BIBLICAL

LEADERSHIP
Lesson 1

LEADERSHIP
IN THE
NEW TESTAMENT
CHURCH

NOTE:
After a period of time, there were
ELDERS in congregations
And when they had appointed

elders for them in every

church, with prayer and fasting
they committed them to the Lord
in whom they believed.
(Acts 14:23)

AT MILETUS, PAUL SPOKE WITH

THE EPHESIAN ELDERS
And from Mile'tus he sent to
Ephesus and called to him the
elders of the church.
(Acts 20:17)
What are these brothers called in
VERSE 28?

Pay careful attention to

yourselves and to all the flock, in
which the Holy Spirit has made
you overseers, to care for the
church of God, which he obtained
with his own blood.
(Acts 20:28)
What is another term for
overseers?
What is the meaning of care for?

NOTE ANOTHER TRANSLATION

Look after yourselves and
everyone the Holy Spirit has
placed in your care. Be like

shepherds to God's church.

It is the flock that he bought with
the blood of his own Son.
(Acts 20:28, CEV)

THE GREEK WORD FOR CARE

FOR IS
(poimainein)
TO SHEPHERD
So I exhort the elders among
you, as a fellow elder and a
witness of the sufferings of
Christ, as well as a partaker in
the glory that is going to be
revealed.: (I Peter 5:1)

NOTE WHAT THE ELDERS ARE

TO DO IN THE NEXT VERSE
shepherd

the flock of God

that is among you, exercising
oversight, not under compulsion,
but willingly, as God would have
you; not for shameful gain, but
eagerly;
(I Peter 5:2)

THEREFORE:
There are THREE TERMS THAT
DESCRIBE THESE MEN
Elders (presbyters)
Overseers (bishops)
Pastors (shepherds)

And he gave the apostles,

the
prophets, the evangelists,
the shepherds and
teachers,

to equip

the saints for the

work of ministry, for building
up the body of Christ,
(Ephesians 4:11, 12)

LEADERS IN THE CHURCH

1. Apostles -- Those sent
out
General Sense - Messengers
sent out (II Corinthians 8:23)
Specific Sense - 12 apostles
who were eye witnesses of
Jesus (Acts 1:21, 22)

2. Prophets
A spokesman for God!
Aaron was the mouth for Moses
He shall speak for you to the
people, and he shall be your
mouth, and you shall be as God to
him. (Exodus 4:16)
Aaron is called the prophet of
Moses!

And the LORD said to Moses,

"See, I have made you like God to
Pharaoh, and your brother

Aaron shall be your

prophet.
(Exodus 7:1)

NEW TESTAMENT PROPHETS

They were inspired men
They gave new revelation
(I Corinthians 14:29-33)
They were a link between the
apostles and the written word
They were to cease
(I Corinthians 13:8-10)

3. Evangelists -- Bringer of
good news
Timothy must be ---As for you, always be soberminded, endure suffering, do the
work of an evangelist, fulfill
your ministry.
(II Timothy 4:5)

WHAT IS THE WORK OF THE

EVANGELIST IN EPHESIANS
4:11-15?

To equip the saints for the

work of ministry WHAT
ABOUT THE ELDERS?

4. Pastors and Teachers -This actually means

teaching shepherds
THEY ARE ALSO TO EQUIP
THE SAINTS FOR MINISTRY!
Help the members to DEVELOP
their ABILITIES!
(Romans 12:3-8)

A BIBLICAL LEADERSHIP
MODEL
PARTICIPATORY LEADERSHIP
Many Participate!
The Church Is Involved!
Biblical Leadership is NOT a
HIERARCHY!

EXAMPLES:
1. The SELECTION of the 7
brothers to HELP WIDOWS
Now in these days.., a
complaint by the Hellenists arose
against the Hebrews because
their widows were being
neglected in the daily
distribution.
(Acts 6:1)

And the twelve summoned the

full number of the disciples and
said, "It is not right that we
should give up preaching the
word of God to serve tables.
Therefore, brothers, pick out
from among you seven men of
good repute, full of the Spirit and
of wisdom, whom we will appoint
to this duty. (Acts 6:2, 3)

NOTE:
The 12 apostles were leaders.
There was strong, decisive,
leadership!
Qualifications were given by the
leaders!
There was church participation
in the selection
WHOLE CHURCH INVOLVEMENT!

2. The CONFERENCE at
Jerusalem about
CIRCUMCISION (Acts 15)
The church at Antioch SENT an
apostle! Who was BOSS?
.Paul and Barnabas and some
of the others were appointed to go
up to Jerusalem to the apostles
and the elders about this
question. (Acts 15:2)

NOTE:
1. In the conference, the Holy
Spirit was involved (15:28)
2. Several Spoke:
Peter spoke (15:7-11)
Paul and Barnabas spoke (15:12)
James spoke

(15:13-21)

Amos was quoted

(15:16-18)

IMPORTANT CONSIDERATIONS
There was STRONG,

DECISIVE LEADERSHIP!
But, THE

LEADERSHIP
INVOLVED THE WHOLE
CHURCH!

Then it

seemed good to the

apostles and the elders,
with the whole church, to

choose men from among them and

send them to Antioch with Paul
and Barnabas. They sent Judas
called Barsabbas, and Silas,
leading men among the
brothers,
(Acts 15:22)

SOME CHARACTERISTICS OF
PARTICAPATORY LEADERSHIP
1. It has STRONG, DECISIVE
LEADERSHIP
Leaders provide GOOD
EXAMPLES
They have creative thinking

2. But, the members are wellinformed like the leaders

3. There are SHARED GOALS
and VISION
4. There is an emphasis on
SHARED, DECISION MAKING

THE WAY TO ACCOMPLISH THIS

1. A beautiful spirit of unity
within the congregation
2. The church should agree on
what is really important
3. A feeling that it is NOT We
versus They
4. A feeling of OPENNESS

BIBLICAL ELDERS
ARE
SERVANT LEADERS
IN THE LORDS FAMILY!
(To be Continued, the Lord willing)