Rediscovering the New Testament church—and imagining what might happen if we lived it.
A nine-part series
Part 2: Leadership That Serves
What happens when church leadership stops being about position and starts being about responsibility?
Imagine a church without a celebrity pastor.
Instead, imagine several spiritually mature men serving as elders, working together to shepherd the congregation.
Imagine deacons coordinating practical service and helping people in need.
Imagine teachers, evangelists, encouragers, and other gifted members contributing according to their abilities.
That’s not an organizational invention. It’s a picture we can begin to assemble from the New Testament.
Acts 14:23 describes elders being appointed in the churches. Acts 20:17-28 shows Paul addressing the elders of Ephesus and instructing them to shepherd and oversee God’s people.
First Timothy 3 and Titus 1 describe the qualifications of elders. Interestingly, the emphasis is overwhelmingly on character.
An elder should be self-controlled, hospitable, gentle, trustworthy, and able to teach.
Notice what’s missing: celebrity status, charisma, impressive speaking ability, and financial success.
Jesus made the distinction even clearer in Matthew 20:25-28. He told His disciples that leadership among His followers should not resemble worldly authority. Whoever wants to become great must become a servant.
That changes the entire concept of leadership.
An elder isn’t a religious CEO. A pastor isn’t the owner of the congregation. A deacon isn’t a middle manager.
Leaders are responsible for helping the entire body grow.
Ephesians 4:11-16 describes leaders equipping the saints for works of service. The objective isn’t to have a few people doing all the ministry. It’s to help everybody participate.
Of course, multiple elders don’t automatically guarantee good leadership. People are still people. Accountability, humility, and transparency remain essential.
But what if our churches selected leaders primarily for their character rather than their ability to attract an audience?
Perhaps the best church leader isn’t the person who can draw the biggest crowd. Perhaps it’s the person who helps the most people become faithful followers of Jesus.
Scripture to explore: Matthew 20:25-28; Acts 20:17-35; 1 Timothy 3:1-13; Ephesians 4:11-16; 1 Peter 5:1-4.
