Category Archives: Elders

I want to share a few notes that didn’t make it into the earlier posts. “Sick” in the Jewish mind In Ezekiel 34, God says to Israel — (Eze 34:4 NET) You have not strengthened the weak, healed the sick, … Continue reading →

We need to turn to Ezekiel 34, which lies behind most of the “shepherd” passages in the New Testament (along with, of course, Psalm 23) It’s not easily applied directly to church elders, because Ezekiel is speaking of a nation, … Continue reading →

We need to continue with Jesus’ teaching in John 10 — (John 10:11-13 ESV)  11 “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.  12 He who is a hired hand and not a … Continue reading →

Now, obviously, the scriptures don’t require all elders to have doctorates in theology, but clearly they are required to know the gospel well enough to teach its basics to the members. (Tit 1:9 ESV) 9 He must hold firm to the … Continue reading →

There are, of course, many other passages that speak to the role of elders/overseers/shepherds. I want to focus here on the “shepherd” passages, but I want to approach them from a somewhat unconventional direction. We begin with — (Deu 8:2-3 … Continue reading →

We Americans are free-enterprise, consumers deep in our bones. Therefore, we drink deeply from the well of retail. “The customer is always right.” “Satisfaction guaranteed or your money back.” “Thirty days free trial!” We sell Christianity by trying to make … Continue reading →