(1) In light of what Peter says here about Elders and what the rest of the NT says, are there any grounds for building a local church in which a plurality of Elders is not the governing structure? Talk about churches you’ve known where there was only one Elder (perhaps the Senior Pastor) and how that either worked or didn’t work. Why do you think God has ordained that a local church be governed by a plurality of Elders?

(2) Evaluate the current Eldership at Bridgeway and ask to what degree are they successful in fulfilling the exhortations Peter lists in vv. 2-3. How can they improve their ministry? In what ways can you help them do this?

(3) What is your responsibility to the Elders in your church? First read 1 Thessalonians 5:12-13 and Hebrews 13:17. Discuss these passages and talk about what it means for your life in the local church?

(4) In my sermon, I talked about what it means for the Elders to have people “in their charge” (v. 3), or to have people who have been “allotted” to them by God. How are the Elders to know who these people are? Is there a responsibility on the part of the people to identify themselves in some way or to commit themselves to the Elders’ care? How might this be done?

(5) I mentioned briefly the idea of some form of “membership” in the local church to make all this possible. Do you have a negative opinion of membership? Define the word. What would it look like? How might it be helpful? How might it be harmful?