1 Chronicles 29vs 1to9webinars-002-slides.ppt

Building for God

1. THE ELDER AS SERVANT
Michigan District LCMS
Webinar for the Board of Elders
February 20, 2013

2. “Your attitude should be the same as that of
Christ Jesus: Who…made Himself nothing,
taking the very nature of a servant.”
- Philippians 2:5, 7

3. OPENING
PRAYER

4. I’M AN ELDER…

5. 1.“A joy for me this past week was…”
2.When I was elected to be an elder, I was…
3.A word that describes how I feel about being
an elder is…

6. 1. LIFE AS AN ELDER
ELDERS SERVING GOD

7. ELDERS SERVING GOD
Five typical functions of elders:
• Provide leadership
• Show wisdom in stressful situations
• Provide evaluation and encouragement
for the pastor(s)
• Visitation of members
• Initiate programs of spiritual growth

8. Elder considerations:
• Provide leadership
• Filled with the Holy Spirit
• Strong spiritual influence
• Always “in the Word”
• Asked, not volunteer
• Basic enthusiasm
• Concern for quality of ministry
• Clear ministry descriptions
• Grasp of imputed worthiness
ELDERS SERVING GOD

9. For discussion:
• What is your greatest joy in serving as an
elder?
• What is your greatest frustration in
serving as an elder?
• What spiritual gifts have been distributed
among the elders in your congregation?
• What makes you “worthy” to serve as an
elder?
• What is the role of an elder to members
of the church?
ELDERS SERVING GOD

10. For discussion:
• What is the relationship of elders to other
officers?
• What are congregational issues that
properly belong only to elders?
• What is the role of elders in church
conflicts?
• How can elders handle criticisms /
objections to church programs?
ELDERS SERVING GOD

11. 2. ELDER / PASTOR / STAFF
RELATIONSHIPS
ELDERS SERVING PASTOR

12. Help the man
• Be a confidant
• Be a support for personal / family needs
 Develop a caring relationship
 Develop a trusting
relationship
 Develop personnel policies
(vacation, days off, etc.)
 Develop salary guidelines
 Pray daily for pastor and
family
ELDERS SERVING PASTOR

13. Help the leader
• Support the ministry
• Communicate ministry to congregation
• Communicate successes and obstacles
• Welcome and encourage diversity but
commit to unity in purpose
 Test with Scripture
 Inform and invite
participation
 Be faithful with information
 Publicly support pastor
ELDERS SERVING PASTOR

14. Help the preacher
• Test with Scripture
• Test for proper Law/Gospel balance
 Know and be faithful to
Scripture
 Know and be faithful to
Lutheran doctrine (Confessions)
ELDERS SERVING PASTOR

15. Help the congregation
• Meet regularly to carry out
responsibilities
• Share evaluations of goals and
expectations
• Train regularly for better service
• Be an ambassador
• Serve alongside pastor as appropriate
ELDERS SERVING PASTOR

16. For discussion:
• How do elders provide care for members
of the staff?
• How can pastors especially use elders as
a support and confidential group?
• How do elders function as evaluators of
staff effectiveness?
• How can elders function with ineffective
staff?
• What are the spiritual needs unique to
professional church workers?
ELDERS SERVING PASTOR

17. 3. ELDER SPIRITUAL CARE
ELDERS SERVING
CONGREGATION

18. ELDERS SERVING CONGREGATION
The elder as a man of prayer:
• Matthew 6:5-14
o Not outward piety (v. 5)
o Not validated by specific words (v.
7)
o No lack of information (v. 8)
o Mark of a mature disciple (v. 9)
o Corporate needs in mind (v. 9)
o God-centered (v. 9)
o Submits to God’s will (v. 10)
o Spiritual focus (v. 11)
o Forgiving attitude (v. 12)
o Combat the satanic (v.13)

19. Factors impacting prayer:
• Boldness (Hebrews 4:14-16)
• Familial language (Galatians 4:6)
• Authentic (Psalm 27:8)
• Blocked by unrepented sin (Psalm 66:18)
• Faith-driven (Matthew 21:22)
• Rooted in Christ and the Word (John 15:7)
• Ask in Jesus’ name (John 16:24)
• Submissive to God’s will (1 John 5:14-15)
• Brings glory to God (John 14:13)
• Confident in God’s power (James 5:16)
ELDERS SERVING CONGREGATION

20. Elders serve
• As an example
o Faithful in worship
o Frequently at the Lord’s Table
o Diligent in Bible study
personal
group
o Servant-leader
ELDERS SERVING CONGREGATION

21. Elders serve
• Within the priesthood of all believers
• With humility
• As requested
• In prayer
• In person
• In worship
 Don’t “lord it over them”
 Provide personal care
 Be aware of needs and situations
 Share resources
 Both active and inactive
ELDERS SERVING CONGREGATION

22. For discussion:
• How are elders assigned to members?
(geographically; alphabetically; lifestyle; other)
• Do elders make home visits?
• If so, why and how often?
• What other means are used for communication
with members by elders?
• What are the purposes of various member
contacts?
• Do elders make “pastoral care” visits?
•(hospitals, nursing homes, funerals, etc.)
ELDERS SERVING CONGREGATION

23. For discussion:
• Are elders used to “push” certain
congregational needs or programs?
• How are elders used when new people join the
church?
• When is one classified “inactive”?
• What is your program of ministering to
inactives?
• What if the inactive wishes to remain inactive?
• What is done with members who move without
a forwarding address?
• How are snowbirds handled?
ELDERS SERVING CONGREGATION

24. CONTINUING THE
DISCUSSION…

25. RESOURCES FOR ELDER BOARDS:
The Caring Elder by Victor Constein (CPH)
Pastors and Elders by Timothy Mech (CPH)
Expanded Elder training / equipping workshop by CMFs

26. THE ELDER AS SERVANT
God’s richest blessings as
you serve Him and His
people in your awesomely
important role!