The Ministry of Spiritual Leaders

The= Ministry of = Spiritual Leaders

introduction=

The way spiri= tual leaders function in the context of the church is essential to the spiritual welfare and direction of the church.

That’s why one of my main goals for PSBC is that we develop a core group of very strong spiritual leaders

who are spiritually mature,

who know God’s Word thoroughly,

who understand the biblical philosophy of what God wants a church to be and how He wants it to operate,

and who can lead the work forward.

There are two= basic, primary kinds of leaders in the church according to the New Testament:=

Philippians 1= :1

Paul and Timothy, bond-servants of Christ Jesus,= To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are in Philippi, including the overseers and deacons:=

1) The Ministr= y of Pastors / Bishops (Overseers) / Elders

&nbs= p; A.&nb= sp; Defining These Spiritual Leaders

These terms all refer to th= e same office or ministry. =

1 Peter 5:1-4

Therefore, I exhort the elders<= /u> among you, as your fellow elder and witness of the sufferings of Christ, an= d a partaker also of the glory that is to be revealed, shepherd the floc= k of God among you, exercising oversight not under compulsion, but voluntarily, according to the will of God; and not for sordid gain, but wit= h eagerness;nor yet as lording it over those allotted t= o your charge, but proving to be examples to the flock.

And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory.

&= nbsp; &= nbsp; Acts 20:17-18, 28-32

From Miletus= he sent to Ephesus= and called to him the elders of the church.

And w= hen they had come to him, he said to them . . . "Be on guard for yourselves and= for all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, t= o shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood. "I know that afte= r my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; and = from among your own selves men will arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after them.

"Therefore be on the alert, remembering that night and day for a period of three years I did not cease = to admonish each one with tears. "And now I commend you to God = and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance among all those who are sanctified.

&= nbsp; &= nbsp; 1. = Pastor / Shepherd poimen &nb= sp; &= nbsp; &nbs= p; &= nbsp; &nbs= p; Responsibility

        &= nbsp;           &= nbsp;   2.         = Bishop / Overseer      episkopos  =               &= nbsp;           &nbs= p;            &= nbsp;           &nbs= p; Authority

        &= nbsp;           &= nbsp;   3.         = Elder        &= nbsp;           &nbs= p;      presbuteros &nbs= p;         &= nbsp;           &nbs= p;            &= nbsp;           &nbs= p; Maturity

4.     &nb= sp;   Preacher               = ;      kerux <= o:p>

(Romans 1= 0:14; 1 Timo= thy 2:7;

2 Timothy 1:11;= Titus 1:3)

   &nbs= p;            &= nbsp;       5.&nb= sp;        Teacher        &= nbsp;         &= nbsp;   didaskalos  = ;            &= nbsp;           &nbs= p;            &= nbsp;           &nbs= p; (Ephesians 4:11; Tim= othy 2:7; and

   &nbs= p;            &= nbsp;           &nbs= p;       Titus 1:9)

1 Timothy 5:17

The elders who rule well ar= e to be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who work hard at = preaching and teaching.

There is the need for plurality of these kinds of spiritual leaders.

Titus 1:5

For this reason I left you in Cret= e, that you would set in order what remains and appoint elders in every city as I directed you,

B.&n= bsp;            = ;    Defini= ng Their Ministry Responsibilities

1.=          As the Under-Shepherd(s) of Christ

(1 P= eter 5:4)

a.&n= bsp;     He Mu= st Feed the Flock

b.&n= bsp;     He Mu= st Lead the Flock

c.&n= bsp;      He Mu= st Protect the Flock

2.=          As a “Man of God”

(1 T= im. 6:11 & 2 Tim. 3:16-17)

a.&n= bsp;     He Mu= st Devotedly Be a Man of Prayer (Acts 6:4)

b.&n= bsp;     He Mu= st Diligently Study God’s Word&n= bsp; (2 Tim. 2:15)

c.&n= bsp;      He Mu= st Faithfully Preach God’s Word&= nbsp; (2 Tim. 4:1-4)

d.&n= bsp;     He Mu= st Conscientiously Evangelize the Lost= (2 Tim. 4:5)

John MacArthur gives a succinct definition of a Pastor / Elder / Overseer

“The Scriptures are clear regarding the office and functions of the pastor. The Biblical pattern, describes a Spirit-filled man who gives oversight, shephe= rds, guides, teaches, and warns – doing all with a heart of love, comfort,= and compassion.”

2.       The Ministry of Deacons

        &= nbsp;   Acts 6:1-7

In those days, as the number of the disciples was multiplying, there arose a complaint by the Hellenistic Jews against the Hebraic Jews that their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribut= ion. Then the Twelve summoned the whole company of the disciples and said, ̶= 0;It would not be right for us to give up preaching about God to wait on tables. Therefore, brothers, select form among you seven men of good reputation, fu= ll of the Spirit and wisdom,whom we can appoint to this duty. But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to = the preaching ministry.” The proposal pleased the whole company. So they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit, and Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolaus, a proselyte from Antioch. They had them stand before the apostle, who prayed and laid their hands on them. So the preaching about God flourished, the number of the disciples in Jerusalem multiplied greatly, and a lar= ge group of priests became obedient to the faith.

        &= nbsp;

&nb= sp;           A.&nb= sp;       The Principal Purpose of Deacons  &nb= sp; (Acts 6:2-4, 7)

    =

To r= elieve those who are called to preach the Word of things that would take them away from concentrating on prayer, study and preaching and teaching the Word<= /u>.

B.        &nb= sp;        The Practical Purpose of Deacons     (Acts 6:1, 3)

To s= ee that the material needs of members of the church are met.=

Some churches extend this to tending to all mundane matters such as finances, buildings, equipment, etc.

C.        &nb= sp;        The Powerful Purpose of Deacons     (Acts 6:5, 8; Acts 8:4-8 & 26-40)=

How = do we know that the Philip in Acts 8 was the deacon and not the apostle?<= /o:p>

(1)<= span style=3D'mso-tab-count:1'>        The context assures us (Acts 8:1, 4-5)

(2)   &nb= sp;    Acts 21:8 tells us that Philip the deacon was an evangelist.

As m= en full of faith and the Holy Spirit, they have the privilege and opportunity = to share in key spiritual aspects of the ministry, thus providing spiritual supp= ort for the church’s life.

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