Essentials Of The Faith / Adult Sunday School Class / Christian Leadership

Definition

III. Definitions of Church Leadership

ACTION: Read 1 Tim. 3:4-5

QUESTION: What is this telling us about leadership in the church?

       Because it is a visible, organized structure, the church must be MANAGED. And  Christ has given people to the church to carry out these managerial functions.

QUESTION: Is Leadership in the church hierarchical?

       Yes and no. Unlike the hierarchical  structure in the business world, the Church of JC is His flock over which He rules both directly and  through undershepherds. No authority exists in the church except that of JC. He has delegated  authority to His undershepherds but that authority is limited.

QUESTION: Is the church a democracy? ....Biblically? Why or why not? Give examples.

        The church is not a democracy. It is a theocracy. The Bible is a covenant document divinely revealed. In it are principals of management  that the sovereign Lord has imposed upon us. Therefore all tasks in the church must be carried out with the authority of JC in mind. It   is clear then that all leadership in the church is FUNCTIONAL.

QUESTION: What do I mean by 'functional'?

        Leadership doe not exist for it's own end and not for it's own personal benefit.
        It functions in the name and under the authority of it's head, JC.
        It is to have no purposes other than the purpose of God.

       Before we can go any further we need to define this thing called Christian Leadership. Is it a position or is it a personality or is it both?  There are several definitions of Leadership but the most basic of definitions simply put is: Leadership is Influence.

Everybody Influences Someone.  Think about it for a minute.

Question: Who is it that you influence?
                 Are you in a position of authority at work?
                 Are you held responsible for the output of others than yourself?
                 Are you looked to for advice or direction, either officially or unofficially?
                 What about children?, Neighbors, Coworkers, Family members, Committee members?

       One of the most important roles of leadership is often overlooked.   Influence.

A poet once wrote:
The Little Chap Who Follows Me
A Careful man I want to be, A little fellow follows me;
I do not dare to go astray for fear he'll go the same way.
I cannot once escape his eyes.  Whatever he sees me do he tries,
Like Me he says he is going to be - that little chap who follows me.
I must remember as I go through summer suns and winter snows
I am building for the years to be - That little chap who follows me.



 

QUESTION: What is this poem saying to you?

ACTION: I will read a few definitions of Leadership. Pick out the key terms?

Examples:
1. 'Leadership in the church is influencing specific groups of people to move in a God given direction'

2. 'A leader is a person with God given capacity and God given responsibility who influences a group of  followers towards
    God's purposes for that group.'

3. 'Leadership is influence, the ability of one person to influence others to follow his or her lead'

4. 'Leadership is broadly defined as any behavior which helps the group meet its stated goals or fulfill its  purpose.

5. 'Someone who knows where he's going and can get others to follow him. This definition may be  expanded to say that a
    Christian leader is someone who knows where the Lord is going and can get   others to follow him as he follows the Lord.
    Howard Hendricks observes that such a leader will have  biblical objectives and spiritual motives. The Bible determines what
    he wants to do and the Holy  Spirit determines why he wants to do it. This means that a Christian leader will have goals in
    keeping  with his Leader's goals, and motives that are in keeping with his Leader's motives.'

6. Management is the art of getting a job done effectively and efficiently. Leadership is the art of  deciding what ought to be
    done. Some leaders are so busy managing their lives that they never get around to the issue of leadership. Leader ought to
    let  their  lives be driven only by the goals and  priorities that will be significant when their life is over.

7. 'A leader is a follower of Christ, who possesses a  Leader's character. Who is gifted and enabled by the Holy Spirit,
    marked by self-sacrificial ambition, motivated by an others-centered love, and a pursuer of servant authority.'