LEADERSHIP IN THE CHURCH I. TEXTUAL THOUGHTS 1. Ephesians 4:8-12- God
provided for the edification of the church. 2. Acts 20:28- The Holy Spirit
made men overseers. 3. Titus 1:5- Evangelists
appointed elders. 4. 1 Peter 5:1-4- Elders are not
lords but examples. 5. Matthew 20:25-28- The
leader must be a servant. II. MAIN THEME- God planned for the church to have leaders who would serve God's
people and see that they are fed from God's word. The evangelist who establishes a church has some responsibility
to see that the church is edified and grows to maturity with scriptural
leadership. 1. Christ planned for the
church to have leaders. a. He gave
roles for edifying the body, Ephesians 4:8-11, 1 Cor 12:27-28. b. Christ set the
example of leadership, John 13:13-17. 2. The Holy spirit set up
leaders in the church. a. Through
Paul, Acts 20:28, 14:23. b. Through
Titus, Titus 1:5. 3. Leaders have the purpose of
maturing the church. a. By helping
members grow in knowledge and faith, Ephesians 4:13-15. b. By being
good examples, 1 Peter 5:1-4, Acts 20:31-32. 4. The Holy Spirit described
the kind of men to be appointed elders. a. Paul's
instructions to Timothy, 1 Timothy 3:1-7. b. Paul's
instructions to Titus, Titus 1:5-11. 5. The evangelist must
instruct the church. a. As Paul
commanded Timothy, 1 Timothy 4:6, 2 Timothy 4:2. b. As Jesus
commanded His disciples, Matthew 28:19. c. As the
apostles did in the early church, Acts 2:42. III. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS 1. Leaders must provide a good
example and have a kind spirit, 1 Thessalonians 2:7-12, 1 Peter 5:1-4. 2. Paul returned to the city
where he was stoned to appoint elders, showing the importance of setting up leadership in the church, Acts14:21-23,
Titus 1:5. 3.
God gave the responsibility for leadership in the church so that the church
can grow, Ephesians 4:12-15. 4. An evangelist has not
completed his work of establishing the church until he has trained and appointed leaders, Acts 14:21-23, Titus 1:5. 5. Leaders are not to think of
themselves as above other members, but as servants, 1 Peter 5:1-4, 1 Timothy 5:19-20, Matthew 20:28, John 13:13. IV.
MEMORY VERSES- 1 PETER 5:2-3.
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