Great Elders Must Lead

Chapter 4 from How to Build a Great Church by Mac Layton

Great Leaders

• Leadership that is bold, courageous, and loving always draws out the best in others.

• Judges 5:2 “That the leaders took the lead in Israel, that the people offered themselves willingly, bless the Lord!”

• 1 Peter 5:1-5

Responsibilities of Elders

• Take heed unto yourselves – Acts 20:28• Tend the flock – 1 Peter 5:2• Exercise the oversight – 1 Peter 5:2• Feed the church – Acts 20:28• Rule well – 1 Timothy 5:17• Labor among the church and admonish

the church – 1 Thessalonians 5:12• Watch in behalf of the souls of the flock

– Hebrews 13:17

The Work of Leading

• “They are shepherds, good leaders who are ‘apt to teach’” – 1 Timothy 3:2

• “In fact, the reasons for all the qualifications of 1 Timothy 3 and Titus 1 are for the work they have to do, not simply qualifications for a position.”

A Great Leader

• In Christianity, the bigger the office, the bigger the service.

• Elders lead the church by being servants of the church.

• The real object is to mold and make men and women into the image of Christ.

• A great leader inspires confidence in the Lord and themselves as his servants.

A Great Leader Has…

• Conversion to Christ

• Character above reproach

• Conviction in the word of God

• Consecration to the Savior and his people

• Compassion for all

• Compulsion of heart that leads to energetic service

Exercise the Oversight

• If elders have the qualifications and good sense to lead the church as the Lord directed, we ought to let them do it.

• The “business meeting” should be abandoned in favor of the Lord’s way of government– It is not a method authorized in the N. T.– It has been used by the devil to promote

bickering and division– It is a waste of intelligence, energy and time

Good Communication

• Women are automatically eliminated from a business meeting

• Wise elders have found a better way to unify through meetings designed for communication and good contact with the church

• Tasks are delegated– It is not physically possible for elders to

do all the work– Yet, they are responsible (note Acts 11:30)

Elders’ Meetings

• “We could probably double the size of the church in a short time if all elders over our brotherhood would institute the rule that they would never spend more time in the weekly meeting than in visiting!”

Elders’ Meetings• Practical, proven ideas– Only hold meetings as needed– Rotate the chairmanship– The chairman is responsible for calling the

meeting and setting the agenda– The previous month’s chairman is responsible

for note taking, with all elders agreeing on the wording of decisions and each signing

– The majority of elders rules, each should submit to the majority

– All elders should be over all the work all the time

Preachers in Elders’ Meetings

• “The presence of the preacher lends a rich storehouse of training, experience, and knowledge of the Word of God that good elders treasure.”– The preacher, as the most visible and vocal

supporter of the work, needs to know the decisions and the why so he can see the degree of importance the elders place on it

– Elders and preachers are more effective when they have a united relationship

– Never should preachers receive accusations against elders, nor should elders get caught up in receiving charges against the preacher

Developing Leaders

• “One great obligation of good elders, ranking right up there at the top, is the obligation to perpetuate themselves.”

• “Good leadership is the crying need of every generation.”

• 2 Timothy 2:2

Soul Winning

• “In everything, but especially in the matter of outreach and evangelism, the elders must lead the way. If ever we are to fulfill the Great Commission of our Savior, elders must lead the way.”

• “When elders teach the lost, they show the way to the members. A vital part of shepherding is building every Christian into a soul winner.”

Avoiding the Pitfalls

• There is the pitfall of one man rule

• Over meeting – A good rule is, “If the job can be done by someone else, let him do it!”

• Failure to provide vision

• Failing to meet problems directly – Titus 1:10

• Failure to deal with bad elders

Avoiding the Pitfalls

• Failure to communicate, to express thanks

• Failure to involve members in planning

• Secrecy breeds suspicion and suspicion breeds disunity

• Swapping sheep

• Unsupportive or unruly mate – 1 Timothy 3:11

Upward Bound

• “Effective leaders know that people rise to their expectations.”

• “There is a level of maturity in Christ that Paul says must characterize every Christian (Eph. 4:15-16). There is a level of growth and sacrifice the Lord expects of His people. It is the prime work of elders to ever hold the expectation before the church!”