Biblical Leadership

Discussion Questions

How should church leadership be organized?

What’s the difference between a pastor and an elder?

Congregation

Local Autonomy

Local churches receive direct instruction from the apostles

Local churches set apart missionaries

Ac 13:2-3 “2 While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” 3 So after they had fasted and prayed, they placed their hands on them and sent them off.”

Local churches select leaders

Ac 6:3 “3 Brothers and sisters, choose seven men from among you who are known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will turn this responsibility over to them”

Local churches cooperate in solving doctrinal disputes

Ac. 15:2-3 “2 This brought Paul and Barnabas into sharp dispute and debate with them. So Paul and Barnabas were appointed, along with some other believers, to go up to Jerusalem to see the apostles and elders about this question. 3 The church sent them on their way, and as they traveled through Phoenicia and Samaria, they told how the Gentiles had been converted. This news made all the believers very glad.”

Ac 15:22 “22 Then the apostles and elders, with the whole church, decided to choose some of their own men and send them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas. They chose Judas (called Barsabbas) and Silas, men who were leaders among the believers.”

Local churches enact discipline

1 Cor 5:4-5 “4 So when you are assembled and I am with you in spirit, and the power of our Lord Jesus is present, 5 hand this man over to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, so that his spirit may be saved on the day of the Lord.”

Congregational Responsibility

Select Officers (Ac 6; Ac 12:2-3)

Enact Discipline (Mt 18; 1 Cor 5)

Protect doctrinal faithfulness (Rom 16:17)

Rom 16:17 “17 I urge you, brothers and sisters, to watch out for those who cause divisions and put obstacles in your way that are contrary to the teaching you have learned. Keep away from them.”

Budget Approval

Deacons

Identity

Proto-deacons

Though the term “deacon” is not present as a title in Acts 6 it is present as a function 3 times (“ministry” and “wait on”)

Ac 6:1-6 “1 In those days when the number of disciples was increasing, the Hellenistic Jews among them complained against the Hebraic Jews because their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food. 2 So the Twelve gathered all the disciples together and said, “It would not be right for us to neglect the ministry of the word of God in order to wait on tables. 3 Brothers and sisters, choose seven men from among you who are known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will turn this responsibility over to them 4 and will give our attention to prayer and the ministry of the word.” 5 This proposal pleased the whole group. They chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit; also Philip, Procorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas from Antioch, a convert to Judaism. 6 They presented these men to the apostles, who prayed and laid their hands on them.”

Other mentions

Officers in the church

Phil 1:1 “1 Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus, To all God’s holy people in Christ Jesus at Philippi, together with the overseers and deacons:”

Qualifications

1 Tim 3

Other Uses

Many references to servant

Phoebe

Rom 16:1 “1 I commend to you our sister Phoebe, a deacon, of the church in Cenchreae.”

Qualifications

1 Timothy 3:8–13 NIV

8 In the same way, deacons are to be worthy of respect, sincere, not indulging in much wine, and not pursuing dishonest gain. 9 They must keep hold of the deep truths of the faith with a clear conscience. 10 They must first be tested; and then if there is nothing against them, let them serve as deacons. 11 In the same way, the women are to be worthy of respect, not malicious talkers but temperate and trustworthy in everything. 12 A deacon must be faithful to his wife and must manage his children and his household well. 13 Those who have served well gain an excellent standing and great assurance in their faith in Christ Jesus.

Group 1

Worthy of respect

Sincere

Not indulging in much wine

Not pursuing dishonest gain

Hold the deep truths of the faith with a clear conscience

Tested

Women

Worthy of respect

Not malicious talkers

Temperate

Trustworthy

Group 2

Faithful to his wife

Manage his children and household well

Job

Shock absorbers

Preserve unity

Administer ministry

Elders

Title

Pastor (poimen) – shepherd (more focused on function than title)

Eph 4:11 “11 So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers,”

1 Pet 5:2 “2 Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, watching over them—not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not pursuing dishonest gain, but eager to serve;”

Bishop (episkopos) – overseer

Phil 1:1 “1 Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus, To all God’s holy people in Christ Jesus at Philippi, together with the overseers and deacons:”

1 Tim 3:1 “1 Here is a trustworthy saying: Whoever aspires to be an overseer desires a noble task.”

Elder (presbuteros)

Acts 15:2 “2 This brought Paul and Barnabas into sharp dispute and debate with them. So Paul and Barnabas were appointed, along with some other believers, to go up to Jerusalem to see the apostles and elders about this question.”

1 Tim 5:17 “17 The elders who direct the affairs of the church well are worthy of double honor, especially those whose work is preaching and teaching.”

Together

Address to the Ephesian elders

Ac 20:17 “17 From Miletus, Paul sent to Ephesus for the elders of the church.”

Ac 20:28 “28 Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God, which he bought with his own blood.”

Elders pastor (1 Pet 5)

Titus (Overseers and elders)

Tit 1:5-7 “5 The reason I left you in Crete was that you might put in order what was left unfinished and appoint elders in every town, as I directed you. 6 An elder must be blameless, faithful to his wife, a man whose children believe and are not open to the charge of being wild and disobedient. 7 Since an overseer manages God’s household, he must be blameless—not overbearing, not quick-tempered, not given to drunkenness, not violent, not pursuing dishonest gain.”

Qualifications

1 Timothy 3:1–7 NIV

1 Here is a trustworthy saying: Whoever aspires to be an overseer desires a noble task. 2 Now the overseer is to be above reproach, faithful to his wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, 3 not given to drunkenness, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. 4 He must manage his own family well and see that his children obey him, and he must do so in a manner worthy of full respect. 5 (If anyone does not know how to manage his own family, how can he take care of God’s church?) 6 He must not be a recent convert, or he may become conceited and fall under the same judgment as the devil. 7 He must also have a good reputation with outsiders, so that he will not fall into disgrace and into the devil’s trap.

Above reproach

Faithful to his wife

Temperate

Self-controlled

Respectable

Hospitable

Able to teach (contrasted with hold the mystery of the faith with clear conscience in deacons)

Not a drunkard

Not violent

Gentle

Not quarrelsome

Not a lover of money

Able to manage his own household well

Not a recent convert

Has a good reputation with outsiders

Job

Feed the flock (1 Peter 5:2) – ministry of the Word

1 Peter 5:2 “2 Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, watching over them—not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not pursuing dishonest gain, but eager to serve;”

Lovingly lead the flock (1 Peter 5:2-3) – ministry of ruling

1 Peter 5:2-3 “2 Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, watching over them—not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not pursuing dishonest gain, but eager to serve; 3 not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock.”

Protect the flock (Acts 20:28; Tit 1:9) – ministry of doctrinal discernment

Acts 20:28 “28 Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God, which he bought with his own blood.”

Tit 1:9 “9 He must hold firmly to the trustworthy message as it has been taught, so that he can encourage others by sound doctrine and refute those who oppose it. 10 For there are many rebellious people, full of meaningless talk and deception, especially those of the circumcision group.”

Watch for souls (Hebrews 13:17) – ministry of confrontation

Hebrews 13:17 “17 Have confidence in your leaders and submit to their authority, because they keep watch over you as those who must give an account. Do this so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no benefit to you.”

Equip the saints (Ephesians 4:11-12) – ministry of preparing others for ministry

Ephesians 4:11-12 “11 So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, 12 to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up”

Discussion Question

What is your responsibility in the church?