Serving the Church with Excellence: Fundamentals for Church Leadership

De Editora Cristã Evangélica

It is with much joy and many tears of gratitude that I write this foreword. God allows us to dream, and this booklet is a dream coming true after ten years, much prayer and great support from the brethren. The goal is the search for unity in the churches of the denomination throughout Brazil. In a continental country like ours it is difficult to unite efforts, and what is expected is that this tool will be useful for the growth of the church in our denomination. The lessons were edited by Pr. Dionatan Cardoso and essentially revised by Pastor João Batista Cavalcante.

• Idioma: Português
• Editora: Editora Cristã Evangélica
• Data de lançamento: 20 de dez. de 2021
• ISBN: 9786559710560

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L1

READ, DECIDE, AND REFLECT

INTRODUCTION

Why have elders? This question is more frequent than we can imagine. There are many believers who lack sufficient knowledge of the Bible to understand the practical need for elders in the church. In this lesson, our task is to provide biblical foundations to make God’s people aware of the need to form and shape their leadership, based on biblical guidance. 

I. BACKGROUND 

For a clearer understanding, it is important to examine the biblical-historical background. Our starting point will be to review the presence and functions of the elders in the context of the Old Testament, as well as to observe how the office developed and was applied to the context of the church in the person of the elder. 

1. IN THE OLD TESTAMENT 

The term elder was applied in the literal sense of older (Gen. 18:11; 19:14; 1Sam. 2:22; Ps. 71:18). It also referred to the counselors of the people who, in some cases, were representatives of local councils, in addition to participating in public administration (Ex. 3:16; 4:29; Deut. 16:18; 21:2ff; Josh. 20:4; Ruth 4:2; 1 Sam. 4:3; 8:4; Ezra 5:9ff; 6:7; Jer. 29:1; Ezek. 14:1). In the OT, it is possible to observe elders as instruments of guidance, through practical advice. They were present from the early days in Egypt (Ex. 12:21), until the post-exilic period of Babylon (Ezra 6:7). They acted alongside prophets and priests, as we see in Ezekiel 7:26: the teaching of the law by the priest will be lost, as will the counsel of the elders (NIV). Even other peoples adopted the elders as counselors (Gen. 50:7; Num. 22:7). As can be seen, the elders were necessary for the good development of the nation of Israel. 

2. IN THE NEW TESTAMENT

It is possible to observe the early church from the beginning, growing under the guidance of the apostles, but also of elders. There are four direct references just in the book of Acts: when financial assistance was sent to elders by the hands of Barnabas and Saul (11.30); along with some apostles, the elders participated in the Jerusalem Council (15.2,4,6,22-23; 16.4); the elders of Ephesus received guidance from Paul (20.17); in Jerusalem, Paul met James and some elders (21.18). 

Although it is not possible to establish precisely when the office of elder appeared in the church, it is wise to consider the fact that if among the Jews of the old covenant the elder was commissioned for the exercise of guidance in both civic and religious life, they would serve as a model for the believers of the New Covenant to institute elders for the care of the local church. The choice of elders was made through the election of the church itself (Acts 14.23). 

II. AN OFFICE WITH THREE TITLES 

In the NT, we have at least three terms that refer to the elder as an officer of the church—elder, bishop, and pastor. We will analyze the terms to understand the office and its function. 

1. ELDER - SPIRITUAL MATURITY 

The word elder is a translation of the Greek "presbyteros, which has the primary meaning of older or elder, and in a secondary sense means someone in authority, appointed for an office or profession." This authority is not necessarily the result of biological age, but of awareness of the need for spiritual maturity for the exercise of the eldership. According to Paul, a new convert cannot be placed in the role of an elder (1Tim. 3:6). 

2. BISHOP - LEADERSHIP AND DIRECTION 

Bishop is the translation of the Greek word episkopos which later generated the Latin episcopus. Both mean overseer; superintendent; leader; guardian. The Greek term conveys the idea of overseeing; having consideration for something or someone; watching over or caring for others. In the ancient Greek world, the title had been used for officials who act as overseers of public order. The bishop must lead and direct the church as overseer of the ecclesiastical order established by Christ. 

3. PASTOR - FEEDING AND PROTECTION 

The Greek term for pastor is poimēn and literally means shepherd of sheep. It has been translated equally as shepherd in all the gospels and in two passages of the epistles (Mt. 9:36; 24:32; 26:31; John 10:2; 11:12,16; Heb. 13:20; 1Pet. 2:25). In some references, he deals with Christ as a great shepherd. The classical texts about the meaning of the shepherd are Psalm 23 and John 10. 

4. INTERCHANGEABLE USE OF THE TERMS 

The epistles use all three terms interchangeably. While elder emphasizes spiritual maturity, and appears to be the predominant form referring to the office of representation and care of a local church; bishop is used to indicate the role of supervision, leadership and direction of the church; the term pastor suggests the duty to feed and protect the flock. 

It is essential that we understand that the terms are not distinctly related to a specific office, although they have meanings that indicate distinct actions. We cannot create any kind of hierarchy related to the use of the terms presented to signify the elders or spiritual leaders of the church. What is your relationship to the titles you receive? Have you ever felt pride or responsibility for them? 

III. THREE IMPORTANT PASSAGES 

Based on the book Elders in Congregational Life—Rediscovering the biblical model for Church Leadership, by Phil A. Newton, we will explore three essential biblical passages in relation to the lesson’s theme. 

1. PASTORS OF THE CHURCH (ACTS 20:17, 28-31)

The Apostle Paul, on his second missionary journey, spent about three years in Ephesus, the main city of the province. From there, the Apostle could still evangelize a great part of Asia Minor (Acts 19.10). During this period, Paul, seeing the need to have godly men serving the local church, established elders. Some time later, on his third missionary journey, Paul arrived near Ephesus, but did not go to the city, because his purpose was to go to Jerusalem. However, in order to have some contact with the believers in Ephesus, Paul sent for the elders of that church for a special meeting (Acts 20:17-31). On that occasion, Paul proved the need for elders for the local church, considering three of their obligations: 

Excel in caring for oneself and the flock; 

Need to pastor the church of God; 

Need to protect the flock from voracious wolves. 

2. GUIDES OF THE WORD (HEB.13:7,17-19)

The letter to Hebrews reveals another very important information about the eldership—the need for a healthy relationship between the spiritual guide and the sheep.

a. The Guides’ Responsibilities: 

preach the Word of God; 

pray for the sheep; 

shepherd with joy. 

b. The Responsibilities of the Sheep: 

consider carefully the purpose of the guide’s life; 

imitate his faith; 

obey and be submissive to him. 

3. MODELS FOR THE FLOCK 

1 Pet. 5:1-5 is one of the most striking passages on the subject. Peter, like the Apostle John (2 John 1; 3 John 1), identifies himself with the elders; thus, he encouraged them, keeping in mind the great responsibilities and difficult situations they faced in the churches. Peter’s clear order for elders is to serve: Be shepherds of God´s flock that is under your care. The statements that follow reveal that pastoring should be spontaneous and not forced. Above all, Peter calls on elders to be models of the flock and not domineering; and he concludes by highlighting the chief Shepherd, JESUS.

CONCLUSION

Spiritual leadership is needed in every church; without it, there is disorder. A local church that does not propose to choose pious and biblically qualified líderes, will certainly face difficulties. May all the presuppositions and teachings presented here be an effective part of the ecclesiastical reality of each lostr cal church. Think profoundly about leadership in the local church, confront your own convictions, strengthen your biblical understanding of the