Biblical Eldership: An Urgent Call to Restore Biblical Church Leadership (Paperback)

~ (Author), Stephen Sorenson (Editor), Amanda Sorenson (Editor) "While attending a music concert, I received an insightful lesson in ecclesiology..." (more)
Key Phrases: prospective elder, biblical eldership, eldership team, New Testament, Jesus Christ, Holy Spirit (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review

"A very useful resource for teaching...truth regarding elders in the local church. Sound, clear, and extremely important. Recommended." -- Reformation & Revival Journal

Product Description

With over 150,000 copies sold, this comprehensive look at the role and function of elders brings all the advantages of shared leadership into focus. Beginning with the four broad categories of eldership (leading, feeding, caring, and protecting), Biblical Eldership explores the essential work of elders, their qualifications (including why qualifications are necessary), their relationships with each other, and each of the biblical passages related to eldership. Written for those seeking a clear understanding of the mandate for biblical eldership, this full-length, expository book defines it accurately, practically, and according to Scripture.

"Mr. Strauch has made a fine contribution to the subject of eldership. I am confident that it will be helpful to many." — John MacArthur, Jr., Pastor-Teacher, Grace Community Church, Sun Valley, CA

"At last, a thorough biblical study on the basis of church government and especially the function and ministry of elders! New churches will find it a valuable guideline to effective functioning and older churches will find it a trustworthy corrective." — Ray Stedman, former pastor and elder, Peninsula Bible Church, Palo Alto, CA

"An excellent text for the study of eldership by young and older men interested in the work of an elder. Strauch is a man of gift and experience, and I am grateful for his work." — S. Lewis Johnson, Professor Emeritus of New Testament Studies, Dallas Theological Seminary

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Product Details

• Paperback: 337 pages
• Publisher: Lewis and Roth Publishers; Rev Exp edition (June 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0936083115
• ISBN-13: 978-0936083117
• Product Dimensions: 8.7 x 5.8 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (29 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #27,507 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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  #30 in	Books > Religion & Spirituality > Christianity > Christian Living > Leadership
  #32 in	Books > Religion & Spirituality > Christianity > Ministry & Church Leadership > Church Institutions & Organizations
  #43 in	Books > Religion & Spirituality > Christianity > Ministry & Church Leadership > Church Administration

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

28 of 29 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The best study of New-Testament leadership!, October 4, 1999

By	Praisemaker (Out West) - See all my reviews

I'll make this short: Biblical Eldership is thorough, readable, and authoritative. It covers every New Testatment text dealing with church leadership. The intitial reading won't take long, but you'll want to go back through again to absorb all the powerful ideas presented here. It challenges the current 'one-man-band' idea of leadership, and calls for a return to leadership by a group of elders. Buy it!! You won't be sorry.

20 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Topples Traditional Thinking on Pastor Led Christianity, October 28, 1998

By	[e-mail] (Milwaukee, WI) - See all my reviews

As an Elder in a Bible believing church, I was shocked to find that our general way of doing business was in direct contradiction to the clear words of scripture. Questions of church structure are difficult because they are not consolidated into one verse or chapter. Some in our church suggested that there was no specific correct church structure given in the Bible. Others suggested that only traditional Pastors were qualified to lead a growing vibrant church. This book brings together every passage related to church leadership. It is a tremendous reference tool for analysing these various positions. Perhaps most importantly, it is written first as an examination of the Biblical text rather than an argument defending a denominational or traditional bias.

Alexander Strauch makes the case again and again that a plurality of Elders is the only biblical structure for the church. There is solid exegesis of difficult passages. This weighty work distills the Biblical truth and clearly highlights the Biblical case for a group of Elders as God's plan for governing the local church.

16 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent, September 13, 2003

By	Brian G Hedges (South Bend, Indiana) - See all my reviews (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)

This is an excellent study of the biblical teaching on church leadership. Strauch describes five essential aspects to biblical leadership; it should be pastoral, shared, male, qualified, and servant-hearted. The strength of the book is Strauch's relentless exegesis of EVERY NEW TESTAMENT TEXT on leadership! If he missed one, I haven't found it yet. But despite the scholarship, the book is readable and applicable.

I would agree that the content of this book is potentially divisive. But that is no fault of the book. This is not a book on how to change church government. It is about what biblical church government is. How to get there from where you are is another issue. I, for one, would like to see Strauch write a book on "Transitioning a Church into Biblical Eldership."

See also Strauch's books on Deacons (Minister of Mercy: The New Testament Deacon) and Meetings that Work - which is a life saver for any pastor!