Sermon Tone Analysis

Review of Jerusalem

Controlling people

Taking money

Sending new members away, afraid of them

Demanding Jewish culture and preferences

Defeated by persecution

Opposing the leading of the Spirit

Guarding the gospel

Review of Antioch

Sending people

Sending money

Embracing new members, believing in what they will become and contribute

Subordinating their culture and preferences to the Scriptures

Growing by persecution

Following the leading of the Spirit

Sharing the gospel

Acts 13 Model of Leadership

Ephesus

Pastor

It is the word for shepherd.

Elders

Elder

Bishops/Overseers

Bishop/Overseer

Observations

With the exceptions of describing the role or office of elder or bishop, the behavior toward an elder or bishop, or an individual calling themselves an elder or bishop (7 passages), elders or bishops are always spoken of in the plural (18 passages).

In every example of elder or bishop in a particular church context, such as Ephesus or Philippi, they are spoken of in the plural.

Only in Jerusalem do you find one person in a preeminent role (and even there we find elders in the plural present).

Where individuals are identified as preeminent within a church, it is judged as wrong (see Paul’s letter to the Corinthians).

Never in the NT is a single pastor named, except in Jerusalem (and even that is not totally clear).

In fact, in the only occurrence of pastor referring to a church leader it is spoken of in the plural.

In Antioch we find a team.

In the churches Paul founds we find teams.

Conclusion

Paul wrote to the Ephesian church instructing them that God had given the church gifts (plural) and each of these gifts were given in groups—apostles (plural), prophets (plural), evangelists (plural), pastors and teachers (plural).

So, we probably need to be headed toward team (multiple person) leadership and away from pastor-centric (single person) leadership