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The
New Testament Pattern of Leadership By
Kent Heaton The
apostle Peter reminds us that everything we need to understand the will of God
has been revealed in scripture (2 Peter 1:3). This suggests that to understand
the pattern of the New Testament church we only need to see what is revealed in
scripture. The pattern of leadership is an important template that establishes
the authority of how we model leadership today. In many churches leadership is
seen in the pastoral system of one man management or rule. What does the Holy
Spirit reveal about the New Testament pattern of leadership? Paul
writes, “And he gave some to be apostles; and some, prophets; and some,
evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers” (Ephesians 4:11). The purpose of
this organization is explained in verses 12-14 for the perfecting, working and
building up of the body of Christ. We can see the different roles of leadership
within the early church. Apostles were ordained of Christ and served a unique
role in the infancy of the church. Prophets proclaimed the good news of Jesus
Christ as did evangelists like Philip (Acts 21:8). Included in the work of the
church are those men called pastors. The
term “pastor” is from the Greek use of “shepherd” (poimen). It suggests
the agricultural aspect of the work of tending sheep and caring for their needs
(John 10). Never is it used for what we find so prevalent in the religious
organizations today. The term pastor has come to refer to a minister or preacher
who oversees a church in a position of oversight. The scriptures never suggest
this use and the New Testament pattern of oversight is clearly defined under a
different heading. Peter
exhorted his “fellow elders” in 1 Peter 5:1-4 and reminded them “when the
chief shepherd shall be manifested, ye shall receive the crown of glory that
fadeth not away” (1 Peter 5:4). The word for “chief shepherd“ is not two
words but one and shows the relationship Jesus has with those men called
“elders“ (1 Peter 5:1). Peter explains the work of elders or shepherds
(pastors) as tending the flock and exercising the oversight. A pastor is a
shepherd that is also referred to as an elder. The
historian Luke writes of Paul’s meeting with the “elders of the church”
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New Testament pattern of leadership never suggested a “one man rule.“
Throughout scripture the term elder is used more often. Call for them when sick
(James 5:14); Paul left Titus in Crete to “appoint elders in every city“
(Titus 1:5); let elders rule well (1 Timothy 5:17); be careful about bring
accusations against an elder (1 Timothy 5:19); all of the “elders were
present“ (Acts 21:18); Paul “appointed elders in every city“ (Acts 14:23);
the question of circumcision was discussed with the “apostles and elders“ in
Acts 15. It
is important to see that God established certain qualities for men who would
lead His people and these are given in 1 Timothy 3:1-7. These are not
suggestions but requirements! No man can be a pastor, bishop, overseer, shepherd
or elder who does not meet these commands. Paul reinforced this directive to
Titus when he said that he should “set in order the things that were wanting,
and appoint elders in every city, as I gave thee charge“ (Titus 1:5) and gives
the qualities of the man who would be an elder or bishop. Every
church that has one man (or women) as an overseer or “pastor“ is not
following the New Testament pattern of leadership. With all that is said about
elders in the New Testament, where do you find elders in your church? & “One
Thing Thou Lackest” By
Kyle Campbell I
don’t think anyone likes to think that they are lacking in anything. Jesus
said to the rich young ruler, “One
thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor,
and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow
me”
(Mark 10:21). He
was good morally, humble, and Jesus loved him. But he needed one thing to be
right. Could it be that one thing might keep you from being in compliance with
Him? Cornelius
was a devout man (Acts 10:1-11:18). He gave many alms to God and he prayed
continually. He feared God and was a righteous man. The Holy Ghost had even
fallen on him but he still lacked something. He needed to be baptized. Once he
was, he was saved. Saul of Tarsus is another example (Acts 22:16). He was an
educated, blameless-in-the-law Jew. When he was met by Christ, he knew his life
was going to change. Although he had spoken personally with the Lord, he was not
yet complete. Ananias delivered the message that he needed to be baptized. After
he was, his sins were washed away. What
lackest thou? Belief? Repentance? Confession? Baptism? Assembling with the
saints? Praying? Giving? Singing? Partaking of the Lord’s Supper? Visiting the
sick? Adding Christian virtues? Living a more Christ-like life? Like the
stepping stones, if one is left out it is impossible to reach the next one. What
about your life, do you still lack something that is keeping you from fully
obeying the Lord? If you do, change it so that you can be saved! & More
about Cornelius By
Bob Myhan The
argument is sometimes made that those in the home of Cornelius were saved before
they were baptized in water because they received the Holy Spirit prior to being
baptized. This argument is not valid, however, because it is based on a
misconception of why people received the Holy Spirit in the first century. The
apostles received the Holy Spirit to enable them to know and preach the gospel
of Christ (1 Cor. 2:6-13). Others received the Holy Spirit by the laying on of
the hands of an apostle that they might be established in knowledge and wisdom
in the absence of the apostles (Acts 8:14-17; 19:1-6; Rom. 1:11; 1 Cor. 14:1-12;
2 Tim. 1:6-7). These
persons were then able to speak in foreign languages, teach inerrantly or
manifest one or more other spiritual gifts. Cornelius
was to hear words from Peter whereby he and others would be saved if they obeyed
(Acts 10:1-6; 11:12-14). But the only thing Peter told them do was “to be
baptized in the name of the Lord” (Acts 10:44-48). Therefore, their speaking in tongues was no more proof that they were saved prior to baptism than Balaam's donkey speaking intelligently proved that she was saved. (Num. 22:22-30) & |