Biblical Eldership Church Leadership

Qualified Leadership

dards for married men who have children is quite a different issue from commanding marriage and fatherhood, which is not always a matter of choice. Single men and childless, married men can certainly be pastor elders. Where they lack experience because of their unmar ried or childless status, their fellow elders who are married and have children can fill in the gap. Single and childless men have a unique contribution to make to the flock and the eldership team. Of course the sexual conduct and home management of single and childless men must be above reproach, just as it must be above reproach for married men who have children. Able to Provide a Model for Others to Follow An elder must be an example of Christian living that others will want to follow. Peter reminds the Asian elders “to be examples to the flock” (1 Peter 5:3b). If a man is not a godly model for others to follow, he cannot be an elder even if he is a good teacher and man ager. Like Peter, Paul also recognized the importance of modeling Christ. He did his utmost to model Christ and expected the people to follow:

- Brethren, join in following my example, and observe those who walk according to the pattern you have in us (Phil. 3:17).

- Be imitators of me, just as I also am of Christ (1 Cor. 1121).

0 For you yourselves know how you ought to follow our example, because we did not act in an undisciplined manner among you. . .but in order to offer ourselves as a model for you, that you might follow our example (2 Thess. 3:7,9b).

0 I exhort you, therefore, be imitators of me (1 Cor. 4216; cf. Gal. 4:12; 1 Thess. 125,6; 1 Tim. 4:12; Titus 2:7).

The greatest way to inspire and influence people for God is through personal example. Character and deeds, not official posi tion or title, is what really influences people for eternity. A quotation by Samuel Brengle concerning the power of personal example, that is quoted by J . Oswald Sanders in his classic work Spiritual Leader ship, bears repeating: “One of the outstanding ironies of history is the

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