CHURCH LEADERSHIP

In structure the New Testament church is the simplest organization in the world, yet it is the strongest and most durable. Civilizations may come and go, kingdoms rise and fall; yet the church of the Lord Jesus Christ endures. One of the greatest weaknesses in the institutions of men is their top-heavy organization. In their efforts to become strong they have become weak, from over-organizing. That divine institution which Jesus came to this earth to set up is the very embodiment of simplicity.

The church has a divine head. Christ is that head (Colossians 1:18; Ephesians 1:22,23). He ever remains the head of his church, and can have no successor. Furthermore, the N.T. knows nothing a bout any person representing him as the head of the church on earth. Any person who pretends to do so—whether he be priest or prince, pope or prophet—is an imposter.

The church had inspired apostles. Christ chose the apostles in the beginning. The very nature of their work is such that they can have no successors. The apostles were to be Christ’s chosen witnesses. (Acts 1:8). They were the ambassadors of Christ (2 Cor. 5:20). The work of an ambassador is to reveal and execute the will of the government, which he represents. The apostles were ambassadors of their King. They revealed his will once for all (Jude 3). This makes it emphatic that since the apostles have made known the will of Christ their King and put it into execution, through the direction of the H/S., no man can alter it now.

What about today? Did Jesus specify any type of organization for the church to have after he and the apostles were gone? Indeed, he did and we will look at that organization this morning. Paul addressed the church at Philippi, “to all the saints in Christ Jesus that are at Philippi with bishops and deacons.”

I) Elders in every congregation.

A) Luke informs us that Paul and Barnabas “appointed elders in every church” (Acts 14:23).

1) This is the earliest mention of the appointment of elders, yet they were by no means the first elders appointed.

2) Paul and Barnabas, when sent to Jerusalem with a contribution for the poor saints, delivered it to the ‘elders.’ (Acts 11:30), Thus, already elders in Judea.

3) The elders were the overseers of the spiritual welfare of the local congregations.

4) Acts 20:17,28

5) We have three terms applied to the same men. They were called the “elders,” the “bishops,” and the “pastors.” The later word is implied in the verb “to feed.”

(a) The three words prebuteroi, episcopoi and poiman

(1st) Presbuteros—elder, presbyter. Men of mature age and experience.

(2nd) Episcopos—bishop or overseer. They were to have the oversight.

(3rd) Poiman—shepherd or pastor. They were to feed or tend the flock.

6) These different terms simply suggest the type of men who should be selected to look after the spiritual welfare of the congregations, and the sort of work they were to do.

7) The word “elders” is an official title and does not necessarily describe the older members of the congregation.

(a) Men were made elders by appointment.

(b) The one appointed was to be selected from the older men of the congregation.

(c) The elder (older) man was to be selected but not necessarily the eldest (oldest).

(d) The one appointed must be older than some but not necessarily the oldest man in the church.

(e) Age is not a specific qualification of an elder. The very nature of the word does indicate older person.

B) There is to be a plurality of elders in every congregation.

1) We never read of the N.T. speaking of one pastor over one congregation or one elder over a plurality of congregations or one bishop over several congregations.

2) From every N.T. passage we see that there was a plurality of elders in each congregation.

3) Phil. 1:1

4) Acts 20:17,28—Paul sent for the elders…

5) Acts 14:23—appoint elders

6) It is an eldership. No one elder in any congregation had authority over the others.

C) The qualifications for elders, pastors, bishops are give in I Timothy 3 and Titus 1.

D) The function (responsibilities) of elders.

1) They are to oversee the feeding of the flock (Acts 20:28)

2) Guard the flock from false teachers (Acts20:29-31)

3) Rule the church (I Tim. 5:17)… as examples (I Pet 5:3)

4) Tend the flock, exercising the oversight thereof (I Pet. 5:2)

5) They must have a commitment. Elders should be men who love the Lord, love the church, and love the word of God. Their reputation for spirituality should take precedence over anything else.

6) They are to be teachers/ students (I Tim. 3:2; Titus 1:9)

7) They are to be examples to the flock (I Pet. 5:1-4). To be an example one must lead the way for others to follow. They need to be active in all phases of the work of the church that others may see and follow. Teaching, working with youth, various programs, etc…

8) They are to be watchmen. Elders watch for the souls of those who are under their care. (Heb. 13:17). Tend the flock “among you” (I Pet. 5:2-3). Elders of local congregation.

9) Be courageous. Titus. 1:9-11, 13. An elder must have backbone. He must be willing to take a stand upon matters of principle even when it becomes unpopular.

10) We have an obligation to obey and respect elders (Heb. 13:17).

II) The church has deacons in each congregation.

A) From Acts 6 we learn of the appointment of the first deacons.

B) I Tim. 3 gives the qualifications of the deacon.

C) Acts 6 gives us the type of men who were selected for the first deacons.

1) They were to look after the temporal welfare of the congregation, under the elders.

2) Every congregation had a plurality of men specially chosen to see after these needs.

D) The word “deacon” means servant, attendant.

1) The deacon is a helper or servant of the church, working under the oversight of the elders.

2) In general, a deacons owes the same service to the Lord and bears the same responsibility as does every Christian.

3) He, however, is one upon whom special responsibility has been laid.

E) Elders and deacons are to be men of the congregation who meet the qualifications.

F) Deacons are not junior elders. It is not the deacon’s business to run the affairs of the church.

G) The church is not under the “elders and deacons,” but the elders. Elders are to be the overseers.

H) The largest earthly organization known to the N.T. is a local congregation, with its elders and deacons.

III) The church has evangelists.

A) The evangelists, however are not officials.

1) He is not “the pastor” of the congregation.

2) An elder may also be a preacher, but he is not “the pastor.”

3) Their duty is to “preach the word” (2 Tim. 4:2). That is the preacher’s business.

4) A congregation may have one evangelist or it may have several.

5) His primary work is to preach the gospel.

6) It is not the preacher’s business to run the affairs of the local congregation.

7) The term “evangelist” has nothing to do with the community activities.

8) Titus 2:15—his authority is in the word that he preaches.

B) Let look at Ephesians 4:11f

1) Latter part of verse 11 “some evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers.”

(a) Evangelists—primary responsibility is to proclaim God’s word.

(b) Pastors—feed the congregation properly.

(c) Teachers--instruct the congregation in the doctrines of religion. It may very well be that this word goes with the word pastor.

IV) The members.

A) People who make up the body of Christ.

B) Members are to serve the Lord to the best of their ability, giving God the glory.

1) Matt. 5:16

2) I Cor. 10:31

3) Eph. 4:16

4) There is work, which each member is to do and which each must do.

Con: Toc conclude, Christ is head over all the church. The church has no earthly head or earthly headquarters. The original apostles, inspired by the H/S are the chosen witnesses, ambassadors under Christ. Each congregation with its elders and deacons is an independent unit, the only earthly organization the N.T. knows anything about. Anything more than this in the way of church organization is without scriptural authority.