306. Shepherds Smell Like Sheep

About this episode

Dr. J. Mark Beach discusses the true work of eldership beyond meetings, emphasizing the importance of personal engagement and the gospel.

Some elders think the job is the meeting. They show up, they vote, and then they adjourn. Dr. J. Mark Beach disagrees. In this episode of MARSCast, Beach unpacks why the real work of eldership happens in coffee shops, hospital rooms, and living rooms, not the consistory room, and why elders who get the polity right but miss the gospel are practicing something other than Christianity. Drawing on Jesus' parable of the two lost sons, he makes a searching case that many elders are more elder brother than they'd like to admit, and what repentance from that looks like in pastoral practice.

People in this episode

Guest: Dr. J. Mark Beach

Topics covered

• eldership
• Christianity
• gospel
• pastoral practice
• repentance
• community care

Keywords

• elders
• Christianity
• gospel
• pastoral care
• repentance
• community
• meetings

Mentioned in this episode

Books & works: Jesus' parable of the two lost sons

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