Review: Gospel Eldership

Don't let the girly cover prevent you from breaking open this discipleship resource.  While there are a great many theological treatments on the biblical mandate for eldership, this resource bridges the theological vision with the tools for development and spiritual formation of elders.

This book is designed to be an individual study or small group with lessons and exercises which push you to examine yourself around personal character, competency, and compatibility.  All of which are crucial traits for leading a church family in spiritual growth.

The exercises involve examining false-righteousness, idols, character, pride, temptation, spiritual disciplines, conflict resolution, and mission.  

Here are a few memorable, tweet-able quotes:

"It's possible to be very old in the faith and yet tragically young in the gospel" (5).
"The most servant-hearted leaders are those who are most aware of their struggles with servanthood" (12).
"Eldership is much less about competence than about character" (34).
"Wise, godly, masculine elders create a church culture in which women thrive in their God-given gifting" (72).
"All of our failures in conflict ultimately come because we are man-centered, not God centered" (90).

All of the exercises are thoroughly introspective, and includes a husband and wife discussion, which she is required to sign.  Throughout this book there is a healthy emphasis on the need for continual applying the gospel through acceptance and joyful, continual repentance.  

Having come from an instructional discipleship model, it is truly a blessing to see a resource that has a healthy balance of formation and instruction.  This book seems to be written as a church-planter tool.  One question, rather than a criticism, is how might this book be used in an already existing, but ingrown, leadership team.