The Elders Series

A four-volume series on the leadership of elders in the congregation.

Healthy congregations require healthy leadership. Without healthy leadership, the odds of a congregation growing spiritually, let alone numerically, are greatly diminished. This is the principal concern of this series: Healthy leadership facilitates healthy congregational life.

The four volumes (Answer, Reflect, Lead, and Enjoy) parallel the four basic components of Christian Leadership.
Leadership that is based on God's call to service, one which we must Answer.
Leaders who are qualified and equipped by a life representative of Christian character, maturity; they Reflect His Character.
Leaders who possess competencies, abilities that serve them well as they leads and shepherds God's people; they Lead His Church.
Leaders serve within the community, both the congregation and its social context provide the area for an elder to serve as a leader within the community of faith and a witness to the community around it as they Enjoy His People.

All four are essential for Christian leadership to be effective, none of them are optional.

These books are designed as useful study guides that utilize practical and academic insights to provide a "manual" to the eldership. Each chapter is intentionally brief and includes reflective questions for your own personal use, or use as an eldership as a means of training and equipping one another for service.

This series can be used in two ways:

First, it can be used as an individual study, something that you as an individual elder within the congregation read for your own edification and education. You may be a new elder, or perhaps an experienced leader looking for additional perspective and insight. The Reflection Questions are designed to help you apply each chapter to your life as a Christian and an elder.

A second way to utilize this series is with your eldership as a group. Each elder could read the book and individually consider the Reflection Questions, but then make use of the questions to discuss the text together as an eldership. Each of the six chapters in a book could be used in six elders' meetings, or even used in a leadership retreat as a means of sparking reflection, discussion and application; with the book's theme becoming the theme of the retreat.

In either case, whether individual or group, we do pray the book is beneficial to your life and ministry.

About the Authors

This series is the fruit of three individuals' labor, working in concert with one another, and bringing their diverse experience and perspective to the table for discussion as they crafted this series for church leaders.

James Estep, an academic, is the Professor of Christian Education at Lincoln Christian University Seminary, Lincoln, Illinois.

David Roadcup, a Church Consultant, is the Director of the Center for Church Advancement at Cincinnati Christian University, Cincinnati, Ohio.

Gary Johnson, a church Leader, is the Senior Minister at Indian Creek Christian Church in Indianapolis, Indiana.

They are praying for you and the congregations that this work may touch and if they can be of service to you or your congregation, feel free to contact them.

Complete Set of all 4 Elders Books List: $43.96 WEB Price $32.99

Or Individually List: $10.99 each WEB Price $8.99 each
Answer His Call, Vol 1
As an elder, do you sense it's God's will for you to serve?

In this volume the divine call of the elder to serve as a leader within the congregation is addressed.
Reflect His Character, Vol 2
As an elder are you living a holy life?

This volume addresses the character of an elder as a leader in the congregation and community.
Lead His Church, Vol 3
As an elder, are you skilled in leading?

Volume 3 addresses the skills or competencies of an elder as a leader in the congregation and community.
Enjoy His People, Vol 4
As an elder, do people matter to you?

This volume will look at the critical necessity of relationships in the life of an elder.