Leadership in the Local Church
GSOP Class Notes
Class: Leadership in the Local Church
Session: #1
Foundational Understanding of Leadership
1. Genesis 3:1-13
2. Psalms 23
3. Leadership — Influence over another that motivates them to act in ways which they would not otherwise.
4. Matthew 9:35-38
5. Leadership — not limited to a particular gender, age, race, nationality, or spiritual orientation.
6. Satan is a leader (e.g., Eve).
7. John 8:44
8. Matthew 4:19; 10:38 (16:24); Luke 5:27; Luke 9:57-62
9. In the local church, there is leadership.
10. Elders, deacons, teachers, preachers, parents.
11. There is no formal “NATIONAL” leadership foundation or organization in the church. It is designed to be congregational.
12. Someone WILL lead at the local church level — as well as the family, etc.
13. Many occupy the formal positions at the local church level, but do not behave proactively as a leader — in the ways that God intends.
14. God’s plan for the local church:
a. Elders (Plurality)
b. Deacons (Plurality)
c. Evangelists
d. Teachers
e. Husbands & Wives (Acquila & Priscilla)
15. When these are not in place, the church can survive, but it rarely thrives.
16. One reason that leadership of the church is always located at the congregational level= People cannot effectively lead others unless there is proximity.
17. 1 Peter 5:1-3; Acts 20:17-38; John 10
Acts 6:1-7
Two ways for a body to grow—nourishment and exercise
Those who are being fed exercise themselves and they would subsequently grow (Acts 6:1-7).
Whenever a congregation is doing well:
1. Expect growing pains—Expect conflict—Expect adversity.
a. The church was growing and multiplying (Acts 4), Ananias and Sapphira give them a black eye (Acts 5).
b. The Hellenistic Jews were being neglected (Acts 6)—one of the causes for adversity in the local church is neglect.
2. Communication—when one is not getting nourishment she will communicate their problems to another person
a. Murmuring is not allowed (Num. 14:27; I Cor. 10:10).
b. Division needs to be handled properly (Rom. 16:17).
c. One should strive to speak the truth in love (Eph. 4:15).
3. Unresponsiveness—sometimes when problems develop in the church and a problem arises, wisdom must be exercised but problems should not be expected to “work themselves out”.
a. Many problems arising in the church are personal problems.
b. The problems were solved within (Acts 6) the whole group.
4. Involvement—the brethren need to take time and nourish the problem.
a. One should never make others feel he is too good for a particular task.
b. It should be delegated to another.
5. Delegation—not every one can do every thing.
a. One who has the time and ability can be delegated to a particular task.
b. Recruiting—one needs to be recruited according to his ability and qualifications (Acts 6:3-4).
For conflicts:
1. Expect them
2. Address them
3. Try to make the church grow
Next week: Integrity and leadership (I Tim. 3; Tit. 1).
INTEGRITY—Proverbs 13:22
Name that you inherit, name given, name made for oneself, name of Christ.
Integrity is one of the greatest qualifications for leadership.
Integrity is strength of character, open, honest, clear, uncompromising, principled and fair—the steadfast adherence to a strict moral code.
Integrity is important with real estate, insurance, car sales, banking, law, mortgage, and preacher/clergy.
Influence is based upon integrity—a leader must have a holy and righteous life.
The Bible has some to say on integrity (I Tim. 3:1-7; Tit. 1:5-10; Acts 6:3-4; Ex. 18:19-22).
The qualities for leading many are just as important for leading few (Ex. 18:25).
When integrity is absent; people do that which is right in their own eyes (Judg. 17:5; 21:25).
Money can cause others to forsake their integrity (i.e. Judas)
Everyone is susceptible to an integrity crisis.
One needs to be imitators of others so long as they imitate Christ (I Cor. 11:1).
Integrity has been a problem for even the greatest leaders in the church (Acts 4:34-37; Gal. 2:11-14).
Peter had a problem with integrity (Luke 20:56-60).
How open should one be with his faults? As far as it is known (Matt. 18:15-18; Jam. 5:19-20).
Remember: Integrity is priceless.
COMMUNICATION IN LEADERSHIP
The wrong or right idea communicated incorrectly can affect leadership.
Prayer is an essential element in communication.
Luke 6:12—Christ went to pray before choosing the 12.
James 1:5—if any lack wisdom let him ask of God and He will give.
If a leader is not praying then he is not a fit leader.
When one’s needs are not met, speaking of it is not inappropriate.
Ephesians 4:15
1. Key Texts. Pr 10:11-14, 18-21; 25:11-14; 26:17-28; Jas 3:1-8.
2. Communication
a. The Power of Words. Pr 11:9; 12:18; 15:4; 18:21; Mt 12:37; Jas 3:1-8.
b. The Value of Words. Pr 20:15; 25:11-14.
c. The Source of Words. Pr 6:12; 15:28; 16:23, 24; Mt 12:34.
3. Handling Communication Properly
a. Be Listening. Pr 18:13; 19:20; Jas 1:19.
b. Do Not Talk Too Much. Pr 10:19; 13:2, 3; 17:27-28; Ec 10:12-14; Col 4:6.
c. Do Not Nag. Pr 21:19; 26:21.
d. Do Not Meddle. Pr 26:27.
e. Do Not Gossip. Pr 11:13; 20:19; 26:20.
f. Do Not Brag. Pr 14:23; 27:2.
g. Be Slow to Speak. Pr 15:28; 29:20; Jas 1:19.
h. Be Wise in Timing. Pr 15:23; Eph 4:29.
i. Admit Wrongs. Pr 29:23; Jas 5:16.
j. Do Not Lie. Ps 34:13; Pr 12:19, 22; 26:18, 19; Eph 4:15, 25.
k. Do Not Respond in Anger. Pr 15:1; Eph 4:26.
l. Avoid Quarrels. Pr 17:14; 20:3.
4. Communication Guidelines
a. Set a Guard over my Lips. Ps 141:3.
b. Deliver me from Lying Lips. Ps 120:3.
c. May my Lips Offer up a Sacrifice of Praise. Heb 13:15.
d. Let me Speak Encouragingly. Eph 4:29.
e. Bride my Tongue. Jas 1:26.[1]
One must never lie to the people (Eph. 4:25).
Verification: is it the way one says it is? One must have all the facts and remember to “believe all things” (I Cor. 13:7)
Communication must be used for edification—one must not assume that another cannot be a leader if he be not eloquent.
Better to have an ungifted speaker with a Christ-like heart than one eloquent with an evil heart (Ex. 4:10-12; I Cor. 2:1-5).
One must properly communicate (Lev. 19:16)
One is more apt to go to another when the one approached responds properly when confronted.
Paul addressed Peter to the face in the public matter at Antioch (Gal. 2:11).
Complaining should not be encouraged and also addressed (Ex. 15, 16, 17; Num. 14; 20).
There is a difference between complaining against someone and complaining to someone.
CONFLICTS AMONG LEADERS: ACTS 15
Acts 13:1-14—Mark left Paul and Barnabas; some will not stay the course
----
[1]Torrey, R.A.: The New Topical Text Book : A Scriptural Text Book for the Use of Ministers, Teachers, and All Christian Workers. Oak Harbor, WA : Logos research Systems, Inc., 1995, c1897