Answers for Pastors

How do you handle principled disagreement between elders?

9Marks
Clear, then firm. The clearer a matter is in Scripture, the firmer you hold your ground when disagreement arises. If the argument is over the deity of Christ, the Trinity, the inerrancy of Scripture, justification by faith alone, or any other crucial doctrine, hold your ground no matter what anyone says. Less clear, then cautious. On the other hand, recognize that you may have convictions about certain things that are less clear in Scripture and less central to the Christian faith. Tread more lightly in these areas.

How do you handle personal disputes among elders?

9Marks
Pray. Satan loves to divide. If he can divide a church’s leaders he gets a foothold from which to divide the church. So beg God to bring unity and peace. Pursue the brother in order to build your relationship. Irritation often arises out of ignorance. Work to get to know the brother and remember that you don’t have all the facts.

What steps should an elder take if he’s uncertain as to whether or not his child’s behavior is disqualifying?

9Marks
Pray. Ask God for a humble heart. Study and meditate on the relevant passages (1 Tim. 3:4-5; Tit. 1:6). Seek instruction from your fellow elders. Confess your sin and be transparent with your fellow elders. Don’t hold things back— remember that God already knows your sin and will forgive you because Jesus Christ is the propitiation for your sins (1 John 2:1-2). Receive critical evaluation and consider it together with your wife.

At what point does a child’s misbehavior disqualify his father from being an elder or pastor?

9Marks
Once a child is independent of his parents, he’s outside his parents’ authority as it relates to Paul’s remarks in Titus. When a kid is on his own, he’s on his own. No amount of good parenting can guarantee that someone will profess Christ and live accordingly once the child has grown and left the home.

Does the New Testament say that elders’ children must be believers?

9Marks

What are warning flags to watch out for when considering a man as a potential elder?

9Marks

In general, a church should not affirm any man as an elder who does not meet the biblical qualifications laid out in 1 Timothy 3:1-7 and Titus 1:6-9. Here are several warning flags which a church should heed:

Apart from the explicit biblical qualifications, are there other important matters to keep in mind when considering a potential elder?

9Marks

A man may appear to meet the biblical qualifications yet still be an unwise selection as an elder for a number of reasons:

What should I look for when considering who to nominate as an elder?

9Marks

The most important thing to look for in a potential elder is whether or not he meets the biblical qualifications.

What are common misconceptions about who should be an elder?

9Marks
A biblical elder is not simply an older male. Life experience alone is no guarantee that a man meets the biblical qualifications for an elder (1 Tim. 3:1-7, Tit. 1:6-9).

What is a church elder?

9Marks
The Basics: An elder is a man who (i) meets the qualifications in 1 Timothy 3:1-7 and Titus 1:6-9, (ii) is recognized by his congregation as an elder, (iii) and leads the congregation by teaching the Word (1 Tim. 3:2), praying for the sheep (Jas. 5:14), and overseeing the affairs of the church (1 Pet. 5:2).

Is it appropriate to include non-members in leading church services?

9Marks

Generally speaking, we don’t believe so. Exceptions occur, as with guest preachers. But churches should generally use only members to lead church services because:

Who should lead church services?

9Marks

Generally speaking, elders or spiritually trustworthy men who are on their way to being elders should lead services.

Practically speaking, how can a pastor plan services?

9Marks

When planning services, each pastor should do whatever works best for himself. That said, here is the broad outline of how one pastor does it (Mark Dever, senior pastor of Capitol Hill Baptist Church in Washington, DC).

What’s the goal of service planning?

9Marks

The goal of service planning is to craft a unified service that clearly communicates the gospel, makes the sermon the centerpiece of the service, and impresses people with the glory of God.

Why should a pastor or elder plan church services?

9Marks

A pastor or elder should generally plan church services because the whole service is part of the teaching ministry of the church, which is entrusted to the elders (1 Tim. 3:2; 1 Thess. 5:12-13).

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