Book Review: Finding Faithful Elders and Deacons

By Thabiti M. Anyabwile
Published by Crossway
Copyright 2012

Its been some time since I've put up a book review. I'd like to tell you its because I've just been too busy to write about all the books I've been reading, but that is not the case. Because of our recent transition from Presque Isle to Belgrade, I've had to put much of my reading on the shelf. In the last couple of weeks I've been working hard at getting into a good routine for just about everything, including reading. So this is the first book I've finished since our move to Belgrade.

I'm working on reading all the 9marks books that have been put out. I got them all for a song from an email promotion I received, so they will probably be the bulk of the books I read for a while. This book is the newest in the 9marks series. For those of you who are not familiar with 9marks, I suggest you take some time and visit their website: www.9marks.org. They have helpful articles for pastors and parishioners alike and are seeking to strengthen the church through their ministry.

This book, written by Pastor Thabiti Anyabwile, is a tremendous help in thinking through the biblical qualifications that we are given in the pastoral epistles regarding elders and deacons. Essentially, Thabiti takes each qualification and writes a short, thought-provoking chapter on each.

I like the style. I think it is easy to read and understand. It causes you to think beyond what is written here by asking some penetrating questions. It makes you evaluate your own church situation. At the same time, this book does not cover any one qualification exhaustively. I think that it is intended that way. The point is to spur you on towards more study and more thought.

I found the major weakness in this book to be that there is not much space devoted to discussing how the qualifications for elders and deacons interconnect. For example, the book does not discuss how being a one woman man and rules his own house well tie in together. Another case of this is the correlation between hospitable and not greedy for money. Again, I realize the book is not intended to be exhaustive, but it seems that at least some time should be given to discussing these things.

Overall, a good book. It is not too in-depth for even the newest of Christians, and it will serve as a valuable tool for any church in search of qualified elders and deacons.

Book Review: Loving the Church - God's People Flourishing in God's Family

By John Crotts

Shepherd’s Press, 135 pages

This little book surprised me. I mean it really, pleasantly surprised me. I expected this to be a book for pastors about how to care and nourish God’s flock, but it ended up being a book about what it means for each member of the Body of Christ to commit to and care about their own local church.

Crotts packs a lot of information in this little book. He also fits all the information nicely into a small fictional narrative that serves as a skeleton for the book. Crotts gives compelling examples from Scripture as to why each believer should be a member of a local church and actively serve and commit to that church.

I like Crotts’ approach in this book because he gently yet firmly confronts our false ideas about what church is. He shows that the Scriptures stand in direct opposition to our American mindset of ‘go-it-alone’ in the Christian life. And he encourages each one of us to face what Scripture says and align ourselves with Scripture, not Scripture with ourselves.

This book pairs well with ‘The Deliberate Church’ by Dever and ‘Stop Dating the Church’ by Harris. I was pleasantly surprised to find this gem of a book. I’m convinced that each church member ought to read this book and seriously evaluate whether or not they are sinning by neglecting a local body of believers.

Bad Shepherds Beware!

'"Woe to the shepherds who destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture!" declares the LORD.' -Jeremiah 23:1

Shepherding God's flock is a privilege. If God has put you in a position of shepherding, He has trusted immense responsibility to you. Think about it, you are to watch out for people's souls (Hebrews 13:17). As a shepherd, you are to lead the flock by example (1 Peter 5:3-4), feed the flock (John 21:17), and oversee the flock as a servant leader. This is a monumental undertaking. 

God takes it very seriously when His shepherds fail to care for the flock that God has entrusted them with. He says here in Jeremiah, "Woe to the shepherds who destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture!" Ouch. Apparently, some of the leaders of Israel had failed tremendously in their shepherding responsibility. Instead of nurturing and caring for the people, they had destroyed and scattered the people. Israel was in rough shape, and God places the blame upon the shepherds.

This should serve as a warning to us pastors to shepherd God's flock with all love and care. We must seek to build people up and unite the 'sheep' around the Gospel of Christ. May we be faithful to God's call and lead the flock with a humble, loving, Christlike example.

Titus 3: Effective Church Evangelism

Effective Evangelism Requires:

1.       A Grace-filled Testimony – v. 1-3

In context, Paul is instructing Titus in what to say to those who despise Titus when he speaks, exhorts, and rebukes with all authority. The content of what Paul instructs Titus is exactly what is needed in effective evangelism. These despisers ought to have been subject to rulers and authorities, to obey. They ought to have been ready for every good work. They ought to speak evil to no one, to be peaceable, gentle, showing all humility to all men. In essence, Paul says that they ought to be displaying the fruit of the Spirit not the works of the flesh.

Paul doesn’t stop there. He reminds Titus that we, ourselves, were also once foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving various lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful and hating one another. Paul reminds Titus that he and Titus both used to be exactly what these despisers are. Paul subtly reminds Titus that it is only by grace that he is what he is.

A believer with a grace-filled testimony will be able to demonstrate from his life the radical change that takes place when he trusted Christ. He will be able to show that God’s grace has completely transformed his thoughts, words, and actions. He will be able to demonstrate the fruit of the Spirit rather than the works of the flesh.

Grace-filled testimonies are needed in the church today. I believe that a works-based salvation has crept into the church unawares. You know when we see it the most? We see it when something bad happens to someone in the church. Let’s say that it was you. Let’s say that you lost someone you love. Your response to God will show what you really believe about Him. A works-based salvation responds like this: “I was good (I went to church, sang songs, tithed, helped at VBS)…and this is how You repay me?!” A grace-based salvation will display itself through realizing that God is still in control. Yes, both will still wrestle with emotions, but a grace-based salvation will still acknowledge God as being in control.

The world needs to hear grace-filled testimonies. They need to hear the radical change that God has brought to your life. They need to hear that you didn’t deserve God’s salvation. They need to see that they don’t deserve it either.

2.       A Grace-filled Gospel – v. 4-8

Grace-filled testimonies are not enough. The lost need to hear a grace-filled Gospel. Look at the text: Kindness, the love of God our Savior, not by works of righteousness, His mercy, He saved us, through the washing of regeneration, through renewing of the Holy Spirit, Holy Spirit was poured out on us through Jesus Christ our Savior, justified by His grace, we become heirs, hope, eternal life, this is a faithful saying, affirm constantly, those who believed…maintain good works, good, profitable. What an amazing string of verses! You could preach for years on those four verses! There is enough doctrine in those short sentences to fill volumes!

A grace-filled gospel reaches the lost. “For by grace are you saved through faith.” This is the heart of effective evangelism. If there was one aspect that could stand alone, this would be it. Think about it, you can’t merely have a good testimony and a nice church to reach people. That pretty much sums up all the Christians in American churches. Nice church and a good testimony. How much effective evangelism is really taking place as a result of those two things?

3.       A Grace-filled Church – v. 9-15

A grace-filled church is effective in evangelism. They have a good testimony with the outside because they avoid foolish contentions and divisive people. They realize that such things are unprofitable. In fact, a grace-filled church rejects the men that are divisive. A grace-filled church rejects sin. A grace-filled church maintains good works and meets urgent needs. A grace-filled church is filled with love for those in the faith.

In order for church evangelism to be effective, a church must have grace. Grace between believers and grace towards unbelievers. This is the bare minimum requirement of effective church evangelism. We can at least show that we can treat one another with God’s love. We can at least set aside our difference between each other for the sake of God’s grace. We can at least work together for the sake of the gospel.

Effective church evangelism needs grace-filled testimonies, a grace-filled gospel, and grace-filled churches. 

Titus 2: Effective Church Discipleship

Effective Church Discipleship:

     1.       Has godly examples to follow – v. 2-3

Paul gives Titus a description of how older men and older women in the church ought to be. When a church has examples like this to follow, discipleship is more effective. Those being discipled will have people to look to for demonstration of biblical principles. Tangible, real life examples make learning sound doctrine easier. It is an encouragement to 1) look for godly examples to follow and 2) become a godly example for someone else.

     2.       Older teaching younger – v. 4-6

This is the biblical pattern. There is no substitute in discipleship for experience. A young person may have a lot of head knowledge about the Bible, but the element of experiential daily with God that comes from years of spiritual journey is irreplaceable to effective discipleship.

     3.       Covers all areas of life – v. 7-10

Paul instructs Titus on what areas of life to disciple in: ALL. There isn’t an area left out here. Any discipleship that focuses on an area of life at the exclusion of others is incomplete. For example, you may be able to teach a vast knowledge of biblical doctrines, but if taught without an explanation of how to live these doctrines, you have failed in your discipleship. Cover all areas as Paul has instructed.

a.      Doctrine

b.      Good Works

c.       Integrity

d.      Reverence

e.      Incorruptibility

f.       Sound speech

g.      Work Ethic

     4.       Is Gospel-centered – v. 11-14

The complete salvation process is described here. Past justification, present sanctification, and future glorification are all described here. Often times a person might have made a profession of faith without fully understanding the gospel. Effective, gospel-centered discipleship will reveal this and provide opportunity to trust the Lord.

     5.       Is Evangelism-focused – v. 15

Paul commands Titus to speak these things. The goal of discipleship is evangelism. And the goal of evangelism is discipleship. It is an on-going cycle in the church. Effective discipleship leads to more evangelism. The goal of Christianity is to ‘get the word out.’ Discipleship strengthens the number of effective evangelists the church has.

Titus 1: Effective Church Leadership

     1.        Effective Church Leaders are Essential – 1:5 - "For this reason I left you in Crete, that you should set in order the things that are lacking, and appoint elders in every city as I commanded you"

Paul instructs Titus that he was left in Crete specifically to ‘set in order the things that are lacking.’ This included appointing elders in every city. It is interesting that Paul uses two different words for ‘elder’ in this passage. In v. 5, he uses the greek word presbuteros, and in v. 7 he uses the word episkopos. The first has to do with being older or more mature, and the second has to do with oversight, though Thayer’s Greek Definitions tells us that the words are used interchangeably in the NT. Elders are essential to the health of a church. They bring stability, vision, and necessary correction in times of error. “Elders in the NT sense are mature Christian men of sterling character who provide spiritual leadership in a local assembly.” Believers' Bible Commentary. Paul also gave detailed instruction to Timothy describing what an elder was to be like (1 Timothy 3:1-7). Peter talked about elders shepherding the flock of God (1 Peter 5:1-4). Indeed A church without elders is a church without leadership. A church without elders is a flock of sheep left in the wilderness. Christ is the head of the church, and He has given elders the task of being his ‘under-shepherds’.

     2.       Effective Church Leaders are Eligible –  1:6-9 - "if a man is..."

Not only are elders essential, they are also eligible (not in the un-married sense, of course). It is of utmost importance that a church appoints elders who are biblically qualified. Two times we are given specific instruction as to the character of an elder, and a number of times we are given the tasks that the elder is to do as an under-shepherd of the Lord. Look at the qualifications: blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children, a steward of God, not self-willed, not quick tempered, not given to wine, not violent, not greedy for money, hospitable, a lover of what is good, sober-minded, just, holy, self-controlled, holding fast the faithful word, the he may be able, by sound doctrine, both to exhort and convict those who contradict. These are qualifications that describe Christ-likeness. It is important to note that no man but Christ is perfect in these qualities. God is looking for men that display these qualities as the pattern of their life. It is also important to note that these qualities are what we should expect of all believers. It is the natural outflow of good discipleship, and a Spirit-filled Christian walk.

Where do eligible elders come from? Are they traveling around filling in gaps as needed, or are they developed through effective discipleship over time?

     3.       Effective Church Leaders are Educators – 1:10-2:1 - "rebuke them sharply...speak the things which are proper for sound doctrine:"

The situation in Crete isn’t described as a very good one. The area was full of ‘insubordinate, idle-talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision’—the Jews. This isn't the sort of place that you would want to be in as a young minister. However, Titus and the elders, were to rebuke these idle talkers sharply, that they may be sound in the faith. And they were to speak the things which are proper for sound doctrine. Effective Church leaders must be able to educate people in sound doctrine. Let me say this—most of the learning that you do does not come from a classroom, therefore, most of the educating that a church leader does will not come from behind a pulpit. Even Peter points this out in 1 Peter 5:2-3 – “Shepherd the flock of God…by being examples to the flock.” Elders need to be examples to follow in every aspect of life, especially in sound doctrine.

Do you have any thoughts on "Effective Church Leadership?"