Elders (Part 1)

"As God can send a nation of people no greater blessing than to give them faithful, sincere, upright ministers, so the greatest curse that God can possibly send upon a people in this world is to give them over to blind, unregenerate, carnal, lukewarm, unskillful guides," said George Whitfield.

9Marks believes that. What do you think?

This issue of 9News and the next are devoted to the topic of elders. This month, we asked a number of thoughtful pastors like John MacArthur, Alexander Strauch, Tom Schreiner, Sinclair Ferguson, and others what lessons they had learned in selecting men as elders. Mark Dever and Paul Alexander offer their collective thoughts on finding the right men. Justin Taylor and Matt Schmucker reflect—exegetically and practically—on whether unbelief in an elder's children disqualifies him. And Burk Parsons and Benjamin Merkle discuss nominating and ordaining
elders.

Watch for these articles in the March issue on training and working as an elder:

• Four Lessons in Shepherding, by Paul Alexander
• How Ligon Trains His Men
• Bill Mounce and Seminary Smarties
• Thabiti Anyabwile on the Ninth Mark of Healthy Church
• Disagreements and Differences Among Elders, by Matt Schmucker
• What the Capitol Hill Baptist Church Elders Who Aren't Mark Dever Say Is Essential for Eldering!

While not directly related to our topic of elders, the matters discussed in Hammett's and Cratty's book reviews certainly have dramatic implications for eldering. Namely, what is the difference between a market mentality and a faith mentality when it comes to leading a church? Or, what does leading by faith versus leading by sight mean?And in this vein, what does God calls us to have faith in? Our plans and dreams, or something he has said?

May he grant his church more faith in his word!