SF899 - Let The Church Be The Church - Part 2 of 9 Biblical Church Leadership (1 Peter 5 1-3)

1 Peter 5:1-3

Introduction

There seems to be a latent suspicion of authority in our culture. Christianity, however, has recognized the need for authority in government, the home, and the church.

In Christianity, there is a unique leadership structure. The New Testament sets forth four separate and unique groups that make up the church and her government. They are Christ, elders, deacons, and the congregation.

A particular church gathered and completely organised according to the mind of Christ, consists of officers and members. The officers appointed by Christ to be chosen and set apart by the church are bishops or elders and deacons. These are to be appointed for the peculiar administration of ordinances and the execution of power or duty with which the Lord has entrusted them and to which He has called them. This pattern of church order is to be continued to the end of the world. (Baptist Confession of Faith 1689, Article 26, no. 8)

Each congregation operates under the Lordship of Christ through democratic processes. In such a congregation, each member is responsible and accountable to Christ as Lord. Its scriptural officers are pastors and deacons. While both men and women are gifted for service in the church, the office of pastor is limited to men as qualified by Scripture (2000 Baptist Faith and Message, Article VI)

1A. Jesus Christ is the Head of His Church.

1B. The church is a theocracy not a democracy.

Ephesians 5:23 (NASB) 23For the husband is the head of the wife, as Christ also is the head of the church, He Himself being the Savior of the body.

Colossians 1:18 (NASB) 18He is also head of the body, the church; and He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that He Himself will come to have first place in everything.

2B. The church is an organism not an organization.

Ephesians 4:15-16 (NASB) 15but speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, even Christ, 16from whom the whole body, being fitted and held together by what every joint supplies, according to the proper working of each individual part, causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself in love.

The church is not a mere human organization. It is not a mere organization because it is an organism, a body. And it is not merely human, because its head is divine, the life he gives is supernatural life.

So the way a church is organized should not simply copy the way a human organization is run. There should be structures and practices that let Christ the head govern, lead, and nurture his church. Jesus Christ is the living head--the leader and the sustainer--of the church, his body.

2A. The congregation - the role of the members

1B. All the members of Christ's body are priests and ministers.

Every Christian is a priest

1 Peter 2:9 (NASB) 9But you are a chosen race, A royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;

Revelation 1:5-6 (NASB) 5… To Him who loves us and released us from our sins by His blood— 6and He has made us to be a kingdom, priests to His God and Father—to Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.

Ø The New Testament knows nothing of a priesthood of the clergy.

1 Timothy 2:5 (NASB) 5For there is one God, and one mediator also between God and men, the man Christ Jesus,

Ø We all go directly to God through Christ, not through professional priests nor through Mary.

Every Christian is a minister.

Ø The word "minister" does not define the pastoral office in the church. It defines the function of every member.

Ephesians 4:12 (NKJV) 12for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ,

2B. Under Christ the local congregation is the final authority in the church.

The congregation must submit to the Scriptures

Ø The congregation is not above the Scriptures, because the Scriptures are the Word of Christ. We submit to Christ by submitting to his Word.

The congregation must submit to the Holy Spirit

Ø The congregation is not above the Holy Spirit, because the Spirit is the Spirit of Christ. We submit to Christ by submitting to his Spirit in the church.

Under Christ, the local congregation is the final authority in matters of faith and life

Ø This is not only implied in the priesthood of all believers, but illustrated in Matthew 18:15-17 where the church is the last court of appeal in church discipline:

Matthew 18:15-17 (NASB) 15“If your brother sins, go and show him his fault in private; if he listens to you, you have won your brother. 16“But if he does not listen to you, take one or two more with you, so that by the mouth of two or three witnesses every fact may be confirmed. 17“If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector.

3A. Deacons – The Servant–Ministers of The Church

1B. The Biblical role of a deacon (Acts 6:2-4)

The meaning of the word

Ø Diakonein; verb meaning “to minister, to provide for, to help”

Matthew 20:28 (NIV) just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."

Matthew 27:55-56 (NKJV) And many women who followed Jesus from Galilee, ministering to Him, were there looking on from afar, {56} among whom were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James and Joses, and the mother of Zebedee's sons.

Ø Diakonia, diadonos; noun meaning “ministry, service”

Ephesians 3:7 (NIV) I became a servant of this gospel by the gift of God's grace given me through the working of his power.

Ø General meaning is a servant-minister.

Ø When used to refer to the office it is plural (Phi 1:1; 1 Tim 3)

The function of the office

Ø Deacons are to promote peace (6:1)

Ø Deacons are to provide physical ministry (6:2-3)

Ø Deacons are to promote church growth (6:7)

Ø Deacons are to assist the elders. (6:3)

2B. The Biblical qualifications for a deacon (1 Timothy 3:8-13)

His personal character (3:8)

Ø Serious (3:8a)

"men of dignity, semos;" An intense conviction of the seriousness of life

Ø Sincere (3:8b)

“Not double‑tongued, dilogos;" does not tell tales from house to house; not a gossip; you can depend on what he says.

Ø Self-controlled (3:8c)

"Not addicted (prosecho) to much wine," describes a person who sits long with the cup and thus drinks to excess. Deacons should be clear headed.

Ø Honest (3:8d)

"Not fond of sordid gain" ‑ A spiritual attitude toward money

His spiritual character (3:9-13)

Ø Settled convictions (3:9)

Ø Proven testimony (3:10)

"Tested, dokimazo;" a general verdict of the community concerning their life style.

“beyond reproach, anegkletos;” not to be called to account, unreprovable

Ø Godly husband with a godly wife (11-12a)

He is to be morally pure and faithful in his marriage

Ø Godly father (3:12b)

4A. Elders – The Servant-Leaders of the Church

1B. The Biblical role of an elder

The terms

Ø “POIMEN”: Pastor, Shepherd - Caring

Ø “PRESBUTEROS”: Elder - Spiritual Maturity

Ø “EPISCOPOS”: Overseer, Bishop – Manage/rule

“To the elders I say.. Be shepherds of God’s flock, serving as overseers....” 1 Peter 5:1-2

Acts 20:17-18, 28 (NASB) 17From Miletus he sent to Ephesus and called to him the elders of the church. 18And when they had come to him, he said to them, “You yourselves know, from the first day that I set foot in Asia, how I was with you the whole time…28“Be on guard for yourselves and for all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood.