Wednesday: Church Leaders and Unity
“But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ’s gift” (Eph. 4:7, NKJV). While salvation is a gift given to all people who will receive it, some spiritual gifts are given to certain people for a special purpose.
Read Ephesians 4:11. What gifts of leadership does God give to the church?
According to Ephesians 4:12, what is God’s purpose in giving special gifts of leadership to the church? How do these gifts relate to each other?
Image © Steve Creitz from GoodSalt.com
All Christians are in a sense ministers and servants of God and the Gospel. Christ’s commission in Matthew 28:19-20 is given to all Christians to go, to make disciples of all nations, to baptize, and to teach. The work of ministry is not given only to a privileged few, such as pastors and/or evangelists, but to all who bear the name of Christ. No one can claim exemption from the work of spreading the Gospel, and no church leader can claim to have an exclusive ministry. The spiritual gifts of leadership are specifically to edify the church. Church leaders are needed to foster, promote, and encourage unity.
Paul’s list of gifts of leadership tells us that these roles are also for equipping God’s people to reach the lost. It is the responsibility of some specially called people within the church to help others fulfill their ministry and service for Christ, and to edify the body of Christ, “till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ” (Eph. 4:13, NKJV). The example of Jesus’ style of leadership must guide how we do ministry. Jesus came to serve others and not to be served (Matt. 20:25-28); we must go and do likewise.
There is a strong tendency among humans to be independent and not accountable to anyone. Western society, in particular, is plagued by this inclination. Paul reminds us, however, that no Christian is alone in this world and that we form a community of faith with spiritual leaders to help encourage one another in our common journey. We are, all together, part of the body of Christ.
What spiritual gifts do you have, and how are you using them for the unity of your local church? |
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JESUS' STYLE OF LEADERSHIP
- To serve others and not to be served.
1. In this style of leadership ,your attitude should be the same as that of Christ who being in very nature God did not consider equality with God something to be grasped Phil 2:5-8.
2. You should be humble and get rid of pride which can easily settle in your heart.
3. The entitlement issues you're holding onto should not prevent you from really serving others.
4. You should serve people not yourself. People matter more than programs. You should seek the highest joy of those you serve.
5. Your self-esteem wrapped up in your status or position should not prevent you from service. You should serve people by building them up, expressing appreciation and encouragement but not manipulating them with praise to gain their cooperation.
6. You should serve all kinds of people even the unlovable, critical and backstabbers. You need a grace-filled heart of love that genuinely cares for and values people. Know how to treat people that get in your way or seem to oppose you. Anticipate and graciously accept the time for your decrease John 3:29-30.
7. Do not lord it over 1 Peter 5:2-3. Do not consider yourself a benefactor Luke 22:25-27. Do not act the greatest or the one who rules. Do not be stingy and do not give begrudgingly or with thought for return. Stop micro-managing, involve others. Stop feeling you know best or need to do it yourself so it is done your way. Associate and serve alongside others regardless of their position or status, stop sticking only with those on par with you.
8. He who serves best leads best. Acting this way does not mean you become a doormat, allowing people to take advantage of you. For the sake of your own personal health and God-given resposibilities like family and spouse, you need to set some boundaries. If anyone does not know how to manage his own family, how can he take care of God's church? 1tim 3:5.
I pray we will become fired up for the Lord instead of lawyers who can defend the truth without knowing him.
Well said Newbegin. Somewhere in my life I learned that a lot of defence was offence and that living as an example was the best argument. If Christ is not living in us, then he is not risen.
We all have spiritual gifts! Although we might think otherwise. It is a matter of getting involved in the work. It is just a matter of seeking what the church needs... And putting our hands to work in prayer!
"The example of Jesus' style of leadership must guide how we do ministry!" Should we then point out the leadership's errors if we see they will have some negative effect on the church? Please enlighten me someone.
Let's think of the proportion of time Jesus spent to "point out the leadership's errors."
Yes, He actually did that, but He waited until just before His crucifixion to do so.
We are responsible for what we do with our influence. We can share the truth, as we see it, we can vote for the right way of doing things, as we see it, and we can relate in such a way that our brothers and sisters will trust us enough to elect us to leadership positions in which we can lead in the style of Jesus. But "pointing out errors in leadership" seldom results in desired changes, according to my observation. How about yours?
Eph 4:7,11,12 inform me that
1) God knows us well
2) He then gives us gifts as per our strengths.
3) "Ephesians 4:12 (ESV)
12 to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ"
Hence each one is a leader in a given field and if we focus in our given fields each shall work towards building up the body of Christ" we shall have unity in our diversity just like body parts.
We shall not have leadership errors.
And in case of errors, the word says we all are sinners and we have our defender who we should run to. (paraphrased)
We sit and settle issues as the Jerusalem council did.
I noticed that we read Eph 4:12 but did not read the rest of the sentence which is continued into verse 13...."till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God," etc.
Verse 13 is not then studied on Thursday, but omitted.
Pity, as this verse gives us the reason for the gifts given to us. That means we miss the whole point of this quarters lessons on unity.
I believe that the Biblical style of leadership and the one claimed by the SDA church is the best.
As I understand it we believe at each level in consensus by a group of elders after much prayer and study of the Bible on the issue.
However if after much prayer and study the leaders and acknowledged theologians cannot agree, I don't believe asking the congregation to vote is the best, nor should the elected leaders force their opinion on the rest.
If we are not yet in agreement we all need to continue to study and pray and submit our will to the LORD until he reveals His Will to us, otherwise how can we be united.
"If we are not yet in agreement we all need to continue to study and pray and submit our will to the LORD until he reveals His Will to us..."
And sometimes it is about 'us' coming to the point where 'we' abandon our agenda and instead become willing to accept God's Will that He has already revealed.
This is a timely lesson especially that we are at a point of electing leaders for the coming year
“Leaders”, as some would call these gifts, how are they to be exercised? How are such gifts to be used to lead the church? Who exactly is the Leader each must be following? How did Jesus teach the church to lead? What is the Example each is to follow?
These are the questions all must find the answer to. Hint: Jesus came to serve.
The church was organized by Jesus to serve, and the various gifts are meant to be used in serving, and thus by this example others will be led. The only true Leader of the church is Christ. Didn't He say that we are to teach all to "observe all things I have commanded you"?