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Chapter 30

Church Leadership

1. General
   1. Introductory Insights
      • Churches have leaders
      • Typically churches are together overseen by a central leadership group
      • Ultimately it is God who chooses leaders . . .
      • . . . Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit play a role in the making of leaders
      • Leaders will be accountable to God for their work
      • Leaders will be richly rewarded for good work
      • Note: Examples of the ordination of leaders
   2. Required Characteristics
      • Godliness
      • Wisdom and competence
      • Strength and courage
      • Willingness to serve
      • Deep love for church members . . .
      • . . . and concern for church members
   3. Managing the Church
      • As a leader, supervise church affairs
      • Delegate work to capable people
      • Be gentle and sparing in the use of authority . . .
      • . . . but exercise authority where necessary
      • Be an example for church members to imitate
   4. Caring for Church Members
      • Be a shepherd taking care of God’s flock
      • Pray for church members
      • Strengthen members in the faith
      • Exhort and urge members on in aspects of the Christian life
      • Follow up and pastor members by visiting them . . .
      • . . . or by writing letters to them
      • Serve church members
      • Work hard at helping church members
      • Be prepared to suffer hardship for church members
   5. Dealing with Sin in the Church
      • Confront church members over sin
      • Rebuke members for their sin . . .
      • . . . and warn them to stop sinning
      • Expel unrepentant sinners . . .
      • . . . This is partly for the benefit of the offenders themselves
      • Have multiple witnesses in disciplinary procedures
      • Restoring a person who has sinned
      • Note: Unchecked sin corrupts others
   6. Women in Leadership
      • In the OT Israelite nation, some women had roles as leaders . . .
      • . . . and some women were prophetesses
      • In the NT church, some women had significant ministerial roles . . .
      • . . . One such role was prophesying
      • Controversial passages on women not speaking in church
      • Note: The oneness and interdependence of women and men “in” Jesus Christ
   7. Church Members’ Duties to Leaders
      • Love your leaders
      • Respect and revere your leaders
      • Honor your leaders
      • Listen to your leaders and their teaching
      • Obey your leaders
      • Give your leaders material support . . .
      • . . . Leaders deserve material support
      • Church members can bring their leaders great joy, in loving them and others
      • Church members can bring leaders joy by firm faith and obedient, godly lives

2. Teaching in the Church
   1. What to Teach: God’s Word
      • Teach and preach God’s word
      • Teach God’s commands and ways
      • Teach the truths of the faith  . . .
      • . . . Examples of spiritual truth being taught from Scripture
      • Read God’s word in church assemblies
      • Use God’s word as the authoritative standard in determining what is true . . .
      • . . . and use God’s word in determining what actions are legitimate
      • Note: Do not add to or subtract from God’s word – nor distort it
   2. How to Teach
      • Explain God’s word and truths
      • Where applicable, use illustrations in teaching
      • Do not teach beyond what the hearers can understand
      • The manner in which to teach
      • The teaching needs to be correct . . .
      • . . . and the teaching needs to be complete
      • Keep reminding church members of teachings
      • Note: Church members can themselves instruct one another
   3. Traits of False Teachers (I): Their Teaching
      • False teachers speak lies and delusions of their own, in God’s name
      • Their teaching is hollow – of worldly, human origin
      • False teachers say what their listeners like to hear – appealing and pleasant things . . .
      • . . . False teachers do not confront their listeners with their sin
      • False teachers teach different doctrine to what is correct
      • False teachers distort and oppose the truth
      • False teachers typically deny Jesus Christ – and so are of the antichrist
      • Other notes about their teaching
      • Note: False teachers and their teaching are savage and destructive – causing controversies and divisions
   4. Traits of False Teachers (II): Characteristics
      • The minds and consciences of false teachers are corrupted
      • False teachers typically follow their sinful desires
      • False teachers are generally greedy for personal gain
      • False teachers are deceitful
      • False teachers are often conceited and contemptuous
      • False teachers lack understanding and knowledge
      • Note: False teachers stand condemned . . .
      • . . . False teachers face destruction
   5. Guarding against False Teachers
      • Watch out for false teachers and their teaching . . .
      • . . . Do not be deceived or led astray by false teachers
      • Test teachers by comparing their teaching with the Scriptures and sound biblical doctrine
      • False teachers can be recognized by their “fruit” and actions
      • Do not tolerate false teachers and their teaching . . .
      • . . . Have nothing to do with false teachers
      • Note: False teachers often succeed in leading people astray . . .
      • . . . False teachers can lead many astray

 ➜Major headings in: 30. Church Leadership (and all of Unit F)

Pray for persecuted Christians