Foundations of Christian Leadership, Mentor's Guide, MG07

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F O U N D A T I O N S O F C H R I S T I A N L E A D E R S H I P

Also, remember to take good time to review the various major insights of this lesson in preparation for your quiz next class session, and make certain that you set aside much time to memorize your new texts, as well as review the memory verses from last week. Practice does not make perfect; correct practice makes perfect!

In today’s lesson we explored the meaning and application of the role and office of elder in the Church, whose Greek rendering is presbyteros , meaning “overseer” or “elder.” We saw how the NT concept of elder evolved from its OT usage, seen in the tribal system of Israel, the practices of the Jewish synagogue, the positions in the Sanhedrin, and finally to the NT Church. We also discovered some of the key analogies for an elder in the Church, as an overseer, a father or parent, a colleague or team member, and as a representative both of the Lord and the people of God to those who are outsiders. In our next lesson, we will continue to research the foundations of Christian leadership by considering the important role of the Christian leader as pastor , or poimen in the Greek NT. We will outline the biblical context of the idea of the pastorate, and highlight both the calling and the criteria for godly pastoral ministry in the Church. We will see that pastors are undershepherds of the flock of God , called to serve the body as its nurturers, protectors, and leaders.

Looking Forward to the Next Lesson

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