Elders: Shepherding God's Flock

In this episode, Reverend Chris Gordon and Reverend Dan Borvan discuss the roles and responsibilities of elders within the church. They discuss how the roles of Prophet, King, and Priest correspond to Minister, Elder, and Deacon, and address the challenges of modern pastors sometimes trying to play the role of all the church offices. The conversation covers the polity in the continental tradition, drawing from Acts 20 and emphasizing the biblical model of eldership. As they explore the qualifications, responsibilities, and duties of elders, they focus on their purpose in ensuring purity of doctrine and holiness of life. The episode also examines why church leadership can be defective, highlighting the often-unglamorous but crucial role of elders as shepherds overseeing the preaching of the gospel and administering the sacraments.

00:00:00 - Introduction
00:04:00 - Evergreen Content
00:04:50 - The Office of Elder
00:05:20 - Prophet, King, Priest: Minister, Elder, Deacon
00:06:45 - The Burden of Over-Managing Pastors
00:07:55 - Continental Polity Breakdown
00:09:00 - Lessons from Acts 20
00:11:00 - Multiple Elders in New Testament Churches
00:13:30 - Qualifications of an Elder
00:14:25 - Responsibilities and Duties of Elders
00:16:30 - Purpose of Ruling: Doctrine and Holiness
00:19:20 - Defective Church Leadership
00:21:40 - Elders as Shepherds
00:22:35 - Overseeing Gospel Preaching
00:28:00 - The Anti-Institutional Age
00:29:30 - Approaching the Minister
00:31:30 - The Sacraments
00:32:33 - Communion Coins and Sacramental Purity
00:34:50 - Catechizing the Youth
00:36:30 - Visiting Members
00:42:23 - Church Discipline
00:46:30 - Biblical Qualifications Read