Leadership of church

Jesus Christ alone is head of the church

Colossians 1:18 KJV

18 And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.

See also Mt 23:8–10; Eph 1:22; Eph 4:15; Eph 5:23; Col 2:19; Heb 3:3

The Holy Spirit directs the church

Acts 13:2 KJV

2 As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them.

See also Ac 15:28; Ac 16:6–7; Ac 20:28; Ro 8:14; 1 Co 12:11; Re 2:7; Re 2:11

The appointment of leaders in the church

God calls and equips leaders

Ephesians 4:11 KJV

11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;

See also Mt 16:18; Ac 1:24–26; Ac 9:15–16; Ac 20:28; Ac 26:16–18; 1 Co 12:28; Ga 1:15–17

Delegated leadership

Ac 6:3–6; Ac 14:23; Tt 1:5

The appointment of apostles

Mark 3:13–19 KJV

13 And he goeth up into a mountain, and calleth unto him whom he would: and they came unto him. 14 And he ordained twelve, that they should be with him, and that he might send them forth to preach, 15 And to have power to heal sicknesses, and to cast out devils: 16 And Simon he surnamed Peter; 17 And James the son of Zebedee, and John the brother of James; and he surnamed them Boanerges, which is, The sons of thunder: 18 And Andrew, and Philip, and Bartholomew, and Matthew, and Thomas, and James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus, and Simon the Canaanite, 19 And Judas Iscariot, which also betrayed him: and they went into an house.

As founders of the church:

1 Co 9:1–2; 2 Co 3:3; Eph 2:20; Re 21:14

As leaders of the church:

Ac 2:42; Ac 15:6; Ac 15:22–23; 1 Th 2:6; 2 Pe 3:2; Jud 17

Prophets as leaders

Ac 15:32 Judas and Silas were leaders in the Jerusalem church (Ac 15:22).

See also Ac 11:27–30; Ac 13:1–2; Ro 12:6 The role of prophets as leaders is distinct from the gift of prophecy, which was in principle available to all; 1 Co 12:28; 1 Co 14:29–30; Eph 3:5

Evangelists as leaders

Acts 21:8 KJV

8 And the next day we that were of Paul’s company departed, and came unto Caesarea: and we entered into the house of Philip the evangelist, which was one of the seven; and abode with him.

See also Eph 4:11; 2 Ti 4:5

Pastors and teachers as leaders

Acts 20:28 KJV

28 Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.

See also Jn 21:15–17; Ac 13:1; Ro 12:7; 1 Co 12:28; 1 Ti 3:2; Tt 1:9; Jas 3:1; 1 Pe 5:2 Pastors are also called “shepherds”.

Elders as leaders

1 Ti 3:1 “Elder” and “overseer” or “bishop” are more or less interchangeable.

See also Ac 11:30; Ac 14:23; Ac 15:2; Ac 15:22; Ac 20:17; 1 Ti 5:17; Tt 1:5; Jas 5:14; 2 Jn 1

Deacons as leaders

Php 1:1 “Deacon” means “one who serves”.

See also Ac 6:5–6; 1 Ti 3:8

Qualifications for church leadership

The first apostles were witnesses of Jesus Christ’s life and resurrection:

Ac 1:21–22; Ac 10:41; 1 Co 9:1–2; 1 Co 15:7–8; 2 Pe 1:16

Qualifications for elders and deacons:

Ac 6:3; 1 Ti 3:1–12; 1 Ti 5:17; Tt 1:6–9; 1 Pe 5:1–4

Responsibilities of church leaders

To preach the gospel

Ro 1:15; 1 Co 1:17; Ga 2:8; Eph 3:8; 1 Ti 2:7

To teach sound doctrine

1 Ti 4:6; 1 Ti 4:13; 1 Ti 5:17; Heb 13:7

To give direction in church life

Ac 15:2; Ac 15:6; Ac 15:22–23; Ac 16:4; Ac 20:28–31; 1 Ti 5:17; 1 Pe 5:2

To be an example in loving service

Mt 20:26–28; Mk 9:35; Jn 13:13–15; Heb 13:7; 1 Pe 5:3

To train and appoint other leaders

Ac 14:23; 1 Ti 4:14; 2 Ti 2:2; Tt 1:5

To pray for the sick

James 5:14 KJV

14 Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord:

To exercise discipline in the church

2 Co 13:10; 1 Th 5:12; 1 Ti 1:20; 1 Ti 5:20; Tt 3:10; 3 Jn 10

The church’s responsibilities to its leaders

To respect and submit to its leaders

Ac 16:4; 1 Th 5:12–13; 1 Ti 5:19; Heb 13:17

To pray for its leaders

Eph 6:19; 1 Th 5:25

To support its leaders financially

1 Co 9:7–14; Php 4:15–19; 1 Ti 5:17–18

The corporate government of the church

In choosing leaders

Acts 6:3–6 KJV

3 Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business. 4 But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word. 5 And the saying pleased the whole multitude: and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Ghost, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolas a proselyte of Antioch: 6 Whom they set before the apostles: and when they had prayed, they laid their hands on them.

In implementing decisions

Acts 15:22–29 KJV

22 Then pleased it the apostles and elders, with the whole church, to send chosen men of their own company to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas; namely, Judas surnamed Barsabas, and Silas, chief men among the brethren: 23 And they wrote letters by them after this manner; The apostles and elders and brethren send greeting unto the brethren which are of the Gentiles in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia: 24 Forasmuch as we have heard, that certain which went out from us have troubled you with words, subverting your souls, saying, Ye must be circumcised, and keep the law: to whom we gave no such commandment: 25 It seemed good unto us, being assembled with one accord, to send chosen men unto you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul, 26 Men that have hazarded their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. 27 We have sent therefore Judas and Silas, who shall also tell you the same things by mouth. 28 For it seemed good to the Holy Ghost, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things; 29 That ye abstain from meats offered to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication: from which if ye keep yourselves, ye shall do well. Fare ye well.

In building up the church

Ro 12:4–8; 1 Co 12:4–12; 1 Co 12:27; Eph 4:3; Eph 4:7–16; 1 Pe 4:10–11

In discerning true and false teachings

1 Jn 4:1–3; 2 Jn 10; Re 2:2

In exercising discipline

Mt 18:15–20; 1 Co 5:4–5; 2 Co 2:6–8; 2 Th 3:14–15

The structure of the church

The pattern of church life

Acts 2:42 KJV

42 And they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.

See also Ac 2:46; Ac 5:42

The house church

Ac 1:13–14; Ac 12:12; Ac 16:40; Ro 16:5; 1 Co 16:19; Col 4:15; Phm 2

The local church

Ac 13:1; Ro 16:1; 1 Co 1:2 It is unknown whether there were subdivisions of the church in towns such as Corinth; 1 Th 1:1

Churches in a region

Ac 9:31; Ac 15:41; 1 Co 16:1; 2 Co 8:1; Ga 1:2; Ga 1:22; Re 1:4 Normally the NT speaks of “churches” in an area rather than of a unified regional structure.

The universal church

Matthew 16:18 KJV

18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

Referring to the local as well as the universal church:

1 Co 12:28; Eph 1:22; Eph 3:10; Eph 5:25