Thank you so much for your writings and insight as to the role of elders. What a huge task for elders to be shepherds of the people of God; to be able to lead the people on their journey towards transformation. At a time when it seems that elders’ visits are not so common anymore. Could it be that our own spiritual lives need a lot of “work”. Could it be that we don’t have a true or solid relationship with God? Do you think that all potential elders should take a course, before becoming an elder? A course that focuses on our daily need for a personal relationship with God and our neighbour. A relationship that consists of talking and listening to God, repeatedly. So, that we truly understand what it means to love the Lord God above all and our neighbour as ourselves.
Most of us are very reluctant to be an elder. Could that be because we don’t have a personal relationship with God? I think, if we did, we would be much more anxious to serve Him, and fulfill our tasks as elders.
John, you are totally right, it is all about spiritual leadership. A course I was referring to would not be a course as to how to be an elder, but a course that would focus on the need to have a daily walk with God. A course in spirituality. A course that would make us "discover" what it really means to be an elder. A course that would create the desire in us to be a shepherd for the people. In other words, a change needs to occur within, so that we would be fully committed to the call of elder. I think that most of us are not properly spiritually "equipped", and therefore feel inadequate, and therefore not fully committed.
Posted in: An Invitation to Transformation
Pastor Neil,
Thank you so much for your writings and insight as to the role of elders. What a huge task for elders to be shepherds of the people of God; to be able to lead the people on their journey towards transformation. At a time when it seems that elders’ visits are not so common anymore. Could it be that our own spiritual lives need a lot of “work”. Could it be that we don’t have a true or solid relationship with God? Do you think that all potential elders should take a course, before becoming an elder? A course that focuses on our daily need for a personal relationship with God and our neighbour. A relationship that consists of talking and listening to God, repeatedly. So, that we truly understand what it means to love the Lord God above all and our neighbour as ourselves.
Most of us are very reluctant to be an elder. Could that be because we don’t have a personal relationship with God? I think, if we did, we would be much more anxious to serve Him, and fulfill our tasks as elders.
In His Love,
Matt
Posted in: An Invitation to Transformation
John, you are totally right, it is all about spiritual leadership. A course I was referring to would not be a course as to how to be an elder, but a course that would focus on the need to have a daily walk with God. A course in spirituality. A course that would make us "discover" what it really means to be an elder. A course that would create the desire in us to be a shepherd for the people. In other words, a change needs to occur within, so that we would be fully committed to the call of elder. I think that most of us are not properly spiritually "equipped", and therefore feel inadequate, and therefore not fully committed.