Biblical Shepherding of God’s Sheep: The Use and Abuse of Authority by Church Officers
Overview
“Tend my sheep” is the awesome task given to those who have been called and equipped by the Holy Spirit to be overseers of the church of God. Leadership in the local assembly must be biblical and balanced if the church is to properly discharge its commission from the Lord Jesus Christ.
Recent trends in leadership methods have made it more necessary than ever that Christ’s shepherds “be on guard for yourselves and for all the flock”. The application of biblical church authority is one of the crucial issues facing Christians today.
The present work deals forthrightly with the hard questions about leading God’s people on the local church level. Representing the mature thought of men who have spent many years guiding Christians, Shepherding God’s Flock is an anthology of essays dealing with various aspects of the issue of church authority. The true nature of an “ideal” church, the proper way of reformation, the danger of the abuse of church discipline and the relationship of authority to individual freedom are some of the topics handled here.
Leaders reproduce themselves and put their stamp indelibly upon a congregation. This influence can in turn make or break a church’s influence in the world. These essays provide the tools needed for the self-examination, correction and growth of all those concerned to see Christ’s style of shepherding safeguarded among his flock.
With the Logos Bible Software edition, you have unprecedented access to resources that offer relatable and insightful material to aid you in your study of Christian leadership. The powerful search tools in your digital library help you locate the specific material relevant to you, whether it is textual or topical. Hours of biblical research can be accomplished with the simple click of a mouse. With lightning-speed searching, instantly-viewable Scripture references, a vast library of resources, and much more, Logos is the perfect software to expand one’s understanding of the Word.
- Introduction by Steven Martin
- Refreshing insight for leading today’s congregations
- Bibliographical references
Top Highlights
“Indeed the shell of organization may continue after the lampstand has been removed and the local body is no longer a part of the true church.” (Page 21)
“Authority is the right to exercise power to compel obedience from those under authority” (Page 104)
“As we build walls that keep the world’s influence out of our church, we must not build walls that keep the gospel out of the world. As we strive for greater wisdom and sanctification, we must not shun and exclude from our fellowship the children of God who have not progressed so far as we have in understanding and grace. When our hearts and doors close out the immature and the imperfect, we only demonstrate our own narrowness, pride, and immature fears.” (Page 26)
“Recommendations rather than fixed laws should characterize such a manual, for inflexible legislation can become unwieldy, lead to legalism, and prevent room for maneuvering.” (Page 42)
“It is better not to apply the proposed discipline if the eldership is not united about it. This means that in effect each elder has the power of veto in cases of discipline.” (Page 44)
There are biblically-sound scholars who have little or no experience in local church leadership. Conversely, there are those who have served for years as leaders in local churches, but sadly are not “;mighty in the Scriptures.”; But when men who are rich both in church leadership experience and knowledge of the Bible write about leadership in the local church, you have a treasure like Biblical Shepherding of God’s Sheep.
—Donald S. Whitney, associate professor of Biblical spirituality, The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary
Sooner or later this book is going to be an invaluable resource to those who will want to and need to know how a spiritually healthy church should function. Whatever the condition of the church the contents of this great work can only promote stability and growth in a body of believers.
—Martin Holdt, pastor, Constantia Park Baptist Church, Pretoria, South Africa
- Title: Biblical Shepherding of God’s Sheep: The Use and Abuse of Authority by Church Officers
- Author: Steve Martin
- Series: Ministry Mission
- Publisher: Day One
- Print Publication Date: 2010
- Logos Release Date: 2012
- Pages: 240
- Language: English
- Resources: 1
- Format: Digital › Logos Research Edition
- Subjects: Pastoral theology; Elders (Church officers); Authority › Religious aspects--Christianity
- ISBNs: 9781846251955, 1846251958
- Resource ID: LLS:BBCLSHEPHERD
- Resource Type: Monograph
- Metadata Last Updated: 2023-10-30T19:43:22Z
Reviews
0 ratings
Wayne Donald Baker
7/2/2016
Looks interesting. I think I will need to buy this book. I wrote a Novel self published through Xlibris which deals with abuse of power by church officials in regard to church discipline. The novel exagerates the motives and portrays at least some officials reasons as definitely evil, but the novel is accurate in that some churches are guilty of clearly lying. In the story there are examples where the board actually condemns themselves as liars, and this has happened in my own personal experience, by the clear contradictions they make. What happens when church leadership rebel against God in the abuse of their authourity and duty in the church? Satan is given many openings, and the novel shows some of them. I wish I seen this book before I published. However I am very happy that there is a good book, at least I assume this is a good book on the proper use of authoruity in the church.
