Overseer Training

A 3-week primer on joining the pastoral team as an overseer/elder at a biblically-functioning church.

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Shownotes

Part 1 of 3 in the Overseer Training series. Go through this with a mentor (or mentors) from the existing pastoral team at your church or campus.

  • AC uses this to onboard new leaders
  • For other PG churches: feel free to adapt for your context
  • Where we’re going and who this training is for. 
    • What is the office?
    • Biblical qualifications
    • Job description – We will literally be going through the role description we’re using at our local church. This can be a guide for you. 

In the New Testament, you’ll find the authors use three different words to describe the office of elder, pastor, overseer, or bishop.  

  • Episkopos – overseer
    • Philippians 1:1 I am writing to all of God’s holy people in Philippi who belong to Christ Jesus, including the church leaders and deacons. (NLT) 
    • NIV, NASB, ESV – overseers
    • KJV, NKJV – bishops
  •  Poimen – shepherd/pastor 
    • Ephesians 4:11 So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and becoming mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. (NLT) 
    • NIV, NKJV, KJV, NASB – pastors
    • ESV – shepherds 
    • This term is the least used term of the three in referring to the official position in the church.  Jesus uses this term throughout the book of Matthew; sheep without a shepherd, I am the good shepherd, the sheep know the shepherd, etc. 
  • Presbyteros – elder 
    • 1 Timothy 5:17 The elders who direct the affairs of the church well are worthy of double honor, especially those whose work is preaching and teaching. (NIV) 
    • NLT, ESV, KJV, NASB, NKJV – elders 

Alpine Way – At Alpine Church, we understand and take into account the culture that surrounds us in this moment of time. This helps us to wisely contextualize our ministry practices, so that we can be more effective in fulfilling the Great Commandment and the Great Commission in the arena where God has placed us.

Our primary field of engagement begins with the Wasatch Front of Utah, and extends to other areas throughout the Intermountain West where the culture of Mormonism is most rooted. We share the Gospel with all those we encounter, but our target audience is disaffected Latter-day Saints and others with a Mormon background. As God gives opportunity, we are open to serving in areas beyond the Mormon cultural domain, but we are especially interested in areas where Mormonism is common.

  • Because of this we use the terms “overseer” and “‘pastoral team” as “elder” and “bishop” carry meanings in the LDS culture that could be confusing to our attenders. 

Functions of pastor, elder, overseer, bishop according to scripture 

  1. Oppose False Teaching/Proclaim the Gospel – 1 Timothy 1:3 As I urged you when I went into Macedonia, stay there in Ephesus so that you may command certain people not to teach false doctrines any longer. 1 Timothy 4:6, 1 Timothy 4:11, 1 Timothy 4:16, 1 Timothy 6:2-3 
  2. He is to be a teacher – “able to teach” is listed as a qualification. According to 1 Timothy 5:17 there are elders/overseers whose role is not primarily teaching or preaching because Paul uses the phrase – “especially those whose work is preaching and teaching”. This indicates a separation from those who don’t have that primary role.  Environments for teaching – small groups, mentor relationships, Sunday services, in the home
  3. Promote unity in the body – 1 Timothy 1:3-4 
  4. Pray for the body 1 Timothy 2:1, 2:8 (This command is to “men everywhere” so it is not limited to overseers/elders, but would certainly include them)
  5. He is a manager – 1 Timothy 3:5
  6. Spiritual discipline – 1 Timothy 5:20, 1 Timothy 5:1
  7. Spiritual Authority – This would make sense that you don’t have the responsibility to discipline unless you have authority. 

The role of pastor, elder, overseer, or bishop is different from the role of deacon. 

  • Phil 1: (NLT) 1 This letter is from Paul and Timothy, slaves of Christ Jesus. I am writing to all of God’s holy people in Philippi who belong to Christ Jesus, including the church leaders and deacons.
  • 1 Timothy 3:1-13 
  • Qualifications of both roles are similar. If you hold the position that women can be deacons then deacons would not have spiritual authority or this would be inconsistent with Paul’s writings in 1 Timothy. We don’t see the “able to teach” requirement listed for deacons. 

Talking Points:
  • The words “overseer”, “elder”, and “pastor” can sometimes be confusing when put next to each other. In today’s discussion, we’ll clear up the confusion and learn what each of these words means.
  • In the New Testament, three different words are used to describe one and the same office: elder/pastor/overseer. A separate word is used to describe the office of deacon. 1 Timothy 5:17, Ephesians 4:11, Philippians 1:1 
  • Overseers/elders are part of the “pastoral team” at a local church, even if they’re not paid. This team proclaims and protects the gospel, promotes unity in the body, prays for the church, and exercises spiritual authority. 1 Timothy 1:3-4
Discussion:
  1. Read the talking points above as a group, including scripture references. What are your initial thoughts about these points or about the podcast lesson (see audio above)?
  2. Before listening to this lesson, how would you have described the difference between a pastor and an elder/overseer? How would you describe it now?
  3. Make a list of some of the false teaching that has crept into many churches today. How can the pastoral team protect the church from these teachings?
  4. What does it look like for the pastoral team to promote unity in the church? Give a specific example.
  5. What does it look like for the pastoral team to exercise spiritual authority in the church? Give a specific example.
  6. Do you believe you’re qualified to join the pastoral team at your church? Why or why not?

Shownotes

From the Job Description: An overseer must qualify according to 1 Timothy 3:1-7 and Titus 1:6-9 and PG’s profile of a healthy leader. 

He must affirm Alpine’s doctrinal statement, the Alpine Way, and Alpine’s Statement on Sexuality and Gender. – reference back to the unity we mentioned last week.  It’s imperative your elders/overseers can affirm your philosophy of ministry. 

    • 1 Timothy 3:1-5 This is a trustworthy saying: “If someone aspires to be a church leader,[a] he desires an honorable position.” 2 So a church leader must be a man whose life is above reproach. He must be faithful to his wife.[b] He must exercise self-control, live wisely, and have a good reputation. He must enjoy having guests in his home, and he must be able to teach. 3 He must not be a heavy drinker[c] or be violent. He must be gentle, not quarrelsome, and not love money. 4 He must manage his own family well, having children who respect and obey him. 5 For if a man cannot manage his own household, how can he take care of God’s church? He must not be a recent convert, or he may become conceited and fall under the same judgment as the devil. 7 He must also have a good reputation with outsiders, so that he will not fall into disgrace and into the devil’s trap.
      • Overseer, elder, bishop, pastor – words used interchangeably in NT- to oversee, to care for – caring for the flock is at the heart of the calling of an overseer 
      • Several translations say, “He desires a good work.”  Many people desire honorable positions, but how many desire to work for the Lord?  
  • What is the use of a lazy minister? He is no good either to the world, to the Church, or to himself. He is a dishonor to the noblest profession that can be bestowed upon the sons of men.” (Spurgeon)
      • Ashamed of the low expectations I placed on Overseer Team in Logan for the first four years I was campus pastor.  Men often rise to the level of expectation.  I saw that first hand in the years I coached and I’ve seen it in ministry. 
    • Above reproach 
      • Literally means “nothing to take hold upon” – It is a metaphor of a boxer who so skillfully defends himself, it is impossible to hit him. 
      • It can’t mean perfection or there would be no overseers.  Is there a pattern of sin in your life someone can point a finger at?  Not just sins of commission, but sins of omission as well.  This is why we look to see if someone is obedient to helping others pursue God before we invite them to serve in this capacity.  Are they honoring God with their finances?  
    • Faithful to his wife 
      • Original Greek – must be the husband of one wife, Some translations say must have married only once 
      • Most commentaries agree it means monogamy, faithful to his wife
      • I’ve always taken a very conservative view on this requirement, but I am softening that stance, or at least think I am. It seems all of the other requirements describe the condition of the man after he has begun a relationship with Jesus. Would Paul have been described as gentle before his conversion, while he was rounding up Christians to be imprisoned or looking upon their stoning with approval?  If that element of the list isn’t looked at as “Has always been gentle” why would we look at this element as “has always been the husband of one wife”.  
      • Faithful to his wife would include being faithful with your eyes
    • Self Control, live wisely, have a good reputation 
      • Story about deacon who bragged he was a real S.O.B. Monday through Friday 
      • Self control on social media, self control when we engage in hard conversations 
      • Live wisely means there may be areas in my life that aren’t necessarily sinful, but is it wise?  
    • Enjoy having guests in his home, hospitality
      • Traveling Christians in that culture who didn’t want to stay at public inns because of the depravity – may look different today
    • Able to teach 
      • The seventh item is “able to teach”. This implies not only a readiness to teach, but also having the spiritual power to do so, after the overseer has prayerfully reflected on God’s Word and its practical application.
      • Teaching environments: small groups, mentoring, Sunday morning, Alpine U classes or similar 
    • Not a heavy drinker or violent, gentle, not quarrelsome, and not love money
      • In our culture, quarrelsome would also apply to the way the handle social media
      • Most literal translation is not contentious – an overseer should not  be someone that people are walking on eggshells around. 
      • Do they put love of things over love of God and love of people? 
    • Manage his own family well
      • How does this look when kids are out of the home? 
      • If kids are rebelling, is it because of the father’s parenting or in spite of the father’s parenting? 
      • Honest feedback from the candidate’s wife can be very helpful in this case. 
    • Not a recent convert and good reputation with outsiders
      • Recent is a relative and subjective term.  Has the potential overseer been through trials since they’ve become a believer that have revealed the genuineness of their faith? 
      • Have they served alongside others?  How do those who have served with them feel about their qualifications?  
  • Profile of a Healthy Leader:
    • Spiritual: Be humbly submitted to Jesus as Savior and Lord. Honor God with excellence in your work, depending on God for the results. Colossians 3:23-24
    • Emotional: Celebrate your strengths and take ownership of your weaknesses. Stay teachable and positive in the face of trials. 2 Timothy 2:24-25
    • Relational: Care about people, not just tasks. Do conflict well, speaking truth in love according to the standard of Jesus. Matthew 18:15-17
    • Financial: Don’t love money. Be generous to God through regular, sacrificial giving to your local church. 2 Corinthians 8:7
    • Missional: Buy into the disciple-making mission of the church. Model it personally in your life and encourage others to participate. Matthew 28:19-20

Talking Points:
  • Pastors/overseers often are viewed differently than normal members of the congregation. What are the reasons for this? Today we’ll be answering that question, as we look at the qualifications of a church leader.
  • An overseer must be able to affirm your church’s philosophy of ministry, which should be firmly based on the Word of God alone. Titus 1:6-9
  • He should fit the description of a qualified church leader given in 1 Timothy 3:1-7.
  • A church leader should fit with the qualities described by PursueGOD’s Profile of a Healthy Leader: to be spiritually, emotionally, relationally, financially, and missionally healthy.
Discussion:
  1. Read the talking points above as a group, including scripture references. What are your initial thoughts about these points or about the podcast lesson (see audio above)?
  2. Why is it so important for an overseer to affirm their church’s philosophy of ministry? What problems may arise if that’s not the case?
  3. Read 1 Timothy 3:1-7. What does it mean to live a life above reproach? What are some of the practical challenges we may face in this?
  4. How does exercising self control apply to many other things on this list? For you personally, what areas do you struggle having self control in?
  5. “…and he must be able to teach.” What are different ways an overseer can apply this if it’s not at a pulpit on Sunday morning? What should the response be if an overseer displays the other qualifications stated in this verse, but does not have the gift of teaching?
  6. How does one’s ability to lead his family well at home translate to value in the context of ministry?

Coming soon!

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