Church Elders Quotes

“Elders shepherd churches like Jesus by teaching, leading, pursuing, serving, and modeling like Jesus.”
― Jeramie Rinne, Church Elders: How to Shepherd God's People Like Jesus

“Pastors, elders, and members often misinterpret the church through business and organizational lenses.”
― Jeramie Rinne, Church Elders: How to Shepherd God's People Like Jesus

“And what about the officers that Jesus gave as gifts to his church? Paul lists apostles, prophets, evangelists, and then “pastors and teachers” (Eph. 4:11). The Greek grammar makes clear that “pastor” and “teacher” go together to describe one office or role. So the pastors, or shepherds, of the church are also its teachers. And as we’ve already seen, teaching is at the heart of the office of elder.”
― Jeramie Rinne, Church Elders: How to Shepherd God's People Like Jesus

“Gentle elders exercise their authority with the tenderness of a shepherd and the sensitivity of a loving father.”
― Jeramie Rinne, Church Elders: How to Shepherd God's People Like Jesus

“Elders profoundly embody the gospel when they search out wandering members. Keeping watch and tracking down strays is a Jesus-shaped activity.”
― Jeramie Rinne, Church Elders: How to Shepherd God's People Like Jesus

“What would happen in our local flocks if Jesus’s under-shepherds gave themselves to prayer the way they give themselves to budgets, e-mails, and policies?”
― Jeramie Rinne, Church Elders: How to Shepherd God's People Like Jesus

“Our practice of prayer not only needs to be pulled forward by the template of Jesus’s personal communion with the Father, it also should be pushed ahead by the demanding nature of shepherding work itself. Pastoral ministry can bring you to your knees, one way or another.”
― Jeramie Rinne, Church Elders: How to Shepherd God's People Like Jesus

“A church should be able to direct a newborn believer to an elder and say: “Do you want to know what a real Christian should be like? Then look at him.”
― Jeramie Rinne, Church Elders: How to Shepherd God's People Like Jesus

“Elders must also emulate the other “half” of Jesus’s ministry. Shepherding like Jesus means praying like Jesus:”
― Jeramie Rinne, Church Elders: How to Shepherd God's People Like Jesus

“The problem arises when these businesslike elements become part of a comprehensive business model for the congregation that ignores biblical teaching. It might look something like this: Pastor = president/CEO Staff = vice presidents Members = shareholders/loyal customers Visitors = potential customers And the elders’ role? Elders = board of trustees”
― Jeramie Rinne, Church Elders: How to Shepherd God's People Like Jesus

“Pastoral ministry involves forms of suffering, discouragement, and heartbreak for which no school can prepare a man.”
― Jeramie Rinne, Church Elders: How to Shepherd God's People Like Jesus

“If you are an elder, step up and work hard at leading your church. You don’t need to have all the answers, and you certainly won’t get everything exactly right. But Jesus has commissioned you to guide his flock. Your church needs you to take the initiative and plot a course forward.”
― Jeramie Rinne, Church Elders: How to Shepherd God's People Like Jesus