Customer Reviews

The Elder And His Work

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According to the introduction, Dickson wrote this book in the late 1800's as a guide for fellow elders in Scotland in their office. I don't know how much the original text was edited, but this book is very readable and in an engaging writing style. It's also very short, packing much information into each chapter. The author tends to wander from each chapter's subject a bit but is constantly providing very practical suggestions, so I actually didn't mind.

This edition combines his text with study questions at the end of each chapter to encourage application. While we used this book for officer training, the study questions are designed more for current elders to examine their work.

This book has been an excellent part of my officer training (note: for those interested, I am in a PCA church). It is very focused on practical advice on how to serve as an elder. A major portion of the book is given to advice related to personally visiting members of the congregation.

While Dickson was Presbyterian, his church had a somewhat different structure than the churches I have been in (in Dickson's time and place, elders were in charge of a geographic "district"). Even so, his advice is very applicable today and is readily adapted.

Besides the importance of visitation, two things struck me from this book. First, that the time required for an elder's "official" duties is actually fairly small (according to Dickson). Second, that an elder is always an elder, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. (He even takes time to discuss an elder's work while on vacation!) Those who aspire to eldership, aspire to a certain life in addition to an office.

I highly recommend this book to those in training for the office of elder and for those who are already elders. While I studied it individually, the study questions are very amenable to group discussion.

This is a great book for everyone in our churches, both men and women. This book is not an exposition of 1 Timothy 3:1-7 and Titus 1:5-10 on the "qualifications" of an elder, nor is it about the "position" of an elder. It is about his "work", it is about his "heart". Thus the title of the book.

This book shows that the elder's work is spiritual, more than we may first think. The elder's work is not in buildings or busses, etc. it is about people, shepherding people.

This book was written by an elder after many years of being an elder. Reading it is like talking to your grandfather and listening to his so called "war" stories about when he was an elder. It is a book about a man looking back and recalling all he did as an elder and then he puts it into logical order for us to read. He is basically saying, this is how it is done, this is what works, be sure to do this or that. I was curious myself on the work of an elder. I have been asked before to be an elder, but was not sure I was suited to the work of an elder. So that is one thing that prompted me to buy this book. This book would make a great course for the elders (or deacons) of a church. Pastors want this kind of elder in their churches.

Any church leader could benefit from reading this book. Elder's wives should read this book and see where they fit in.

This is quite simply an amazing book that will challenge any believer in the gospel of Yeshua (Jesus). The book is dated to be sure, and Dickson is certainly "old school."

But this was such a thrilling example of what elders in the service of Yeshua should be doing that I couldn't put it down. The book consists of 13 easy to read chapters that contain many gems of service to the flock of Messiah. There is no "deep theology" here, only a leading by example that James himself would make James proud. I found there were dozens of wonderful ideas about how to encourage God's people. Im not sure you can read this book and not see how God touched the life of David Dickson.

The text is actually a re-publish of David Dickson's classic work. The new editors have done a nice job of "translating" several customs that are not in practice anymore, as well as some Scottish "slang." This is needed because the book is pretty dated (for example, using "tokens" for communion). But the editor's real contribution is the study questions at the end of each chapter. They drip with the fruit of the Spirit. And they will make you think hard and deep about what it means to be an elder or a leader.

This book is easy to read and seems destined for a perfect application Bible study, a training course for elders, or general knowledge those who are called to leadership in the service of the Messiah. Highly edifying, the way ministry should be.

David Dickson has written a book that almost reads like you are walking along beside him as he cares for the souls under his care. This book was intended to train up new elders as they took on their role, or to correct elders that were not properly shepherding their flocks.

If you are a small group leader, lay-pastor, or someone in full time ministry, you can be helped by this experienced caretaker.

Pros:
Dickson doesn't use difficult language. He's clear about what your responsibilities are and how you should fulfill them

This book is full of practical advice, like how to greet a family when you go to visit, how you should interact with their children, what you should bring with you when you visit the sick, etc.

You experience a diversity of ministry opportunities through him, so you can be better equipped when you are faced with that situation.

Cons:
The book assumes a Presbyterian model, so if that is not your church model, then you'll have to adjust some of what he says, but none of that takes away from your ability to use the book.

Some of the examples are obviously dated, people nowadays don't typically visit families unexpectedly (not that we shouldn't!), so some examples will have to be "translated" into a modern context, but these are rare.

This is a fantastic short little book that will surely encourage and equip you to better care for the souls under your care.

Very helpful overview of the workings of an Elder. Some cultural insights/translations are needed but overall very much worthwhile for Elders and aspiring Elders to read.

Ryken rightly detects that 'In its presently weakened condition, the church is desperate for godly men who have the courage and wisdom to defend sound doctrine. People can know what it means to live under God's authority only if they have faithful and diligent leaders'.

In this great tradition, David Dickson endeared himself to more than only his generation. He knew, for good measure, that:

'If the elder is to discharge the duty laid upon him in Scripture - 'to reprove, rebuke and exhort' (2 Tim 4:2), to 'be able by sound doctrine to exhort and convince gainsayers' (Titus 1:9) - the Word of God must be the man of his counsel, his daily companion.' p 32 The man of God is satisfied with the Word of God.

Paul's instruction to Timothy would indicate that Timothy served as the appointee of overseers/elders/bishops/shepherds of Christ's flock in a first generation setting. These terms are used synonymously, and thereby imply equality and plurality, as practised by Presbyterian office-bearers, which provides for mutual sustenance. This is in opposition to the linear flow-chart of church governance as found in papal authority, causing ambition to play a role in church leadership.

According to Dickson, the primary responsibility of elders is two-fold. Hebrews 13:17 asks they give an account for the souls under their care, with Calvin serving the necessary precaution that those to whom honor and obedience must be rendered are those that are found faithful in their office, as elders who are only so by title, are so '...for the purpose of destroying the church, [and ] deserve but little reverence and still less confidence.' Commentary on Hebrews 13:17 A more private aspect is determined by Paul's words in Acts 20:28 in that they are to 'pay attention to yourselves', for as Calvin rightly commented, 'For that man will never be careful for the salvation of other men who will neglect his own.' Commentary on Acts 20:28 Dickson defended what many today feel to be the most important qualification of an elder, given the sudden increase in the demand for charisma: 'The usefulness of an elder will depend in the long run more on his character than on his gifts and knowledge.' p 34 The duty of spiritual care is made easier if the elder knows every member of the congregation, and is familiar with those in his particular district of visitation. 'An elder should visit all the people, rich as well as poor.' p 50 Dickson was especially attentive of children present and endeavoured always 'to catechize them a little', hoping that it would bear fruit 'in the case of those who reach years of understanding' as 'it has passed through the crucible of their own minds and souls'. 'It was the command of our Lord that the lambs should be fed as well as the sheep. This has been too lightly thought of, and a handle has thus been given to opponents of infant baptism.' p 66

A variety of ways of doing good is discussed by Dickson. He cautions that 'Cases occur of great delicacy and difficulty, and in dealing with them the elder must take care to give no occasion for his good being evil spoken of.' p 85 Dickson was mindful that Scripture sets the restoration and salvation of the offender as the primary effect desired of the ordinance of discipline (Gal 6). 'The second is maintaining the purity of the church and freeing it from scandal.' p 95 Ameliorating Matthew 18, he urged 'First speak to your brother alone, and deal with him faithfully and kindly'. Dickson gave a simplistic yet biblical summary that would serve as a beachhead for all future elders.