also a partaker of the glory

that is to be revealed. Shepard the flock of God among you, exercising oversight, not under

compulsion, but voluntarily according to the will of God, and not for

sordid gain, but with eagerness. The function of an elder is to shepherd the flock of God.

This is the main verb in this passage, and it's in the imperative sense, meaning that this is

...