Practical Study for Current Elders or wanna be Elders
This is a great book for everyone in our churches, both men and women. This book is not an exposition of 1 Timothy 3:1-7 and Titus 1:5-10 on the "qualifications" of an elder, nor is it about the "position" of an elder. It is about his "work", it is about his "heart". Thus the title of the book.
This book shows that the elder's work is spiritual, more than we may first think. The elder's work is not in buildings or busses, etc. it is about people, shepherding people.
This book was written by an elder after many years of being an elder. Reading it is like talking to your grandfather and listening to his so called "war" stories about when he was an elder. It is a book about a man looking back and recalling all he did as an elder and then he puts it into logical order for us to read. He is basically saying, this is how it is done, this is what works, be sure to do this or that. I was curious myself on the work of an elder. I have been asked before to be an elder, but was not sure I was suited to the work of an elder. So that is one thing that prompted me to buy this book. This book would make a great course for the elders (or deacons) of a church. Pastors want this kind of elder in their churches.
Any church leader could benefit from reading this book. Elder's wives should read this book and see where they fit in.
Very Practical Advice to Elders
According to the introduction, Dickson wrote this book in the late 1800's as a guide for fellow elders in Scotland in their office. I don't know how much the original text was edited, but this book is very readable and in an engaging writing style. It's also very short, packing much information into each chapter. The author tends to wander from each chapter's subject a bit but is constantly providing very practical suggestions, so I actually didn't mind.
This edition combines his text with study questions at the end of each chapter to encourage application. While we used this book for officer training, the study questions are designed more for current elders to examine their work.
This book has been an excellent part of my officer training (note: for those interested, I am in a PCA church). It is very focused on practical advice on how to serve as an elder. A major portion of the book is given to advice related to personally visiting members of the congregation.
While Dickson was Presbyterian, his church had a somewhat different structure than the churches I have been in (in Dickson's time and place, elders were in charge of a geographic "district"). Even so, his advice is very applicable today and is readily adapted.
Besides the importance of visitation, two things struck me from this book. First, that the time required for an elder's "official" duties is actually fairly small (according to Dickson). Second, that an elder is always an elder, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. (He even takes time to discuss an elder's work while on vacation!) Those who aspire to eldership, aspire to a certain life in addition to an office.
I highly recommend this book to those in training for the office of elder and for those who are already elders. While I studied it individually, the study questions are very amenable to group discussion.
Encouraging work designed to make you grow
This is quite simply an amazing book that will challenge any believer in the gospel of Yeshua (Jesus). The book is dated to be sure, and Dickson is certainly "old school."
But this was such a thrilling example of what elders in the service of Yeshua should be doing that I couldn't put it down. The book consists of 13 easy to read chapters that contain many gems of service to the flock of Messiah. There is no "deep theology" here, only a leading by example that James himself would make James proud. I found there were dozens of wonderful ideas about how to encourage God's people. Im not sure you can read this book and not see how God touched the life of David Dickson.
The text is actually a re-publish of David Dickson's classic work. The new editors have done a nice job of "translating" several customs that are not in practice anymore, as well as some Scottish "slang." This is needed because the book is pretty dated (for example, using "tokens" for communion). But the editor's real contribution is the study questions at the end of each chapter. They drip with the fruit of the Spirit. And they will make you think hard and deep about what it means to be an elder or a leader.
This book is easy to read and seems destined for a perfect application Bible study, a training course for elders, or general knowledge those who are called to leadership in the service of the Messiah. Highly edifying, the way ministry should be.
