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The Elders of the People: Leadership in Christ's Church
Defining leadership is hard. Is it power? prestige? influence? In the church it can be harder, with its confusing variety of leadership structures and the too-frequent conflicts and scandals. What makes a good leader? How can you be a leader in your own context? What should everyday leadership look like in the local church? Despite the smoke and mirrors surrounding leadership, Drew Gordon calls us back to the Bible’s plain, clear, and practical picture of what good leaders are in the church and society. He shares stories of how he has seen that model work in today’s church—the encouraging and the difficult. This book is for anyone interested in what church elders are and how they are to do their work. Grassmarket Press/ Bedrock Series
156 pages, Paperback
Published February 20, 2025
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March 31, 2025
In The Elders of the People, Drew Gordon provides a biblical guide to leadership in Christ’s church.
Shepherd Leadership
Early in the book, Gordon clarifies the differences between elders and deacons. While both are biblical roles, the deacon does not hold a ruling office. For example, the deacon board does not make decisions about what is proper in a worship service, whether to plant a satellite congregation, or whether to engage in church discipline with a member.
With eldership comes authority, including active pastoral care of the congregation, oversight and involvement in teaching, administering sacraments, training for mature discipleship, and more. Gordon emphasizes servant leadership as the appropriate heart attitude of the elder, combining authoritative and servant leadership into a term he calls “shepherd leadership.” Among other traits, the shepherd leader is gentle, humble, and sacrificial.
Teaching and Preaching
What resonated most with me was when Gordon shared his personal story about how he was able to use his gifts as a ruling elder without being a full-time pastor of a church. He also notes that a potential elder has every reason to be patient. While being called as an elder is not miraculous, it is a calling from God, and that is more than enough.
The critical characteristic of an elder is the ability to teach. Gordon distinguishes preaching elders, who preach to the gathered congregation during worship services.
Humility, Service, and Commitment
What surprised me most was the penultimate chapter on the elder and his family life. It serves as a reminder that our personal relationship with God is most important, especially as we are not perfect leaders and do not always make perfect decisions.
The Elders of the People provides a valuable framework for understanding the responsibilities and heart of biblical leadership, reminding us that true eldership is rooted in humility, service, and a deep commitment to both God and the congregation.
I received a media copy of The Elders of the People and this is my honest review.
Shepherd Leadership
Early in the book, Gordon clarifies the differences between elders and deacons. While both are biblical roles, the deacon does not hold a ruling office. For example, the deacon board does not make decisions about what is proper in a worship service, whether to plant a satellite congregation, or whether to engage in church discipline with a member.
With eldership comes authority, including active pastoral care of the congregation, oversight and involvement in teaching, administering sacraments, training for mature discipleship, and more. Gordon emphasizes servant leadership as the appropriate heart attitude of the elder, combining authoritative and servant leadership into a term he calls “shepherd leadership.” Among other traits, the shepherd leader is gentle, humble, and sacrificial.
Teaching and Preaching
What resonated most with me was when Gordon shared his personal story about how he was able to use his gifts as a ruling elder without being a full-time pastor of a church. He also notes that a potential elder has every reason to be patient. While being called as an elder is not miraculous, it is a calling from God, and that is more than enough.
The critical characteristic of an elder is the ability to teach. Gordon distinguishes preaching elders, who preach to the gathered congregation during worship services.
Humility, Service, and Commitment
What surprised me most was the penultimate chapter on the elder and his family life. It serves as a reminder that our personal relationship with God is most important, especially as we are not perfect leaders and do not always make perfect decisions.
The Elders of the People provides a valuable framework for understanding the responsibilities and heart of biblical leadership, reminding us that true eldership is rooted in humility, service, and a deep commitment to both God and the congregation.
I received a media copy of The Elders of the People and this is my honest review.
Displaying 1 of 1 review