What's in an Elder's Toolbox?
Elders carry an invisible toolbox. Inside that toolbox are a variety of items that help to make the elders successful in their work as shepherds of the souls of the church. The following are some things that you will find in an elder's toolbox:
In every elder's toolbox, there should be a pillow.
I don't know how you could be an elder in the Lord's church if you are not intimately involved with God. Intimacy with God cannot be had separate from a devoted prayer life. Elders need to spend time on their knees in prayer—thus the need for a pillow.
The "Good Shepherd" (Jn. 10:11,14) was a praying person. One of the most memorable occasions of the Lord praying was when he was in the Garden. "Then cometh Jesus with them unto a place called Gethsemane, and saith unto the disciples, Sit ye here, while I go and pray yonder" (Mt. 26:36). Jesus found a private place to pray. What about elders in the Lord's church?
Wendell Winkler used to tell the story about serving under an elder who literally had a prayer room built away from the house in his yard. He would actually retire there every morning and pray. On one occasion, this godly man was asked to lead a prayer during a gospel meeting. When he was finished, the preacher leaned over to brother Winkler and said, "I would have traveled all this distance just to be a part of that prayer."
I wonder how many elders, preachers, and Christians in general, have "prayer closets?" Jesus said, "But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret..." (Mt. 6:6). We need shepherds who know how to pray.
In every elder's toolbox, there should be a phone.
By definition, a shepherd is one who looks after the flock. With the hustle and bustle that exists among the members of the local church, it can be a real challenge to drop in for a visit. But, there are very few folks who cannot be reached by a simple phone call. Add to that, virtually everybody has voicemail. A quick call from an elder with "how are you," "missed you Wednesday," or "let's get together for lunch or a cup of coffee and talk," will go a long way to show the congregation that the elders who labor among us care for our souls.
In every elder's toolbox, there should be a pair of steel toed shoes.
Though the work of an elder can be a wonderful experience, it can also be a discouraging one. To borrow a statement from Franklin Camp, "No men on earth have a graver responsibility than elders." With that responsibility comes a certain amount of criticism.
It never ceases to amaze me how some members of a local congregation will constantly criticize the eldership. If the elders try to move in a direction to facilitate spiritual and numeric growth [maintaining soundness of course], there is always someone who works as a detractor. That same person will complain to the elders, and more often than not, to anyone in the church who listen, until one of two things happen--the elders give in and give up, or the disgruntled member leaves and starts attending another congregation.
We need leaders in the church today who have strong backbones and refuse to give in to the minority. Yes, elders need to wear steel toed shoes.
In every elder's toolbox, there should be some tissues.
A man can never serve successfully as an elder without compassion. We live in an age where people are hurting. Elders must learn to get down where people are, and weep with those that weep (Rm. 12:15).
Approximately every twenty-seven minutes a husband and wife call it quits--get divorced. Have you ever seen a wife leave a husband and take the kids, and he through no fault of his own is forced to bear the financial burden so that a deadbeat wife can live it up with another man? How do you deal with that? With compassion.
Are you aware of any homes where the wife is giving due diligence to be the Christian that she ought, but the husband sees no use for the Lord, and in turn makes everyday a challenge for his wife to maintain her faithfulness? How do you help this wife to hang in there? With compassion.
When death makes its cold harsh blow on the life of a man, and his spouse is left behind to mourn for a man she wanted to be married to for fifty more years, who should be at her side? The preacher? Sure! But the tender touch she needs to feel is that of a shepherd caring for his flock.
In every elder's toolbox, there should be a pillow.
I don't know how you could be an elder in the Lord's church if you are not intimately involved with God. Intimacy with God cannot be had separate from a devoted prayer life. Elders need to spend time on their knees in prayer—thus the need for a pillow.
The "Good Shepherd" (Jn. 10:11,14) was a praying person. One of the most memorable occasions of the Lord praying was when he was in the Garden. "Then cometh Jesus with them unto a place called Gethsemane, and saith unto the disciples, Sit ye here, while I go and pray yonder" (Mt. 26:36). Jesus found a private place to pray. What about elders in the Lord's church?
Wendell Winkler used to tell the story about serving under an elder who literally had a prayer room built away from the house in his yard. He would actually retire there every morning and pray. On one occasion, this godly man was asked to lead a prayer during a gospel meeting. When he was finished, the preacher leaned over to brother Winkler and said, "I would have traveled all this distance just to be a part of that prayer."
I wonder how many elders, preachers, and Christians in general, have "prayer closets?" Jesus said, "But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret..." (Mt. 6:6). We need shepherds who know how to pray.
In every elder's toolbox, there should be a phone.
By definition, a shepherd is one who looks after the flock. With the hustle and bustle that exists among the members of the local church, it can be a real challenge to drop in for a visit. But, there are very few folks who cannot be reached by a simple phone call. Add to that, virtually everybody has voicemail. A quick call from an elder with "how are you," "missed you Wednesday," or "let's get together for lunch or a cup of coffee and talk," will go a long way to show the congregation that the elders who labor among us care for our souls.
In every elder's toolbox, there should be a pair of steel toed shoes.
Though the work of an elder can be a wonderful experience, it can also be a discouraging one. To borrow a statement from Franklin Camp, "No men on earth have a graver responsibility than elders." With that responsibility comes a certain amount of criticism.
It never ceases to amaze me how some members of a local congregation will constantly criticize the eldership. If the elders try to move in a direction to facilitate spiritual and numeric growth [maintaining soundness of course], there is always someone who works as a detractor. That same person will complain to the elders, and more often than not, to anyone in the church who listen, until one of two things happen--the elders give in and give up, or the disgruntled member leaves and starts attending another congregation.
We need leaders in the church today who have strong backbones and refuse to give in to the minority. Yes, elders need to wear steel toed shoes.
In every elder's toolbox, there should be some tissues.
A man can never serve successfully as an elder without compassion. We live in an age where people are hurting. Elders must learn to get down where people are, and weep with those that weep (Rm. 12:15).
Approximately every twenty-seven minutes a husband and wife call it quits--get divorced. Have you ever seen a wife leave a husband and take the kids, and he through no fault of his own is forced to bear the financial burden so that a deadbeat wife can live it up with another man? How do you deal with that? With compassion.
Are you aware of any homes where the wife is giving due diligence to be the Christian that she ought, but the husband sees no use for the Lord, and in turn makes everyday a challenge for his wife to maintain her faithfulness? How do you help this wife to hang in there? With compassion.
When death makes its cold harsh blow on the life of a man, and his spouse is left behind to mourn for a man she wanted to be married to for fifty more years, who should be at her side? The preacher? Sure! But the tender touch she needs to feel is that of a shepherd caring for his flock.
posted by Neil Richey @ 5:57 AM
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