Book Review: "With the Sheep in the Wilderness"

Subtitled Shepherding God’s Flock in the World, this short book is a must-read for congregations who are appointing elders or for those who already serve as elders. Ted H. Waller wrote this 124-page book in 1991, and the information in it still rings true.

While I generally liked this book, there was, to me, at least one drawback found in it. There are 13 chapters, and a couple of them seem to get off track a bit from discussing the eldership. Waller does a decent job trying to show the connection between what he is saying in those sections and the overall thrust of the book, but I feel he does get off the subject a bit (although the information is still good).

Having said that, the book contains very helpful information discussing the true work of elders (shepherding) and how elders can best work with a congregation and not “lord” their power over the congregation. The suggestions found in the book are both Biblical and practical.

As mentioned, the book contains 13 chapters, so this book would make a great Bible class study. Very few classes of which I am aware have ever spent an entire quarter discussing elders. Maybe your class would like to do that. This book would be a good guide for that study. Also, if the congregation where you worship does not have elders, but is headed in that direction, this would make a great study to prepare the flock.

Overall, I would recommend this book for a class setting or for those who are elders. It is not expensive (it can be found here for just $7.99), and it is an easy read. The questions following each chapter make it good for study or for group discussion.