Building up believers and the New Testament church

Eldership

A Final Encouragement

My strong encouragement to all is to address this area of leadership with seriousness. Too often we just let things drift and do not move with purpose. We do not realize how much we are missing. God wants us to have His leadership in our midst and to benefit from it. If we are serious about the testimony of God and our growth (and I trust we all are), we need God's provision in recognized eldership. We dare not neglect this just because the problems seem too great. God will be with us and show us the way through. Let us consider the words of Peter again.

"The elders who are among you I exhort, I who am a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that will be revealed: 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; and when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that does not fade away" (I Peter 5:1-4).