I.　Paul was a pattern to the elders—Acts 20:17-20, 27, 31:

A.　We must behave, do things, and have our being as slaves with all humility— v. 19.

B.　Paul taught the believers publicly and from house to house—v. 20.

C.　Paul declared God's eternal economy—v. 27.

D.　Paul charged the elders to shepherd the church of God, which God obtained through His own blood—v. 28.

E.　The elders should love the church as God does—v. 28.

F.　Paul admonished the believers with tears night and day—v. 31.

II.　In 1 Peter 5:1-4 Peter spoke of the elders' shepherding and its reward:

A.　The elders, who take the lead among the believers in spiritual things, should take the lead to suffer nobly for Christ—v. 1:

1.　The elders should be witnesses of the sufferings of Christ.

2.　The elders should be ready to sacrifice their lives as part of their testimony.

B.　To shepherd the flock of God requires suffering for the Body of Christ—v. 2:

1.　The flock is not the elders' possession; the flock is God's possession.

2.　The elders should not regard the church in which they are taking the lead as belonging to them.

C.　To oversee according to God means according to God's nature, desire, way, and glory, not according to man's preference, interest, and purpose—v. 2.

D.　Instead of lording it over the allotments, the elders should become patterns of the flock—v. 3.