Biblical Eldership: An Urgent Call to Restore Biblical Church Leadership

340 Pages·2003·27.9 MB·English

by  Alexander Strauch

‘ ; ANURGENT CALL
giTO RESTORE BIBLICAL '
CHURCH LEADERSHIP ‘
N9ALEXANDERSTRAUCH
, REVISED;
E AND EXPANDED

BIBLICAL
ELDERSHIP
ABOUT THEAUTHOR:
__ . __
Alexander Strauch and his wife, Marilyn, reside in Littleton,
Colorado, near their four adult daughters. Mr. Strauch is a
gifted Bible teacher and an elder at a church in Littleton
where he has served for over 40 years. Other works by Mr.
Strauch include:
A Study Guide to BiblicalElders/yip
Twelve Lessons for Mentoring Men for Eldership
A Mentor} Guide to BiblicalElders/Jip
The Leader’s Edition to the Biblical Eldership Study Guide
Meetings T/mt W/ork
A Guide to Effective Elders’ Meetings
The New PyramentDeacon: Minister ofMercy
The New PstamentDeacon Study Guide
Agape Leadership
(co—authored with Robert Peterson)
The Hospitality Commands
Men and \Vomen: Equal YetDijfirent
A BriefStudy ofthe Biblical Passages on Gender
Leading with Love
Leading with Love Study Guide
Love orDie: Christ’s W/ake—up Callto the Church
IfYou Bite (’7’Devour OneAnother:
BiblicalPrinciplesfor Handling Conflict
AN URGENT CALL
TO RESTORE BIBLICAL
CHURCH LEADERSHIP
ALEXANDER STRAUCH
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REVISE1)
AND EXI’ANI)EI)
LEWIS AND ROTH PUBLISHERS
BiblicalEldership
ISBN: 0-936083-11-5
© 1995 by AlexanderStrauch. All rights reserved
CoverDesign: StephenT. Eames (EamesCreative.c0m)
Editors: Stephen and Amanda Sorenson
All Scripture quotations.exceptthose notedotherwise, are taken from the NEW
AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE“,copyright 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1972, 1973,
1975, 1977, and 1995 byThe Lockman Foundation. Used by permission.
Scripture quotations marked (va) are taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW
INTERNATIONAL VERSION“. NIV". Copyright 1973. 1978, 1984by International
Bible Society. Used by permissionofZondervan Publishing House. All rights reserved.
ScripturesquotedfromThe Holy Bible, NewCentury Version,copyright 1987. 1988,
1991 by Word Publishing, Dallas,Texas 75039. Usedby permission.
Printed in the United StatesofAmerica
Twenty-fifth Printing/ 2015
Library ofCongressCataloging-in-Publication Data
Strauch. Alexander. 1944-
Biblical eldership: an urgentcall torestore biblical church
leadership/AlexanderStrauch. —- 3rded.
p. cm.
Includes bibliographical referencesand index.
ISBN0-936083-11-5
l. Elders (Church0fficers)——Biblical teaching. 2. Christian
leadership--Biblical teaching. 3. Bible--Criticism, interpretation.
etc. I. Title.
BS680. L4S77 1995 94-42210
262’.15—-dc20 CIP

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Table of Contents
Acknowledgments
Abbreviations
Why This Book Is Needed
PART ONE—BIBLICAL ELDERSHIP
Chapter 1 Pastoral Leadership 15
Chapter 2 Shared Leadership 35
Chapter 3 Male Leadership 51
Chapter4 Qualified Leadership 67
Chapter 5 Servant Leadership 85
PART TWO—DEFENSE OF BIBLICAL ELDERSHIP
Chapter6 Bible-Based Leadership Structure 101
PART THREE—THE EXPOSITION OF SCRIPTURE
Chapter 7 TheActs oftheApostles 121
Acts 11:30; 14:23; 15; 20:17-38; 21:17-26
Chapter 8 Paul’s Letters to the Churches 161
1 Thessalonians 5:12,13; Philippians 1:1
Chapter 9 Paul’s Instruction toTlmothy 181
1 Timothy3:1-7; 3:10; 4:14; 5:17-25
Chapter 10 Paul’s Instruction toTitus 225
fltus 1:5-9
Chapter 11 Peter’s Instruction to the Asian Elders 239
1 Peter5:1-5
Chapter 12 James’ Instruction to the Sick 253
James5:13-15
Chapter 13 Hebrews: ObeyYourLeaders 265
Hebrews 13:17
PART FOUR—RELATED TOPICS
Chapter 14 AppointmentofElders 277
Chapter 15 Elders and the Congregation 291
Notes 297
Scripture Index 325
AuthorIndex 333
General Index 335
Acknowledgments
IgratefullyacknowledgethehelpofmanydearChristian friendsin
writing this book. Special thanks is due to my editors, Stephen and
Amanda Sorenson, and proofreaders, Barbara Peek and Maggie K.
Crossett. Five special friends who have consistently encouraged me
inthis projectthrough the yearsare Doyle Roth, BarneyVisser, Craig
Van Schooneveld, David J. MacLeod, and Paul B. Sapp. Above all, I
thank my wife, Marilyn, whosepersonal sacrifice and supportcannot
be measured orduly praised.
Abbreviations
O

BOOKS OF THE BIBLE
1. OldTestament
Gen. Genesis 2Chron. 2Chronicles Dan. Daniel
Ex. Exodus Ezra Ezra Hos. Hosea
Lev. Leviticus Neh. Nehemiah Joel Joel
Num. Numbers Est. Esther Amos Amos
Deut. Deuteronomy Job Job Obad. Obadiah
Josh. Joshua Ps. (Pss.) Psalm(s) Jonah Jonah
Judg. Judges Prov. Proverbs Mic. Micah
Ruth Ruth Eccl. Ecclesiastes Nah. Nahum
1 Sam. 1 Samuel Song SongofSolomon Hab. Habakkuk
2Sam. 2Samuel Isa. Isaiah Zeph. Zephaniah
1 Kings 1 Kings Jer. Jeremiah Hag. Haggai
2Kings 2Kings Lam. Lamentations Zech. Zechariah
1 Chron. 1 Chronicles Ezek. Ezekiel Mal. Malachi
2. NewTestament
Matt. Matthew Phil. Philippians James James
Mark Mark Col. Colossians 1 Peter 1 Peter
Luke Luke 1 Thess. 1 Thessalonians 2Peter 2Peter
John John 2Thess. 2Thessalonians 1 John 1 John
Acts ActsoftheApostles 1 Tim. 1 Timothy 2John 2John
Rom. Romans 2Tim. 2Timothy 3John 3John
1 Cor. 1 Corinthians Titus Titus Jude Jude
2Cor. 2Corinthians Philem. Philemon Rev. TheRevelation
Gal. Galatians Heb. Hebrews toJohn
Eph. Ephesians (Apocalypse)