Elder Training at Basilica
I was asked to share the Elder Training process we used at Basilica, and when I (finally) found it, I thought I’d post it here for anyone else to use/tweak/whatever. This list (especially the reading) is the baseline. This was tweaked on a case-by-case basis depending on the past experiences, passions, or limitations of the man in training.
(For example… since the requirements of an elder don’t include being able to read and comprehend large amounts of literature, and since otherwise qualified men might be unable to complete a list like this in a timely manner, a list of nearly 100% audio versions of the same (or similar) material would be given.)
Reading List
Gifts/Disciplines
- Celebration of Discipline (Foster) or The Spirit of the Disciplines (Willard)
- Surprised by the Power of the Spirit (Deere)
Pastoral/Preaching
- Misc MP3’s (Keller)
- The Supremacy of God in Preaching (Piper)
- Brothers, We are Not Professionals (Piper)
- Christ Centered Preaching (Chapell) or Preaching to a Post-Everything World (Eswine)
Marriage
- When Sinners Say “I Do” (Harvey)
Missions/Contextualization
- Misc MP3’s (Keller)
- The Celtic Way of Evangelism (Hunter)
- Let the Nations Be Glad (Piper)
The Church
- Biblical Eldership (Strauch)
Theology
- Systematic Theology (Grudem)
- Living for God’s Glory (Beeke)
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Pastoral Theology MP3’s (Piper - Recommended)
- Desiring God (Piper)
Preaching
These are not tasks to complete, but goals for every sermon…
Faithfulness to the text
- The point of the text is the point of the sermon
- Jesus is shown to be the hero/point of the passage
Communicate the gospel clearly
- Not too academic
- Not too culturally influenced
- Some aspect of the cross is explained in detail
Pastoral Leadership
Here are some goals for a biblical leader
Counseling
- Willingness to be uncomfortable and share gospel to the hurting
- Willingness to make people uncomfortable by exposing idolatry/unbelief
- In all things, speaking the truth in love
Personal Evangelism/Discipleship
- Who are you sharing your faith with?
- Who are you training in the faith?
Filling in needed gaps in ministry
- What needs to be done?
- Should I do it?
- Should I empower/delegate?
Owning the burden of the church
- Sacrificial giving of self (time, finances, etc…) to Basilica
- Investing your emotions into ministries/people in the church
