Church Leadership is Vitally Important

 As the leaders go, so goes the organization.  Such is a benchmark principle of leadership.  Another one...an organization can only rise as high as its leaders.

These are true because they are fundamentally Biblical for leadership in a local church.  God puts so much value in leaders that one of the gifts the conquering King gave to his nation was leaders:  "And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers,..." Ephesians 4: 11.

The God-appointed positions of leaders in the local church are God's gift to His church.  While the quoted verse mentions four (or some say five separating pastors from teachers), in the local church there are primarily two offices:  elders (pastors) and deacons.

I will deal with the first today and then the deacons next Wednesday.  

Titus 1:5 "set in order what remains and appoint elders in every city as I direct you."

Elders were the first to be appointed.

Philippians 1: 1 "To all the saints in Christ Jesus, who are in Philippi, with the bishops and deacons." 

First, the titles of bishops, pastors, elders, and overseers are all synonymous. I don't have time to go into detail about why that is true, but it is.

But most all references to elders (pastors) in the New Testament are plural.

Acts 14:23 "And when they had appointed elders for them in every church."

Acts 20:17 Paul called for "the elders of the church."

James 5:14 "Call for the elders of the church."

Spiritual leadership is God-ordained, but just like the Trinity, the local church needs multiple men (yes, I believe it is for men only) leading the church.

Why? Mainly because the men in that position (including myself) are still prone to sin, selfishness, pride, arrogance, and flat-missing God.  So, there needs to be a plurality of leaders who can seek God to find His will and hold one another accountable.

Leadership without accountability is a dictatorship.  And there is only one dictator in the church and He is the Head, Christ Jesus.  But He leads His church through God-ordained leaders who need accountability in hearing from God.

I'm glad Rainsville First Baptist has elders who seek the Lord to give the most Godly leadership possible to His church.  I'm glad to say we have never proposed anything that was not unanimous because God is not divided and neither should the leaders.

Pray for your church leaders.  Ask God to keep them focused on Him, His Word, and to be continually filled with His Spirit. Pray for them not to be discouraged.  Leaders spend little time celebrating the good, it's their responsibility to help the church through a bad place, or situation. Then pray for God to raise up more Godly leaders in your church. Occasionally, let them know you are praying for them.  Encouragement is never out-of-place.