79a) Formation and Functioning of a Biblical Eldership

The point: Recognize that the outworking of eldership principles will vary based on your specific church situation, and failure to do so will lead to error and negative responses.

Martin uses the analogy of 'virgin soil' (no mature Christians) versus inheriting 'partially grown elders' or an 'established work' to illustrate how the application of eldership principles will vary greatly depending on the church's specific situation.

And as I introduce this large heading, I want to make a couple of qualifying statements. And the first is this, that the outworking of these principles will vary in terms of the situation in which God has placed you as you are brought into the eldership yourself. Some of you will go into virgin soil, and in that virgin soil, there will not be at the outset any men of any semblance of matured Christian character. What you have to do in the application of these principles will in many ways be different from the situation where a man goes in, and we have seen this, and the very core group that is...

1:40 - 3:08 Read in full sermon

The point: Never regard the outworking of these principles as mechanical; always submit to the free and unpredictable activity of the Spirit and Providence.

He uses the analogy of a blueprint for an army or a commercial company to warn against approaching the formation of an eldership mechanically, emphasizing the need to rely on the Spirit and Providence.

And we must never forget that. And approach this as though we were given a blueprint for the organization of an army, or the organization of a company that's about to float stock and throw itself into the commercial arena. The outworking of the principles must never be regarded as mechanical. Now, with these qualifying statements conditioning all that follows, I want to set before you these directives under three major headings, and I've tried to use words that have some sense, words that have some stickability to them, supplication, cultivation, and recognition.

4:26 - 5:03 Read in full sermon

The point: Contemplate the recognition of fellow elders with the understanding that God curses those who trust in man and make flesh their arm.

The metaphor of 'cultivation' is used, comparing the congregation to God's garden where elders are plants to be grown, nurtured, and brought to their God-given potential through sanctified endeavor.

So as you contemplate in due course this whole matter of the recognition of fellow elders or elders initially, let this verse be stamped over all of your perspective. God pronounces a curse upon the man who trusts in man and makes flesh his arm. If you think you've got it all sorted out and your theology of it and the text are all there, and there is not an internal, present sense of one's utter dependence upon God causing us to have this entire endeavor founded upon eminent prayerfulness, it would be right for God to curse those endeavors. And in turn, the people of God suffer from God's curs...

16:14 - 17:41 Read in full sermon

The point: Preach and teach thoroughly on the subject of eldership so that the people of God can act in faith, convinced it is God's will.

Martin quotes Ian Murray's condensation of Spurgeon's autobiography, detailing how Spurgeon taught on eldership until the congregation, convinced by Scripture, unanimously desired to appoint them, illustrating the power of biblical teaching.

So often it's true that people err not knowing the Scriptures. They err not because they've got a clenched fist to their Bibles, it's because they've got an empty head with respect to a given area of biblical instruction. And so as part of the ongoing outworking of the Lord's commission in Matthew 28, 20, to teach them all things whatsoever I have commanded you, then in this area of seeking to do the work of cultivation, preaching and teaching on the subject is foundational. There's a lovely little incident recorded in the second volume of Ian Murray's condensation of Spurgeon's four volumes o...

18:53 - 20:02 Read in full sermon

The point: When contemplating a man for eldership, compare him carefully to Christ's 'portrait' in 1 Timothy 3 and Titus 1 to ensure he is a reasonable mirror image.

He uses the analogy of being picked up at an airport by someone who has only a picture of him to illustrate how Christ has given a 'portrait' (1 Timothy 3, Titus 1) for His church to recognize His gifts (elders).

Look at this man and see if he is a reasonable mirror image of the portrait that I have drawn. There are times when I've traveled abroad and I'm to be picked up at the airport with people who've never seen me, never seen a picture of me. They've just heard my voice. And what the person does on the other end is they give a picture and they say, Somebody looks like this.

37:03 - 37:24 Read in full sermon

The point: Do not waffle on the point of biblical qualifications for elders; insist on a reasonable representation of Christ's portrait.

Martin quotes John Owen extensively on the church's duty not to call or choose an unqualified person to office, highlighting the danger of debasing the ministry and ruining the church by neglecting antecedent qualifications.

Listen to Owen in his section on the true nature of a gospel church which is listed at the end in that brief bibliography. He says that the call of persons under the pastoral office in the church consists of two parts, election and ordination. Then, dealing with what is previous to election or the suffrage of the church, this is what he says. That which is previous unto it is the meekness, that is, the fitness of the person for his office and work that is to be chosen.

38:23 - 38:51 Read in full sermon

The point: Maintain harmonious relationships with your fellow elders as brethren, applying all biblical directives for unity, love, and interpersonal speech and attitudes.

He uses the analogy of marriage revealing remaining sin to explain how the intimate relationship within an eldership can expose hidden sin and create potential for conflict, underscoring the need for harmonious relationships.

to your fellow elders and then directives pertaining to your labors with your fellow elders and the proper order of considering these things is the order I've laid them before you because if there's any breakdown in your relationship to your fellow elders it's going to show up in your ability to labor with your fellow elders as you ought and under that first heading I have just two major words of exhortation and to introduce them let me say that your efficiency in your labors will be conditioned greatly by your relationship to these men as Christian brothers if distance suspicion lack of trust...

52:14 - 53:43 Read in full sermon

The point: Establish a weekly meeting for prayer and consultation with your fellow elders, guarding that time with holy tenacity and ensuring it is marked by prayerfulness, submission to Scripture, mutual respect, and transparent o…

Martin shares a personal, painful experience where an elder's silence was interpreted as humility but was actually a 'silent protest,' leading to a demand for transparent openness in elders' meetings and ultimately the elder's resignation.

it must never be looked upon as a business meeting of the leaders like the trustees in a corporation or the CEOs and the vice presidents know we are under shepherds who are responsible for the care of the flock of God it ought to be marked by a practical submission to the word of God when issues are discussed scripture ought to be at hand scriptural perspectives ought to be brought into the discussion it ought to be marked by mutual respect and submission though you of necessity may have to take the lead in organizing the meeting setting the agenda you don't have to take the lead when every is...

61:31 - 62:59 Read in full sermon

The point: Insist on a free conveying of information among elders to prevent devious scheming by church members and ensure collective awareness of pastoral interactions.

He references the business world saying 'the committee never accomplished anything' to acknowledge the frustration of consensus-building, but affirms that God has ordained His church to be governed by a 'committee' (eldership).

and he would say I don't agree with you brethren we then said show us from the word of God where our decision tentative decision on this is contrary to scripture and he wouldn't bring scripture and it was evident it was a projection of his own prejudices and I would spare you men that so that's what lies behind this exhortation demand transparent openness there's a saying you know in the business world the committee never accomplished anything well the problem is God's ordained to govern his church by a committee it's called an eldership but people recognize the frustration of men with leaders...

63:56 - 64:45 Read in full sermon

The point: Insist on a free conveying of information among elders to prevent devious scheming by church members and ensure collective awareness of pastoral interactions.

Martin gives the practical example of using a copying machine for all correspondence to ensure free conveyance of information among elders, preventing devious scheming by church members.

that information the entire eldership now knows why so and so is not coming out to prayer meeting his work schedule precludes it now that's just a very technical thing but on deeper issues people will be devious enough to try to set one elder against another to single out an elder that they think may have a soft underbelly on an issue with which they have a controversy with God and they'll seek to work that and if you're not communicating with one another conveying information about your interaction with the flock you could unwittingly be drawn into that kind of devious scheming and that's not...

65:22 - 66:52 Read in full sermon

The point: Ensure good communication and accountability with deacons, recognizing that elders are responsible for the oversight of the assembly, including functions administered by deacons.

He shares his church's early practice of monthly elder-deacon meetings to learn the division of labor, illustrating how to establish a trustful and functional relationship between the two offices.

tells from the labor of the deacons that there must be this ongoing relationship of trustful and functional interaction what we did in our early days because we came out of a background where we didn't have well defined concepts of elder and deacon and when we left the denomination and the church disbanded membership and officers etc and we were teaching through the word of God when two of us were recognized in September of 67 as elders and three men as deacons we said let's meet monthly in order to learn the division of labor because things have been so convoluted and we would have that month...

71:58 - 73:13 Read in full sermon