Now that we understand why God established elders and what the biblical terms mean, we face the practical question: What exactly are elders supposed to do? Many lay elders serve for years without a clear understanding of the four biblical responsibilities elders must fulfill. They attend meetings, vote on budgets, and handle administrative tasks, but never grasp the core functions that Scripture assigns to pastor-elder-overseers.
What Are the Four Biblical Responsibilities of Elders?
The four biblical responsibilities elders must fulfill are: teaching and feeding the flock, leading and governing the church, protecting against false doctrine, and caring for individual members through pastoral ministry.
These four biblical responsibilities elders carry are not optional add-ons for highly motivated leaders—they are the essential duties that every elder must embrace to faithfully represent Christ Church at the local level. Furthermore, understanding these functions transforms how elders approach their calling and how local churches structure their leadership.
Mastering these four biblical responsibilities elders must fulfill distinguishes biblical leadership from mere administrative service in today church context.
Biblical Elder Responsibilities: Teaching and Feeding the Flock
The Biblical Foundation
Paul first qualification for elders is that they must be "able to teach" (didaktikos – 1 Timothy 3:2). This Greek word does not just mean capable of public speaking—it refers to skill in instruction, the ability to explain and apply God truth effectively.
"And he must have a good reputation with those outside the church, so that he will not fall into disgrace and the snare of the devil. An overseer, then, must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, temperate, prudent, respectable, hospitable, able to teach."
The teaching responsibility appears repeatedly in passages about eldership:
- Acts 20:20: Paul taught "publicly and from house to house"
- Ephesians 4:11-12: Pastor-teachers are given "for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry"
- 2 Timothy 4:2: "Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season"
- Titus 1:9: Elders must be "able, by sound doctrine, both to exhort and convict those who contradict"
Understanding "Able to Teach"
This requirement does not mean every elder must be a gifted preacher or seminary graduate. The Greek word didaktikos encompasses various levels and styles of teaching:
Teaching Ministry Includes
- Formal Teaching: Preaching, Bible studies, Sunday school classes
- Personal Instruction: Biblical guidance in personal conversations and discipleship
- Corrective Teaching: Identifying and addressing doctrinal error
- Equipping Ministry: Developing other believers capacity for ministry and growth
The Feeding Metaphor
"When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, Simon son of John, do you love me more than these? Yes, Lord, he said, you know that I love you. Jesus said, Feed my lambs."
Jesus command to Peter—"Feed my sheep" (John 21:16)—uses the metaphor that defines pastoral ministry. Shepherds lead sheep to good pasture; pastors feed the flock with God Word. This feeding ministry takes multiple forms:
- Regular Nourishment: Consistent exposure to Scripture for spiritual growth
- Specialized Diet: Appropriate spiritual food for different maturity levels
- Emergency Care: Targeted biblical counsel during crises and struggles
Modern Applications
In today local churches, the teaching ministry manifests in various ways:
Contemporary Teaching Roles
- Pulpit Ministry: Preaching and public teaching
- Small Group Leadership: Bible studies and discipleship groups
- Personal Discipleship: One-on-one spiritual development
- Doctrinal Oversight: Ensuring biblical accuracy in all teaching ministries
This teaching responsibility serves not just the local congregation but strengthens The Church universal by preserving and transmitting biblical truth to the next generation.
Elder Leadership Responsibilities: Governing and Direction
Biblical Leadership Language
The New Testament uses specific Greek words to describe the elder leadership function:
Greek Terms for Elder Leadership
- Proistemi (1 Timothy 5:17): "To stand before, lead, manage, or preside over" - implies active leadership
- Hegeomai (Hebrews 13:17): "To lead, guide, or go before" - emphasizes leadership by example
- Poimaino (1 Peter 5:2): "Shepherd the flock" - includes leading to good pasture and away from danger
The Nature of Biblical Leadership
Biblical leadership differs fundamentally from worldly models of authority:
"You know that those who are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant."
- Servant Leadership: Leading by serving, not by dominating or controlling
- Leadership by Example: Leading primarily through personal example of faithful Christian living
- Submitted Authority: Exercising authority under Christ headship and according to Scripture standards
- Protective Leadership: Guiding the church away from harmful influences toward spiritual health
Practical Leadership Functions
Elder Leadership Areas
- Vision and Direction: Providing spiritual vision aligned with biblical priorities
- Decision-Making: Bearing responsibility for major decisions affecting church health
- Conflict Resolution: Providing wise, biblical mediation that preserves unity
- Resource Allocation: Overseeing deployment of church resources for kingdom purposes
- Succession Planning: Identifying and developing future leaders
Balancing Authority and Humility
Biblical leadership requires careful balance:
- Authority Without Arrogance: Exercising real authority while maintaining humble, servant hearts
- Confidence Without Control: Providing clear direction without becoming controlling or manipulative
- Firmness Without Harshness: Acting with firmness grounded in love, seeking restoration
Biblical Elder Functions: Protecting Against False Teaching
The Biblical Mandate
Paul farewell address to the Ephesian elders contains one of Scripture clearest statements about the protective responsibility of eldership:
"For I know this, that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock. Also from among yourselves men will rise up, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after them. Therefore watch, and remember that for three years I did not cease to warn everyone night and day with tears."
This passage reveals several crucial truths about elder protection ministry:
Threats to Guard Against
- External Threats: "Savage wolves" - false teachers attacking from outside the church
- Internal Threats: Men who "rise up from among yourselves" - trusted leaders who introduce false teaching
- Emotional Investment: Warning "with tears" shows heartfelt concern, not cold doctrinal policing
- Constant Vigilance: "Watch" implies ongoing alertness, not occasional attention
The Apologetic Function
The word elegcho in Titus 1:9 describes the elder responsibility to "convict those who contradict" sound doctrine. This Greek word means to expose, refute, or bring to light.
Apologetic Function Requires Elders To
- Know Sound Doctrine: Have sufficient biblical knowledge to recognize truth and identify error
- Identify False Teaching: Spot subtle deviations from biblical truth, not just obvious heresies
- Confront Error Biblically: Address false teaching directly using Scripture
- Protect the Vulnerable: Give special attention to new believers and those susceptible to deception
Contemporary Threats
Today local churches face threats that parallel those confronting the early church:
Modern False Teaching Includes
- Prosperity Theology: Promises of health and wealth in exchange for faith or giving
- Progressive Christianity: Maintaining Christian language while abandoning biblical authority
- Christian Nationalism: Confusing political identity with Christian faith
- Moral Relativism: Adapting biblical standards to contemporary values
- Therapeutic Gospel: Reducing Christianity to personal fulfillment while minimizing sin and repentance
The Courage to Protect
Protective ministry often requires elders to take unpopular stands:
- Confronting Popular Error: Opposing popular but unbiblical ideas
- Addressing Influential People: Prioritizing truth over relationships or financial considerations
- Standing Against Cultural Pressure: Providing principled resistance to compromise
Biblical Elder Calling: Caring and Personal Ministry
The Heart of Elder Ministry
While teaching, leading, and protecting are crucial functions, the caring ministry often receives the least attention in modern churches. Yet Scripture consistently emphasizes the personal, relational dimension of eldership.
"Shepherd the flock of God which is among you, serving as overseers, not by compulsion but willingly, not for dishonest gain but eagerly; nor as being lords over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock."
The Shepherding Metaphor Extended
The pastoral imagery reveals multiple dimensions of caring ministry:
Pastoral Caring Includes
- Personal Knowledge: Knowing people individually - their spiritual condition, struggles, and growth areas
- Individual Attention: Providing personal care through multiple shepherds serving the flock
- Crisis Response: Immediate personal intervention when believers face spiritual crises
- Gentle Restoration: Appropriate firmness and gentleness, aiming for restoration
Biblical Examples of Caring Ministry
"Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord."
This passage assumes that elders are accessible, caring leaders who respond personally to members needs. Paul reminded the Ephesian elders that "for three years I did not cease to warn everyone night and day with tears" (Acts 20:31). Effective caring ministry requires sustained personal investment over time.
Practical Caring Ministry
In contemporary local churches, caring ministry takes various forms:
Contemporary Pastoral Care
- Regular Contact: Ongoing relationships, not just crisis intervention
- Counseling and Guidance: Biblical counsel for common life issues
- Prayer Ministry: Regular intercession and availability for prayer requests
- Discipleship Relationships: Actively helping believers grow in faith
- Family Ministry: Supporting marriages, helping parents, ministering to families in crisis
The Challenge of Caring Ministry
Pastoral care is often the most demanding aspect of eldership:
Caring Ministry Challenges
- Time Intensive: Requires significant time investment and personal sacrifice
- Emotionally Draining: Dealing with problems, sins, and crises takes emotional toll
- Requires Maturity: Demands wisdom, patience, and emotional stability
- Often Invisible: Happens privately, requiring motivation by faithfulness rather than recognition
Yet this caring ministry is essential for representing Christ Church well in the local community. When elders provide genuine pastoral care, they demonstrate The Church love and concern for people, creating a powerful witness to the gospel transforming power.
How the Four Biblical Responsibilities Elders Integrate
These four biblical responsibilities elders carry do not operate independently—they integrate into comprehensive pastoral ministry:
Integration of Responsibilities
- Teaching provides the foundation for all other ministry
- Leading gives direction to teaching, protecting, and caring
- Protecting preserves the integrity of teaching and caring
- Caring creates the relationships that make teaching, leading, and protecting effective
When local churches have multiple elders functioning in all four areas, they provide balanced, comprehensive pastoral care that serves both the immediate congregation and The Church broader mission.
Implementing the Four Biblical Responsibilities Elders Need
Understanding these four biblical responsibilities elders must fulfill helps lay leaders evaluate their own ministry and their church leadership structure. Are you functioning as a biblical elder in all four areas, or just attending meetings and making business decisions? Does your local church structure support these biblical functions, or does it limit elders to administrative roles?
The church—Christ universal body—desperately needs local churches led by elders who embrace their full biblical calling. This requires men willing to teach, lead, protect, and care according to Scripture standards, regardless of cultural expectations or organizational convenience.
Biblical Eldership Reality
Biblical eldership is not a part-time hobby or honorary position—it is a comprehensive calling that requires spiritual maturity, time commitment, and heart investment. However, when implemented faithfully, it provides the kind of leadership that honors Christ, serves His people, and advances His kingdom.
Most importantly, these four biblical responsibilities elders fulfill create a biblical framework that transforms both individual leaders and entire congregations when properly understood and implemented.
Self-Assessment
Are you fulfilling all four biblical responsibilities of eldership? Take our comprehensive Elder Ministry Assessment to evaluate your effectiveness in teaching, leading, protecting, and caring.