Church leadership is a critical aspect of ministry and the life of any local congregation, but there are so many churches that approach it differently and in varied ways. Some of those approaches are beneficial, others not as much. But the New Testament lays out a solid and necessary approach to church leadership in the form of elder or overseers and deacons.

Our church is currently examining these two offices describes in the New Testament and evaluating how we are doing in in comparison to the letters from Paul to the Philippians and to Timothy and Titus, along with Acts 6, where we see the first examples of deacons.

To that end, we are reading Aeaxander Strauch’s excellent work called Ministers Of Mercy: The New Testament Deacon. In this detailed examination of this office, Strauch looks deeply at the occurrences of the term “deacon,” and the examples and descriptions of this role in the New Testament.

I read this book for the first time in college, in a class on pastoral ministry. It has been very good to read it again, along with several other men who are serious about following the instructions the New Testament gives us, especially in the area of church leadership.

This is a book worth your time to read, especially if you play any role in the leadership of your church. You can get a copy at Amazon. I highly recommend that you do. You’ll be challenged, and encouraged, and blessed as you read it.