Church, leadership of

Jesus Christ is the absolute head of the church. He sets leaders in the church to enable the whole church to grow into maturity. Christ's authority in the church is acknowledged more by the church's obedience to God than through any particular form of government.

Jesus Christ alone is head of the church

Colossians 1:18 See also Matthew 23:8–10; Ephesians 1:22, Ephesians 4:15, Ephesians 5:23; Colossians 2:19; Hebrews 3:3

And He is the head of the body, the church; He is the beginning and firstborn from among the dead, so that in all things He may have preeminence.

The Holy Spirit directs the church

Acts 13:2 See also Acts 15:28, Acts 16:6–7, Acts 20:28; Romans 8:14; 1 Corinthians 12:11; Revelation 2:7, Revelation 2:11

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.”

The appointment of leaders in the church

God calls and equips leaders

Ephesians 4:11 See also Matthew 16:18; Acts 1:24–26, Acts 9:15–16, Acts 20:28, Acts 26:16–18; 1 Corinthians 12:28; Galatians 1:15–17

And it was He who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers,

Delegated leadership

Acts 6:3–6, Acts 14:23; Titus 1:5

The appointment of apostles

Mark 3:13–19 parallels Matthew 10:1–4, Luke 6:12–16 1 Corinthians 9:1–2; 2 Corinthians 3:3; Ephesians 2:20; Revelation 21:14; Acts 2:42, Acts 15:6, Acts 15:22–23; 1 Thessalonians 2:6; 2 Peter 3:2; Jude 1:17

Then Jesus went up on the mountain and called for those He wanted, and they came to Him. He appointed twelve of them, whom He designated as apostles, to accompany Him, to be sent out to preach, and to have authority to drive out demons. These are the twelve He appointed: Simon (whom He named Peter), James son of Zebedee and his brother John ( whom He named Boanerges, meaning “Sons of Thunder”), Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James son of Alphaeus, Thaddaeus, Simon the Zealot, and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed Jesus.

Prophets as leaders

Acts 15:32 Judas and Silas were leaders in the Jerusalem church (Acts 15:22). See also Acts 11:27–30, Acts 13:1–2; Romans 12:6 The role of prophets as leaders is distinct from the gift of prophecy, which was in principle available to all; 1 Corinthians 12:28, 1 Corinthians 14:29–30; Ephesians 3:5

Judas and Silas, who themselves were prophets, said much to encourage and strengthen the brothers.

Evangelists as leaders

Acts 21:8 See also Ephesians 4:11; 2 Timothy 4:5

Leaving the next day, we went on to Caesarea and stayed at the home of Philip the evangelist, who was one of the Seven.

Pastors and teachers as leaders

Acts 20:28 See also John 21:15–17; Acts 13:1; Romans 12:7; 1 Corinthians 12:28; 1 Timothy 3:2; Titus 1:9; James 3:1; 1 Peter 5:2 Pastors are also called “shepherds”.

Keep watch over yourselves and the entire flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God, which He purchased with His own blood.

Elders as leaders

1 Timothy 3:1 “Elder” and “overseer” or “bishop” are more or less interchangeable. See also Acts 11:30, Acts 14:23, Acts 15:2, Acts 15:22, Acts 20:17; 1 Timothy 5:17; Titus 1:5; James 5:14; 2 John 1:1

This is a trustworthy saying: If anyone aspires to be an overseer, he desires a noble task.

Deacons as leaders

Philippians 1:1 “Deacon” means “one who serves”. See also Acts 6:5–6; 1 Timothy 3:8

Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus, To all the saints in Christ Jesus at Philippi, together with the overseers and deacons:

Qualifications for church leadership

The first apostles were witnesses of Jesus Christ's life and resurrection: Acts 1:21–22, Acts 10:41; 1 Corinthians 9:1–2, 1 Corinthians 15:7–8; 2 Peter 1:16; Acts 6:3; 1 Timothy 3:1–12, 1 Timothy 5:17; Titus 1:6–9; 1 Peter 5:1–4

Responsibilities of church leaders

The church's responsibilities to its leaders

To respect and submit to its leaders

Acts 16:4; 1 Thessalonians 5:12–13; 1 Timothy 5:19; Hebrews 13:17

To pray for its leaders

Ephesians 6:19; 1 Thessalonians 5:25

To support its leaders financially

1 Corinthians 9:7–14; Philippians 4:15–19; 1 Timothy 5:17–18

The corporate government of the church

In choosing leaders

Acts 6:3–6

In implementing decisions

Acts 15:22–29

In building up the church

Romans 12:4–8; 1 Corinthians 12:4–12, 1 Corinthians 12:27; Ephesians 4:3, Ephesians 4:7–16; 1 Peter 4:10–11

In discerning true and false teachings

1 John 4:1–3; 2 John 1:10; Revelation 2:2

In exercising discipline

Matthew 18:15–20; 1 Corinthians 5:4–5; 2 Corinthians 2:6–8; 2 Thessalonians 3:14–15

The structure of the church

The pattern of church life

Acts 2:42 See also Acts 2:46, Acts 5:42

They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.

The house church

Acts 1:13–14, Acts 12:12, Acts 16:40; Romans 16:5; 1 Corinthians 16:19; Colossians 4:15; Philemon 1:2

The local church

Acts 13:1; Romans 16:1; 1 Corinthians 1:2 It is unknown whether there were subdivisions of the church in towns such as Corinth; 1 Thessalonians 1:1

Churches in a region

Acts 9:31, Acts 15:41; 1 Corinthians 16:1; 2 Corinthians 8:1; Galatians 1:2, Galatians 1:22; Revelation 1:4 Normally the NT speaks of “churches” in an area rather than of a unified regional structure.

The universal church

Matthew 16:18 1 Corinthians 12:28; Ephesians 1:22, Ephesians 3:10, Ephesians 5:25

And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it.