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Faithful and Fruitful: Essays for Elders and Deacons
Healthy churches have healthy elders and deacons. When a local congregation is blessed with faithful officers the results are bountiful (Acts 6:7). Faithful and Fruitful: Essays for Elders and Deacons provides current and future church leaders with an exciting opportunity of personal development. Like its companion (Called to Serve), this collection of essays offers biblical and practical essays written by seasoned churchmen drawing upon a wealth of leadership knowledge, experience, and wisdom. Engaging study questions for each essay can help readers make the most of the Bible's instruction and encouragement for those tasked with the responsibility and privilege of leading Christ's church. Continuing education is often required of secular thought leaders; should anything less be expected in Christ's church?
Contents: 1 Training Church Officers / 2 Practicing the Mission of the Church: Apostolicity in Action / 3 Positive Leadership: Leading Like Jesus (Not Rehoboam) / 4 Continuing in Prayer / 5 Elders and Deacons as Hospitality Leaders / 6 Ministering to the Sick and Dying / 7 The Office Bearer and Household Management / 8 Classical Christian Catechesis / 9 Managing the Offerings of God's People / 10 Getting Acquainted with the Congregation's Needs / 11 Avoiding Burnout / 12 Tending the Shepherd (1): Honorable Provision / 13 Tending the Shepherd (2): Sabbaths and Sabbaticals / 14 How to Evaluate Your Pastor / 15 How to Be a Clerk / 16 Navigating the Broader Assemblies: Serving at Classis and Synod / 17 How to Serve on a Pastoral Search Committee / 18 What Every Elder Needs to Know about Congregational Singing / 19 Encouraging Lay Witnessing / 20 Promoting the Work of Missions / Appendix A: A Sample Pastoral Review / Appendix B: The Role of Guest Sponsors in Our Churches / Appendix C: Study Questions / Appendix D: About the Editors and Contributors
Contents: 1 Training Church Officers / 2 Practicing the Mission of the Church: Apostolicity in Action / 3 Positive Leadership: Leading Like Jesus (Not Rehoboam) / 4 Continuing in Prayer / 5 Elders and Deacons as Hospitality Leaders / 6 Ministering to the Sick and Dying / 7 The Office Bearer and Household Management / 8 Classical Christian Catechesis / 9 Managing the Offerings of God's People / 10 Getting Acquainted with the Congregation's Needs / 11 Avoiding Burnout / 12 Tending the Shepherd (1): Honorable Provision / 13 Tending the Shepherd (2): Sabbaths and Sabbaticals / 14 How to Evaluate Your Pastor / 15 How to Be a Clerk / 16 Navigating the Broader Assemblies: Serving at Classis and Synod / 17 How to Serve on a Pastoral Search Committee / 18 What Every Elder Needs to Know about Congregational Singing / 19 Encouraging Lay Witnessing / 20 Promoting the Work of Missions / Appendix A: A Sample Pastoral Review / Appendix B: The Role of Guest Sponsors in Our Churches / Appendix C: Study Questions / Appendix D: About the Editors and Contributors
- GenresChristianEcclesiology
328 pages, Paperback
Published October 1, 2019
14 people are currently reading
30 people want to read
About the author
William Boekestein
19 books17 followersWilliam Boekestein (M.Div., Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary) is Pastor of Immanuel Fellowship Church in Kalamazoo, Michigan. He previously pastored Covenant Reformed Church in Carbondale, Pennsylvania. Before that he taught in a Christian School for several years. He and his wife have four children.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
May 28, 2023
This was a superb collection of essays on various aspects of officers serving in the church. It is primarily geared toward elders but with many very biblical and practical words of wisdom to both elders and deacons. There were a few points where I would disagree with the authors over some points of worship (e.g., musical instruments and hymns) but appreciated the perspective and shepherding heart regardless. This was a gift to me a few years ago and I highly recommend.
June 4, 2020
Magnificent. Any office-bearer who reads this will reap significant benefits, worth reading together on a Session in any church. Very thankful for the labours of those who contributed to this.
May 13, 2024
Excellent collection of essays for ministers, elders, and deacons in the URCNA or other Reformed churches. Grateful for the effort that was put into this.
November 3, 2019
“Christ works through the thoughtful, organised intentional life of the local church to form men who Christ himself is calling to office…”
So writes William Shishko in the opening Chapter of this excellent little collection of essays; edited by William Boekestein and Steven Swets.
Shishko’s focus on officer training could not have set the tone and standard of this book any better. Within the first eighteen lines of this book I already couldn’t get enough: this was going to be a true feast!
And what a place to begin with a work like this. For often whilst many will have a high view of the offices of the church – Elder and Deacon – and whilst much is written on the scriptural basis for the two offices, there is often a lack of healthy literature available on the outworking and practical aspects of what this looks like ‘on the ground’; especially literature written within a reformed and confessional framework.
Many may have found themselves ordained to office with little training being provided, little by way of mentoring, cultivation, nurturing, and formation, often having to go it alone as to how to faithfully and fruitfully live out this calling as an officer in a reformed church. Many may simply be in need of a thoughtful work to help think out how to best serve. Many may wonder what this ministry would look like in practice – and not necessarily in the ‘big’ things, but in the small, seemingly insignificant things like chairing meetings and serving in the higher courts of the church – many issues that are often left to ‘learning on the job,’ which may not necessarily be wrong but it is good that the subject was dealt with here and by seasoned servants who can mentor us and help with our formation through their writing.
This book meets the need of all those who seek to be faithful to their calling who will find this contribution to be more than worthy on their bookshelves; especially of folk where unfortunately not much by way of training will be given. By placing in the hands of readers such a great wealth of practical theology formed and thought-out by seasoned reformed churchmen, those in need of spiritual mentors can have conversation partners, mentors, spiritual fathers from whom they can learn from and engage with. The book is also ideal for newly ordained men, those in training, in fact anyone who loves the local church.
For the purposes of this review, I read four chapters: Training Church Officers, William Shishko; Elders and Deacons as Hospitality Leaders, William Boekestein; Managing the Offerings of God’s People, W. Robert Godfrey; and, Promoting the Work of Missions, Michael G. Brown, and found each of the chapters thoroughly engaging and can see the immediate benefit of a volume like this.
My hope is that many in leadership will ensure that those in ordained offices in their congregations will be provided with a copy; for with study and prayer this little volume would certainly aid biblical thinking and practice in any congregation, and help equip men for the ministry to which they are called.
If you love the local church, get a copy, read it, pass it along. Encourage. Engage. Equip.
So writes William Shishko in the opening Chapter of this excellent little collection of essays; edited by William Boekestein and Steven Swets.
Shishko’s focus on officer training could not have set the tone and standard of this book any better. Within the first eighteen lines of this book I already couldn’t get enough: this was going to be a true feast!
And what a place to begin with a work like this. For often whilst many will have a high view of the offices of the church – Elder and Deacon – and whilst much is written on the scriptural basis for the two offices, there is often a lack of healthy literature available on the outworking and practical aspects of what this looks like ‘on the ground’; especially literature written within a reformed and confessional framework.
Many may have found themselves ordained to office with little training being provided, little by way of mentoring, cultivation, nurturing, and formation, often having to go it alone as to how to faithfully and fruitfully live out this calling as an officer in a reformed church. Many may simply be in need of a thoughtful work to help think out how to best serve. Many may wonder what this ministry would look like in practice – and not necessarily in the ‘big’ things, but in the small, seemingly insignificant things like chairing meetings and serving in the higher courts of the church – many issues that are often left to ‘learning on the job,’ which may not necessarily be wrong but it is good that the subject was dealt with here and by seasoned servants who can mentor us and help with our formation through their writing.
This book meets the need of all those who seek to be faithful to their calling who will find this contribution to be more than worthy on their bookshelves; especially of folk where unfortunately not much by way of training will be given. By placing in the hands of readers such a great wealth of practical theology formed and thought-out by seasoned reformed churchmen, those in need of spiritual mentors can have conversation partners, mentors, spiritual fathers from whom they can learn from and engage with. The book is also ideal for newly ordained men, those in training, in fact anyone who loves the local church.
For the purposes of this review, I read four chapters: Training Church Officers, William Shishko; Elders and Deacons as Hospitality Leaders, William Boekestein; Managing the Offerings of God’s People, W. Robert Godfrey; and, Promoting the Work of Missions, Michael G. Brown, and found each of the chapters thoroughly engaging and can see the immediate benefit of a volume like this.
My hope is that many in leadership will ensure that those in ordained offices in their congregations will be provided with a copy; for with study and prayer this little volume would certainly aid biblical thinking and practice in any congregation, and help equip men for the ministry to which they are called.
If you love the local church, get a copy, read it, pass it along. Encourage. Engage. Equip.
October 21, 2019
I once heard someone remark, “You can’t microwave elders.” There’s no question that the same could be said for pastors and deacons. Cultivating godly leaders, and equipping faithful men for fruitful and effective church leadership takes time, patience, intentionality and, undoubtedly, prayer. Consequently, as a fledgling pastor I’m always on the lookout for helpful resources to assist me, along with the elders and deacons in my local church, in flourishing as we labour in our respective roles of governing and shepherding. Faithful and Fruitful: Essays for Elders and Deacons, proves to be such a resource!
Edited by pastors William Boekestein and Steve Swets, Faithful and Fruitful includes contributions from nearly twenty respected pastors and teachers, each from a confessionally reformed denomination. Undoubtedly, this is also what makes Faithful and Fruitful so unique. While I have benefitted immensely throughout the years from teaching resources such as those provided by 9Marks, Faithful and Fruitful goes a step further. It speaks to my context, my polity; my challenges! In doing so, it offers valuable wisdom and insight.
If you have ever been involved in church leadership and have struggled with questions related to training, mission, vision, or congregational singing, then this is the book for you! If you’re looking for a resource to help equip you to better fulfill the task of shepherding the flock, evaluating your pastor, or responsibly determining diaconal need, then again, this is the book for you.
It is my prayer that consistories, sessions, councils or church boards, will prayerfully work through the teachings of this book so that each of us can be more faithful and fruitful in under-shepherding the flock that is among us (1 Peter 5:2).
Pastor Jake Torenvliet
Redemption Canadian Reformed Church
Edited by pastors William Boekestein and Steve Swets, Faithful and Fruitful includes contributions from nearly twenty respected pastors and teachers, each from a confessionally reformed denomination. Undoubtedly, this is also what makes Faithful and Fruitful so unique. While I have benefitted immensely throughout the years from teaching resources such as those provided by 9Marks, Faithful and Fruitful goes a step further. It speaks to my context, my polity; my challenges! In doing so, it offers valuable wisdom and insight.
If you have ever been involved in church leadership and have struggled with questions related to training, mission, vision, or congregational singing, then this is the book for you! If you’re looking for a resource to help equip you to better fulfill the task of shepherding the flock, evaluating your pastor, or responsibly determining diaconal need, then again, this is the book for you.
It is my prayer that consistories, sessions, councils or church boards, will prayerfully work through the teachings of this book so that each of us can be more faithful and fruitful in under-shepherding the flock that is among us (1 Peter 5:2).
Pastor Jake Torenvliet
Redemption Canadian Reformed Church
October 26, 2019
I’ve been looking forward to this book ever since I heard of it in concept. It’s so important because Jesus’ mission is primarily worked out today within the context of the local church. That’s a stunning thought, and thoroughly biblical. While pastors receive much attention as the public face of a church, they can’t do their work without elders and deacons fulfilling their tasks as co-laborers. “Faithful and Fruitful: Essays for Elders and Deacons” encourages and equips church officers to the faithful discharge of their calling. It addresses specific situations and challenges within the life of the church and gives direct guidance according to biblical wisdom. I particularly enjoyed the first essay on the training of officers. William Shisko provides principles such as this: “Ordination to office does not confer commitments and abilities that were not present before the act of ordination.” He also provides practical tips and resources that will enable you to begin putting together your own training course as soon as you put down the book. The appendices are also extremely helpful, whether the study questions for each chapter or else the evaluation form for an annual review of the work of the pastor. This book is highly recommended!
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews