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;
not a new convert, lest being puffed up he fall into the same condemnation as 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;
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?)
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.
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.
Therefore watch, remembering that for a period of three years I didn’t cease to admonish everyone 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;
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.
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.
Therefore watch, remembering that for a period of three years I didn’t cease to admonish everyone night and day with tears.
Servants who do not lord it over the flock
Jesus set the pattern against worldly leadership: 'whoever desires to become great among you shall be your servant... even as the Son of Man 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 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.
neither as lording it over those entrusted to you, but making yourselves examples 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.
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.
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.
When the chief Shepherd is revealed, you will receive the crown of glory that doesn’t fade 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.
As you read, you may wonder…
Scripture raises the next question
Studying the Word naturally opens more of it. Follow what you just read: it leads somewhere.
We haven't written this one yet. Take it to your church or small group: the Word answers it wherever it is asked. If we study it here later, all the better.
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Verses to meditate on
The overseer therefore must be without reproach, the husband of one wife, temperate, sensible, modest, hospitable, good at teaching;
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.
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.
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.
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.”
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