Elders as Divine Gifts

Jesus ascended into Heaven but left gifts to the church. Those gifts are equivalent to the gifts of the Spirit, extraordinary powers initially and ordinary powers today. The ideal congregation is described as sheep who follow Spirit-led shepherds that are trained as gifts of Christ. These Christ-led leaders supervise a consensus of the local church into decisions and actions that are authorized by the Chief Shepherd. These Scriptural leaders are designated and assessed by their work. This book explores the history of elders and the pattern left by the Holy Spirit for their successful service for Jesus. The nature of the leadership, their limited power, their role and responsibilities are examined by the Holy Scriptures. A knowledge of their specific qualifications, their number, the means of selection, evaluation, and time of service should give the reader confidence in becoming an elder himself or in serving under and with elders.