elder – Grace Evangelical Society

The Bible’s First Parable

November 24, 2025 by Ken Yates in Blog - 1 Pet 5:1-4, elder, Judg 9:7-15, Parable, Servant

Many say that the first parable in the Bible is found in Judges 9:7-15. Some say it is a fable, but I’m not smart enough to know the difference, so I’ll call it a parable. It was given by a man named Jotham. He was the only survivor from a family of seventy sons. The

September 17, 2025

When Can Women Speak During a Church Meeting?

1 Timothy 2:11-12, Church, elder, Meeting, Speak, Teach, Women

Welcome to the Grace in Focus podcast. Today, Bob Wilkin and Ken Yates are addressing a question about a woman’s role in the local church. When can a woman speak and/or not speak during a church meeting? What does Paul say? Please listen today and each weekday, to the Grace in Focus podcast!

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September 15, 2025

Should Children Be Baptized and Should They Participate in Communion?

Age, Baptism, Baptized, Children, communion, elder

Welcome to the Grace in Focus podcast. Today, Bob Wilkin and Ken Yates are answering a question about children taking communion. Also, part of the discussion is a question about child baptism. Do we have to let children “prove” by their actions they are saved before we let them participate? Please listen to this and every episode of the Grace in Focus podcast!

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August 4, 2025

What Is the Call to the Ministry?

Call, Complementarian, Decision, Decisions, Egalitarian, elder, gift, Husband, love, ministry, Overseer, pastor, Submit, Wife

Welcome to the Grace in Focus podcast. Today, Bob Wilkin and David Renfro are answering a question about God’s call or calling. What is God’s call to service? How do we discern that we’ve received it? Whendoes it come? Please listen to this and every episode of the Grace in Focus podcast!

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January 1, 2025

Should We Call No Man “Pastor”? Also: Does Illness Prove Disobedience?

1 Corinthians 11:30, Bishop, Disobedience, elder, gift, Illness, Office, pastor, Testing

Welcome to Grace in Focus radio. Bob Wilkin and Mike Lii are answering two interesting questions today from our YouTube audience. What about the title “pastor”? What does the Bible teach about this title or office or gift? Does physical illness in a believer come from disobedience by that believer? If so, is it always or only sometimes due to disobedience? Please listen each weekday in this new year to the Grace in Focus podcast!

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November 19, 2024

Can Women Speak in Church?

1 Corinthians 12-14, 1 Timothy 2:11-15, Authority, Church, elder, silence, Speak, tradition, Women

Welcome to Grace in Focus radio. Today, Bob Wilkin and Mike Lii are answering a question about women speaking in church. What does Scripture say about this? What about women exercising authority in church? This will be an interesting discussion. Please listen to this and every episode of the Grace in Focus podcast!

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February 21, 2024

Forgiveness Part 2

2 Cor 7:10, Acts 7:60, consequences, elder, Fellowship, Forgiveness, Luke 23:34, Mark 2:5, pastor, relationship, restoration

Welcome to Grace in Focus radio. Bob Wilkin and Ken Yates are continuing a discussion from the previous day about forgiveness of offenses and consequences for sin. What about Jesus’ example in forgiveness? What about Stephen’s example in Acts 7? Bob and Ken will offer some further answers and thoughts about forgiveness in today’s episode.

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September 12, 2023

What About Tribulation People Who Take the Mark of the Beast? Also: What About Women Preachers?

1 Cor 14, 2 Tim 2, elder, Mark of 144000, Mark of Beast, pastor, teaching, Tribulation

Welcome to Grace in Focus radio. Today, Bob Wilkin and Ken Yates are answering questions about the mark of the Beast in Revelation and about women’s roles. How can women serve in church? What will happen to people who take the mark of the Beast? Can they still be saved? Bob Wilkin and Ken Yates will offer their thoughts about these questions.

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An Elder’s Library Starter Kit

January 23, 2020 by Shawn Lazar in Blog - Bibles, commentaries, Donald Norbie, elder, library

In his booklet Shepherd the Flock, Donald Norbie summarizes the qualifications of an elder, one of which is being “able to teach” (1 Tim 3:2). The elder should be able to teach God’s Word, but to do that, he must become a man of the Book, which takes time and discipline: This means he will