Church is a Team Sport

Ep. 15: Building a Healthy Church Through Biblical Eldership

In this episode, Lance Wigton and Jim Putman discuss the critical role of eldership in the church. They explore how biblical eldership isn't about decision-making power but about living out discipleship and shepherding the church family.

The conversation highlights the importance of raising up elders from within the church, ensuring alignment in vision, values, and relational discipleship.

· Key Takeaways:

Eldership Should Be Rooted in Discipleship:

• Elders should be people who live out the faith, not just decision-makers.
• They must demonstrate maturity in head (knowledge), heart (love for God and others), and hands (action).

Raising Up Leaders from Within the Church Prevents Cultural Clashes:

• Hiring pastors from outside often leads to misalignment in vision and philosophy.
• Elders who are raised through a discipleship process share a common foundation.

Church Leadership Should Not Be a Political System:

• Many churches operate eldership like a congressional system, where leaders respond to the desires of the people rather than seeking God’s vision.
• True biblical eldership listens to God first and leads the church accordingly.

Discipleship Should Lead to Leadership Development:

• Churches should not have to outsource leadership but should develop it through intentional discipleship.
• Elders and pastors should have a history of shared ministry and trust within the church.

The Role of Elders is to Oversee and Model Discipleship:

• Elders should be active in disciple-making, not just administrative tasks.
• Their leadership should be based on experience in shepherding people, not just tenure in the church.
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Discussion Questions:

1. What does biblical eldership look like, and how does it differ from common church leadership structures?
2. How does your church develop leaders? Are elders raised from within or brought in from the outside?
3. In what ways can elders and pastors ensure they are leading with a discipleship mindset rather than a business model?
4. What role does relational discipleship play in your church's leadership development?
5. How can a church navigate changes in leadership while maintaining unity and biblical direction?

Action Steps:

• Evaluate Your Church’s Leadership Structure:
• Are your elders living out discipleship, or are they just decision-makers?
• Develop a Process for Raising Up Leaders:
• Invest in discipleship that leads to leadership within the church.
• Ensure Alignment Between Elders and Pastors:
• Regularly assess if leadership shares the same vision and mission.
• Encourage a Culture of Spiritual Growth:
• Shift from comfort-based leadership to mission-driven leadership.

· Closing Encouragement:

Biblical eldership isn’t about power—it’s about shepherding and discipleship. When elders are raised up through a shared discipleship process, the church functions as a true spiritual family, avoiding division and fostering spiritual growth. By prioritizing God’s vision over human preferences, churches can create a strong, unified foundation that withstands challenges and advances the gospel.

· Scripture References:

• Titus 1:5 – Appointing elders in every town.
• Ephesians 4:12 – Equipping the saints for ministry.
• 1 Timothy 3:1-7 – Qualifications of an elder.
• Acts 20:28 – Elders as shepherds of the church.
• 2 Timothy 2:2 – Passing leadership to faithful men who will teach others.