Rating: 
Summary: Concise, Interesting and Biblical
Review: Alexander Strauch has made a wonderful aid to the Church. He explores issues that you would need to buy several different books to see discussed. He covers pratically everything there is to know about the bible and church leadership and in some detail.
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Summary: Topples Traditional Thinking on Pastor Led Christianity
Review: As an Elder in a Bible believing church, I was shocked to find that our general way of doing business was in direct contradiction to the clear words of scripture. Questions of church structure are difficult because they are not consolidated into one verse or chapter. Some in our church suggested that there was no specific correct church structure given in the Bible. Others suggested that only traditional Pastors were qualified to lead a growing vibrant church. This book brings together every passage related to church leadership. It is a tremendous reference tool for analysing these various positions. Perhaps most importantly, it is written first as an examination of the Biblical text rather than an argument defending a denominational or traditional bias.Alexander Strauch makes the case again and again that a plurality of Elders is the only biblical structure for the church. There is solid exegesis of difficult passages. This weighty work distills the Biblical truth and clearly highlights the Biblical case for a group of Elders as God's plan for governing the local church.
Rating:
Summary: Desperately need book
Review: I have been an elder for 5 years and have felt that the general understanding was not based upon the Scripture. After an indepth study of the Scriptures I had come to the same conclusion as the author, but am not as able to explain it. This is the most important book written on the subject apart from the Holy Scriptures. Every church that is desiring to comply with the Word of God concerning church leadership needs to use this book for a concise presentation of the Eldership according to the Word of God
Rating:
Summary: The best study of New-Testament leadership!
Review: I'll make this short: Biblical Eldership is thorough, readable, and authoritative. It covers every New Testatment text dealing with church leadership. The intitial reading won't take long, but you'll want to go back through again to absorb all the powerful ideas presented here. It challenges the current 'one-man-band' idea of leadership, and calls for a return to leadership by a group of elders. Buy it!! You won't be sorry.
Rating:
Summary: This is what the church needs
Review: The church and not to mention today's pastor need to understand that the church is not run by one man, but a body of pastors. This way is not only biblical but common sense. Some pastors just want the power of the pulpit,and for those who are pastors, not willing to share the eldership with other is not called to be one. This book hits the problems of the church today which starts with are bad leadership model. Over worked pastors and under feed church. May God use this book to open our eyes... God bless ,
Alex
Rating:
Summary: Bold and True
Review: This book is a bold book in that the author is willing to be in a small minority. The position he advocates seems be very uncommon. The book is a true book in my opinion because the author is willing to bring all the New Testament has to say on the subject into his work. PART ONE: BIBLICAL ELDERSHIP 1. Pastoral Leadership 2. Shared Leadership 3. Male Leadership 4. Qualified Leadership 5. Servant Leadership This section makes great reading for those thinking of going into ministry or those who have been at it a long time. Why? Because it is clear that leading one of Christ churches is very serious business and not for everyone. PART TWO: DEFENSE OF BIBLICAL ELDERSHIP Here are 16 pages that make the heart of the book. He makes a powerful argument for shared leadership here. PART THREE: THE EXPOSITION OF SCRIPTURE Here in several sections and 140 pages is what the author thinks about all relevant passages of Scripture.
Rating:
Summary: What does the Word say?
Review: This book is an excellent study on what the Bible says about church eldership. It challenges the prevailing view that the pastor is solely in charge of the church, and instead asserts that the example and command of the New Testament is for multiple elders to jointly lead and shepherd the flock. If your church doesn't practice this model, I'd recommend you read this book (with Bible open) and consider what the Word says about (1) church governance, and (2) the character qualities and work that elders should be accomplishing in the local church. Highly recommended!
Rating:
Summary: What does the Word say?
Review: This book is an excellent study on what the Bible says about church eldership. It challenges the prevailing view that the pastor is solely in charge of the church, and instead asserts that the example and command of the New Testament is for multiple elders to jointly lead and shepherd the flock. If your church doesn't practice this model, I'd recommend you read this book (with Bible open) and consider what the Word says about (1) church governance, and (2) the character qualities and work that elders should be accomplishing in the local church. Highly recommended!
Rating:
Summary: A challenge to the church.
Review: This book is excellent. Not only is the book written well, but the content is outstanding. The author shows the Biblical concept of `pastoring' (eldership). The highlight of the book is the large section devoted to the biblical occurrences of elders. From these passages the concept of eldership is examined and defined. The author quotes a great variety of scholars, church leaders, commentators, and other authors. The author is also very devoted to being biblical in his conclusions and definitions. In a book of this nature, it would be easy for the author to write in a very demeaning way. But the author is gentle, and professional in his presentation of the Bible's view on eldership. The only possible problem I had with the book was two interpretations the author made. First was his interpretation of 1Tim. 3:10; he tries to make this verse apply to elders as well as deacons, when it only seems to be applying to deacons. (pages 69 and 202) Second was his interpretation of 1Tim. 5:24-25 to mean that the congregation had to test the possible elder appointee. He made it seem as if the elder appointee had to be a part of the congregation for a good period of time before appointment (page 283). These interpretations are not incredible stretches, but stretches none the less. The author makes an incredible point in the book, "I am fully convinced that if reverent, accurate exposition of God's Word will not convince Christian people of the nature and importance of biblical eldership, then nothing will." This is a challenge to the local church- WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY? If we do not care what the Bible says, we have major problems. If we care what the Bible says, we need to seriously reconsider how church has traditionally been operated and governed in the past.
Rating:
Summary: A challenge to the church.
Review: This book is excellent. Not only is the book written well, but the content is outstanding. The author shows the Biblical concept of 'pastoring' (eldership). The highlight of the book is the large section devoted to the biblical occurrences of elders. From these passages the concept of eldership is examined and defined. The author quotes a great variety of scholars, church leaders, commentators, and other authors. The author is also very devoted to being biblical in his conclusions and definitions. In a book of this nature, it would be easy for the author to write in a very demeaning way. But the author is gentle, and professional in his presentation of the Bible's view on eldership. The only possible problem I had with the book was two interpretations the author made. First was his interpretation of 1Tim. 3:10; he tries to make this verse apply to elders as well as deacons, when it only seems to be applying to deacons. (pages 69 and 202) Second was his interpretation of 1Tim. 5:24-25 to mean that the congregation had to test the possible elder appointee. He made it seem as if the elder appointee had to be a part of the congregation for a good period of time before appointment (page 283). These interpretations are not incredible stretches, but stretches none the less. The author makes an incredible point in the book, "I am fully convinced that if reverent, accurate exposition of God's Word will not convince Christian people of the nature and importance of biblical eldership, then nothing will." This is a challenge to the local church- WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY? If we do not care what the Bible says, we have major problems. If we care what the Bible says, we need to seriously reconsider how church has traditionally been operated and governed in the past.
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