Biblical Eldership:Training, Affirming, & Implementing",pt2

In his landmark work, BIBLICAL ELDERSHIP, Alexander Strauch writes, "When many Christians hear of church elders, they think of an official board of directors, lay officials, or influential people within the local church. They think of elders as policymakers, fundraisers, decision-makers, or advisors to the pastor. I call them 'board elders.' Many Christians don't expect church elders to teach the Scriptures or be involved pastorally in the lives of their people, although their own Bible teach exactly that. A person does not need to read Greek or be professionally trained in theology to understand that the church-board concept of eldership is irreconcilable with the New Testament teaching on eldership. According to the New Testament, elders jointly pastor the church, teach the word, protect the church from false teachers, exhort and admonish believers in sound doctrine, pray with the sick, and judge doctrinal issues. In biblical terminology, elders shepherd, oversee, lead, manage, and care for the local church. They are shepherd elders, or pastoral elders, or pastor elders. Biblical eldership is too important to the local church to be muddled in confusion and unscriptural church traditions." During midweek Bible study we will continue our study on how God leads His Church. Join us for "Biblical Eldership: Training, Affirming, & Implementing",pt2.