Lesson 10
LEADERS IN THE
CHURCH
I.
Church Leadership
in the New Testament
Although not described in detail in the New
Testament, we can learn something about the organization of the early Church
from the book of Acts and other New Testament books.
·
It is implied that the Christians met together
regularly –Acts 2:42; 20:7; 1Corinthians 16:2.
·
Certain individuals were appointed to be in charge
of the social concerns of the Jerusalem
church so as to free other leaders for the ministry of preaching and prayer –
Acts 6:1-5.
·
Local leaders were appointed when churches were
established during Paul’s missionary journeys –Acts 14:23; 20:17; Philippians
1:1; Titus 1:5.
·
Discipline was exercised in the churches
–1Corinthians 5:1-5, 11-13; 2Thessalonians 3:14,15; 1Timothy 5:19,20.
·
The church at Antioch
commissioned and sent out Paul and Barnabas as missionaries –Acts 13:1-3.
·
Local churches raised money for the Lord’s work and
fellow believers in need –1Corinthians 16:1,2; 2Corinthians 9:1-5.
·
The council at Jerusalem
was a decision making body –Acts 15:22-19.
A. The apostles were the first leaders
For any
organization to exists there must be leaders, and it was the apostles who
provided corporate leadership for the early church – Acts 2:42; 5:1-11; 9:26
–28 and exercised a general authority over the various congregations –Acts
8:14; 11:19-26.
B. Local church Leadership
In the local
church there were at least two positions of responsibility:
1.
Pastor, elder,
bishop
The New Testament
does not differentiate between lay and ordained leadership. The terms pastor,
elder and bishop (overseer) all
seem to be used of church leaders of the same position, so it appears that in
the thinking of the New Testament Church these titles were
interchangeable. Both Peter and John
were apostles but they also called themselves elders – 1Peter 5:1; 2John 1:1.
In the church there are leaders
specially set apart – ordained – to certain ministries –Ephesians 4:11,12. However, in a broad sense they belong to the
eldership of a church.
The primary responsibility of elders
is the general oversight of the life and ministry of the congregation
(shepherding) –Acts 20:28; 1Peter 5:1,2; Hebrew 13:17. This includes such responsibilities as
discipline, the ministry or prayer, visiting, anointing and praying for the
sick – James 5:14. They also have
preaching and teaching ministries – 1Timothy 3;2; 5:17; 1Thessalonians 5:12;
Titus 1:9. Their leadership is also to
be through moral example –1Peter 5:3.
2. Deacons –men and women
In the New
Testament Church the Greek word deacon referred
to anyone doing the work of the Gospel.
The world basically means one who
ministers or a servant, and these
leaders cared for both the spiritual and physical needs of the
congregation. It is the word used of
Martha in Luke 10:40 and Peter’s mother-in-law in Mark 1:31. Christ said that He came to minister (serve), not to be ministered
to (Mark 10:45; Luke 22:27). In
Colossians 1:7, 23b, 25, Paul describes Epaphras as a deacon (servant) of Christ, and himself as a deacon (servant) of the Gospel and of the Church. In acts 19:22, according to the context of
the Bible portion deacons were of help to Paul in his evangelistic, preaching
and pastoral work.
The Greek word deacon does not distinguish between men and women, and is used of
Phoebe who served the congregation at Cenchrea (Romans 16:1). Today we call a woman deacon a deaconess, but
her ministry is also expressed through service.
Although in today’s church
organization a deacon seems to have come to have a particular role, usually in
the areas of finance and administration.
The emphasis in the New Testament is on service.
II.
Biblical
Requirements for Church Leaders
Although there may be great
differences of opinion as to the type of church organization to follow, and the
details of its functions vary from church to church, the Bible clearly
emphasizes that properly qualified individuals should be chosen for the
spiritual oversight, teaching and care of a group of believers. Because of this it is important that church
leaders meet the spiritual requirements given in the Bible.
Good leaders are described in both
the Old and New Testaments.
A. What does the Bible tell us about the following Old
Testament leaders?
1.
Abraham – James 2:23
2.
Moses – Numbers 12:3; Deuteronomy 34:10
3.
Joshua – Joshua 6:27; 24:29
4.
David – Acts 13:22
5.
Solomon – 1Kings 3:7-12
B. Of what principle of leadership is Jesus the prime
example? – Mark 10:43-45; Luke 22:24-27; Philippians 2:5:8. How did this fulfill the Old Testament
prophecy in Isaiah 53:2,11b?
C. How are the apostles and early church leaders
described in Acts 20:19; 1Corinthians 3:5; 2Corinthians 6:4; Ephesians 3:7;
Colossians 1:23,25?
D. What two other important qualities are necessary for
those who are placed in positions of leadership? – Acts 6:3
1.
What does it mean to be full of the Holy Spirit? Look at Galatians 5:16,22-26.
2.
What is wisdom? Where is it found? Look at Job
28:28; Psalm 19:7; 111:10; Proverbs 2:6; 9:10; Ecclesiastes 2:26a; 2Timothy
3:15; James 1:5; 3:17.
E. In 1Timothy 3:8-13 we find further
qualifications for much leaders. Although these are necessary for all leaders
here Paul specifically mentions deacons (helpers).
1.
Verse 8:
a.
What is meant by have
a good character or worthy of respect (NIV)?
b.
The word sincere
carries the idea of honesty and not hypocritical (double-tongued –KJV).
c.
What happens to the life of a person who drinks too
much wine?
d.
Greedy for money includes the idea
of greediness to the extent of acquiring money dishonestly. What can happen to a man with this
characteristic? Why is it important for a deacon not to have this
characteristic?
2.
Verse 9:
Deacons are also to be individuals of
spiritual conviction. The New English Bible says, “They must be men who combine
a clear conscience with a firm hold on the deep truths of our faith.” How do a strong personal faith and a clear
conscience helps a church leader (deacon) fulfills his ministry?
3.
Verse 10:
This
verse states that these individuals should be tested and if they pass then they
are to serve. The appointment of deacons,
as well as any other church officer must not be done hastily, but
carefully. Paul does not say how deacons are to be tested, but that
it must be done. Why, do you think, is this testing necessary?
4.
Verse 11 describes the qualities of character a wife
of a church leader or a woman deacon (worker) in the church must have.
a.
What must their character also be? See verse 8.
b.
What must they NOT do?
c.
What is gossip?
d.
Why is it important that wives of church leaders as
well as all women workers in the church NEVER gossip?]
e.
Two other qualities are also mentioned in this
verse. Deacons must be: sober (temperate). This means
thoughtful, calm, well balanced, not excessively emotional or prejudiced. honest This means truthful, genuine,
straightforward, upright, sincere. An
honest person is one with integrity; one who refuses to lie, steal or deceive
in any way; is trustworthy in all things, and cannot be corrupted.
f.
Why is it necessary for women deacons and wives of
church leaders to have the qualities mentioned above?
5.
Verse 12:
a.
What does it mean for a church worker to be able to manage his family well? How
does this include finances, discipline and leadership? Managing does not mean always having everything your own way.
b.
How would you describe this man’s relationship with
each member of his family?
F.
In Titus 1:6-9 we find qualifications for church elders
(overseers). These are similar to
those given in 1Timothy 3:1-7.
1.
Verse 6:
a.
The conduct of a person who is blameless (without fault) is such that no one can point to anything
he has said or done that will harm his good reputation. See also 1Timothy 3:2.
b.
Describe this man’s family. Why is it necessary for an elder to know how
to manage his family? See also 1Timothy 3:2,4,5.
2. Verse 7 names five things a church elder must
NOT be.
a.
arrogant
(overbearing). This means self-willed,
dictatorial, domineering, proud. An
arrogant person has an exaggerated sense of his own importance and shows his
feeling of superiority by acting in a high handed manner.
b.
quick tempered. This means hot headed, easily
angered. When a quick tempered person is
faced with certain situations or problems, he shows his displeasure or
frustration by becoming angry.
c.
A drunkard is dominated by
his desire for wine and escape it gives him from facing the difficulties of
life. See also 1Timothy 3:8.
d.
violent. When the Bible
speaks of a violent person it does not only mean someone who resorts to force
and injures others by physical attack. A
violent person is one whose heart attitude is, “I will take what I want. I will have my own way no matter whom I
hurt.” What are some ways a violent
individual can hurt another without ever striking his body?
e.
greedy for money
– See
also 1Timothy 3:8
3.
According to verses 6 and 7, why would these
characteristics disqualify a person for leadership in the church?
4.
Verse 8 lists six things an elder must be.
a.
hospitable – One who is hospitable welcomes all
guests warmly and ungrudgingly. He is
sociable and makes guests feel “at home.”
(At church this includes all who attend worship – members and visitors.)
He is neighborly and cares about the welfare of others.
b.
One who loves
what is good – The word good has
a wide ranges of meaning and includes what is right, honorable, godly, true,
etc.
c.
self-controlled –
This
person is able to rule himself and govern his actions. He is not easily provoked.
d.
upright – This means
morally correct; strict adherence to moral principles. An upright person has high moral principles
which govern his actions. This includes
Christian business ethics.
e.
holy – This means
characterized by moral purity. This person has those qualities of character
that cause people to admire and revere him.
f.
disciplined – This also
carries the idea of self-control. A
disciplined person is able to impose order on himself. He is master of himself in all areas of his
life such as in the use of his time, finances, abilities, etc.
5.
According to verse 9, to what must a church leader
hold firmly? For what purpose?
C. Seven additional qualifications for elders are found
in 1Timothy
3:2-7.
1.
Verse 2:
a.
Where else in this chapter is the qualification of
being sober (temperate) mentioned?
b.
orderly
(respectable) – This refers to the conduct of one who is temperate and
“sober-minded.” It describes the
behavior of one who is well-behaved, not dis-orderly.
c.
able to teach – Although this
was especially important in the early Church where the appointed elders had the
responsibility of teaching sound doctrine to the believers, the teaching
ministry of a church leader is also very important today. He must not only explain correctly God’s
truth – 2timothy 2:15 he must also be able to communicate that truth so that
others will understand, learn and apply it to their lives.
2.
Verse 3:
a.
gentle – has the idea of
forbearance, of considering others in a kindly way; not harsh or violent; not
argumentative.
b.
peaceful – This means
untroubled by conflict, agitation or commotion; calm; quiet behavior.
3.
Verse 6:
mature in the
faith – This means someone who is not a novice or new convert; instead, someone
who has spiritual experience and demonstrates Christian maturity.
Why is this so important in a church
leader? What is of particular danger to new convert placed in a position of
prominence and power?
4.
Verse 7:
respected by those outside the church – Why is it necessary
that a church leader have a good reputation and be respected not only by fellow
Christians, but also by those of the non-Christian community, whatever his
profession, education, financial or social status may be?
H. How do the qualities mentioned in these Bible
portions enable a person to be a church leader who is worthy of his position?
I. Although wealth, popularity, social or
political position and education are not wrong, why are they the wrong bases
from which to choose those in church leadership?
Not only are church leaders to be
chosen prayerfully and with great care, once chosen they are to be regarded
with the greatest respect and love, for their work of guidance and instruction
is of utmost importance in the spiritual life and ministry of the church –
1Thessalonians 5:12,13.
Refusal to recognize and accept the
spiritual authority of our church leaders not only causes them difficulty, it
hinders the spiritual welfare and progress of the church. We are to be obedient
to our spiritual leaders and submit ourselves to their authority because of
their serious responsibilities toward the congregation. They are like shepherds given the
responsibility of keeping careful watch over their flock, and who must someday
give an account of their service to the Chief Shepherd. Our willing obedience encourages them in
their ministries and makes it possible
for them to do their work joyfully – Hebrew 13:17; 1Peter 5:1-4.
