Should You Seek to Become a Lay Elder?

Body

“But what about my aspiration to pastor? Was that something I’d have to give up on? No, far from it! In fact, in God’s kindness, the fits and starts of my journey made my pastoral aspirations even more clear. My aspiration was to be a lay elder.” - 9 Marks

Discussion

A Pastor Is an Elder Is a Bishop

Body

“I want to make a case from Scripture for why we should understand that these three terms refer to the same office. My argument moves along three steps.” - 9 Marks

Discussion

How to Diffuse Hostile Members Meetings

Body

“Unfortunately, many pastors know all too well, members meetings are not always joyful or unifying. Therefore, pastors may dread them, forecasting the hostility they are about to encounter from unhappy members.” - 9 Marks

Discussion

Church Staff Belong in Two Buckets: Elder-Qualified or Deacon-Qualified

Body

“There are business administrators, receptionists, directors of children’s ministry, youth pastors, ministers of music…. None of those titles are in the Bible. Doesn’t that mean we should give up the two-office game and go ahead and list as many offices as we need?” - 9 Marks

Discussion

5 Reasons Why Churches Are No Longer Training Leaders

Where are the pastors and missionaries for the next generation? Where are the leaders to be trained? The laborers have always been few (Luke 10:2). But why do they seem even fewer in the twenty-first century? Even more troubling, why are so many churches today no longer training leaders? Here are five possible reasons.

Discussion

The top reasons for church conflict (why fights start over trivial matters)

Body

“There was the time a church fought over the appropriate length of the pastor’s beard… We witnessed a conflict over people leading worship with their eyes closed during a portion of the song. One church held two business meetings to determine which weed-eater to purchase.” - CPost

Discussion

In Sanctification, Where You’re Going Is More Important Than Where You Are

Body

“It’s a little bit of a bummer to realize that later I’ll look back at the me I am now and be glad I’m not entirely the same me any longer. But [1 Tim 4.15] has mainly been an encouragement. It means I can be qualified to be an elder and set an example with my life without ‘having arrived.’ I can grow.” - Kevin DeYoung

Discussion