Today, I organized an elder training session for our church, and it was an incredible experience! Each session was powerful and insightful, and the fellowship in between was truly invaluable. I’m grateful for the wisdom and treasures shared by every speaker. Above all, God was glorified, and we left encouraged.

My biggest takeaways can be summed up in three key points: love God, love others, and know yourself. Each session reinforced these themes in specific ways, reminding me to approach God’s Word with humility, wisdom, and discernment. As elders, our role goes beyond making decisions—we are called to be shepherds, entrusted by God to care for His people, whether they are thriving or struggling.

Loving God is at the core of everything—it is the foundation for all faith and practice. When our love for Him is misaligned, everything else follows suit. Our first and highest calling is to love God wholeheartedly, even before our own families. When this love is firmly rooted in our hearts, we can walk humbly before Him, knowing we are favored and strengthened by His grace. This truth was made especially clear during our time together. 

When it comes to loving others, I was reminded of the importance of patience—specifically, the need to wait for a second reaction rather than responding impulsively to the first. Given time, the truth of a person’s heart will be revealed. Practicing this patience allows us to walk alongside others in a way that helps them break free from distractions and grow in their relationship with God. Loving others is most effective when loving God comes first and our families remain a priority.

I found myself reflecting deeply on my own life—not in a self-centered way, but in a way that challenged me. I became increasingly aware of my shortcomings, weaknesses, and the need for greater depth in my thinking. As we studied the qualifications in 1 Timothy 3 and Titus 1, I was struck by how carefully they were explained. At times, I had to pause and reevaluate my own calling, considering my inadequacies and the weight of the work before me. Surrounded by fellow elders and elder candidates, I was left with a pressing question: Do I truly know myself?

”Know thyself” originated in ancient Greece, where it was inscribed at the Temple of Apollo at Delphi and attributed to the Seven Sages. Socrates later emphasized its importance, teaching that true wisdom begins with self-examination. Since then, the phrase has shaped philosophy, psychology, and personal growth.

The challenge lies in making an accurate assessment of ourselves. Can we truly know who we are in a way that leads to the right conclusions and a proper diagnosis? In the Christian faith, this is possible, but it is complex and difficult to practice. The key is looking into the mirror of God’s Word, which reveals our true nature. While worldly philosophies and self-examination can offer partial insights, only God, through His Word, has fully revealed the true condition of the human heart.

Jesus was very clear in Mark 7:21-23 where He said,

“For from within, out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, coveting, wickedness, deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride, foolishness. All these evil things come from within, and they defile a person.”

When we talk about knowing ourselves, we must identify where our core truly lies. I would argue that it is the heart. This is why God must give us a new heart—He replaces the old self with a new creation, as described in Ephesians. However, for a born-again believer, this transformation is a process. 

Even as a genuine believer, there can still be attachments that hinder spiritual growth. For example, someone who once turned to drugs in anger to numb their pain may now, instead, punch walls to release that same anger. While the behavior has changed, the underlying issue remains, and healing is still needed. Both actions are destructive, just in different ways. True transformation requires going deeper, allowing God to heal the root of the problem, not just modify external behavior.

As I reflected on applying these principles and examining myself in order to be a better servant to God, my family, and His people, I quickly realized that I am incapable of doing it on my own. One of the instructors emphasized a profound truth: we cannot live the Christian life. None of us can—but there is One who did, and He did it perfectly. Because Christ lives in us, we can. 

In other words, recognizing that I cannot live this out—even in my role as an elder—is actually the starting point of doing so. True service and godly leadership are only possible because Christ lives in us, and it is through His strength that we are able to do anything good.

Once we answer the question about who we are at our core we will find what Jesus saw. Evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, coveting, wickedness, deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride, foolishness. That is what the heart apart from grace is. But as believers in Christ we can be encouraged at the work God is doing in our hearts now.

A heart transformed by Christ reflects His character. Instead of evil and deceit, it is pure, truthful, and full of integrity (Philippians 4:8, Ephesians 4:25). It rejects immorality and anger, choosing faithfulness, love, and self-control (1 Thessalonians 4:3-4, Matthew 5:44). Rather than greed and envy, it embraces contentment, generosity, and humility (Hebrews 13:5, Philippians 2:3-4). Instead of slander, it speaks words that build up (Ephesians 4:29). Guided by wisdom and the Spirit, this heart seeks to honor God in all things (James 3:17, Galatians 2:20). These qualities are now at work in the hearts of God’s people. Though the journey is imperfect and often challenging, the redeemed are continually growing in grace, becoming more and more like Christ.

I know myself, but I must be more intentional in applying what I’ve learned when I fall short of God’s commandments. While I rejoice in the work God is doing in me, I must also remember that I am always a work in progress. These sessions provided me with wisdom and biblical truth, leaving me both encouraged by my growth and sobered by the responsibility God has given me as a pastor. Apart from Christ, I am nothing He is the Vine, and I am merely a branch (John 15:5). My life depends on Him, and the Father continues to shape my heart, growing me in His grace.