How Did Jesus Organize Leadership In His Church?

April 7, 2019 Articles

What is the church?

In Matthew 16:18 [1], Jesus told his disciples that He was going to build His church, but we sometimes forget exactly what He was building. Jesus was establishing a spiritual kingdom that would never be destroyed; a kingdom that would be made up of all those who believe in Him and obey Him. It stands to reason that if Jesus designed this eternal kingdom, and created a way through His sacrifice on the cross for us to gain entrance into it, that He would also provide instructions detailing how the earthly segment of His kingdom should operate and be organized. And He did just that through the New Testament scriptures.

So who is the head of His church?

The answer to this question is simple; Jesus. It is His church. He established it. There is no one on earth who has the authority to take Christ’s church and change the formula He designed for it. Colossians 1:18 [2] and Ephesians 1:22 [3] make it clear that we are the body and Jesus is the head. Just as a human body takes directions and commands from its head, the church is to take directions and commands from Jesus Christ. If He is the creator and head of the church, then He has a right to structure it and organize it in whatever way He chooses.

So are there human leaders in the church?

Yes, there are. In Ephesians 4:11-12 [4] it states that Jesus created the offices of apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers. While the office of a deacon is not specifically mentioned here, it too is a vital, scriptural role, mentioned in other verses. All of these positions were designed in order to perfect (complete) the saints (the saved), to lead and train others in the ministry of the church, and to edify (build up) the body of Christ (Christians). But it is important to note a few things.

First, the offices of apostle and prophet were short-term offices designed to help the church in the years following Jesus’ death, before the New Testament scriptures were completed. Once the word of God was written down and accessible, those offices died out with the men who held them. (1 Corinthians 13:8-10 [5])
Second, the purpose of human leadership in the church is not to take authority away from Jesus and the scriptures, it is to oversee that His instructions for the church in the New Testament are being implemented and followed. (1 Peter 5:1-2 [6])
Third, elders, deacons, and teachers are offices held within each local congregation, not positions of authority over the world-wide church. In fact, the only authority over the world-wide church is Jesus Christ himself; as such, each church of Christ is autonomous, meaning they do not answer to anyone except Jesus Christ Himself. (1 Peter 5:3-4 [7])

So what are the roles and responsibilities of each office?

Evangelists: Evangelists are ordained preachers of God’s word who generally operate outside the leadership structure of a local congregation. Evangelists often travel from congregation to congregation in order to teach the gospel, train Christians in doing evangelistic work, and ordain elders and deacons in local congregations. They work to support the efforts of congregations across the world-wide church. (Titus 1:5 [8])
Elders: This term is used interchangeably in the New Testament with pastor, bishop, overseer, shepherd, and presbyter. The elders are the spiritual overseers of each congregation. They are responsible for feeding (teaching) the flock, being good examples, and guiding the church to fulfill the mission of Christ. In order to serve as an elder, an individual must be a man who possesses specific qualities and characteristics outlined in scripture. (1 Tim 3:1-7 [9])
Deacons: The word deacon comes from a Greek word meaning “servant”. The men who fill this role are ordained to oversee the physical needs of the local church. They operate under the authority and guidance of the elders, and are spiritually mature men of good character who have a heart for serving others. In order to serve as a deacon, an individual must also be a man who fits the qualities and characteristics outlined in scripture. (1 Tim 3:8-13 [10])
Teachers: Teachers are recognized male members who are well-studied and capable of preaching God’s word effectively. They are the men who, under the oversight of the elders, are responsible for teaching the Bible to the congregation in the worship assembly. The scriptures show that the average New Testament congregation had multiple teachers. (Acts 13:1 [11])

So is it important that we follow this organizational pattern today?

The answer to that question depends upon your view of the scriptures. If you believe that God’s word is something that can be added to, subtracted from, modified, or ignored, then the answer is no. You are free to pick and choose what parts of it you want to follow, and which ones you don’t. But, if you believe that the Bible is inspired by God, relevant to us today, and holds authority over us, then who are we to argue with what it says? In John 12:48 [12], Jesus says that the words that he has spoken will be the same words that we are judged by on the last day. He stated that He was sent to share the will of God with man. If this is true, as I believe it is, then we have no authority or reason to change the pattern He has laid out for His church. After all, as was mentioned before, it’s not your church, or my church; it’s the church of Christ.

Timothy Fleming, Evangelist – College Park Church of Christ

[1] Matthew 16:18 “And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.”

[2] Colossians 1:18 “And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.”

[3] Ephesians 1:22 “And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church,”

[4] Ephesians 4:11-12 “And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; 12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:”

[5] 1 Corinthians 13:8-10 “Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away. 9 For we know in part, and we prophesy in part. 10 But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.”

[6] 1 Peter 5:1-2 “The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed: 2 Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind;”

[7] 1 Peter 5:3-4 “Neither as being lords over God’s heritage, but being ensamples to the flock. 4 And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.”

[8] Titus 1:5 “For this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou shouldest set in order the things that are wanting, and ordain elders in every city, as I had appointed thee:”

[9] 1 Timothy 3:1-7 “This is a true saying, If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work. 2 A bishop then must be…”

[10] 1 Timothy 3:8-13 “Likewise must the deacons be…”

[11] Acts 13:1 “Now there were in the church that was at Antioch certain prophets and teachers; as Barnabas, and Simeon that was called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, and Manaen, which had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul.”

[12] John 12:48 “He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day.”