General Information
The following link is from the Gospel Coalition and provides the videos, questions, lecture notes, and Scripture references for the entirety of our time together during these next 6 weeks.
Meeting in person is certainly the preference, but we also know it can't happen all the time. If you can't make it a week or want to follow along from afar, this is the link to the study we're doing: https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/course/restoring-biblical-eldership/#recovering-a-lost-doctrine
There’s an error on the Gospel Coalition website with week two’s video. You can find the video here instead: https://youtu.be/OrOn4MAg9s0?si=ycXwxhOAdW1t9-re
The sessions include: (There's 8, but we will decide on only 6 sessions.)
Recovering Lost Doctrine
Biblical Evidence for Eldership
Eldership and the Church
Eldership as Pastoral Oversight
Qualifications for Elders
Abilities of Elders and Examination
The Work: Teaching and Protecting
The Work: Leading and Healing
In person format
Week #1 will begin on October 8th and we will run it for 6 weeks ending on November 12th.
Each Sunday we will meet in the gym during the Sunday School hour.
We will start promptly at 9:45am by watching the video first. Each video is about 14-15 minutes long.
Then after the video we will discuss the content within our SS groups.
Then lastly, Nick or one of the elders will give a large group summary talk on what was covered.
At 10:30 we will dismiss for worship.
Information From the October Newsletter
As the New Testament book of Hebrews comes to an end, the wise teacher ends his letter saying, "Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls as those who will give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with sighing, for that would be harmful to you." (Hebrews 13:17)
For the next six weeks, FBC will be leading a special bible study emphasis on Biblical Eldership. The governance of FBC is based on this model. These lessons will strengthen the church family's understanding of eldership and governance according to God's Word. Each session will give our family of faith a time to study and discuss this topic in depth.
This study will take place on October 8, 15, 22, 29, and November 5, and 12 during the Sunday School hour (9:45-10:30am) in they gym. All adults down to teenagers will meet together with their Sunday School class around a table to view a brief video bible study, have class discussion and close with a large group wrap-up. We are going to focus the study for 45 minutes and no more. Coffee and donuts will be available at 9:15am and the study will begin at 9:45am. Please be prompt and ready to go!
This is a strategic first step in getting prepared to begin a search for a new pastor. Gaining a better understanding of biblical eldership will make FBC stronger and more resilient. It will put the church in a position of strength to better discover and call a pastor to lead the ministry of the church forward!
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I look forward to seeing you at this study!
ours in Christ,
Nick Davis
28 Keep watch over yourselves and over all the flock, of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God [a] that he obtained with the blood of his own Son. (Acts 20:28)
1 Now as an elder myself and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, as well as one who shares in the glory to be revealed, I exhort the elders among you 2 to tend the flock of God that is in your charge, exercising the oversight, [a] not under compulsion but willingly, as God would have you do it, [b] not for sordid gain but eagerly. (1 Peter 5:1-2)
