Being a part of a local congregation involves service. For that matter, being a part of the kingdom of heaven involves serving one another. The Holy Spirit teaches us through Paul saying, “For you brethren, have been called to liberty; only do not use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another” (Gal. 5:13).

Qualified elders are God’s appointed leadership for any local congregation of Christians (cf. Tit. 1:5-9; 1 Tim. 3:1-7). While elders are responsible for leading a local congregation, they must also be a congregation’s lead servants.

Jesus taught the twelve apostles saying, “If anyone desires to be first, he shall be last of all and servant of all” (Mark 9:35b). Likewise, instructing the apostles again He said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and those who are great exercise authority over them. Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you, let him be your servant. And whoever desires to be first among you, let him be your slave—just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many” (Matt. 20:24-28). Again, while speaking to His disciples about a leader’s spirit and religious titles, He reminded them saying, “But he who is greatest among you shall be your servant” (Matt. 23:11).

The apostle Peter also, being an elder in the church at Jerusalem, instructed his fellow elders saying, “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…” (1 Pet. 5:2-3, emphasis mine, jlp).

Therefore, whether a man aspires to the role of an elder, a flock serves under an eldership or you are already an elder in a church, realize that elders should first and foremost take the lead in service in a local congregation!