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TheBiblicalEldershipResourcesTeamBiblicalEldershipResources307DelawareDr.ColoradoSprings,CO80909
Phone:(719)484-1800
Email:[email protected]
Website:www.BiblicalEldership.com
Version2.1(2018)
Copyright©2015BiblicalEldershipResources
AllScripturequotations,unlessotherwiseindicated,aretakenfromNewAmericanStandardBible®,Copyright©1960,1962,1963,1968,1971,1972,1973,1975,1977,1995byTheLockmanFoundation.Usedbypermission.Allrightsreserved.Nopartofthispublicationmaybereproducedortransmittedinanymanner,electronicormechanical,includingphotocopy,recording,oranyinformationstorageandretrievalsystemincludingtheInternetwithoutwrittenpermissionfromthepublisher.Permissionisnotneededforbriefquotationsembodiedincriticalarticlesandreviews.
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Table of Contents
Introduction...........................................................................................................................................................1
SelectionofCandidates.........................................................................................................................................4
Pre-CandidateEvaluation......................................................................................................................................5
PersonalLifePreparation......................................................................................................................................7
BiblicalQualifications............................................................................................................................................9
TheologicalCommitment....................................................................................................................................10
BookofRomans...................................................................................................................................................13
BookofHebrews.................................................................................................................................................13
BiblicalEldershipStudy........................................................................................................................................14
ShepherdingEffectiveness..................................................................................................................................15
Leadership/Temperament...................................................................................................................................17
CongregationalFeedback....................................................................................................................................18
DecisionandAffirmation.....................................................................................................................................19
Appendix1:PersonalTestimonyWorksheet.......................................................................................................21
Appendix2:DoctrinalStatement-Sample.........................................................................................................25
Appendix3:SummaryofBiblicalEldership.........................................................................................................27
Appendix4:AccountabilityQuestions.................................................................................................................29
Appendix5:ReadTheBibleInOneYear.............................................................................................................31
Appendix6:UnderstandingRomans...................................................................................................................33
Appendix7:UnderstandingHebrews..................................................................................................................35
Appendix8:BiblicalEldershipStudy....................................................................................................................37
Appendix9:ElderTrainingRotations..................................................................................................................39
Appendix10:CongregationalFeedbackLetter....................................................................................................41
Appendix11:CongregationFeedbackForm........................................................................................................43
Endnotes..............................................................................................................................................................47
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INTRODUCTION Itisatrustworthystatement:ifanymanaspirestotheofficeofoverseer,itisafineworkhedesirestodo.(1Tim.3:1)
TheprimarygoalofthisElderDevelopmentProgram(EDP)isdevelopinggodly,spirituallyqualifiedpastoraleldersforthelocalchurch.Thoughwespecificallyaddresseldersthroughout,youcanmodifythecontentasneededforotherleadershiproles.Indeed,theteachingoneldershipinScriptureisgiventoallChristians(“AllScriptureisinspiredbyGodandprofitable…”2Tim.3:16),andweallareintendedtolearnfromandapplythatteachingtoourownindividuallivesasitapplies.
Sowhocanbenefitfromthismaterialandhowcantheyuseit?
• Thechurch:totrainandpreparemenforspiritualleadershipaseldersinthelocalchurch.
• Anexistingelder:togrowasadisciplebyimprovinghisunderstandingandeffectivenessinleadingandshepherdingGod’speople.
• Apotentialelder:topreparespecificallyforthe“finework”ofeldership.
• Youngmen:tohelpbuildafoundationandpathwaytowardmaturityandeventuallybecominganelder.
• Menandwomeningeneral:toadaptthistrainingfortheirrespectiveleadershiprolesinthechurch.
• ForChristiansinbusinessorcommunity:tofosterChristiancharacterintheirworkplacesandextendtheirleadershiptospirituallycaringforthepeopletheyleadandmanage.
MODULARAPPROACHThistrainingmaterialpresentsarobust,comprehensivetrainingprogram,arrangedinmodularform.Dependingontheindividual’sstartingpointanddesiredleadershipgoal,youcanselectthemodulesaccordingtotheneed.Forchurcheswantingthebestpreparationfornewelders,werecommendthefullprogram.However,werecognizethatneeds,timeconstraints,andlevelsofacceptancewillvaryfromchurchtochurch,andyoucanmodifythisprogramtosuittheneed.
WHYISPREPARATIONIMPORTANT?• Thechurchshouldnotputapersonintoaleadershiproleprematurelyandwithoutadequatepreparation:
Donotlayhandsuponanyonetoohastilyandtherebyshareresponsibilityforthesinsofothers;keepyourselffreefromsin.(1Tim.5:22)
Aneldermustbe…notanewconvert.(1Tim.3:6)
• WeseeexamplesofpreparationforleadershipinmanyplacesinScripture:JoshualearningunderMoses’leadership,TimothyandTituslearningundertheapostlePaul’stutelage,etc.PaulspecificallyinstructsTimothytopropagatethispersonaltraining:
Thethingswhichyouhaveheardfrommeinthepresenceofmanywitnesses,entrustthesetofaithfulmenwhowillbeabletoteachothersalso.(2Tim.2:2)
• Thebenefitsofpreparationareclear:thelocalchurch,withprepared,strong,matureelderswhoknowhowtolookaftertheflock,setsthestageforfulfillingtheGreatCommissionofmakingdisciples(Matt.28:18-20).Theeldersprovideanexampleofdiscipleshipastheygrowintheirabilitytotrainthemselvesandtrainotherstobecomebetterdisciple-makers.
• Ontheotherhand,consequencesofinadequatepreparationareequallyclear:poorshepherdingleadstopoordiscipleship,whichleadstoineffectivenessinreachingtheworldwiththegospel.Thelocalchurchthatfailstoprepareandtraineldershadbetterpreparetofail.Manychurchesstruggleunderthetremendousburdenofpoorleadership.Scripturewarnsusoftheconsequenceofpoorshepherding:
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Theywerescatteredforlackofashepherd,andtheybecamefoodforeverybeastofthefield…surelybecauseMyflockhasbecomeaprey,Myflockhasevenbecomefoodforallthebeastsofthefieldforlackofashepherd,andMyshepherdsdidnotsearchforMyflock,butrathertheshepherdsfedthemselvesanddidnotfeedMyflock;therefore,youshepherds,hearthewordoftheLord:“ThussaystheLordGod,‘Behold,Iamagainsttheshepherds,andIwilldemandMysheepfromthemandmakethemceasefromfeedingsheep.’”(Ezek.34:5,8–10)
“…thepeoplewanderlikesheep,theyareafflicted,becausethereisnoshepherd.”(Zech10:2)
• Thereistoomuchatstaketotreatthisissuehaphazardly.Wemustpreparemenforeldership.
IMPORTANCEOFEVALUATION• Forsomepeople,theimportanceofevaluationisobvious.However,insomechurchestheevaluation
processcaneasilygivewaytoexpedience(“Weneedmoreeldersnow!”)ortimiditycowersbeforestrongpersonalities(“Whoareyoutojudgemycharacter?”).Ifnoneofthisisanissuewithyou,feelfreetoskipthissection.
• ExamplesoftestingorevaluationarenotuncommoninScripture(forexample,seeHeb.11:17,James1:3,1Peter1:7).Paulexplicitlystatesconcerningeldersthataman’shomebehaviorandleadershipareunderscrutiny(1Tim.3:4-5).Evaluationisimplicitintheentirelistofelderqualifications—whatgoodarethesequalificationswithoutevaluation?
• InScripture,weseethatdeaconsaretobefirsttestedorevaluatedbeforeserving,sowhywouldwenotalsowanttotestpotentialelders?
Thesemenmustalsofirstbetested;thenletthemserveasdeaconsiftheyarebeyondreproach.(1Tim.3:10)
• IftheBibleinstructsusthatallbelieversaresubjecttoevaluationbyandaccountabletoothers,theneldersandpotentialeldersevenmoreso:
[If]anyoneiscaughtinanytrespass,youwhoarespiritual,restoresuchaoneinaspiritofgentleness;eachonelookingtoyourself,sothatyoutoowillnotbetempted.(Gal.6:1)
• Ifanexistingelderistobeheldaccountableforhisactionsandbehavior(withappropriatecaveats),woulditnotbewisetorigorouslyevaluatepotentialeldersaheadoftime?
Donotreceiveanaccusationagainstanelderexceptonthebasisoftwoorthreewitnesses.Thosewhocontinueinsin,rebukeinthepresenceofall,sothattherestalsowillbefearfulofsinning.(1Tim.5:19–20)
• Weconcludethatapotentialeldershouldbeassessedbyothers.Anunexaminedlifemayleadtounacceptableleadership.Theimportanceofcompetent,matureleadershipinthechurch,forwhichChristshedhisblood,cannotbeoverstated.Hispeopleareprecioustohim,andwedarenotbeslackinpreparingorevaluatingthosewhowouldbecomespiritualshepherdsinthechurch.
• However,thisevaluationisnotjustascreeningprocess;itcanbeanaidtospiritualgrowth.Theprocessmayuncoverweaknessesandblindspots,helpingtheindividualgrowincharacterandcompetence.
• Practicallyspeaking,weareblindesttoourownweaknesses,andweallneedtheobjective,lovingfeedbackofthosewithmorematurefaith.
HOWLONGWILLPREPARATIONTAKE?• Inonesense,preparationtakesalifetimeoflearning.Ahumble,godlyelderisalwaysgrowingbutknowshe
willneverarriveatperfecteldershipuntiltheChiefShepherdreturns(1Peter5:4).Nevertheless,abasicfoundationshouldberequiredforbeginningtoserveasarecognizedelder.
• Thetimeofpreparationdependsoneachindividual’slevelofspiritualmaturity,experience,ageandlifecircumstances.Forexample,someonewhorisesupfrombeingayoungbelieverinthecongregationmayrequirethefull,extensivetraininglaidoutherein,andthusasignificantamountoftime.Ontheotherhand,
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amatureChristianwhohasmovedintotheareawithpreviouseldershipexperiencewillnotneedasmuchpreparation.
• Thetimeneededwillalsodependonthechurch’sstandardandexpectations;somemaydesiremorerigorandin-depthpreparation,whileothersmayoptforless.EverychurchwillanswertotheLordforwellhowtheypreparemen.However,wewouldchallengeeachchurchtosetthebarhigh—theinvestmentwillnotbewasted,andGod’speoplewillbenefit.
• Forapotentialelder,wewouldenvisionaone-totwo-yearprocessasthebest-casescenario.
DISCLAIMERThistrainingisnotadministeredbyBERbutistobeusedbyandunderthecontrolofthelocalchurchorbyindividualswhoarepreparingthemselves.Ourgoalistogiveabroadoutlinethatcanbeadaptabletovaryingcontexts.Internalchurchculture,doctrinalcommitments,anddenominationaldistinctivesmayaffecthowyouusethevariousmodules.
Therearenoguaranteesorassurancesthatanyonecompletingthistrainingprogramwillorshouldbecomeachurchelder.Therearemanyintangibleandattitudinalissuesthat,inthegodlyjudgmentoftheexistingeldersoratthecongregationalreview,maypostponeacandidate’sappointmentormaydisqualifyhim.
Enteringintothisprocessinvolvesaseriouscommitmentoftimeandeffort.Theexperiencemightleaveamanfeelingexhilaratedoruncomfortable,andprobablyattimesboth.OurgoalisforthepotentialeldertobewellpreparedfortheawesomeandweightytaskofshepherdingthepeopleofGod.Whetherintheendhebecomesanelderornot,theexerciseofgoingthroughthispreparationwillleavehimprofoundlychangedandhopefullyfurtheronhispathtowardChristianmaturity.
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SELECTION OF CANDIDATES
SELECTINGMENIfthepotentialeldershavenotalreadybeenidentified,thefollowingsuggestionswillbehelpfulforrecognizingmenwhomaybereadyorcapableofbecomingelders.
• Pray:PraytheLordwouldrevealthemenofhischoosing(seeActs13:2,14:23,20:28).
• Observe:LookforGod’sgraceinmen’slivesthatwouldindicateagrowingshepherd’sheart,menwho:
Desiretheworkofanelder.
Itisatrustworthystatement:ifanymanaspirestotheofficeofoverseer,itisafineworkhedesirestodo.(1Tim.3:1)
HaveanaptitudeforteachingtheWord.
Thethingswhichyouhaveheardfrommeinthepresenceofmanywitnesses,entrustthesetofaithfulmenwhowillbeabletoteachothersalso.(2Tim.2:2)
Anoverseer,then,must…abletoteach.(1Tim.3:2)
Showconcernforpeople’sspirituallives.
Therefore,Iexhorttheeldersamongyou…shepherdtheflockofGodamongyou,exercisingoversightnotundercompulsion,butvoluntarily,accordingtothewillofGod;andnotforsordidgain,butwitheagerness.(1Peter5:1-2)
LiveanexemplaryChristianlife—morallyanddoctrinally.
…inallthingsshowyourselftobeanexampleofgooddeeds,withpurityindoctrine,dignified…(Titus2:7)
Comparewellwiththeelderqualificationsaslistedin1Timothy3,Titus1,and1Peter5
ObservebeforeandafterSundayserviceandduringBiblestudygroups,fellowshipmeetings,andsocialtimes.Identifywhichmenarestartingspiritualconversations,greetingvisitors,orshowinghospitalitytoothers.Askyourspouseandotherswhoarespirituallymindedwhomtheyobserveshepherdingothers.
Ofcourse,therewillbesomemenwhopresentthemselvesasdesiringtobeelders.ThisisnotnecessarilyasignoffleshlyambitionbutmaybeanindicatorofaSpirit-placeddesire.
INVITINGMENBasedonyourobservations,discussionwiththeotherelders,andprayer,inviteaselectindividualorgroupofindividualstobegintheformalpre-candidateevaluationprocess.
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PRE-CANDIDATE EVALUATION Thepre-candidateevaluationinvolvesapersonalinterviewtoassesstheman’sspirituallifeandgrowth.Wehavepreparedquestionsbelowgroupedintoeightareas,someofwhichmayrequireadegreeofpreparationbytheindividual.Werecommendeitheroneortwoeldersmeetwiththepotentialcandidatetodiscussthese.Inpreparationfortheinterview,certainchurchdocumentsshouldbemadeavailable(doctrinalstatements,distinctives,positionpapers,etc.)forthecandidatetostudy.
THEINTERVIEW• Testimony
Havetheindividualwriteouthispersonaltestimony(seeAppendix1forguidelines).Doeshehaveaclear,unambiguoustestimony?Canhearticulateclearlythewayofsalvation,including,sin,confession,repentanceandfaith,howit
relatestoworksandgrace,andbiblicalpassagesinsupport?Hashebeenbaptized?When?How?Howdoeshedescribehisspiritualgrowthsincebeingsaved?
• PersonalcalltoministryingeneralWhatburdenshastheindividualfelttowardservingintheLord’swork?Whatarehisspiritualgifts?Hasheidentifiedhisspiritualgift?Agoodstudyonthespiritualgiftsby
BobDeffinbaughcanbefoundatBible.org.1Foragoodexerciseindiscoveringone’sspiritualgifts,wesuggest,amongmany,ElmerTownsSpiritualGiftInventory2.
WhatministriesorserviceshashebeeninvolvedinfortheLord?Howisheusinghisspiritualgift?Whatevidenceistherethathisspiritualgiftandministryhavebeenaffirmedorrecognized?
• PersonalcalltobeanelderHowdoestheindividualsenseGod’sleadinghimintoagreatershepherdingministry?Doeshisdesiregiveevidenceofbeingbasedonrightmotives?(See1Peter5:1–4.)WhatevidencedoesheseethatGodhasbeenusinghimtoinformallyshepherdothers?Doeshesenseanywhohaveresistedhisshepherdingefforts?
• WeaknessandpropensitiesHastheindividualhadstrugglesinanyoftheseareas:moral,legal,financial,psychological,relational,
addictions?Whataretheissuesheisdealingwithatthepresenttime?Whataretwosignificantareasofgrowththatheneedsinhisquestforspiritualmaturity?
• Agreementwiththechurch’sdoctrineHastheindividualreadthechurch’sessentialdoctrinesstatement?(SeeAppendix2.)Doesheunreservedlyagreewithit?Whatareasofconcern/disagreementdoeshehave?
• Agreementwiththischurch’sviewofeldershipDoestheindividualagreewholeheartedly,unreservedly,withthechurch’sviewofeldershipand
churchgovernance?(SeeAppendix3.)Whatareasofconcern,disagreement,ortensiondoeshehavewithit?
• Generalagreementwiththechurch’sdistinctivesHastheindividualreadthechurch’sstatementofdistinctives,thingsthatareimportanttothechurch’s
identityandcommitmentbutnotnecessarilyonthelevelofessentialdoctrines?Doeshewholeheartedlyandunreservedlyagreewiththechurch’sdistinctives?Whatareasofconcern,disagreement,ortensiondoeshehavewiththem?
• Interviewwiththeindividual’sspouseDoesthecandidate’swifewholeheartedlyconcurwiththeindividual’sdesiretobeanelder?Doesshehaveanyreservations?Cansheconfirmthatheisa“one-woman”man,notflirtatious?Doesshefeelsecureinhisloveandaffections?
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THEASSESSMENTWerecommendthattheinterviewer(s)discusstheresultsoftheinterviewwiththeentireelderteam.Decidingtoaccepthimintothetrainingprogram,ofcourse,willbeajudgmentcallbytheelders.
Iftheinterviewshowsthecandidateisreadyforthetraining,thenthecandidateshouldbeinvitedintotheformalprocess.Ifitisdeterminedthattheindividualisnotreadytobeginthetrainingprocess,arecommendedplanofactionshouldbeprovidedforhimtohelphimgrowspirituallyfromtheexperienceandnotbecomedisheartened,withthehopethatinthefuturehemaybecomereadyfortheeldertrainingprocess.
ShepherdingGod’speopleisoneofthemostimportantrolesandfunctionsinthechurch,soalltheeldersneedtobeonthesamepageconcerningeachindividualwhowillbestartingtheprocess.Itwillbemoredifficultlatertodealwithdisagreementamongeldersafteramanhasbeenthroughtheprocess,thanbeforetheprocessbegins.
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PERSONAL LIFE PREPARATION Anelder’sspiritualdisciplineswillaffecthisheartandskillsforspiritualshepherding.Hemustfirstshepherdhimselfbeforehecanshepherdothers.Preparationforbeinganelder,therefore,isnotjustreadingacoupleofbooksandansweringquestions.Pastoringothersflourishesfromtheoutflowofone’sownspirituallife.
MENTORGUIDANCEHavingapersonalmentorprovidesguidanceandaccountabilityforacandidate’spreparationforeldership.WeseethismodeledinthegrowthofyoungmenlikeTimothy,Titus,andotherswhospentconsiderabletimewiththeapostlePaul.Personalmentoringwillhelpguardthecandidateagainstapproachingleadershipinanisolated,impersonal,oracademicway.Shepherdingispersonal;muchaboutleadershipisgainedthroughpersonalinteractionwithexistingshepherd-elders.
Eachcandidateshouldbeassignedamentorfromamongtheexistingeldersorothergodlymen.Thetwowillmeetregularlyforprayer,discussion,Q&Aandaccountability.Thementordoesnotneedtobean“expert”inallthingsleadershiporeldershipbutshouldbesomeonewithexperience,willingtodiscusswhatthecandidateislearningandinteractonanyissuesthatarise.Thementoralsowillbethefirstlineofevaluationofthecandidate.
Sincecharacterdevelopmentisabigpartofthatpreparation,wehaveincludedinAppendix4anexcellentsetofquestionstohelpbegindiscussiononkeyissuesinaman’slifeandpersonalgrowth.
BIBLEREADINGAnelder,beingamanofGod,shouldbefamiliarwithallofScripture:
BediligenttopresentyourselfapprovedtoGodasaworkmanwhodoesnotneedtobeashamed,accuratelyhandlingthewordoftruth.(2Tim.2:15)
AllScriptureisinspiredbyGodandprofitableforteaching,forreproof,forcorrection,fortraininginrighteousness;sothatthemanofGodmaybeadequate,equippedforeverygoodwork.(2Tim.3:16–17)
WerecommendthecandidatereadafreshtheentireBiblethroughinoneyear.ThiswillhelphimengagetheoverallflowandconnectednessofScripture.Inaddition,thiswillestablisharobustpracticeofspendingtimeintheWordofGoddailyastheprimaryplaceforspirituallyfeedingthesouloftheshepherd.
WesuggestcompletingtheBERonlinelessonsonBibleReading3.ThenseeAppendix5foronemethodforreadingtheBibleinoneyear,orchooseoneofthemanyotherone-yearBiblereadingplans.
PRAYERIntheapostles’example,weseetheimportanceofprayerforspiritualleadership.
Sothetwelvesummonedthecongregationofthedisciplesandsaid,“ItisnotdesirableforustoneglectthewordofGodinordertoservetables…Butwewilldevoteourselvestoprayerandtotheministryoftheword.”(Acts6:2,4)
Soalsoaneldermustbeamanofprayer.Hispublicprayingmustreflectandbebackedbyhisprivatepraying.
Isanyoneamongyousick?Thenhemustcallfortheeldersofthechurchandtheyaretoprayoverhim,anointinghimwithoilinthenameoftheLord…(James5:14)
WerecommendcompletingtheBERonlinelessonsonPrayer4.Thecandidateshouldsharewithhismentortheplanhewilluseforpraying.
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WITNESSAchurch’smissiontomakedisciplesincludesreachingthelost(andseeingthembaptized):
AndJesuscameupandspoketothem,saying,“AllauthorityhasbeengiventoMeinheavenandonearth.Gothereforeandmakedisciplesofallthenations,baptizingtheminthenameoftheFatherandtheSonandtheHolySpirit,teachingthemtoobserveallthatIcommandedyou;andlo,Iamwithyoualways,eventotheendoftheage.”(Matt.28:18–20)
Eldersasleadersshouldmodeltheworkofevangelism.Thisisnotjustforthegiftedevangelists;PaulwritestoTimothy,“Dotheworkofanevangelist”(1Tim.4:5).Indeed,allChristiansshouldbeactivelysharingtheirfaith,nottheleastofwhomareelders.
SanctifyChristasLordinyourhearts,alwaysbeingreadytomakeadefensetoeveryonewhoasksyoutogiveanaccountforthehopethatisinyou,yetwithgentlenessandreverence…(1Peter3:15)
Unfortunatelyanelder’sshepherdingworkcaneclipsehiseffortsandenergyforwitnessing.Werecommendthatthecandidatealwayshavea“topthree”listofpeopleheisprayingforandseekingtosharethegoodnewsofsalvationwith.
Ifthecandidatehasn’tdonesoalready,seeAppendix1forwritingoutapersonaltestimony.WritingitouthelpsapersoncrystalizehowhecaneffectivelycommunicatewhatGodhasdoneinhislife,andbereadytoshareitintelligently.
STEWARDSHIPFinancialgivingisatouchyissueformanybecauseoftheoveremphasison“fundraising”inmanychurches,butgivingprovidesatangibledemonstrationofaperson’sspiritualcommitmentandsacrifice.WebelieveGod’swilldoneinGod’swaywillnotlackGod’ssupport.However,elders,asinmanyareas,aretobeexamplesforthepeopleofGod.Apartfromovertandostentatiousgiving(Mark12:41–44),anelderneedstobe“allin,”fullycommittedtothelocalchurch.
Eachchurchwillhandlethisissuedifferently,butthecandidateshouldinsomewaybechallengedabouthisleveloffinancialcommitmenttotheLord’swork.IftheGoodShepherdwaswillingtolaydownhislifeforthesheep(John10:11),thenaneldershouldbewillingtosacrificefinanciallyforthecongregation.
“Iamthegoodshepherd;thegoodshepherdlaysdownHislifeforthesheep”(John10:11)
“Forwhereyourtreasureis,thereyourheartwillbealso.”(Luke12:34)
I[Paul]testifythataccordingtotheir[Macedonian’s]ability,andbeyondtheirability,theygave…(2Cor.8:3)
Questionstoaskorcontemplate:• Isthecandidategivingregularlytothischurch,tomissions,andtotheLord’sservants?• Isthecandidateknownforbeinggenerouswithhistime,resources,andtalentsfortheLord’swork?
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BIBLICAL QUALIFICATIONS Aneldermustbequalifiedaccordingtobiblicalstandards.Werecommendthecandidatecompletetheworkbook“SpiritualMaturity:BasedontheQualificationsforElders,”publishedbyBiblicalEldershipResourcesandfoundontheBERwebsite.Thisstudylooksatthethirty-onequalificationsforeldershipandprovidesanopportunityforanindividualtoevaluatehimself.Thecandidateandmentorshouldreviewtogetherhisself-evaluationinthebook,identifystrengthsandweaknesses,anddetermineanyactionitemsforimprovinginanyareashowntobedeficient:
• Whatstepscanthecandidatetaketoimproveintheareasofweakness?
• Shouldthiseldershiptrainingbesuspendedfortheindividualinordertogiveattentiontoseriousfailureinanyarea?
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THEOLOGICAL COMMITMENT
INTRODUCTIONTheologicalpreparationisforpotentialelders.Afterall,aneldermustbecharacterizedas
“…holdingfastthefaithfulwordwhichisinaccordancewiththeteaching,sothathewillbeablebothtoexhortinsounddoctrineandtorefutethosewhocontradict.”(Titus1:9)
Theterm“theology”means“thestudyofGod.”Obviouslyalifetimeisnotlongenoughto“study”God.ButaneldermusthaveagoodunderstandingofourLordasseenthroughthekeydoctrinesofthefaithandthetheologicalperspectivesofhischurch.Greatharmwillinevitablyfallonthechurchshouldamanholdingtoerrantdoctrinesbeacceptedintospiritualleadership.Ifhecannotagreewiththechurchonkeydoctrines,thenheshouldnotbecomeanelder.WhilenomanisperfectineveryaspectofhisunderstandingofGod’struth,andevenagroupofelderscanbewrong,therecanbenostalemateordisagreementintheareaofthemaindoctrines—theremustbecompleteaccord.
Werecommendarigorouscourseofstudyfortheeldercandidatefollowedbyanexamination:
Butknowthisfirstofall,thatnoprophecyofScriptureisamatterofone’sowninterpretation,fornoprophecywasevermadebyanactofhumanwill,butmenmovedbytheHolySpiritspokefromGod.(2Peter1:20–21)
Theologicalpreparationshouldincludethetopicalareaslistedbelow.Candidateswilldifferintheirlevelsoftheologicalastuteness,sothetopicsshouldbeselectedbasedontheneedofthecandidate.Forexample,ifthecandidatehasalreadythoroughlystudiedthedeityofChrist,hewillnotneedanewstudyonthattopic.Othertopicsmayneedmorestudy.Intheend,however,thecandidateshouldbetestedonallthetopics.
Thegoalistonotjust“finishtheelderpreparationcourse”buttoknowwellthekeydoctrines.Thecandidatemustbeabletoarticulatethemwell,knowthekeyScripturesinvolved,andunderstandatleastsomeoftherefutationsofcommonerroneousteachingsconcerningthosetopics.
WesuggestfirstcompletingtheonlinelessonsProtectingAgainstFalseTeachers5andACalltoStudy6priortothestudyofthedoctrinaltopicslistedbelow:
KEYDOCTRINES• DoctrineofGod–TheologyProper
Eternality Self-sufficiency OmnipresenceCreator Sovereignty ImmutabilityMonotheism Omniscience TranscendenceSelf-existenceSimplicity
OmnipotenceProvidence
ImmanenceTrinity
• DoctrineofJesusChrist–ChristologyPre-existence Substitutionarydeath PriestlyministryIncarnation&deity Resurrection&ascension Comingforhissaints
• DoctrineoftheHolySpirit–PneumatologyHispersonality Hisministry GiftsoftheHolySpiritHisadvent Hisbaptism Filling&anointing
• DoctrineoftheBible–BibliologyRevelation Infallibility&inerrancy TranslationInspiration Transmission Subject&purpose
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• DoctrineofMan–Anthropology;DoctrineofSin–Harmartiology
• DoctrineofSalvation–SoteriologySalvation Justification RedemptionSecurityofsalvation Grace&mercy ReconciliationAssuranceofsalvation Sanctification Regeneration
• DoctrineoftheChurch–EcclesiologyItsmembership Itsmission ItsorganizationLord’sSupper Baptism
• DoctrineofAngels–AngelologyGoodangels Satan&demons
• DoctrineofLastThings–EschatologyHeaven,hell,eternalstate Resurrection&judgment Return&ruleofChrist
CONTEMPORARYISSUESHealth&welfaregospel Miraculousgifts AttractionalchurchissuesProcesstheology Emergentchurchissues Marriage&divorcePro-life,abortion Euthanasia Gender,sexualorientationRacialissues Creationresearch Churchdiscipline
BIBLICALTHEMES• Covenants
Adamic Mosaic NewCovenantPalestinianNoahic
AbrahamicDavidic
• TheEntireMessageoftheBible–UsingboththeOT&NT,theeldercandidateshouldbeabletoarticulatetheoverarchingmessageoftheentireBibleinanessayformof1,000wordsorinathirty-minutesermon.
• ChronologyoftheBible–CandidateshouldbeabletoarrangethebooksoftheBibleinhistoricalorder.
ONLINERESOURCESSomeexcellentonlineresourcesfortheologicalstudycanbefoundat:
• “PassagesEveryElderMustKnow”7ontheBiblicalEldershipResourceswebsite
• “100BibleKnowledgeQuestions”8ontheGospelCoalitionwebsite
• BiblicalTraining9website
• Bible.org10website
SUGGESTEDREADINGWerecommendthefollowingtheologicalforpreparingtobeanelderandforalleldersingeneral:
• SystematicTheology:AnIntroductiontoBiblicalDoctrinebyWayneGrudem
• RomansSeriesbyD.MartynLloyd-Jones
• TheCrossofChristbyJohnR.W.Stott
• TheTrainingoftheTwelvebyA.B.Bruce
• OurLordPraysforHisOwnbyMarcusRainsford
• InMyPlaceCondemnedHeStoodbyJ.I.Packer&MarkDever
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TESTINGUponcompletionofeachindividualportionofthetheologicalstudy,thecandidateshouldbetested.Heshouldbeabletoexplainthevariousdoctrinesinanunderstandableway.Thiscantaketheformofawrittentest,anoralexam,orboth.
Awrittentestgivestimeforreflectiveresponses,andwritingtheanswershelpsclarifythinking.Itcanbegivenbysimplyselectingtopicsfromthelistaboveandhavingthecandidatewriteoutabriefessayoroutlineofhisunderstandingofeachdoctrine,supportedwithScripturereferences.
Anoralexamhastheadvantageofspontaneousdiscussiongeneratedbytheverbalresponsesofthecandidatethatcanleadintodynamicin-depthquestioning.Anoraltestwillinvolvemeetingwiththecandidateandhavinghimsuccinctlyexplainvariousdoctrines(thatthementorselects).
Athoroughexaminationwouldinvolvebothawrittentestandanoralexam.Obviouslyyouwon’tbeabletocovereverydoctrine,butthecandidateshouldbepreparedtoexplainallofthem.Whilethelevelofmasteryrequiredisultimatelydeterminedbythecurrentelders,weencourageestablishingahighstandard.
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BOOK OF ROMANS ThebookofRomanscontainsthepremierteachingofthegreatandimportantdoctrineofjustification,whichisthegospelofgrace.Everyeldermustknowthisbookwell,foritcontainsthefoundationaltruthonwhichrestssomuchoftherestofsounddoctrine.ThiswastheapostlePaul’s“gotothewallissue”:
Butevenifwe,oranangelfromheaven,shouldpreachtoyouagospelcontrarytowhatwehavepreachedtoyou,heistobeaccursed!Aswehavesaidbefore,soIsayagainnow,ifanymanispreachingtoyouagospelcontrarytowhatyoureceived,heistobeaccursed!(Gal.1:8–9).
WhilethebookofGalatianscontainsPaul’sdefenseofthedoctrineofjustificationagainstthespecificfalseteachingofreligiouslegalizers,thebookofRomanslaysoutthefullgloryofthedoctrineinasystematic,logicalmanner.WewouldnoterrbysayingthisisacoredoctrineofhisChristiantheology.
Assuch,aneldercandidate,tobecomeadefenderofthetruefaith,must:
• UnderstandthegrandthemeofjustificationaslaidoutinthebookofRomansandwhythisissuchacriticalteachingforthechurchtoday.
• Knowthekeyteachingspresentedinthebook:universalsinandguilt,justificationbygracethroughfaith,sanctificationby“reckoning”thenewlifetobetrue,Israel’sroleinthegospel,andtheoutworkingofjustification.
• Beabletooutlineofthepropositionallogicpresented,showingtherelationshipbetweenthepartsofthebookandthewhole.
SeeAppendix6foranoutlineonstudyingthebookofRomans.
BOOK OF HEBREWS WhilethebookofRomansprovidesthetheologyofjustificationthroughthegraceofourLordJesusChrist,thebookofHebrewsextolsthesupremacyandmagnificenceoftheLordJesusChristhimself.Heissuperiortoallelse,especiallyascomparedtoallthingsreligious,whethertheJewishunderstandingoftheOldTestamentorallotherreligiouseffortstolivepleasingtoGod.
God,afterHespokelongagotothefathersintheprophetsinmanyportionsandinmanyways,intheselastdayshasspokentousinHisSon,whomHeappointedheirofallthings,throughwhomalsoHemadetheworld.AndHeistheradianceofHisgloryandtheexactrepresentationofHisnature,andupholdsallthingsbythewordofHispower.WhenHehadmadepurificationofsins,HesatdownattherighthandoftheMajestyonhigh,havingbecomeasmuchbetterthan...(Heb.1:1–4a)
Aneldercandidate,therefore,shouldgainagoodunderstandingofthebookofHebrewsasafoundationforgrowingdevotionandappreciationoftheLordandhisprominenceintheChristian’slife.Heshouldbeableto:
• Understandandarticulatethebook’steachingonthesuperiorityofChristtotheangels,Moses,Abraham,thetabernacle,anditspriesthood.
• AppreciateandexplainthesignificanceofChristbeingourHighPriestandhisone-time,uniqueandall-sufficientsacrifice.
• Beabletooutlineofthemainflowofthebook,showingtherelationshipbetweenthepartsofthebookandthewhole.
SeeAppendix7foranoutlineonstudyingthebookofHebrews.
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BIBLICAL ELDERSHIP STUDY
Werecommendeitherofthefollowingtwostudiestoprepareamanbiblicallyfortheworkandroleofbeinganelder.Orforextrathoroughness,thecandidatecandoboth.
BIBLICALELDERSHIPWORKBOOKAneldercandidatemustthoroughlyunderstandthebiblicalteachingofshepherd-eldership.Thispartofthepreparationwillleadtheeldercandidatethroughatwelve-lesson,in-depthstudyofNewTestamentchurchleadershipusingthebookBiblicalEldershipalongwiththeaccompanyingworkbook,BiblicalEldership:StudyGuide.ThementorcanuseaspecialeditionoftheworkbookBiblicalEldership:Mentor’sGuide.
Wesuggeststudyingthischapterbychapterusingthestudyguide,andthecandidateandhismentormeetingaftereachchaptertodiscussthematerial.Thelessonsshouldbespacedatleasttwoweeksaparttogiveenoughtimetostudyanddigestthematerialthoroughly.Thisstudycanbedoneinagroupsettingaswell,withastudyleaderguidingthediscussion.
SeeAppendix8foranoutlineonhowtoapproachthisstudyasanindividualorasagroup.
SCHOOLOFTHESHEPHERDSONLINESERIESOFCOURSESThisthoroughonlinestudyprovidesabiblicalfoundationofthebiblicalprinciplesofeldershipinthelocalchurchandalsobasicprinciplesforeffectiveshepherding.Itiscomposedofsixcoursesinvolvingbothvideoandonlinequizzing.
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SHEPHERDING EFFECTIVENESS
INTRODUCTIONEldercandidatesshouldbetrainedinthepracticeofeldershipalso.Thisinvolvesmorethanjustknowingthebiblicalteaching,goingtoelders’meetings,andmakingdecisions.Trainingencompassesunderstandingthepracticalissuesofshepherdingandrealshepherdingopportunitiesundertheguidanceofexperiencedelders.
Thisportionoftheelderpreparationconsistsoftwooverlappingparts:thestudyofshepherding(Effectiveness)andthepracticeofeffectiveshepherding(Rotations).
THESTUDY(COGNITIVELEARNING)Wehaveidentifiedfoundationalteachingforeachofthemainareasofpracticalshepherding.Thesefallintothefollowingcategories:PersonalLife11,Leading,Teaching,Protecting,Caring,andElderRelationships.
ThisteachingisfoundintheEffectiveness12sectionoftheBERwebsiteandiscomposedofovertwohundredshort(fifteenminutesorless)videos,audios,andtexts.Theselessonshavereviewquestions,discussionquestions,andapplicationsuggestions.Theycanbedoneindividuallyoringroup.Ataminimum,eachlessonshouldbereviewedwiththecandidate’smentor.
Howmuchofthispracticaltrainingacandidateshoulddobeforebecominganelderissubjecttothementorand/orelder’sdiscretion.Thecandidateandmentorshouldworktogethertoselecthowmanyandwhichtopicstostudy.Themoreacandidatecanlearnbeforebecominganelderthebetter.Ideally,theseshouldcoordinatewiththerotations(seenextsection).Thereisalottochoosefrom!
ROTATIONS(PRACTICUMLEARNING)Introduction
Eldertrainingshouldalsoinvolvepracticums,thatis,practicalhands-onexperiencesinavarietyofministryareas.Universitieshavelongrecognizedthevalueofinterspersingacademicstudywithpracticalhands-onjobtraining.Medicalschools(intheU.S.)usuallygivemedstudentstwoyearsofclassroomandlabstudies,followedbyathirdyearof“rotations.”Theserotationsaredesignedtoputstudentsintosupervisedclinicalsituationstogainhands-onlearningandpracticeinapplyingtheirmedicallearningtoreal-lifecases.
Potentialeldersneedtodevelopexperienceinbasicshepherdingskills,likevisitingthesickandencouragingthedowntrodden.Theywillbenefitfromopportunitiestoparticipateinbaptisms,funerals,andpremaritalcounselingandmarriageceremonies.TheywillvaluetheskillsdevelopedinleadingsmallgroupBiblestudiesandfellowships,servinginthechildren’sministries,andplanningoutreach.Inaddition,potentialeldersshouldexperiencefirsthandtheinteractionsamongeldersduringelders’meetings,wheregodlymendealwithrealwhole-churchissues.
So,aspartofeldertraining,rotatingthroughvariousaspectsofelders’workandministryshouldbestandardprocedureinpreparingforspiritualleadership.Thefollowingisageneralguideforeldertraining“rotations.”
Devisingaplan
1. First,thementorshouldworkwiththecandidatetoplanouttherotations.Thementorwillnotprovideallthe“on-the-job”training,buthewillmakesurethebestministrymentorsareusedforthevariousrotations.Theseshouldfocusonareasofministrywherethecandidatehashadlittleornoexperiencesothathebecomesatleastfamiliarwithallareasofthechurch’sministry.
2. SeeAppendix9foraworksheetondevelopingacustomizedplanfortherotations.Feelfreetouseormodifyitasneeded.
3. Werecommendatleastsixrotations,eachlastingonemonth.Eachrotationshouldaddressoneofthemain
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effectivenessareasoutlinedontheBiblicalEldershipwebsite(seeEffectivenessmenu)andprovideatleastfouropportunitiesforinvolvement.
4. Foreacharea,thementorshouldguidethepotentialelderinselectingoneortwotaskstoworkon.Thespecifics,suchassupervision,observation,andaccountability,needtobeagreeduponatthebeginning.Butherearesomeexamples:• Caringeffectivenessarea.Thepotentialeldershouldread/listentothe“Effectiveness/Caring”material
onlineandthenaccompanyanexperiencedelderinvisitingsomeoneinthehospitalorwhoisashut-in.Multiplevisitswouldberecommended.Duringthistime,thetwoshouldinteractonthematerialread,discusseachvisitaheadoftime,anddebriefaftereachvisit.
• Leadingeffectivenessarea.Thepotentialeldershouldhaveanopportunitytoleadasmallgroupdiscussion.Heshouldstudythematerialonlinedealingwithsmallgroupleading.
• Leading/communication.ThepotentialeldermayhavetheopportunitytogiveannouncementsonaSundaymorning.
Tobesure,somemenmayalreadybecompetentinsomeareas,sothereisnoneedtoberedundant.Theidea,though,istostretchthemintonewareas,toimprovetheirabilitiesandunderstandingofthevariousministriesofthechurch—allwiththegoalofhelpingthembecomeeffectiveoverseersofthechurch.
Qualityofrotations
Ultimately,thequalityofthistrainingdependsonthementors’experienceandthecandidates’determination.Attheveryleast,amentorshareshisownwealthofexperienceandprovidesfeedbackonthecandidate’sexperienceduringtherotation.Inessence,mentoringfollowsthisprogression:
• Thecandidatereadsorwatchestherelevantresource/materialfromtheBERwebsite.
• I(mentor)willdoit,you(mentee)willwatch,thenwewilldiscusswhatIdidandwhy.
• You(mentee)willdoit,I(mentor)willwatch,thenwewilldiscusswhatyoudidandhowyoucanimprove.
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LEADERSHIP/TEMPERAMENT Therearemanynon-tangiblesthatplayintothecohesivenessofeldersworkingtogetherasateamofshepherds.Werecommendthecandidate(andtheexistingeldersiftheyhaven’talready)useofoneofthemanyexcellentleadershiporteamprofiletoolsavailableonline.DISCProfile13isonethatisparticularlyhelpful.Individualswilldiscovertheirpersonalityandleadershiptemperament,whichwillhelpthemunderstandandappreciateeachother’sdifferingleadershipstyles.Thiswillhelpelderslearntoworkeffectivelytogether.
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CONGREGATIONAL FEEDBACK • Congregationalfeedbackandinputareimportant.Acertainlevelofcongregationalinvolvementisinferred
fromthestudyoftheyoungJerusalemchurch:
“Therefore,brethren,selectfromamongyousevenmenofgoodreputation,fulloftheSpiritandofwisdom,whomwemayputinchargeofthistask.”(Acts6:3)
• Whilethatsituationinvolvedthecharacterofthosewhosetaskwasmoresuitabletodeacon’swork,wisdomwouldsuggesttheastutenessofalsosolicitingfeedbackconcerningapotentialelder’scharacterandsuitabilityforbeingashepherd—fromthosehewouldshepherd.Thisisnotavote,butrathertheeldersbeingwisetohearhowothersinthecongregationperceivethecharacterandabilitiesofaman.Thecongregationwilleitherratifytheelders’senseofGod’sraisingupamantoeldershiporraiseseriousconcernsthatshouldcausethecurrentelderstotakepauseandinvestigate.
Wesuggestthatpriortoaskingforthecongregation’sfeedback,theeldersteach(orremind)thecongregationaboutthebiblicalqualificationsforelder.Then,theelderscoulddistributefeedbacksheetsforeveryonetofilloutforeachcandidate.Wehavepreparedasamplelettertothecongregation(Appendix10)andasamplefeedbackquestionnaire(Appendix11).Feelfreetouseormodifyasneeded,butweencouragesomekindofformalfeedbackprocess.Theseformsshouldbereturnedandbemadeavailabletoalltheeldersandtothecandidate.
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DECISION AND AFFIRMATION
PRAYERANDFASTINGThecallingofthefirstmissionariessentoutfromthechurchatAntioch(BarnabasandSaul,alsocalledPaul)tookplaceinthecontextofprayerandfasting:
WhiletheywereministeringtotheLordandfasting,theHolySpiritsaid,“SetapartforMeBarnabasandSaulfortheworktowhichIhavecalledthem.”Then,whentheyhadfastedandprayedandlaidtheirhandsonthem,theysentthemaway.(Acts13:2–3)
Wefindthosesametwo,PaulandBarnabas,ontheirreturnfromtheirfirstmissiontourappointingeldersinthevariouscongregationstheyhadestablished:
Whentheyhadappointedeldersforthemineverychurch,havingprayedwithfasting,theycommendedthemtotheLordinwhomtheyhadbelieved.(Acts14:23)
Werecommendfollowingtheprecedentofthosefirstchurchplanters,thattheeldersofthechurchshouldprayandfastwhenmakingthefinaldeterminationofwhetheracandidateshouldjointhemasarecognizedelder.Throughprayer,theeldersseekGod’swillintheselection.Throughfasting,theeldersremindthemselvesthatitisGod’swillweseek,notourownlimitedandoft-biaseddesires.Theymustsacrificepersonaldesiresandperspectivesandsetasideselfishmotives.Recognizingneweldersismoreimportantthanmosteverythingelse,includingeating!
SPOUSE’SAFFIRMATIONWerecommendaninterviewwiththecandidate’swifetoaffirmthatshetoohascountedthecostofherhusband’sgivinghistimeandenergytobeinganelder.Hersacrificeinmanywayswillbeasgreatashis.Wemustbecarefulthataman’seffortsinshepherdingGod’speopledoesnotnegativelyimpacthisfirstresponsibility,thatis,toshepherdandleadhisownfamily.Awifeoftenhasabetterjudgmentofthisthanthehusband,soeldersarewisetoseekherfeedback.
UNANIMITYOFTHECURRENTELDERSWhilemanydecisionsbytheelderscanbecarriedbyasimplemajorityorconsensus,webelieveunanimity(allelderswholeheartedlyinagreement)isnecessaryforrecognizinganewelder.Ifevenoneelderdissentsthenitisunwisetogoahead.ConsiderScripture:“Cantwowalktogether,unlesstheyareagreed?”(Amos3:3NKJV).
Ontheotherhand,oneeldershouldnotbeallowedtoholdacomplete,unquestionedvetoovertheothers.Divisionoverrecognizinganeweldercreatesaserioussituationthatmustbeaddressedbeforeanewelderisrecognized.Nothingwillbemoredivisivethananeweldernothavingthefullconfidenceofeveryotherelder.Thiswillplaguetheelderteamwithdisharmony,dysfunction,anddiscordateveryturn,anditwillneutralizetheharmonyandgrowththeentirechurch.
Theexistingelders(presumingtheyarebiblicallyqualifiedandthereforespirituallymature)shouldbeabletoworkthroughtheconcerns,withoneofthefollowingresults:1)thedissentingelderisconvincedtorecognizethecandidate,2)thedissentingelderconvincestheothersnottorecognizethecandidateasanelder,or3)thedissentingelderstepsdownindeferencetotheothers.Wherethereisstrongcontention,theeldersshouldunanimouslycommittoatimeofprayerandfasting,seekingtheLord’sintervention.Formoreonhandlingdisagreementamongelders,seeDecisionMakingAmongElders14andHandlingConflict15ontheBERwebsite.
PUBLICCEREMONYIntheNewTestamentweseethepracticeofpublicrecognitionthroughlayingonofhandsinScripture:
Donotneglectthespiritualgiftwithinyou,whichwasbestowedonyouthroughpropheticutterancewiththelayingonofhandsbythepresbytery.(1Tim.4:14)
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Donotlayhandsuponanyonetoohastilyandtherebyshareresponsibilityforthesinsofothers;keepyourselffreefromsin.(1Tim.5:22)
Thesymbolismcarriesarichsenseofsolidarityexpressedbetweenthosewholayhandsontheindividualandtheindividualhimself.Thereisadefinitive,publicidentificationthatcommunicatestothecongregationthatthewholeleadershipendorsestheindividualforhisministrytask.
Amostappropriatetimefordoingthisisduringthemainserviceofthechurch.Theeldersgotothefrontofthecongregationwiththecandidate(s),giveanexplanation,andthengatheraroundtophysicallyplacetheirhandsontheshoulders,back,orheadofthenewelder(s).Whiledoingthis,twoorthreeeldersprayovertheindividual(s),andthus“commend[them]toGodandtothewordofHisgrace”asPauldidwiththeEphesianelders(Acts20:32).
WRITTENDOCUMENTATIONBesuretodocumenttherecognitionofnewmentoeldership.Wesuggestthatalltheelderssignthisdocumenttoensurearecordthatallagreetorecognizetheindividualasanelder,beforeGodandoneanother.
CELEBRATERecognizinganewelderisamomentousoccasionthatcallsforacelebration—Godinhisloveandgoodprovisionhasgiventhechurchanewshepherdtojointheteamofeldersinthegreattaskofteaching,leading,protecting,andcaringforhispeople.
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APPENDIX 1: PERSONAL TESTIMONY WORKSHEET
INTRODUCTIONTestimony(Webster’sDefinition):
“Adeclarationorstatement,writtenorverbal,madeforthepurposeofestablishingorprovingsomefact,especiallyonemadeunderoathbyawitnessincourt.”
GodtellsusinScripturetodothiswithourChristianfaith:
Youwillbehiswitnesstoallmenofwhatyouhaveseenandheard.(Acts22:15)
ButinyourheartssetapartChristasLord.Alwaysbepreparedtogiveananswertoeveryonewhoasksyoutogivethereasonforthehopethatyouhave.Butdothiswithgentlenessandrespect,keepingaclearconscience,sothatthosewhospeakmaliciouslyagainstyourgoodbehaviorinChristmaybeashamedoftheirslander.(1Peter3:15–16)
LetthemgivethankstotheLORDforHislovingkindness,andforHiswonderstothesonsofmen!LetthemextolHimalsointhecongregationofthepeople,andpraiseHimattheseatoftheelders.(Ps107:31–32).
Initssimplestform,aChristian’ssalvationtestimonyisthebrief,concisetestimonyofhowGodhascomeintoone’slife.TheapostlePaul’ssalvationexperienceisrecordedinActs9:1–22,andhesharedhistestimonyonatleasttwooccasions(Acts22:3–21,26:4–23).Ineachcase,threeaspectsofhislifeareclearlyoutlined:hislifebeforehecametofaithinChrist,howChristcametohim,andwhathislifewaslikeafterward.Followingtheapostle’sexample(see1Cor.4:16,11:1;Phil.3:17,4:9),wewouldsuggestcraftingone’stestimonyinthreeparts:before,how,andaftercomingtoChrist.
THREE-PARTTESTIMONY• YourlifebeforeyoucametoChrist
Confessaguilt,fear,fault,orproblemcommontoeveryone.Donottellmoredetailsofsinthanarenecessary.ThegoalisnottoexaltthesinfullifestylebuttoshowyourneedofChrist.Avoidwordsandexpressionsthatareoffensiveorinappropriate.Don’tembellishorinflatethestory,butbeaccurate.Wordyourtestimonytoavoidputtingothersinabadlight.Donotinjurethereputationofothers.Donotusenameswithoutpermission.
“…foritisdisgracefuleventospeakofthethingswhicharedonebytheminsecret.”Eph.5:12
• HowyoucametoChristHowdidyoubecomeawareofyourneedofChrist?Wasitaspeaker,somethingyouread,thetestimonyofaChristian?WhatwasyourinitialresponsetoGod’sSpirit?WhatspecificallydidyoudotoreceiveChrist?(John1:12)
• YourlifenowasaresultWhathaschanged?HowisyourlifedifferentthanbeforecomingtoChrist?ReporttheresultstothepraiseofGodandhisWord.GiveanexampleofhowyoufollowedGod’swisdomandways,orappliedabiblicalprinciple.Don’tdescribetheChristianlifeyouexperiencenowasa“rosegarden”withoutanytroubles.Talkabouthowyoudealnowwithstrugglesandtemptations.Don’tmakeyourselfouttobeperfectnow,butforgiven.MakesureChrististhe“hero”ofyourtestimony,notyou.
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ALTERNATEForthosewhocametoChristearlyinchildhood,analternateformatmightcontainthesemainideas:
• HowIcametoanearlyfaithinChrist.• HowIcametohavingadeepercommitmenttoChrist.• HowfaithinChristhasaffectedmylifeasanadult.
SPIRITUALSUGGESTIONS• FocusonbringinggloryandattentiontowhatGodhasdonemorethanonwhatyouhavedone.• YourtestimonymustexaltChrist,notyourexperienceoremotion.
LetallwhoseekYourejoiceandbegladinYou;letthosewholoveYoursalvationsaycontinually,“TheLordbemagnified!”(Ps.40:16)
“Lethimwhoboasts,boastintheLord.”(1Cor.1:31)
PRACTICALSUGGESTIONS• Concentrateononesectionatatime.• Jotdowninitialideasanddevelopthemintoacompletedraft.• Itmaytakeyouseveralattemptstogetitthewayyouwantitandaccuratelyrecountwhathappened.• IncludeaverseofScriptureinyourtestimony—thismeansthatyouhavememorizeditaswell.• Avoidusingreligiousphrasesor“Christianese”:
- Ifyoumustusethem,makesuretodefinethem.- Challengeyourselftoexplaintheconceptsusingdifferentwords.- Youmayonlygetonechancetodothis,sothinkaheadoftimeabouthowtoclearlysayit.
• Keepitlessthanthreeminutes—practiceitandmemorizeit,andyouwillbemorelikelytouseit.• Don’trambleon,butbeclearhowyouwillfinishstrongly.• Spendtimechoosingwordsthatcommunicatetheclearestmessage.• Speakloudenoughtobeheard.Youmessagecanwillinfluencethelivesofothers.• IftheLordleadsyou,offerapersonalappealtothembyusingtheirnameandaskingthemaquestion
relatingtoyourstory:“Joe,haveyouconsideredChristinapersonalwaylikethis?”• Thebestwitnessesarerecountingfactsthattheyknowoffirsthand,i.e.eyewitnessaccount.
“Don’tfeelyourstoryiscolorlesscomparedtoPaul’soranyoneelse’s.Yourconversionisasmuchamiracleastheirs.Yourtestimonydoesn’thavetobeexciting…justinterestingandrealtoyouraudience.”(CBMCLifestyleEvangelismWorkbook)
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TESTIMONYWORKSHEET16SummaryofmylifeBEFOREmakingJesusChristmypersonalLordandSavior(Acts26:4–11)
“…IlivedasaPharisee.”Acts26:5
HowIMETChristandRECEIVEDhim(Acts26:12–18)
“…IsawalightfromHeaven…”-Acts26:13
HowIamdifferentAFTERmyencounterwithChrist(Acts26:19–23)
“ButIhavehadGod’shelptothisveryday…”-Acts26:22
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APPENDIX 2: DOCTRINAL STATEMENT - SAMPLE
GODThereisoneGod,Creatorofallthings,infinitelyperfect,holy,eternallyexistentinthreeco-equalpersons:Father,Son,andHolySpirit.Forexample,Godisgracious,merciful,compassionate,andaboundinginsteadfastlove,andistherighteousJudgeofallpeople.[Gen.1:1;Deut.6:4;Ps.18:30;103:8;119:156;86:15;25:10;9:7-8;Is.6:3;Matt.28:19;John1:1-3;15:26;Eph.4:6;Col.1:16;2:19;1Tim.2:5;Heb.9:14]
JESUSCHRISTTheLordJesusChrististrulyGodandtrulyman,conceivedbytheHolySpirit,bornofthevirginMary,andsinlesslyperfect.Hediedsacrificiallyasoursubstitute,sufferingGod’spunishmentforoursin.HerosebodilyfromthedeadandascendedtohisFather’srighthand,wherehenowministersasourGreatHighPriest.[Luke1:26-35;Rom.5:19;1Cor.15:1-19;2Cor.5:21;Eph.1:20;1Tim.2:5-6,3:16;Heb.4:14-16;1Peter2:22,24;1John2:1,3:5]
HOLYSPIRITTheHolySpiritispersonalandfullyGod,possessingallthedistinctivelydivineattributes.Heconvictstheworldofsin,righteousness,andjudgment.
Atconversionhe:• baptizes(joins)thebelieverintothebodyofChrist• indwellshimpersonallyandpermanently• sealshim,guaranteeinghiseternalsecurity• setshimaparttoaholylife• enableshimtoliveagodlylife• endowshimwithspiritualabilities(i.e.,gifts)thatbenefitthechurch
[Rom.8:9-11;1Cor.12:6–13,28–31,6:19;Gal.5:15,22–23;Eph.1:13–14,2:20,4:30]
BIBLETheBible(Old&NewTestaments)isverballyinspiredbyGodandwithouterrorintheoriginaldocuments.Itisentirelyreliableandisthefinalauthorityinallmattersoffaithandpractice.ThegrandthemeofScripture(thewrittenWord)isGod’sgloryrevealedthroughJesusChrist(theLivingWord)[Luke24:27;John1:1,14,5:39;1Thess.2:13;2Tim.3:16–17;2Peter1:20–21]
MANKINDMankindwascreatedbyGodinhisimage,andassuch,hasthecapacityforfellowshipwithGod.Mankind,though,hasrebelledandissinfulbynatureandpractice.TheresultofthisconditionisseparationfromGodthatleavesmankinddeservingalosteternityinhell.[Gen.1:27;2:16–17,Ps.51:5;Is.53:6;59:2,Jer.17:9,Rom.3:23,5:12;Rev.20:15]
SALVATIONMankindneedstobesavedfromtheconsequenceofhissinandrestoredintoalivingrelationshipwithGod,whichisimpossibleforapersontoaccomplishbyworksorreligiousobservances.This,rather,isaccomplishedbythedeathandresurrectionofChristandisviewedasagiftofGodbygrace.Anypersonwho,infaith,acknowledgeshisorhersinfulconditionandtrustsinChrist’sfinishedworkis,atthemomentofconversion,forgivenandsavedfromtheconsequencesofsin,broughtintoanewrelationshipwithGod(eternallife),andmadesecureinthissalvationandrelationshipforever.
[John3:3,16,36;10:27–29;Rom.3:28,10:9,10,13;Eph.2:8–9;Tit.3:5;Heb.9:11–14;1Peter1:18–19]
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THECHURCHTheuniversalchurchisnotanorganizationbutalivingorganismknownasthebodyofChrist.ItiscomposedofalltruebelieversinJesusChrist,regardlessofwheretheymeet.ThelocalchurchisagatheringofbelieversinalocalitywhomeetincorporatetestimonytotheLordshipofChristandtotheonenessofthebodyofChrist.Theygatherforfellowship,teachingofGod’sWord,worshipattheLord’sSupperandprayer.TheyalsoevangelizethosewhoareoutsideofChristwithaviewtomakingnewdisciples.Governmentanddisciplinearetheresponsibilityofthelocalchurch.[Matt.28:18–20,18:15–17;John4:23,17:21;Acts2:42;1Cor.5:1–6:4,11:23–26;Eph.1:22–23,4:11–16;Phil.1:1;Col.1:18]
TherearetwoveryparticularcommandsthatChristleftthechurchtopracticethroughouttheyears:• Baptismofbelieversbyimmersioninwaterasanoutwardpublictestimonyofaninwardconversion.
(Baptismisnotameansoforanaidtosalvation.)[Matt.28:19;Acts2:41,8;12,8:35–39;Rom.6:3–6;Col.2:12]
• TheLord’sSupperforbelievers,whichisaremembranceoftheLordinhisdeathforus.[Matt.26:26–29;Luke22:15-22;Acts2:42,46;20:7;1Cor.10:16–17,11:23–26]
SATANGodoriginallycreatedalargenumberofspiritualbeings(angels)forhisservice.Oneofthesebeings,Satan,ledmanyothers(nowcalleddemons)inrebellionagainstGod.Whiletheirultimatejudgmentandcondemnationiscertain,theycurrentlyseektohinderthepurposeofGodbyinfluencingbelieverstosin.TheindwellingHolySpirit,though,isgreaterthanSatanorhisdemonsandisabletohelpthebelieverresistsin.[Job1:6–2:10;Matt.4:1–11,25:41;2Cor.11:13–15;1John4:3–4;Rev.20:1-3,10;seealsoIs.14:3–23,Ezek.28:12–19]
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APPENDIX 3: SUMMARY OF BIBLICAL ELDERSHIP WebelievetheBibleteachesthatateamofbiblicallyqualifiedeldersistoleadthelocalchurch—menwhoareequalinauthority,servingasunder-shepherdstotheChiefShepherd,JesusChrist.
[Note:ThisisabriefsummarystatementofwhattheBibleteachesaboutelders.Foranexpositionshowingthebiblicalbasisforthis,seethe"WhatIsBiblicalEldership?"17sectionoftheBERwebsite.]
PLURALITYGod’sWordspeaksofeldersinthepluralwhoshareintheoverallgovernanceofthechurch.
SHAREDELDERSHIPAlthougheldersmayfunctiondifferentlyaccordingtotheirgifting,allareneededtoprovideoverallresponsibilityandauthoritytoleadthechurch.
BIBLICALLYQUALIFIEDScripturelaysoutexplicitteachingonelderqualification(orcharacteristics)forthosewhoshepherdthelocalchurch.
MALELEADERSHIPEldersaretobemales,astaughtinScripture.Whilewomenmayserveinmanyrolesinthechurch,Godhasordainedthatmen,andnotwomen,aretoserveintheoverallgoverningandteachingroles.
THEOFFICE&WORKTheofficeofelderistobedistinguishedfromthespiritualgiftofpastororpastor-teacher(whichaneldermayormaynothave).Anywhoservewiththegiftofpastororpastor-teacherdosoundertheauthorityoftheelders.Further,theworkofelderistobedistinguishedalsofromtheworkofdeacon.
THEVOCATIONALELDERTheelderwhorules,teaches,orpreacheswellisworthyoffinancialsupport(i.e.“doublehonor,”see1Tim.5:17–18),sothathemayservethechurchmorefully.Suchanindividualservesundertheauthorityoftheeldersasawholeanddoesnotsupplantbutsupplementstheelders’pastoralministry.
TERMINOLOGYThebiblicaltermselder,overseer,bishop,andthecontemporarytermsshepherd-elderandpastor-elderallrefertothesameindividuals.
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APPENDIX 4: ACCOUNTABILITY QUESTIONS Adaptedfrom“ManintheMirror”byPatrickMorley
INTRODUCTIONWhenmeetingwithyourmentororaccountabilitypartner,eachgivespermissiontotheothertoaskanyofthefollowingquestions.Inorderforthistobevaluable,bothindividualsmustbecommittedtohonesty,trust,andconfidentiality.Withoutthese,thereisnoaccountability.Butwiththem,thistimeofquestionscanbetremendouslyhelpfulinaperson’sdailylifeandgrowth.
Werecommendthatatthefirstaccountabilitymeetingyoubothverballycommittothefollowing:• Givingtheotherpersonpermissiontoaskanyofthequestionsbelow,withouttakingoffense.• Respondingwithhonestanswers,notduckingtheadmissionofyourfailuresorgivingsuperficialanswers.• Notlyingwhenyouanswer.• Askingkeyquestionsoftheotherperson—notbeingafraidtoaskthehardquestions.• Probingwhenyouhearanswersthatseeminadequateorevasive.• Beingwillingtoconfessyoursins,failures,anddeceptions.
QUESTIONSTOASKSelectfromthefollowinglistasubsetofquestionseachweektoasktheotherman.Obviouslyyouwillnotbeabletocoveralloftheseeachtime.Thegoaliscoverthemallovertime.Buttherewillbesomethatfocusinonspecificareasofstruggle.StartingOff:• HowhasGodblessedyouthisweek?(Whatwentright?)• Whatproblemconsumedyourthoughtsthisweek?(Whatwentwrong?)
Spiritual:• HaveyoureadGod’sWorddaily?(Howlong?Whynot?)• Describeyourprayers(foryourself,forothers,praise,confession,gratitude).• HowisyourrelationshipwithChristchanging?• Howhaveyoubeentemptedthisweek?Howdidyourespond?• Doyouhaveanyunconfessedsininyourlife?AreyouwalkingintheSpirit?• Didyouworshipinchurchthisweek?(WasyourfaithinJesusstrengthened?Washehonored?)• Haveyousharedyourfaith?Inwhatways?Howcanyouimprove?
HomeLife:• Howisitgoingwithyourwife?(Attitudes,time,irritations,disappointments,progress,herrelationshipwith
Christ)• Howisitgoingwiththekids?(Quantityandqualityoftime,valuesandbeliefs,education,spiritualwelfare)• Howareyourfinancesdoing?(Debts,sharing,saving,stewardship)
WorkLife:• Howarethingsgoingonthejob?(Careerprogress,relationships,temptations,workload,stress,problems)• Whatproblemconsumedyourthoughtsthisweek?(Whatwentwrong?)
CriticalConcerns:• DoyoufeelinthecenterofGod’swill?Doyousensehispeace?• Whatareyouwrestlingwithinyourthoughtlife?Isyourmoralandethicalbehaviorwhatitshouldbe?• Whathaveyoudoneforsomeoneelsethisweek?(Thepoor,encouragement,service)• Areyourprioritiesintherightorder?Howareyoudoinginyourpersonalhigh-riskarea?• Isthe“visible”youandthe“real”youconsistentinthisrelationship?
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APPENDIX 5: READ THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR
INTRODUCTIONWhynotmakethistheyearyoustarttoreadthroughtheBible?Youcandoit!Herearethebenefits:• GodpromisesablessingtothosewhoreadhisWord(Rev.1:3).• You’llgettoknowbettertheOnewhocreatedyouandlovesyou.• TheLordwillenjoymeetingwithyouasyoureadhisWord.• You’llstarttofitthebigpicturetogetherandseepatternsoftruthyouhaveneverknownbefore.• Yourmentalhealthwillimprove(accordingtoDr.PaulMeyer,psychologist).• ThedisciplineyouexerciseinreadingtheBibledailywilltransferoverintootherareasoflife.
“ButtheBibleissobig,”yousay.“Icouldjustneverdoit!”Well,notatonesitting,that’sforsure—butifyoudivideitupandreadaportioneachday,youwillbeamazedthatyoureallycandoit.
YourwordIhavetreasuredinmyheart,thatImaynotsinagainstYou.(Ps.119:9)
Yourwordisalamptomyfeetandalighttomypath(Ps.119:105)
APLANHereisaplanthatissimple,straightforward,andbalanced,andyoucansetthepacetofinishinoneortwoyears(ormore).YoureadfromthreedifferentsectionsoftheBibleeachday:
• OneselectionfromtheOldTestament
DividethetotalnumberofpagesinyourOTbythenumberofdaysinoneyearortwo(dependingonyourgoal).Thiswilltellyouroughlyhowmanypagestoreadeachday.IfyourOThas1,087pages,thatmeansyouwouldreadaboutthreepagesperdayinordertofinishinoneyear(youalwayswanttoroundup).Thisisapproximatebecauseyoushouldalwaysreadtothenearestchapterbreak.Youcanevenmissafewdaysnowandthen,andstillfinishinoneyear.
• OneselectionfromtheNewTestament
DividethenumberofpagesinyourNTbythenumberofdaysinoneyearortwo,todeterminehowmanypagestoreadeachday.
• OnechapterfromPsalmsorProverbs
StartwithPsalm1andgoallthewaythroughProverbs31.Whenyoufinish,gothroughthemagain.Thiswillmeanyouwillcoverthesebookstwiceinoneyear.YoumightwanttobreakPsalm119overafewdaysbecauseofitslength!
UNDERSTANDINGWHATYOUREADItisonethingtoreadasectionofScripture,butitisquiteanothertounderstandwhatyouread!Threemental“crowbars”canbehelpfulforuncoveringspiritualtruthfromaBiblepassage.TheseareintheformofthreequestionsyouaskyourselfwhenyoureadasectionofScripture:• WhatdoesitsayaboutGod?• Whatdoesitsayabouthumans(us)?• WhatdoesitsayabouttherelationshipbetweenhumansandGod?
Youmaynotgetanswerstoallthreequestions,buttheseshouldhelpyoudiscoversomethingnewfromGod’sWord.YouwillsoonbegintounderstandwhatPaulsaidtoTimothy:“AllScriptureisGod-breathedandisusefulforteaching,rebuking,correctingandtraininginrighteousness,sothatthemanofGodmaybethoroughlyequippedforeverygoodwork”(2Tim.3:16).
AFEWHELPFULHINTS:
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• Pickthesametimetoreadeachdaywhenyouwillbealert.Forsomethebesttimeisthemorning,beforetheirmindiscloggedupwithotherthings.Forothers,theeveningisamorealerttime.
• Chooseaplacewhereyouwillnotbeeasilydistracted.• Don’tgethunguponthegenealogiesandlengthylists(especiallyintheOT).Feelfreetojustskimoverthem
ifyoulike.Thesamegoesforsectionswheredetailsbogyoudown.ThegoalistokeepmovingforthebroadsweepofScripture.
• Manydaysthereadingisinteresting.Butit’sOKifsometimesyou“don’tgetanythingoutofapassage.”Godmayusethetruthfromthatday’sreadingatanothertimeinyourlife.Thatday’sreadingmaybecomeclearinthenextday’sreadingorlater.Keepupasteadypace.
• Readfromamoderntranslationifpossible.EvenifyoumajoredinEnglishliterature,theoldKingJamesVersioncanbeahardtounderstandinpart.
• IfyouhavereadthroughtheBiblebefore,tryadifferentversionthistime.Differenttranslationsmayrevealthingsinanewwaythatmayrevealthingsyoumaynotcatchbecauseofpreviousfamiliarity.
• Don’tsweatitifyoumissadayoccasionally.Thisplanhassomecushioninit.Sowhenyoumiss,youdon’thavetodoubleupthenextday;justpickupwhereyouleftoff.(Ofcourseifyoudothattoofrequently,youwon’tfinishinoneyear!)
• Ifhelpful,findsomeonewhowillholdyouaccountable.• Youmightfindithelpfultotakeafewbriefnoteswhenyouread.Apencilorpencanbeamental“crowbar”
inforcingyoutothinkabitmoreconcretelyaboutwhatyouarereading—anditcanhelpkeepyouawake!• Youcouldevenbreakupyourreadingthroughtheday,ifyoulike:OTinthemorning,NTatlunch,and
Psalms/Proverbsintheevenings.• Ifyoudon’tquitemakeitbyyourtargetdate,that’sOK.Justkeepreadingatthesamepaceuntilyouare
finished.• Don’tforgettomarkdownonthebackpageofyourBiblethedateyoustart.Andthenwhenyoufinish,
markthatdatedownaswell(ta-da!)—thengooutandcelebrate!• EnjoyGodandhisWord.Whynotmakethistheyearyoufinallydoit?
MYPLANWhenwillIread:_______________________(timeofday)WherewillIread:______________________
HowmuchwillIreadeachday:_________(#pagesOT–dividenumberofpagesinyourOTby360)
_________(#pagesNT–dividenumberofpagesinyourNTby360)
_________(#chaptersfromPsalms/Proverbs)
ALTERNATEPLANFORREADINGTHROUGHTHEBIBLEINAYEAR:_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
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APPENDIX 6: UNDERSTANDING ROMANS
INTRODUCTIONWehaveheardmensay,“Nooneeverpreparedmetobeanelder.”Onthetheologicalandbiblicalside,agoodplacetobeginpreparationiswiththebookofRomans.Ithasbeensaid,“IfyougetRomansright,yougettherestoftheBibleright.”RomansisthemostsystematicpresentationofthegospelinintheNewTestament.Ifamanistoinstructinsounddoctrineandrefutethefalseteachers(Titus1:9),hemustknowRomanswell.
TaketheinitiativeandfindsomeonewhocouldmentoryoudoctrinallyandpracticallyforshepherdingGod’speople.Don’tbepassive—beproactive.Youcanaskonepersonorseveralpeopletobeyourmentor.Onepersoncanmentoryoudoctrinally.Anothercanmentoryouinpastoralcare.Andanothercanmentoryouinhowtoteachandpreacheffectively.Haveamentorfordifferentaspectsofyourlife,likebeingagoodfatherandhusband.Youwillfindthatpeoplewillbeveryhappyifyouaskthemtoteachyoualltheyknowaboutasubjecttheyareveryfamiliarwith.
“Whatyouhaveheardfrommeinthepresenceofmanywitnessesentrusttofaithfulmenwhowillbeabletoteachothersalso.”(2Tim.2:2)
STEP1:READPrintouttheentirebookofRomansonregularpaper.• Punchthree-ringholesinthepages,andplacetheminathree-ringbinder.• Besuretohavemultiplecoloredhighlightersandpens.• Readandmeditatethroughtheentirebook.Getagoodfeelforit.• Highlightideasandversesthatgrabyourattention.• MarkupyournotesbyconnectingthoughtsandversesastheSpiritleadsyouinyourreading.• KeepthebinderalwaysonhandsothatyoucanreadRomansasoftenandasmanytimesaspossible.
IfyoupreferusingadigitalBible:• Useonethatallowsyoutohighlightandmakenotes.• Useonlyadevicethatgivesyouenoughnotespacetoworkwith(likeadesktoporlaptopcomputer).• Smartphonesaregenerallynotashelpfulforin-depthstudyoftheWordbecausetheydonotallowfor
extensivemarkupsandnotetaking.• UseagooddigitalBiblesoftwareapp.SomepopularoneswithgoodmarkupcapacityareLuminaBible18
Wordsearch19andLogos.20
PurposetoreadRomansdailyinitially.• Usedifferentcoloredhighlighters:redforfoundationaltheologicalterms;greenforemphasisonChrist;blue
forpromises.Useyellowforanyotherwordsorconceptsthatgrabyourattention.
STEP2:OUTLINEOutlinethebookasyouseeitonaseparatesheetofpaper.• Don'tusesomeoneelse'soutlineatthispoint.• Thinkofyourpreparationintermsofteachingthisbooktoanotherperson.• Theoutlineshouldfollowthebroadflowofthoughtoftheentirebook.Don’tfocusondetails.• Thepurposeofthisistounderstandthemainconceptsandtheirflow.• Forexample: Romans1:16–32–titleofthemainideaofthispassage Romans2:1–16–titleofthemainideaofthispassage• Grouppassagesintosections,givingatitletoeachsection.• Asyoustudy,youwillbeconstantlyrevisingtheoutlineasyoucometogreaterunderstandingofthebook.
STEP3:STUDY
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Useagoodcommentaryandstudythebookagain.• Youmayusethestudynotesinagoodstudybible,likeMacArthur'sStudyBible.• Otherresourcesinclude:
Dr.ThomasConstable'sverysimpleNotesonRomans21.MartynLloyd-Jones'workonjustificationandatonement,Romans:AnExpositionofChapters3.20-4.25AtonementandJustification(RomansSeries)DouglasJ.Moo’sEncounteringtheBookofRomans:ATheologicalSurvey
• Studywithaccountability—havingamentororapeergroupisessentialtogoodlearning.Itwillsustainthedisciplineoflearningandwillpreventyoufrompickinguperrorsinyourlearning.
• Studywithdiscipline—haveaplan.Includeatimeline,scheduleandmilestones.
STEP4:TEACH• Teachthebooktoyourmentor,guide,leader,orelder,ortoeachother.• Explaintheoutlineandthoughtsonthepassagesundertheiroutlinepoints.
STEP5:DEFINITIONSDeterminegooddefinitionsofthebigtheologicalwordsofRomans.Forexample:
Righteousness Propitiation Forbearance SinTrespasses Justification Reconciled CondemnationBaptismofSpirit Sanctification Intercession ForeknowledgeofGodCallingofGod Predestination Glorified
Notes• Writeyourdefinitionsoutonaseparatepieceofpaper.• WayneGrudeminhisSystematicTheology:AnIntroductiontoBiblicalDoctrinehasanexcellentchartwhere
heprovidesdefinitionsforallthebigtheologicalterms.• YoucanalsoaccesstheCARMDictionaryofTheology(ChristianApologeticsandResearchMinistry22).
STEP6:APPLICATIONAftertheheavytheologyofRomans,spendtimeonthepracticalapplicationofthegospelinRomans12–16.
Answerquestionslike:• HowdoIapplythetruthsfromtheepistletotheRomanstomydailyliving?• WhatcanIteachmyfamily?MysmallgroupBiblestudy?Mycongregation?
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APPENDIX 7: UNDERSTANDING HEBREWS
INTRODUCTIONBeingashepherd-elderofGod’speopleismorethanatheologicalororganizationalwork.ItalsoinvolvesleadingpeopletoagreaterknowledgeofanddevotiontoourLordJesus,whoistheheadofthechurch.Paulsummarizeditwell:“[W]earetogrowupinallaspectsintoHimwhoisthehead,evenChrist”(Eph.4:15).ThebookofHebrewslaysoutthethemeofanexaltedChristfromthebeginning:
[God]intheselastdayshasspokentousinHisSon,whomHeappointedheirofallthings,throughwhomalsoHemadetheworld.AndHeistheradianceofHisgloryandtheexactrepresentationofHisnature,andupholdsallthingsbythewordofHispower.(Heb.1:2–3a)
WhileweseeChristthroughouttheScripture,evenintheOldTestament,thebookofHebrewspointedlypresentshimexaltedandsuperiortoallelse.AndelderdoeswelltoknowthisletterashemustnotforgetthegoalofoureternallifeistoknowJesusChrist.
Thisiseternallife,thattheymayknowYou,theonlytrueGod,andJesusChristwhomYouhavesent.(John17:3)
STEP1:READPrintouttheentirebookofHebrewsonregularpaper.• Punchthree-ringholesinthepages,andplacetheminathree-ringbinder.• Besuretohavemultiplecoloredhighlightersandpens.• Readandmeditatethroughtheentirebook.Getagoodfeelforit.• Highlightideasandversesthatgrabyourattention.• MarkupyournotesbyconnectingthoughtsandversesastheSpiritleadsyouinyourreading.• KeepthebinderalwaysonhandsothatyoucanreadHebrewsasoftenandasmanytimesaspossible.
IfyoupreferusingadigitalBible:• Useonethatallowsyoutohighlightandmakenotes.• Useonlyadevicethatgivesyouenoughnotespacetoworkwith(likeadesktoporlaptopcomputer).• Smartphonesaregenerallynotashelpfulforin-depthstudyoftheWordbecausetheydonotallowfor
extensivemarkupsandnotetaking.• UseagooddigitalBiblesoftwareapp.SomepopularoneswithgoodmarkupcapacityareLuminaBible23
Wordsearch24andLogos.25
PurposetoreadHebrewsdailyinitially.• Usedifferentcoloredhighlighters:redforfoundationaltheologicalterms;greenforemphasisonChrist;blue
forpromises.Useyellowforanyotherwordsorconceptsthatgrabyourattention.
STEP2:OUTLINEOutlinethebookasyouseeitonaseparatesheetofpaper.• Don'tusesomeoneelse'soutlineatthispoint.• Thinkofyourpreparationintermsofteachingthisbooktoanotherperson.• Theoutlineshouldfollowthebroadflowofthoughtoftheentirebook.Don’tfocusondetails.• Thepurposeofthisistounderstandthemainconceptsandtheirflow.• Forexample: Hebrews1:1–3–titleofthemainideaofthispassage Hebrews1:4–14–titleofthemainideaofthispassage• Grouppassagesintosections,givingatitletoeachsection.• Asyoustudy,youwillbeconstantlyrevisingtheoutlineasyoucometogreaterunderstandingofthebook.
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STEP3:STUDYUseasimplecommentaryandstudythebookagain.• YoumayusethestudynotesinMacArthur'sStudyBible.• SeeDr.ThomasConstable'sverysimpleNotesonHebrews.26
Notes• Studywithaccountability—havingamentororapeergroupisessentialtogoodlearning.Itwillsustainthe
disciplineoflearningandwillpreventyoufrompickinguperrorsinyourlearning.• Studywithdiscipline—haveaplan.Includetimeline,schedule,andmilestones.
STEP4:TEACH• Teachthebooktoyourmentor,guide,leader,orelder,ortoeachother.• Explaintotheoutlineandthoughtsonthepassagesundertheiroutlinepoints.
STEP5:DEFINITIONS• HavegoodunderstandingofthemajorthemesofHebrews.Forexample:
o SuperiorityofChristoverangels,Moses,Abraham,sacrificialsystem,priesthoodo Unique,one-time-onlysacrificeofChristo Believer’seternalsecurityo Warningpassages
STEP6:APPLICATIONAftertheheavytheologyofHebrews,spendsometimeonthepracticalapplicationofChrist’ssuperiorityovereverythingelse.
Answerquestionslike:• HowdoIapplythetruthsfromtheepistletotheHebrewstomydailyliving?• WhatcanIteachmyfamily?MysmallgroupBiblestudy?Mycongregation?
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APPENDIX 8: BIBLICAL ELDERSHIP STUDY
INTRODUCTIONAlexanderStrauch’sBiblicalEldership(textbook)andBiblicalEldershipStudyGuide(workbook)willprovidetheprimaryapproachtothestudyofGod’sWordonthissubject.Eachparticipantshouldhavehisowncopy.Whiletheworkbookisgearedtowardone-on-onementoring,youcanalsoadaptittogroupstudy.
Thisisanintensivestudyandshouldnotberushed.ThesequentialorderofthestudywillfollowthetwelvechaptersoftheStudyGuide(whicharekeyedtospecificreadingsinthetextbook).Thiscanbedoneatapaceofonechapterperweek(anaggressivepace)oronechaptereveryotherweek(whichwilltakeonehalf-yeartocomplete).
Thestudycanbedoneinagroupsetting(withadesignatedfacilitator)oroneonone.Thementorordesignatedfacilitatorwillleadthediscussion,selectingwhichquestionsandissuestofocusthediscussionon.WesuggestthediscussionleaderusetheBiblicalEldershipMentor’sGuide,whichisidenticaltothestudyguidebutprovidesanswerstoallthequestionsaswellashelpfulideasfordiscussion.
Eachparticipantshouldhavehisowntextbookandworkbook.
MEETINGFORMAT• Ninetyminutesinlength
• Fifteenminutesofprayer
Wesuggestprayingonyourknees.Thisteachesthementheimportanceofhumbleprayer.Thelengthoftimedependsonthenumberofmeninvolved.
Prayforeachother,God’sworkineachother’sindividuallives,personalneeds,andconcernsofthechurch.
Inordertousethistimeeffectively,werecommendnotspendingmuchtimerequestingprayer(oratleastkeeprequeststoaminimum)—simplystartpraying.Theburdensforprayerwillsurfaceasthemenpray.
• Fiveminutesofmemoryversereview
Memorizingscripturenotonlybenefits“shepherds”whoneedtobe“apt”toteach,butalsosetsagoodpatternoflifeandanexampleforthecongregation.
• Sixty-fiveminutesofreview/interaction
EachmeetingwillinvolvediscussingonechapterintheBEworkbook.Thefacilitator’sroleistoguidethegroupthroughthequestionsandencourageinteractionasthegroupmemberssharetheiranswers,insights,andclarifications.Onemethodtoencourageparticipationistogoaroundthecircleandaskeachmaninturntoreadaquestionandgivetheanswerhehaswrittendown.Thenaskifanyonehasanythingtoaddtothefirstman’sanswer.Itisimportantthateachmangetusedtoverballyparticipating.Attimesthefacilitatormayneedtohelpthemennavigatedisagreements—thatisOK.Goodmensometimesdisagree,anditisgrowingexperienceformentolearnhowtodisagreewell,inagodlyway.
Thegroupwillprobablynothavetimetodiscusseveryquestionintheworkbook,sothefacilitatorneedstobeselective,givingattentiontothoseissuesforwhichthisgroupofmenrequiresextratimefordiscussion.
Finishwithafive-minutepreviewofthenextchapterintheworkbook.Thencloseinprayer.
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HOMEWORKTheassignedreadinginthe“textbook”shouldbedonefirst.Thiscanbefoundatthebeginningofeachchapterinthestudyguide.(Thearrangementofthetextbookisdifferentfromthatofthestudyguide,soyourselectedreadingswillattimesbescatteredthroughoutthetextbook.)
Eachmanshouldcompletethequestionsinthestudyguidechapteronhisown,inwriting,beforethenextsession.Werecommendtheynotleavethistothenightbefore,butbeginearlyintheintervalbetweensessions.Thishasthefollowingbenefits:
• Byworkingonthematerialaheadoftime,theindividualsinthegroupwillhavehadadequatetimetoponderthequestionsdeeply.
• Apenorpencilisamarvelous“mentalcrowbar”thatforcespeopletothink!Itisanantidotetolazystudyhabits.
• Thedisciplineofwritingdowntheanswerswillencouragementosummarizeandcrystalizetheirthoughtsconcretely.Eldersneedtobeabletothinkthingsthroughandthentocommunicatetheirfindingsconcretely.Sothishomeworkisanexerciseindevelopingclearthinking.
• Timewillnotbewastedduringthemonthlymeetingswhilementryto“figureout”orremembertheiranswers.Theywillalreadyhavewrestledwiththeissues,andthewrittenanswerswillrefreshtheirmemories.
• Observing(evenatadistance)theirworkbooksduringthediscussiontimeswillhelpyoudeterminewhoistakingthistrainingseriously,bywhethertheyhavedonethework.
• Seeingothermen’sanswerswrittenoutwillencourageacamaraderieandsenseofaccountabilityforeachofthemen.
• Wecannotstressenoughtheimportanceofthehomework—thisiscoretothelearningprocess.
• Themeetingsserveasaccountabilityandframeworkforprogressingthroughthematerialandgiveopportunitytolearnfromoneanotherandfromthewisdomandexperienceofthefacilitators.Butthebulkofthelearningcomesfromtheindividual’spersonalwrestlingwiththematerial.
• Thispartoftheshepherdtrainingismostlycognitive.Godcanusethismaterial,however,asaspiritualtooltobringaboutnotonlymuchself-inspection,butalsoachallengetogodlymanhoodtowhichspiritually-mindedmenwillaspire.
Thefirstsession:
• Thefirstsessionisreallyapre-sessionanddoesnotcounttowardthetwelvesessions.Thiswillserveasanintroductiontothestudy.
• Beginwithprayerasdescribedabove.
• Thefacilitatorshouldaskaninitialquestion,like“Whatdoyouhopetogetoutofthisstudy?”
• Handoutthebooksandgiveanoverviewofthetopicsofthestudy.
• Gothroughthefirstpartofthelessoninthestudyguidetogether.Obviously,theparticipantswillnothavereadtheassignedpagesinthetextbook,butthepurposehereistosimplygetthemintothestudyitself.Readeachquestionandhavethemtakeamomenttowritetheiranswerinthestudyguide.Thendiscusstheiranswers.Doafewquestionssotheycangetthefeelforwhatisinvolvedandexpected.Emphasizethattheywritetheiranswers.Theywillcompletetherestofthelessonontheirownbeforethenextsession.
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APPENDIX 9: ELDER TRAINING ROTATIONS Ministryarea Specificareas Tasks Mentor
PersonalLife
Leading
Teaching
Protecting
ElderRelationships
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APPENDIX 10: CONGREGATIONAL FEEDBACK LETTER
Tothebodyofbelieversat[Churchname]:
Thankyoufortakingthetimetofilloutthisevaluationformfor___________________.YourfeedbackandinputinthisprocesswillbeimmeasurablyhelpfulasweseektorecognizetheLord’swillinconsideringhimasanelder.Hereareafewthingstokeepinmindaboutthisprocess:
• Thisprocessgivesthebodyachancetosupplyfeedbacktotheeldersafterhavingobservedthecandidateserveonaprovisionalbasis.
• Ifyoureturnahardcopy,pleaseplacetheformsinasealedenvelopemarked“Confidential”andgivethemtothechurchofficeoranelder.
• Anelectronicevaluationformwillbesenttothebody.Emailelectroniccopiesto____________________________.
• Theduedateisinthreeweeks—____________________.• Husbandsandwivesmaysubmitajointevaluation,thoughanevaluationfromeachisappreciated.• Pleasegivefrankandhonestfeedback.TheLordhasusedlovinglycandid(negative)feedbacktosharpen
amanandmakehimabetterleader.Pleasetrusttheprocess.• Thereisa“donotdisclosetothecandidate”optionattheendoftheevaluationform.Ifyouselectthat
option,youwillbeaskedtovisitwiththeelderstotalkaboutyourreservations.Thisisunusual,butithashappened.
• Besuretosigntheevaluation,asunsignedformsarenotconsidered.
Theeldersof__________________
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43www.BiblicalEldership.com ElderTrainingProgram-
APPENDIX 11: CONGREGATION FEEDBACK FORM
Congregationalmember’sname:_____________________Eldercandidate:____________________________
Thisformisanaidinevaluatingthecandidatefortheofficeofelderandshouldbeconsideredanopportunitytocommunicatewiththeeldersaswellasanopportunityforthepotentialelder’sgrowth.Innowayshouldthisformbeasubstituteforsharingconcernsyoumayhavewiththecandidatefacetoface,sincethesewillbecollected,read,andinturnpassedontohimforhisreview.InthespiritofMatthew18,Ephesians4:25,andotherpassages,webelievethathonestevaluationlovinglycommunicatedistheresponsibilityweallshareforandwitheachotherinthebodyofChrist.Seethe“SpiritualMaturity:BasedontheElders’Qualifications”workbookfordefinitions.
CHARACTERQUALIFICATIONS(Foreachcharacteristicbelow,indicatewhetheryoufeelthecandidateisqualified).1-Yesqualified,3-Don’tknow,5-Notqualified.Ifyougivearatingofa5,pleasestateyourreasonswhybelowortalkwithanelderaboutyourconcern.
Characteristic YourResponse
Desire
Spirit-Motivated
GodlyDesire
EagertoServe
NotReluctant
Integrity
AboveReproach
GoodReputation
Respectable
Devout
Upright
Word
FaithfultotheWord
AbletoTeach
ExhortSoundDoctrine
RefuteError
Characteristic YourResponse
Family
One-WomanMan
ChildrenBehaved
ManagesHousehold
Personal
LoverofGood
Prudent/Sensible
Self-Controlled
Temperate
NotaNewConvert
NotaDrunkard
NotGreedy
LoverofGood
Relational
Hospitable
Gentle
NotLording
NotQuarrelsome
NotQuick-Tempered
NotSelf-Willed
NotViolent
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LEADERSHIPANDSHEPHERDINGABILITYListedbelowaresomeoftheprinciplesofbiblicalleadership.Circleyourratingbelow.
1-Superior Hasshownanoutstandinggiftinthisfunctionofleadership.
2-Aboveaverage Hasshownanabilitysomewhatorsometimesaboveaverageforthisareaofleadership.
3-Satisfactory Meetsthebiblicalstandardssetforthforservice.
4-Needsimprovement Needstogrowinthisareaofministry.
5-Unsatisfactory HisabilityinthisparticularaspectofleadershipissubstantiallybelowthatexpectedintheNewTestament.
Aratingof1or2meansthatthecandidatemeetstheScripturalstandardexpectedofanelder.Mostcandidateswillfallinthecategory2,whichindicatesthattheydohavequalificationstofunctionasanelder.Ifyourratingiseithera3,4,or5,pleasestateyourspecificreasoninthespaceprovidedbeloworontheback.Ifyoudonotfeelyouhaveenoughexperienceoforobservationofthecandidateforanygivencharacteristic,thenleavetheresponsespaceblank.
Characteristic YourResponse
LEADERSHIPABILITIES
Leadershipbyservice:"...butlethimwhoisthegreatestamongyoubecomeastheyoungest,andtheleaderastheservant"(Luke22:26)
Wisdom:“…fullofwisdom"(Acts6:3)
Provenreliability:"...andletthesefirstbetested"(1Tim.3:10)
Administrativeability:"...whomwemayputinchargeofthistask"(Acts6:3)
SHEPHERDINGABILITIES
Knowingtheflock:Inordertofunctionasashepherd,hemustknowtheneeds,hopes,fears,ofthesheep(John10:14,Heb.13:17).
Abilitytobeknownbytheflock:Onemustbeknownbytheflockaswellasknowtheflock,ifheistoleadbyexample(John10:3,4,14;thepassagesinwhichPaulexhortshisreaderstofollowhisexample:1Cor.11:1,Phil.3:17,1Thess.1:6,etc.;Heb.13:7;1Peter5:3).
Abilitytoleadtheflock:Aneldermustbealeader(John10:3,4;Acts20:28;Heb.13:7;1Peter5:1ff).
Abilitytodisciplineandcorrect:Aneldershouldexhibittheabilitytodealwitherrorindoctrineorpractice(Acts15:2ff;20:28f;Titus1:9,10).
Abilitytocounselandgiveadvice:FromthelifeofPaulandbyinferencefromtheNewTestament,ashepherdshouldbeabletogivespiritualcounsel(Acts21:17ff).
AbilitytoteachtheScriptures:Thisdoesnotdemandthegiftofstimulatingcommunicationoftruth,buttheabilitytoturntotheScripturesanddealwithdoctrinalandpracticalconcerns,atleastonaone-to-onebasis(1Tim.3:2;5:17,Titus1:9).
Abilityanddesiretovisitthesick(James5:14)
YOUROBSERVATIONS
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UsuallyapotentialleaderwillalreadybeservingthebodyofChristusinghisspiritualgift(s).
What,inyouropinion,is/arehisspiritualgift(s)?
Givespecificexamplesofministrythatyouhaveobserved.
Arethereotherfactorsofwhichyoufeelweshouldbeaware?
Itismosthelpfulifyouprovidethepersonalinsightscalledforonthispageaftercompletingthechecklists.Useextrapage,ifrequired.
OVERALLASSESSMENTOFTHECANDIDATEInlightofbiblicalprinciplesandmyobservationsofthecandidate’scharacterqualifications,leadershipabilities,andshepherdingabilities,Ibelievethathecouldserveasanelder.(Pleasecheckone.)
AbsolutelyConfident
Convinced
Neutral
Doubtful
StronglyOpposed
PLEASESIGNTHISFORM(UNSIGNEDEVALUATIONSWILLNOTBECONSIDERED).
Weinvitehusbandandwifetofilloutseparateforms.Iftheychoosetocompletetheevaluationtogether,boththehusbandandwifeshouldsigntheform.
I(we)prefertokeeptheaforesaidinformationconfidentialfromthecandidateandagreetodiscussmy(our)concernswiththeelders.
PRINTYOURNAMEHERE:______________________________
SIGNYOURNAMEHERE:_______________________________________________
(date)
Pleasereturnby__________________tothechurchofficeinanenvelopemarked“Confidential”
orreturnelectronicallyto__________________
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ENDNOTES 1www.bible.org/seriespage/6-spiritual-gifts-1-corinthians-121-112www.elmertowns.com/?page_id=53www.biblicaleldership.com/bible-reading.Seealso,D.A.Carson“PrayingwithPaul”(BakerPublishing).4www.biblicaleldership.com/prayer-05www.biblicaleldership.com/protecting-false-teachers:///6www.biblicaleldership.com/call-study7www.biblicaleldership.com/passages-every-elder-must-know8www.blogs.thegospelcoalition.org/kevindeyoung/2014/05/15/100-bible-knowledge-questions9www.biblicaltraining.org10www.bible.org11Someofthismaterialwasusedearlierinthiseldertrainingprograminthesectionon“PersonalLifePreparation.”12www.BiblicalEldership.com/effectiveness13www.discprofile.com/what-is-disc/overview/14www.biblicaleldership.com/decision-making15www.biblicaleldership.com/handling-conflict-016TakenCBMCLifestyleEvangelismWookbook(www.cbmc.com)17www.biblicaleldership.com/what-biblical-eldership-018www.Lumina.Bible.org.ThisBibleappisfree,formerlyNetBible.org.
19www.WordSearchBible.com.Areasonablypricedappwithverygoodcapabilities.20www.Logos.com.Averyexpensivesoftwareapp,butwithvariouscomprehensivelibrariesofresources.21www.soniclight.com/constable/notes/pdf/romans.pdf22www.carm.org23www.Lumina.Bible.org.ThisBibleappisfree,formerlyNetBible.org.
24www.WordSearchBible.com.Areasonablypricedappwithverygoodcapabilities.25www.Logos.com.Averyexpensivesoftwareapp,butwithvariouscomprehensivelibrariesofresources.26www.soniclight.com/constable/notes/pdf/hebrews.pdf