Dictionary of Bible Themes  »  7000 God's people  »  7010 The church as the people of God  »  7020 church, the  »  7026 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

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 2:7,11

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

Delegated leadership

Acts 6:3-6; Acts 14:23; Titus 1:5

The appointment of apostles

Mark 3:13-19 pp Matthew 10:1-4 pp Luke 6:12-16

As founders of the church:

1 Corinthians 9:1-2; 2 Corinthians 3:3; Ephesians 2:20; Revelation 21:14

As leaders of the church:

Acts 2:42; Acts 15:6,22-23; 1 Thessalonians 2:6; 2 Peter 3:2; Jude 17

Prophets as leaders

Acts 15:32 Judas and Silas were leaders in the Jerusalem church (Ac 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; Corinthians 14:29-30; Ephesians 3:5

Evangelists as leaders

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

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”.

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 15:2,22; Acts 20:17; 1 Timothy 5:17; Titus 1:5; James 5:14; 2 John 1

Deacons as leaders

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

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; Corinthians 15:7-8; 2 Peter 1:16

Qualifications for elders and deacons:

Acts 6:3; 1 Timothy 3:1-12; Timothy 5:17; Titus 1:6-9; 1 Peter 5:1-4

Responsibilities of church leaders

To preach the gospel

Romans 1:15; 1 Corinthians 1:17; Galatians 2:8; Ephesians 3:8; 1 Timothy 2:7

To teach sound doctrine

1 Timothy 4:6,13; Timothy 5:17; Hebrews 13:7

To give direction in church life

Acts 15:2,6,22-23; Acts 16:4; Acts 20:28-31; 1 Timothy 5:17; 1 Peter 5:2

To be an example in loving service

Matthew 20:26-28 pp Mark 10:43-45; Mark 9:35; John 13:13-15; Hebrews 13:7; 1 Peter 5:3

To train and appoint other leaders

Acts 14:23; 1 Timothy 4:14; 2 Timothy 2:2; Titus 1:5

To pray for the sick

James 5:14

To exercise discipline in the church

2 Corinthians 13:10; 1 Thessalonians 5:12; 1 Timothy 1:20; Timothy 5:20; Titus 3:10; 3Jn 10

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 12:4-12,27; Ephesians 4:3,7-16; 1 Peter 4:10-11

In discerning true and false teachings

1 John 4:1-3; 2Jn 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

The house church

Acts 1:13-14; Acts 12:12; Acts 16:40; Romans 16:5; 1 Corinthians 16:19; Colossians 4:15; Phm 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 1:2,22; 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

Referring to the local as well as the universal church:

1 Corinthians 12:28; Ephesians 1:22; Ephesians 3:10; Ephesians 5:25

See also

2212  Christ, head of church
3035  Holy Spirit, presence of
5217  authority in church
5326  government
5745  women
7706  apostles
7715  deacons
7720  elders in the church
7734  leaders, spiritual
7784  shepherd
7797  teaching
7939  ministry
8342  servanthood