A couple weeks ago, I attended a lecture on Charles Spurgeon (the famous and exceptionally fruitful Baptist preacher who ministered in London during the 19^th century) by Dr. Geoff Chang, who curates the Spurgeon Library in Kansas City, Missouri.

Dr. Chang shared so many helpful insights, but there’s one I wanted to pass along, namely, Spurgeon’s views on the office of Elder in the local church.

You may know that Spurgeon preached to thousands of people every Sunday morning in the Metropolitan Tabernacle in an age when megachurches simply didn’t exist. Within just a few years of his arrival at a tiny church in London, the congregation had outgrown its 1,000-seat building, outgrown an addition to the building, outgrown nearby Exeter Hall (3,000 seats), and began holding services in the Surrey Gardens Music Hall (10,000 seats)! His reach was unprecedented.

You’d think Spurgeon would have been overjoyed to preach to such vast crowds (and he was), but he also had a concern: A church isn’t just a preaching venue. A church is the body of Christ, a local assembly of the family of God in Christ. He wasn’t just a preacher; he was a pastor, charged by the Chief Shepherd with leading a flock of precious sheep for whom he would one day give account.

How could one man (even an exceptional genius like Charles Spurgeon) shepherd a congregation so large? Answer: he can’t!

According to Dr. Chang, one of the biggest reasons why the Metropolitan Tabernacle was able to function as a church rather than just a preaching station for a gifted speaker was because of their decision to ordain nine men as elders early in Spurgeon’s ministry.

His rationale and teaching were very straightforward: Spurgeon told his congregation that a plurality (i.e., more than one) of elders was a biblical precedent; this is how early churches were structured. The church responded to the example of the Word of God, and from that point on, men would join Spurgeon in the work of shepherding the flock. The impact over time was incalculable.

An ”elder” is basically a pastor. In fact, the New Testament uses both terms (as well as the term “overseer”) to refer to the same men.

We’ve had a plurality of elders here at Indian Creek for several years now, and for the same reason: we believe this is taught in the New Testament.

When I was looking for a church to serve years ago, Mandy and I both agreed that we would only serve in a congregation with multiple elders or with an eager willingness to adopt an elder-led structure.

Since coming to Indian Creek, I’ve seen the practical benefits of this biblical structure time and time again. To serve alongside other gifted, qualified, called men in the task of shepherding has truly been a joy.

I hope you can see that the steady leadership of our elders has been a benefit to you too. These men love you. They pray for you. They labor patiently to serve you well, to protect you from harmful teaching and hurtful influences.

These are men of courage and compassion: they listen carefully and ground their counsel in the Word of God. They say what needs to be said (even when it might be costly) and they care for the members of our church (even when others don’t see the needs).

You might not realize how much time and energy these men pour into our church, how many evenings they spend away from home in the service of the church, how many last-minute emergency meetings they attend, how many lengthy email chains they have to process.

You might not realize how many threats they’ve shielded us from over the years. Nor should you! These men carry a burden you won’t have to bear. And they do it with joy, without ever seeking the approval of men.

They aren’t perfect, of course. And all the glory goes to God. But I don’t think we honor these brothers enough. Without them, where would our church be?

If you’re grateful for our elders (like I am), I challenge you to do something about it: Make it easy for them to be your pastors. Tell them what’s going on in your life. Ask their counsel, compare it with Scripture, and then actually follow through and do the things they advise. Be present when they’re ministering in a CG or an Equipping Class. Encourage them and let them know specific ways God is using them in your life.

I thank God for our elders, and I pray God continues to raise up many more!