*Definition: Elder-led congregationalism advocates say the Bible gives the final authority to the gathered congregation, as led by the elders.

I. THE AUTHORITY OF THE CONGREGATION

Membership in a church comes with real God-given responsibilities and obligations. Membership has
authority that is exercised. And what are the responsibilities and obligations of church membership?
At the heart of the matter, it’s to guard the what and the who of the gospel. It’s the whole church’s job to answer the questions:
• “Is that a true gospel confession?”
• “Is he or she a true gospel confessor?”

Basically, the Church has office authority in discipline and membership, (Matt. 18:1; 1 Cor. 5) doctrine
and leadership (Gal.5)

1. There are different kinds of authority in the church.
2. The authority of the keys of the kingdom belong to the congregation as a whole.
3. Church membership (therefore) is an office, or job. It’s an office, or a job, that comes with two
essential responsibilities.
     • To help preserve the gospel
     • Help affirm gospel citizens
4. The church has authority in membership, discipline, doctrine, and elders.

In summary: Jesus grants the church authority
• to guard and protect the gospel
• to affirm credible gospel professions
• to unite such professors to itself
• to bar or exclude non-credible professors
• and to oversee the discipleship of believers.

It has the authority to draw a line in the sand around those who give a credible profession of faith.

II. THE AUTHORITY OF THE ELDERS
The bible places the authority of the elders inside the authority of the congregation since elder authority exists to help lead and equip the congregation to exercise their authority regarding the what and who of the gospel. Elders have the authority of teaching and oversight. The congregation cannot wisely adjudicate the what and the who of the gospel (they cannot exercise the use of the keys) unless they have gospel teachers teaching and giving oversight.

• Elders must lead the congregation.
• A congregation must follow the leadership of its elders.

But how, exactly, do elders lead the church? In the following three ways:
1. Elders teach the Bible to the church.
2. The elders model obedience to the Bible.
3. Elders give oversight to the congregation.

HOW DO THESE FIT TOGETHER?
One of the most helpful passages that discusses how elders and the congregation relate is Ephesians
4:11–12: “And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ.”

When practiced biblically, we believe elder-led congregationalism is a gospel powerhouse!
It . . .
• guards the gospel
• matures the Christian disciple
• strengthens the whole church
• fortifies its holy integrity and witness
• and equips the congregation to love their neighbors better in word and deed.

There are two common ways things go wrong - two different extremes – that this biblical model guards against.
• An inactive congregation → with over-burdened elders
• An all-powerful congregation → with pushover elders

*This lesson owes a tremendous debt to numerous 9marks resources.