What does a church need from its leaders?
A church needs leaders whose character is fit for the calling, who shepherd the flock like the Chief Shepherd rather than lording over it, who teach the word and guard the flock from error. Scripture puts far more weight on character and on shepherding than on worldly ability, and it measures leaders by Christ's pattern of humble service. Such leaders are a gift of God to His church.
This question arose from studying What does a healthy church look like? and Why do I need the church?.
Begin by reading
Go into the Word
Not a summary of these passages: the passages themselves. Read them, then come back to the study below.
The study
What the Scripture says
Qualified character above any gift
Scripture's lists for leaders are lists of character, not of ability. An overseer 'must be without reproach, the husband of one wife, temperate, sensible, modest, hospitable, good at teaching... not greedy for money, but gentle, not quarrelsome,' and 'not a new convert.' Titus adds 'blameless, as God's steward; not self-pleasing, not easily angered... given to hospitality, sober minded, fair, holy, self-controlled.' The church needs leaders you can trust to be what they claim: people whose lives match the gospel they teach.
The overseer therefore must be without reproach, the husband of one wife, temperate, sensible, modest, hospitable, good at teaching; not a drinker, not violent, not greedy for money, but gentle, not quarrelsome, not covetous;A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach; Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous;
not a new convert, lest being puffed up he fall into the same condemnation as the devil.Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil.
For the overseer must be blameless, as God’s steward; not self-pleasing, not easily angered, not given to wine, not violent, not greedy for dishonest gain; but given to hospitality, a lover of good, sober minded, fair, holy, self-controlled;For a bishop must be blameless, as the steward of God; not selfwilled, not soon angry, not given to wine, no striker, not given to filthy lucre; But a lover of hospitality, a lover of good men, sober, just, holy, temperate;
one who rules his own house well, having children in subjection with all reverence; (but if a man doesn’t know how to rule his own house, how will he take care of the assembly of God?)One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity; (For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?)
Shepherds who lead by feeding and example
The calls to church leadership are calls to shepherd. Paul tells the elders, 'Take heed, therefore, to yourselves, and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the assembly of the Lord and God which he purchased with his own blood.' Peter says, 'Shepherd the flock of God which is among you, exercising the oversight, not under compulsion, but voluntarily,' and 'making yourselves examples to the flock.' A shepherd feeds, guards, leads, and goes before the sheep by his own life.
Take heed, therefore, to yourselves, and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the assembly of the Lord and God which he purchased with his own blood.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.
Shepherd the flock of God which is among you, exercising the oversight, not under compulsion, but voluntarily, not for dishonest gain, but willingly;Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind;
neither as lording it over those entrusted to you, but making yourselves examples to the flock.Neither as being lords over God’s heritage, but being ensamples to the flock.
Therefore watch, remembering that for a period of three years I didn’t cease to admonish everyone night and day with tears.Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears.
Teachers who hold and guard the word
The church needs leaders who can teach. An overseer must be 'good at teaching,' and Titus says an elder must hold 'the faithful word which is according to the teaching, that he may be able to exhort in the sound doctrine, and to convict those who contradict him.' Paul warns the elders that 'vicious wolves will enter in among you, not sparing the flock,' and men will arise 'speaking perverse things' to draw disciples away; therefore leaders must be watchful, guarding the church by the word.
The overseer therefore must be without reproach, the husband of one wife, temperate, sensible, modest, hospitable, good at teaching;A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach;
holding to the faithful word which is according to the teaching, that he may be able to exhort in the sound doctrine, and to convict those who contradict him.Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers.
For I know that after my departure, vicious wolves will enter in among you, not sparing the flock. Men will arise from among your own selves, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after them.For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them.
Therefore watch, remembering that for a period of three years I didn’t cease to admonish everyone night and day with tears.Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears.
Servants who do not lord it over the flock
Jesus set the pattern against worldly leadership: 'whoever wants to become great among you shall be your servant… The Son of Man also came not to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.' And He said, 'I am in your midst as one who serves.' Peter applies it directly to pastors: 'neither as lording it over those entrusted to you, but making yourselves examples to the flock.' The greatest in the church is the one who serves, and the church needs leaders who lead as Christ did, by laying themselves down.
But Jesus summoned them, and said, “You know that the rulers of the nations lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. It shall not be so among you, but whoever desires to become great among you shall beyour servant. Whoever desires to be first among you shall be your bondservant, even as the Son of Man came not to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Ye know that the princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them, and they that are great exercise authority upon them. But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister; And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant: Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.
But not so with you. But one who is the greater among you, let him become as the younger, and one who is governing, as one who serves. For who is greater, one who sits at the table, or one who serves? Isn’t it he who sits at the table? But I am in your midst as one who serves.But ye shall not be so: but he that is greatest among you, let him be as the younger; and he that is chief, as he that doth serve. For whether is greater, he that sitteth at meat, or he that serveth? is not he that sitteth at meat? but I am among you as he that serveth.
neither as lording it over those entrusted to you, but making yourselves examples to the flock.Neither as being lords over God’s heritage, but being ensamples to the flock.
For who is greater, one who sits at the table, or one who serves? Isn’t it he who sits at the table? But I am in your midst as one who serves.For whether is greater, he that sitteth at meat, or he that serveth? is not he that sitteth at meat? but I am among you as he that serveth.
A gift of God, and a responsibility of the church
Good leaders are a gift to be recognized and received, not a crown to be grasped: 'if a man seeks the office of an overseer, he desires a good work.' The church is told to honor its leaders and test them carefully, for they watch over souls 'as those who will give account.' And the promise for faithful shepherds is great: 'When the chief Shepherd is revealed, you will receive the crown of glory that doesn't fade away.' The measure of a church's leadership is whether it holds to the Chief Shepherd, values the flock He bought, and serves like the One who gave Himself for it.
This is a faithful saying: if a man seeks the office of an overseer, he desires a good work.This is a true saying, If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work.
Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they watch on behalf of your souls, as those who will give account, that they may do this with joy, and not with groaning, for that would be unprofitable for you.Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you.
When the chief Shepherd is revealed, you will receive the crown of glory that doesn’t fade away.And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.
Take heed, therefore, to yourselves, and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the assembly of the Lord and God which he purchased with his own blood.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.
As you read, you may wonder…
Scripture raises the next question
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Continue this trail
What kind of authority did Jesus give church leaders?→“It shall not be so among you, but whoever desires to become great among you shall beyour servant. Whoever desires to be first among you shall be your bondservant, even as the Son of Man came not to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister; And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant: Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.”What does Peter say about Peter?→“Simon Peter answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven. I also tell you that you are Peter,and on this rock I will build my assembly, and the gates of Hadeswill not prevail against it.And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Bar–jona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven. 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.”Does God require His servants to stay unmarried?→“forbidding marriage and commanding to abstain from foods which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth.Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth.”What is the church's mission in the world?→“Go,and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I commanded you. Behold, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.”Who are God's chosen people?→“and you shall be to me a kingdom of priests, and a holy nation.’ These are the words which you shall speak to the children of Israel.”And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation. These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel.”How wrong can I be and still be saved?→“For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures,For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:”Explore further
What is Paul saying about men and women in the church?→Worship trail“But I would have you know that the head of every man is Christ, and the head of the woman is the man, and the head of Christ is God.But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God.”Hold onto these
Verses to meditate on
The overseer therefore must be without reproach, the husband of one wife, temperate, sensible, modest, hospitable, good at teaching;A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach;
Take heed, therefore, to yourselves, and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the assembly of the Lord and God which he purchased with his own blood.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.
Shepherd the flock of God which is among you, exercising the oversight, not under compulsion, but voluntarily, not for dishonest gain, but willingly; neither as lording it over those entrusted to you, but making yourselves examples to the flock.Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind; Neither as being lords over God’s heritage, but being ensamples to the flock.
holding to the faithful word which is according to the teaching, that he may be able to exhort in the sound doctrine, and to convict those who contradict him.Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers.
It shall not be so among you, but whoever desires to become great among you shall beyour servant. Whoever desires to be first among you shall be your bondservant, even as the Son of Man came not to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister; And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant: Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.
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