Faithful and Fruitful: Essays for Elders and Deacons

Publisher is temporarily Out of Stock

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?

309 pages.

View Sample Pastoral Review

Contents:

Abbreviations  xi

Foreword: Michael G. Brown  xiii

Preface  xv

One
Training Church Officers -1
William Shishko

Two
Practicing the Mission of the Church: Apostolicity in Action  13
Jeff DeBoer

Three
Positive Leadership: Leading Like Jesus (Not Rehoboam)  29
William Boekestein

Four
Continuing in Prayer  49
Daniel R. Hyde

Five
Elders and Deacons as Hospitality Leaders  65
William Boekestein

Six
Ministering to the Sick and Dying  81
Richard Anjema

Seven
The Office Bearer and Household Management  95
Derrick Vander Meulen

Eight
Classical Christian Catechesis  107
R. Scott Clark

Nine
Managing the Offerings of God’s People  121
William Godfrey

Ten
Getting Acquainted with the Congregation’s Needs  133
William Godfrey

Eleven
Avoiding Burnout  145
Andrea Ferrari

Twelve
Tending the Shepherd (1): Honorable Provision  159
Peter H. Holtvlüwer

Thirteen
Tending the Shepherd (2): Sabbaths and Sabbaticals  169
Peter H. Holtvlüwer

Fourteen
How to Evaluate Your Pastor  181
Christopher J. Gordon

Fifteen
How to Be a Clerk  195
Mark H. Vander Pol

Sixteen
Navigating the Broader Assemblies: Serving at Classis and Synod  207
Ronald Scheuers

Seventeen
How to Serve on a Pastoral Search Committee  221
Bradd L. Nymeyer

Eighteen
What Every Elder Needs to Know about Congregational Singing  231
Jonathan Landry Cruse

Nineteen
Encouraging Lay Witnessing  247
R. Scott Clark

Twenty
Promoting the Work of Missions  263
Michael G. Brown

Appendix A: A Sample Pastoral Review  273

Appendix B: The Role of Guest Sponsors in Our Churches  277

Appendix C: Study Questions  283

Appendix D: About the Editors and Contributors  305