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The Importance of Church Involvement in the Inquiry and Fitness of Elder Candidates

stephen@ziamediagroup.com (Stephen Mirabal) — Tue, 03 Sep 2024 19:12:05 GMT

A Reason for Elder Candidate Inquiry and Idea List of Questions

The Importance of Church Involvement in the Inquiry and Fitness of Elder Candidates

In the life of a local church, few decisions carry as much weight and consequence as the selection of elders. These men, who are called to shepherd the flock, must not only embody spiritual maturity but also demonstrate a deep commitment to the doctrines and practices that define the church. For a Southern Baptist congregation rooted in the Reformed Baptist tradition, where the plurality of elders is a distinctive feature, the process of examining elder candidates is a critical task that demands the involvement of the entire church body.

The Bible provides clear qualifications for elders in passages such as 1 Timothy 3:1-7 and Titus 1:5-9, emphasizing the importance of character, teaching ability, and leadership within both the church and the home. However, while these biblical qualifications are the foundation, the responsibility of discerning whether a candidate truly meets these standards lies with the local congregation. The church must not only affirm that a man is biblically qualified but also ensure that he aligns with the specific theological convictions and practical commitments of the church.

This inquiry process is not a mere formality. It is a vital act of stewardship, safeguarding the church’s doctrinal purity, spiritual health, and unity. The questions posed to elder candidates serve to reveal their understanding of the gospel, their theological positions, and their philosophy of ministry. By engaging in this process, the church exercises its God-given authority to ensure that those who lead are men who will faithfully teach the Word, uphold sound doctrine, and model Christlike leadership.

Moreover, the church’s involvement in this process underscores the communal nature of church life. Elders are not lone shepherds; they are part of a team that leads under the headship of Christ and with the support and accountability of the congregation. As such, the church’s voice in the selection process is indispensable. It reflects a collective commitment to Christ’s lordship over the church and a shared responsibility for the spiritual well-being of the congregation.

In light of these considerations, the questions outlined for elder candidates are designed to probe deeply into their conversion experience, theological convictions, ecclesiological views, qualifications, and family life. These inquiries are not meant to be exhaustive but rather to provide a comprehensive assessment of a candidate’s fitness for eldership. The answers to these questions will inform the church’s discernment and help ensure that those who are appointed to this sacred office are truly called, qualified, and prepared to serve.

As we move forward with this process, let us do so with prayerful dependence on the Holy Spirit, seeking wisdom and unity as we entrust the leadership of our church to men who will faithfully shepherd the flock of God among us.

CONVERSION QUESTIONS

These questions explored the nominee’s experience of saving faith and the Christian life.

1. Share your testimony of repentance and faith in Jesus. Tell us briefly when you trusted Christ as Savior and the circumstances surrounding your commitment to Christ.

2. Have you been baptized? What do you believe concerning baptism? (Note: our church had also recently required baptism for membership, so there could have been unbaptized members!)

3. Describe the condition, status, or details of your current relationship with Christ.

THEOLOGICAL QUESTIONS

An elders must be able to teach (1 Tim. 3:2) and hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught, so that he may be able to give instruction in sound doctrine and also to rebuke those who contradict it (Titus 1:9). We also wanted to know where an elder candidate stood on certain secondary matters that were significant issues for our church. So we asked:

1. What is the gospel?

2. Are you in full agreement with our statement of faith?

3. What are some theological issues that you consider important or that you want to see emphasized more at our church?

4. What is the role of women in the church? What are your views on manhood and womanhood?

5. What do you believe concerning the sovereignty of God, particularly God’s sovereignty over salvation?

6. What is your view of spiritual gifts, specifically speaking in tongues and prophecy?

7. What is the role of spiritual “leadings” in the Christian life? How do we make decisions?

ECCLESIOLOGICAL QUESTIONS

We particularly wanted to understand how an elder nominee thought about the local congregation. This often revealed the man’s philosophy of ministry.

1. Do you believe there is a difference between a pastor and an elder? And if so, what are the differences?

2. What do you believe about church membership? Why is membership in a local church important? If you were an elder, what difference would that make to your relationships with church members versus non-members?

3. What is the relationship between baptism and membership? Are you comfortable with the requirement of baptism for membership in the local church?

4. What are your beliefs with regard to church discipline? Relate any personal experience. How would you handle a case of scandal or immorality by a church member?

5. Many children who appear to be converted at an early age show no evidence of knowing Christ later. How do you handle children when they come to you for counsel concerning conversion? What is your advice to parents?

6. What do you think our church most needs to focus on right now? What weaknesses do we have as a church? How do we need to grow?

QUALIFICATION QUESTIONS

These questions explore the candidates’ self-assessment of elder readiness. We would, of course, need to corroborate such assessments through input from others in the congregation.

1. How or why do you think God is leading you to accept this nomination? Why do you desire to be an elder?

2. Read 1 Timothy 3:1-7 and Titus 1:5-9. Based on your self-assessment, how do you believe you measure up to these qualifications?

3. In what ways have you served this church or previous churches?

4. Elders must be able to teach (1 Tim. 3:2). Do you feel equipped to exercise a teaching ministry in the church? If not, how are you seeking to equip yourself?

5. Elders are called to shepherd the body of Christ (1 Pet. 5:2). Who are you currently shepherding or discipling, and in what ways?

6. Give an example of a time you had to confront or correct someone in a local church. How did you go about it? Is this something you are willing to do?

FAMILY QUESTIONS

Technically these questions are part of the “qualifications” category above. However, we wanted to drill down into marriage and family issues because of the critical role the family plays as a proving ground for caring for Christ’s bride and managing God’s household.

1. How would you describe the quality of your marriage?

2. How would your wife and children describe your leadership in the home?

3. What encouragements or concerns would your wife have about you serving as an elder?

4. Have you ever been divorced?

5. Have you looked at any pornographic images the last year on your computer, TV, a magazine or otherwise? What are ways that you are actively seeking to guard your heart against lust?

6. Do you (or have you ever) hit or physically coerced your wife? If so, under what circumstances?

7. How are your household finances? Do you carry personal debt?

God’s Preservation Empowers Perseverance Part 3 Of 3

Sun, 16 Aug 2015 17:26:30 GMT

In part 3 in this blog series we look at the final mark of how God preserves His people to persevere.

When Silas and Timothy arrived from Macedonia, Paul was occupied with the word, testifying to the Jews that the Christ was Jesus. And when they opposed and reviled him, he shook out his garments and said to them, “Your blood be on your own heads! I am innocent. From now on I will go to the Gentiles.” And he left there and went to the house of a man named Titius Justus, a worshiper of God. His house was next door to the synagogue. Crispus, the ruler of the synagogue, believed in the Lord, together with his entire household. And many of the Corinthians hearing Paul believed and were baptized. And the Lord said to Paul one night in a vision, “Do not be afraid, but go on speaking and do not be silent, for I am with you, and no one will attack you to harm you, for I have many in this city who are my people.” And he stayed a year and six months, teaching the word of God among them. (Acts 18:5-11 ESV)

Jesus the WORD, is the game changer

In verse 5, there is a change in how the discussions go with the Jews. Once the deity and gospel message of Jesus is pressed, the scene changes. While being ‘occupied with the WORD”, we can only imagine the deep study and Holy Spirit filled insight Paul was receiving from God. I truly believe what Paul is seeing here, is redemptive history being made complete through Christ. It says this in Hebrews 1:1-4.

Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, having become as much superior to angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs.

Use His Word as a Guide

Let the word occupy your life. Paul was Christ-centered in his preaching. And it cost him everything, and here it cost him a huge conflict with those he was preaching to.

I remember speaking with a friend, and him saying to me, “I think loving Jesus is really OK, it’s just when you start saying He is the only way to God that I have a real problem with”. This is the norm, and if you preach God’s truth in it’s entirety, Jesus will guarantee to offend.

We ought to desire His presence. It may not be explicit in this immediate text, but as a side door observation of how we ought to desire God in every circumstance. We hear this echoed in Moses’ plea, …

“And he said to him, “If your presence will not go with me, do not bring us up from here.” (Exodus 33:15 ESV)

God is with you.

The LORD here reassures Paul of so many things. For one thing, He mentions that He has many that are His. Of course here, Jesus is talking about those that He has predestined as His own as it says in our text in verse 9. God has everything under control for Paul, because His people are already secured. This should give us encouragement in our evangelism efforts. Your job is to preach. God’s job is to save.

It is God’s presence (“I am with you”; Acts 18:10) that not only energizes believers but protects them from fear, anxiety, and doubt. God’s presence casting out fear is a recurring theme in Scripture. Moses encouraged Joshua, “It is the LORD who goes before you. He will be with you; he will not leave you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed” (Deut. 31:8; compare Josh. 1:9). The same thought and wording is used by David to his son Solomon in 1 Chronicles 28:29. Hezekiah uses the same language in 2 Chronicles 32:7–8 when faced with the invasion from the Assyrians. God offers comfort through his presence in the Prophets (see, e.g., Isa. 41:13–14 and Jer. 46:28), and the Psalms (e.g., Ps. 23:4). And Jesus promises his presence at the close of his last words of commission to the church: “Behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age” (Matt. 28:20). ((Holcomb, J. S. (n.d.). Acts: A 12-Week Study (Knowing the Bible) .))

It is important for us to see that God reaches down to us in the nitty-gritty messiness of life to say, “DO NOT BE AFRAID”!

Whatever you are feeling today, I wish that whatever you are holding on to instead of Christ is fading and hopeless. The WORD of God is enough. God has already preserved us. This is the big idea of the blog today. It’s that Jesus has already claimed his own. You and me. In fact, He defeated death forever if you are indeed in Christ. And we have a hope that can never be shaken and a community that will never die. You can’t do it on your own. By your own devices you have lost, but see Christ has already won the war. We can run with confidence into the battle because Christ has already won the war! There is hope. He is our hope.

Paul was in a great deal of discouragement after dealing with the Jews. In fact, we don’t know exactly why He was so distraught to have the LORD himself tell Paul his encouraging words. But what we do know is that the feeling Paul may have been feeling is the tendency we all can get when the going gets tough. When you are losing and there seems like there is no hope. Maybe it’s when you are winning… Paul just got done seeing the miracle of salvation made manifest right before his eyes by seeing whole households come to faith!

When Israel was delivered from the hand of the Egyptians they were being preserved by God by getting daily rations of manna by a daily miracle from THE LORD. God was preserving them. He was holding them. Some though would try and double up their portion… “just in case” God didn’t come through. They were not trusting in the LORD. See, the book of John talks about how in the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God. This is Jesus. He has already in eternity past ordained everything you need for His plan to happen and for your eventual good to come to pass.

The message of the Gospel is unmerited preservation! When God sent His son to die for sinners. It was a message of love. Through everything you do, everything you aspire to be. All of it will never be good enough. It’ll never be. You cannot preserve yourself, for you will die. Only one outside of you can ever preserve you. Can a man who is dead in the ocean ever be brought back to life on his own, or does he need help from someone else? He needs help from someone else.

For it says in Ephesians Chapter 2…

And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience—among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved—and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. (Ephesians 2:1-7 ESV)

And for those of you today who feel weak… who are burdened… here this…

But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

(2 Corinthians 12:9-10 ESV)

That very preservation God gives motivates and empowers us to persevere!

Preservation Empowers Perseverance | Part 2 Of 3

Sun, 09 Aug 2015 17:14:50 GMT

We all have THAT THING that really gets us all riled up.

WE all want to WIN or persevere. Not only that, we all want OUR way preserved. We want the world to think, act and feel the way we do. We want to be preserved and persevere.

We wonder why we are in the situation we’re in and it cause us to be full of fear. If we are honest with ourselves. Am i the only one that feels this way? Don’t you at least feel it around you if not right here, right now. That is if the situation you are currently doesn’t pan out to be the way YOU want, well everything must be wrong with the world.

We so quickly forget who truly preserves us. We so quickly forget the promise. Jesus. Jesus, preserves us. And that preservation is what motivates our perseverance!

Over the next couple of weeks we’ll be looking at the ‘3 Characteristics of How God’s Preservation Empowers Perseverance And Witness’ based off of Acts 18:1-17.

PART 1 – Through the Faith Family

PART II – Through His Providence

PART III – Through His Word

But when Gallio was proconsul of Achaia, the Jews made a united attack on Paul and brought him before the tribunal, saying, “This man is persuading people to worship God contrary to the law.” But when Paul was about to open his mouth, Gallio said to the Jews, “If it were a matter of wrongdoing or vicious crime, O Jews, I would have reason to accept your complaint. But since it is a matter of questions about words and names and your own law, see to it yourselves. I refuse to be a judge of these things.” And he drove them from the tribunal.(Acts 18:12-16 ESV)

God Uses Authority For His Gain

At least since the time of Julius Caesar, Jews had been allowed to practice their own religion and were not forced to worship the Roman gods. The question dangling over the young church at several points in Luke’s narrative is this: does being a Christian mean you are acting illegally according to Roman law and custom? Or is the community of Jesus’ followers rather to be seen simply as a variant of Judaism and therefore to be permitted? Gallio, who has presumably taken the trouble to inform himself both about the relevant laws and about what the new religion is up to, dismisses the charge. It is an internal matter within Judaism, not something that Roman law need bother about. Sometimes, as Luke no doubt wants us to remark once more, even pagan officials do things which genuinely and thoroughly advance the cause of the kingdom of God. We see other biblical references to God’s supremacy over earthly rulers in Romans.

“Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God.” (Romans 13:1 ESV)

See, God was not done with Paul in Corinth. The mission was not finished, and there is no one under heaven that is going to stop Paul, not even the government. This was the immediate answer to God’s word of protection over Paul that he should not be afraid… In fact the hates of hell cannot hold back the power and purpose of the church.

Brother Andrew

There is this story of Brother Andrew… missionary during the cold war…

During the height of the Cold War, Communist countries were keeping a tight control on their borders, but God had called Brother Andrew to help the Christians behind that Iron Curtain.

“When I pulled up to the checkpoint on the other side of the Danube, I said to myself, “Well, I’m in luck. Only half a dozen cars. This Romanian border crossing should go swiftly.”

“But when it took forty minutes to inspect the first car, I began to worry…literally everything that family was carrying had to be taken out and spread on the ground.

“Every car in line was put through the same routine. The fourth inspection lasted well over an hour. The guards took the driver inside and kept him there while they removed hub caps, took his engine apart, removed seats.

“Dear Lord,” I said, as at last there was just one car ahead of me, “what am I going to do? Any serious inspection will show up these Romanian Bibles right away.

“Lord,” I went on, “I know that no amount of cleverness on my part can get me through this border search. Dare I ask for a miracle? Let me take some of the Bibles out and leave them in the open where they will be seen. Then, Lord I cannot possibly be depending on my own stratagems, can I? I will be depending utterly upon You.”

“While the last car was going through its chilling inspection, I managed to take several Bibles from their hiding places and pile them on the seat beside me.

“It was my turn. I put the little VW in low gear, inched up to the officer standing at the left side of the road, handed him my papers, and started to get out. But his knee was against the door, holding it closed. He looked at my photograph in the passport, scribbled something down, shoved the papers back under my nose, and abruptly waved me on.

“Surely thirty seconds had not passed. I started the engine and inched forward. Was I supposed to pull over, out of the way where the car could be taken apart? Was I … surely I wasn’t…I coasted forward, my foot poised above the brake. Nothing happened. I looked out the rear mirror. The guard was waving the next car to a stop, indicating to the driver that he had to get out. On I drove a few more yards. The guard was having the driver behind me open the hood of his car. And then I was too far away to doubt that indeed I had made it through that incredible checkpoint in the space of thirty seconds.

“My heart was racing. Not with the excitement of the crossing, but with the excitement of having caught such a spectacular glimpse of God at work!”

Jesus Rules and Reigns

The truth is for you and me to understand that no matter what happens around us, Jesus is ruling and reigning and sits on the throne. No matter the man that is placed above us to preside over this nation, Jesus is still King. No one is going to shake Him or have him change His mind for His plans will NOT be thwarted. So be encouraged.

See Paul was a Roman citizen and would use his knowledge of Roman law to his advantage. In this case, use the liberties that are given to you and exercise them. It is not faithless to exercise your rights as a citizen in whatever country you live in. Vote for biblical principles. You have a right to make a case and stand for what you believe, just always remember, we serve a higher master, a higher court. We serve King Jesus.

Preservation Empowers Perseverance | Part 1 Of 3

Mon, 03 Aug 2015 12:43:59 GMT

We see restlessness all around us don’t we? Violence and words of malice that strike at the very core of who we are. At this point I sort of a dread having to open my Facebook page to see the hate of everyday. For whatever reason, each of us can so quickly be spun into this web of poison.The funny thing is that as I describe this situation, several things may pop into YOUR head. It may not necessarily be what I’m thinking about. Because each of us have a bone to pick with something.

We all have THAT THING that really gets us all riled up.

WE all want to WIN or persevere. Not only that, we all want OUR way preserved. We want the world to think, act and feel the way we do. We want to be preserved and persevere.

We so quickly forget who truly preserves us. We so quickly forget the promise. Jesus. Jesus, preserves us. And that preservation is what motivates our perseverance! Over the next couple of weeks we’ll be looking at the ‘3 Characteristics of How God’s Preservation Empowers Perseverance And Witness’ based off of Acts 18:1-17.

PART 1 – Through the Faith Family

PART II – Through His Providence

PART III – Through His Word

God Empowers Through the Faith Family

After this Paul left Athens and went to Corinth. And he found a Jew named Aquila, a native of Pontus, recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla, because Claudius had commanded all the Jews to leave Rome. And he went to see them, and because he was of the same trade he stayed with them and worked, for they were tentmakers by trade. And he reasoned in the synagogue every Sabbath, and tried to persuade Jews and Greeks.

Presence (v. 2-4)

If you see in the beginning there was an availability by the saints. Aquila and his wife Priscilla were model church members that were ready, willing and available. People knew each other, or at least they found ways to be involved with each other. Everything will be added to you God will bring you the resources you need, including faithful community to surround you to accomplish God’s mission WITH you. For the faith family to be useful and active they were all readily available.

Power (v. 3 and 8)

It has always been speculated what Paul’s ‘thorn’ is in the passage in 2 Corinthians. But what we do know is that whatever it was, it could not be taken away. Most likely, Paul needing some sort of help and couldn’t do everything by himself. There is help. The body of Christ; Aquila and Priscilla ready in and out of season were ready to be of assistance. In fact, they all had a similar trade.

They did all their WORK for the glory of God – (v.3) Paul being a tent maker uses this profession as a means of networking for God’s glory. In other words, it is not the case that Paul engages in tent making as a necessity so that he can do his “real job” of preaching. Instead, Paul’s varieties of work in the sewing shop, marketplace, synagogue, lecture hall, and prison are all forms of witness. In any of these contexts, Paul participates in God’s restorative project and lives out his new identity in Christ for the sake of God’s glory and out of love for his neighbors—even his former enemies. Even as he is being transported across the sea as a prisoner, he employs his gifts of leadership and encouragement to guide the soldiers and sailors holding him captive to safety during a severe storm (Acts 27:27-38). If he had not had the gift of being a preacher and apostle, he would still have been a witness to Christ simply by the way he engaged in making tents, toiling for the sake of the community, and working for the good of others in all situations.

We must make sure we don’t make distinctions that separate us from the every day, every moment actuality of our faith and the implications it will always present. In every way Paul was who he had to be in order to share Christ. So with out excuse we must be faithful to be Christians, and present to do the work of ministry.

Possession (v. 5)

[9] And when I was with you and was in need, I did not burden anyone, for the brothers who came from Macedonia supplied my need. So I refrained and will refrain from burdening you in any way. – 2 Corinthians 11:9

Based off of this coinciding scripture which most likely points to this point in Paul’s second journey, when Silas and timothy ‘arrived from Macedonia’, in verse 5 is probably part of the gift that they bring to Paul.

This piece is always so interesting. But the people in the early church always took care of one another. The piece that is important to note about this community action is the manner in which they help each other.

You don’t have to ‘start a ministry’ to be faithful. Just be it, Just do it. You never know the actions you take, how many years down the line that it’s going to affect someone’s life. In my life, I was only 8 years old. My father had just had been in a real bad place. The cards just didn’t fall in his lap right. It’s the sudden lay-off, the sudden drop in pay and the inevitable hardship that follows when the money you make doesn’t fit the outgoing bills. My parents loved the LORD, they were faithful in sharing Jesus with their friends and the LORD provided so many resources through those around us.

There are always those people right. All of us a story or two that carry examples of servants that really went out of their way to be like Jesus to us. Be like that. And i think more than ever these realities hit me as an adult knowing the risk families took by allowing us to live with them and take us in.

Even now, there are people in this body that love us, my family, in ways that truly speak to us and care that helps and motivates me to speak truth boldly. For them I am so grateful.

Are you ready?

Following after such great examples like Aquila, Priscilla, Silas and Timothy. There are so many arenas that right now you can help your faith family with. That you, can help advance the kingdom and make a difference. Really there are three main things most churches do. Consider the following

1. Sunday Mornings

Prayer Team
Hospitality
Kidz Program
Stewardship
Audio & Visual Tech Team

2. Community Groups

Authentic Friendship- Hospitality –
Discipleship & Leadership
Mission Organization

3. Bible Study

Youth Advocacy
Children’s Bible Memorization
Bible Study Leader
Communicator

I believe that if we as a local body does 3 things really well, we can be most effective at accomplishing the great commission in your city. This is our field. Your city is your inheritance. AS a team that is filled with the fire of the Spirit to be witnesses to your hurting community, we can do it together.