Most pastor’s within our denomination are well aware of materials that can and should be used for officer training; that is, training for the biblical offices of elder and deacon.  There is a high need for theological content so that the officers are principally-driven.  There is also the vital need for officers to be trained and examined in character formation.  A pastor with whom I served many years ago directed me to the familiar passages in 1 Timothy and Titus which reveal the qualifications for church officers and showed me that they are much more about character than theological precision.  That has become very formative in the way I approach men who are nominated for the office by the congregation.

But what about after they are elected into office?  What kind (if any) training should be present for these men?  I find it very easy to assume that, because these men have been found qualified as officers in the church, that they come in prepared and ready to serve.  That is just not the case!  We all need continued direction in serving the Lord humbly and faithfully. We have never arrived at a place where we are comfortably ministering.   In our roles as pastors/officers, it is our tendency to gravitate to the policies, curriculum, building mechanics, and budgets of our churches.  Is not that the way we all are?  These things are manageable without really dealing with people who are sinful and broken and who need wise biblical counsel.  So often we fear the people we serve and fend them off with policies rather than be fueled by the gospel of change and hope.  But where do we start?

Our officers at Redeemer have been encouraged by a couple of books that we have been working through.  The first is The Trellis and the Vine by Colin Marshall and Tony Payne.  Why this book?  This book is helping us think through the big picture of what the church should be doing and how to effectively shepherd in discipling people toward Christ.  It forces us to ask “Has ‘administry’ trumped ministry?’ and how does the leadership get involved in training those under their care to minister to others?  Very good foundational work.

As a follow-up to our trellis and vine foundation, we are now going through workbooks from Paul David Tripp called, Instruments in the Redeemer’s Hands.  It is based on his book of the same title.  There is a facilitator’s guide as well as participant workbooks.  The goal is training our leaders (officers) what ought to be involved in discipleship.  The Trellis and the Vine is directing and encouraging us to be about discipleship, and these workbooks direct our discipleship more pointedly.  The goal is looking on the heart of the individual and not just working toward outward behavioral modification.  It asks the question, “What rules the heart” and then is a help in directing us to help people see what it means for Christ to rule our hearts.

Once per month we have a joint meeting of elders and deacons to discuss homework and read through the next section of the workbook.  There are twelve lessons that will take us through a full year to complete.  Not only will this help us become more effective leaders and disciplers, but will encourage common goals, reveal the real importance of ministry to people from both elders and deacons, and build grace-centered camaraderie between the two offices.  We are looking forward to seeing the fruitful results and hope that you will see the  benefit from our own discipleship.