Our Leadership:

The New Testament gives us instructions on our responsibilities as leaders. In this we are taught and encouraged to use our wisdom, resources, and gifts in service to our brothers and sisters in Christ. It is so important when we serve brother by leading, that we understand the boundaries of the relationship and don’t presume authority in their life that is not ours.

Therefore the church leadership is a position of humble, loving service. The Church leadership is ministry, and those whom God designates as leaders are called to be humble slaves and laboring servants. Those who would lead God’s people must above all exemplify sacrifice, devotion, submission, and lowliness. Jesus Himself gave us the pattern when He stoop to wash His disciples’ feet, a task that was customarily done by the lowest of slaves (John 13). There is no finer example for Christian leadership than our Lord Jesus Christ. He declared, “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lay down his life for the sheep” (Jn. 10:11). It is within this verse that we see the the perfect description of a Christian leader. He is the one who acts as a shepherd to those “sheep” in his care.

Roles:

The shepherd is one who has several roles in regard to his sheep. He leads, feeds, nurtures, comforts, corrects, and protects. The shepherd of the Lord’s flock leads by modeling godliness and righteousness in his own life and encouraging others to follow his example, as the apostle Paul understood this: “Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ” (1 Cor. 11:1).

Feeder: The Christian leader must be a feeder and a nurturer of the sheep. The “sheep food” is the Word, and The Bible is the only diet that can produce health Christian. “Man does not live by bred alone but by every Word that  proceeded from the mouth of God” (Deuteronomy 8:3).

Comforter/Encourager: The Christian leader comforts the sheep, binding up their wounds and applying the balm of compassion and love. As the great shepherd of Israel, the Lord Himself promised to “bind up the injured and strengthen the weak” (Ezekiel 34:16). As Christians in the world today, they suffer many injuries to their spirit, and they need compassionate leaders who will bear their burden and, sympathize their circumstances, and encourage them in the Word of God.

Reprover: Just as the shepherd used his crook to pull a weak wandering sheep back into the fold, so the Christian leader corrects and disciplines those in his care when they go astray, with a “spirit of gentleness” (Galatians 6:2). Those in leadership must correct according to scriptural principles. Correction or discipline is never a pleasant experience for ether party, but the Christian leader who fails in this area is not exhibiting  love for those in his care. “The LORD disciplines hose he loves” (Proverbs 3:12), and the Christian leader must follow His example.

Protector: The Christian leader is that of protector. The shepherd who was lax in this area soon found that he regularly lost sheep to the predators who prowled around-and sometimes among-his flock. The predators today are those who try to lure the sheep away with false doctrine. Matthew 7:15 says “Watch out for false prophets. They come to you sheep in skin’s clothing, inwardly they are ferocious wolves.” Our leaders must protect God’s people from the false teachings, and equip them with truth, “I am the way, the truth, and life. No man comes to the Father accept through Me” (John 14:6).

So, good leaders are people who tacitly know themselves in relation with others; who live present to those relationship, emptying self for the fulfillment of the others. And when we are willing to lead in away that serves another without demanding subservience to ourselves, we get the incredible blessing of standing on the sidelines and cheering at the growth and success of those we’ve had the opportunity to give a hand to along the way. Praise the Lord!