Studies

Different types of Bible studies

Leadership in the Church

December 18th, 2008

Ephesians 4:11-13 Jesus, not men, created the leadership of his church.

  • He gave some to be: Apostles, Prophets, Evangelists, Pastors, and Teachers
  • He designed the leadership to keep the unity of the body, preparing God's people for works of service
  • Note that the Apostles are all dead now, and so are the 1st century Christians with the gift of prophecy
  • The leadership we have today are pastors (shepherds) and evangelists (and teachers)
  • Pastors = Shepherds = Overseers = Bishops = Elders (all mean the same thing - also Presbyters) (Acts 20:17, 28, I Pet. 5:1-2, Ti. 1:6-7) (note - Pastor simply means shepherd and bishop means overseer).
  • Acts 14:23 Elders were appointed in each church (also Ti. 1:5). Notice that there were always more than one elder in each church (either none or "elders", plural)
  • I Tim. 3:1-7 Qualifications of an elder - notice stability and humility necessary
  • an elder must be married and have believing children - (or how can he lead God's family?)
  • Ti. 1:6-9 - More qualifications - An elder upholds and defends sound doctrine
  • I Tim. 5:17 Elders direct the affairs of the church - they may, but need not, preach
  • Acts 20:17, 28-32 Elders must shepherd the flock, guarding against division (example - Acts 15)
  • I Pet. 5:1-4 Elders are to be examples to the flock Note: Peter was an elder at the Jerusalem church and was married (I Cor. 9:5, Matt. 8:14)
EVANGELISTS (remember Eph. 4:11-13)
  • II Tim. 4:5 (Timothy was an evangelist whom Paul had trained) (so was Titus)
  • I and II Timothy and Titus are full of duties of an evangelist (teach sound doctrine (I Tim. 1:3, II Tim. 12:24-26, Ti. 2:1), be an example (I Tim. 4:12, I Tim. 4:16), train others to teach (2 Tim. 2:2), preach the word (2 Tim. 4:2), appoint elders (Ti. 1:5))
DEACONS (a position of service, not leadership)
  • greek. (deacon) means "servant"
  • I Tim. 3:8-12 Those appointed to positions of service must be strong Christians and family men
  • Acts 6:1-6 Example of deacons appointed to fill a need of service
INELIGIBLE FOR LEADERSHIP
  • I Cor. 14:34-35 Women should not be leaders in the church (I Cor. 11:3) but, Ti. 2:3-5 women should be taught so they can teach other women (i.e. have leadership roles among the women)
  • I Cor. 6:9-11 Homosexuals are not even Christians, let alone leaders
SAINTS - all Christians are saints (not just "super-Christians") (Eph. 1:1, Php. 1:1, Rom. 1:7, Rom. 16:2, II Cor. 1:1)

PRIEST - all Christians are priests, there are no special ones (I Pet. 2:9) (I Tim. 2:5 Jesus is mediator)

This is the leadership that God left with his church. "If anyone wants to be contentious about this, we have no other practice - nor do the churches of God." (I Cor. 11:16). The example of the 1st century church should be enough for us.