Category Archives: Advice to a New Elder

For a while now, there’s been in the back of my mind a feeling that I’d overlooked something really important in this series. Finally, it occurred to me that I’d not directly addressed evangelism. And there’s a reason. I’m not … Continue reading →

In response to yesterday’s post, reader John asks, What’s up with the failure of multiplying groups? Isn’t the point to keep them small so folks can keep up with each other (or isn’t that what the literature says)? I’m totally … Continue reading →

Churches of Christ, on the whole, have been slow to adopt small groups, although many have done so. The objections go along these lines: The best time to meet is Sunday night, but we can’t give up Sunday night church. … Continue reading →

I once attended a class taught to a group of 50 or so elders from across the Southeast. It was an open-forum kind of class, and the teacher asked what we’d like to talk about. One elder mentioned “Deacons!” — … Continue reading →

You’re a married man. Married to your first and only wife. Therefore, at home, you’ve mastered the fine art of apologizing. (Don’t even try to deny it.) Husbands who’ve managed to stay married to the same woman for 20 or … Continue reading →

Some years ago, when I was first ordained as an elder, the elders asked me to read, sign, and keep a copy of this document. The years have proven the wisdom of asking new elders to do this. The Bible … Continue reading →

[This was presented to our congregation a few years ago by one of our elders. I’ve edited the text slightly to eliminate references that would make no sense to those not familiar with our ministers and ministries. This is kind of … Continue reading →

I think one of the biggest shortcomings of all churches with more than one minister is the silo-effect. QUESTION 5: WHAT IS MOST IMPORTANT, RIGHT NOW? More than any of the other questions, answering this one will have the most … Continue reading →

We need to deal with a couple of false doctrines. False doctrine 1: We shouldn’t hire preachers. There is no authority to hire them. Preachers are bad. That’s just wrong both doctrinally and practically. There was once a considerable branch … Continue reading →

[Reposted from 2012] A reader asks, Have you written on the issue of elder-led vs. the lead pastor model?  At work, I’m a big believer in the sole leader — follow or get out of the way — model.  I’m not sure that’s … Continue reading →