The Role of Church Leaders
đȘđđ„đ -đšđŁ
âą What do you do to stay focused on a task? Recall an instance explaining this.
âą Recall a school play or activity you were given a special role in. What happened?
âą In your experience, what are peopleâs expectations of a leader?
đȘđąđ„đ
đđŻđ„ đžđ©đŠđŻ đ”đ©đŠđș đ©đąđ„ đąđ±đ±đ°đȘđŻđ”đŠđ„ đŠđđ„đŠđłđŽ đ§đ°đł đ”đ©đŠđź đȘđŻ đŠđ·đŠđłđș đ€đ©đ¶đłđ€đ©, đžđȘđ”đ© đ±đłđąđșđŠđł đąđŻđ„ đ§đąđŽđ”đȘđŻđš đ”đ©đŠđș đ€đ°đźđźđȘđ”đ”đŠđ„ đ”đ©đŠđź đ”đ° đ”đ©đŠ đđ°đłđ„ đȘđŻ đžđ©đ°đź đ”đ©đŠđș đ©đąđ„ đŁđŠđđȘđŠđ·đŠđ„. đđđ§đŠ đđ°:đźđŻ
đđ©đŠđłđŠđ§đ°đłđŠ đȘđ” đŽđąđșđŽ, âđđ©đŠđŻ đ©đŠ đąđŽđ€đŠđŻđ„đŠđ„ đ°đŻ đ©đȘđšđ© đ©đŠ đđŠđ„ đą đ©đ°đŽđ” đ°đ§ đ€đąđ±đ”đȘđ·đŠđŽ, đąđŻđ„ đ©đŠ đšđąđ·đŠ đšđȘđ§đ”đŽ đ”đ° đźđŠđŻ.â . . . đđŻđ„ đ©đŠ đšđąđ·đŠ đ”đ©đŠ đąđ±đ°đŽđ”đđŠđŽ, đ”đ©đŠ đ±đłđ°đ±đ©đŠđ”đŽ, đ”đ©đŠ đŠđ·đąđŻđšđŠđđȘđŽđ”đŽ, đ”đ©đŠ đŽđ©đŠđ±đ©đŠđłđ„đŽ đąđŻđ„ đ”đŠđąđ€đ©đŠđłđŽ, đ”đ° đŠđČđ¶đȘđ± đ”đ©đŠ đŽđąđȘđŻđ”đŽ đ§đ°đł đ”đ©đŠ đžđ°đłđŹ đ°đ§ đźđȘđŻđȘđŽđ”đłđș, đ§đ°đł đŁđ¶đȘđđ„đȘđŻđš đ¶đ± đ”đ©đŠ đŁđ°đ„đș đ°đ§ đđ©đłđȘđŽđ” . . . đđŁđđđŠđđđĄđŠ đ°:đŽ, đđâđđź
God has designed that every local church should be led or governed by spiritual leaders, particularly pastors. The New Testament uses several terms to refer to them, such as âelders,â âshepherds,â and âoverseers.â Paul says in Ephesians that these leaders are đšđȘđ§đ”đŽ Christ gave to people, not just to the church. This is probably because when church leaders perform their God-ordained roles well, the church and all of society are blessed.
However, many people have a misunderstanding of church leadersâ roles. Many call these leaders âministers,â believing that doing the work of the ministry is mainly a pastorâs job. In reality, these responsibilities belong to every member of the church: preaching the gospel, praying for people, helping others follow Jesus, visiting the sick, and meeting membersâ needs. So when pastors do not meet these perceived expectations, it can result in disillusionment and disappointment in the church. And when pastors try to live up to roles that God has not planned for them, it can lead to burnout. Today, we will look at what the Bible says about the God-given role of pastors.
đ. đŁđźđđđŒđżđ đźđżđČ đđŒ đčđČđźđ± đźđ»đ± đŒđđČđżđđČđČ đđ”đČ đ°đ”đđżđ°đ”.
đđ° đ đŠđčđ©đ°đłđ” đ”đ©đŠ đŠđđ„đŠđłđŽ đąđźđ°đŻđš đșđ°đ¶, đąđŽ đą đ§đŠđđđ°đž đŠđđ„đŠđł đąđŻđ„ đą đžđȘđ”đŻđŠđŽđŽ đ°đ§ đ”đ©đŠ đŽđ¶đ§đ§đŠđłđȘđŻđšđŽ đ°đ§ đđ©đłđȘđŽđ”, đąđŽ đžđŠđđ đąđŽ đą đ±đąđłđ”đąđŹđŠđł đȘđŻ đ”đ©đŠ đšđđ°đłđș đ”đ©đąđ” đȘđŽ đšđ°đȘđŻđš đ”đ° đŁđŠ đłđŠđ·đŠđąđđŠđ„: đŽđ©đŠđ±đ©đŠđłđ„ đ”đ©đŠ đ§đđ°đ€đŹ đ°đ§ đđ°đ„ đ”đ©đąđ” đȘđŽ đąđźđ°đŻđš đșđ°đ¶, đŠđčđŠđłđ€đȘđŽđȘđŻđš đ°đ·đŠđłđŽđȘđšđ©đ”, đŻđ°đ” đ¶đŻđ„đŠđł đ€đ°đźđ±đ¶đđŽđȘđ°đŻ, đŁđ¶đ” đžđȘđđđȘđŻđšđđș, đąđŽ đđ°đ„ đžđ°đ¶đđ„ đ©đąđ·đŠ đșđ°đ¶; đŻđ°đ” đ§đ°đł đŽđ©đąđźđŠđ§đ¶đ đšđąđȘđŻ, đŁđ¶đ” đŠđąđšđŠđłđđș; đŻđ°đ” đ„đ°đźđȘđŻđŠđŠđłđȘđŻđš đ°đ·đŠđł đ”đ©đ°đŽđŠ đȘđŻ đșđ°đ¶đł đ€đ©đąđłđšđŠ, đŁđ¶đ” đŁđŠđȘđŻđš đŠđčđąđźđ±đđŠđŽ đ”đ° đ”đ©đŠ đ§đđ°đ€đŹ. đ đŁđđ§đđ„ đ±:đâđŻ
âđđąđș đ€đąđłđŠđ§đ¶đ đąđ”đ”đŠđŻđ”đȘđ°đŻ đ”đ° đșđ°đ¶đłđŽđŠđđ·đŠđŽ đąđŻđ„ đ”đ° đąđđ đ”đ©đŠ đ§đđ°đ€đŹ, đȘđŻ đžđ©đȘđ€đ© đ”đ©đŠ đđ°đđș đđ±đȘđłđȘđ” đ©đąđŽ đźđąđ„đŠ đșđ°đ¶ đ°đ·đŠđłđŽđŠđŠđłđŽ, đ”đ° đ€đąđłđŠ đ§đ°đł đ”đ©đŠ đ€đ©đ¶đłđ€đ© đ°đ§ đđ°đ„, đžđ©đȘđ€đ© đ©đŠ đ°đŁđ”đąđȘđŻđŠđ„ đžđȘđ”đ© đ©đȘđŽ đ°đžđŻ đŁđđ°đ°đ„. đ đŹđŻđ°đž đ”đ©đąđ” đąđ§đ”đŠđł đźđș đ„đŠđ±đąđłđ”đ¶đłđŠ đ§đȘđŠđłđ€đŠ đžđ°đđ·đŠđŽ đžđȘđđ đ€đ°đźđŠ đȘđŻ đąđźđ°đŻđš đșđ°đ¶, đŻđ°đ” đŽđ±đąđłđȘđŻđš đ”đ©đŠ đ§đđ°đ€đŹ; đąđŻđ„ đ§đłđ°đź đąđźđ°đŻđš đșđ°đ¶đł đ°đžđŻ đŽđŠđđ·đŠđŽ đžđȘđđ đąđłđȘđŽđŠ đźđŠđŻ đŽđ±đŠđąđŹđȘđŻđš đ”đžđȘđŽđ”đŠđ„ đ”đ©đȘđŻđšđŽ, đ”đ° đ„đłđąđž đąđžđąđș đ”đ©đŠ đ„đȘđŽđ€đȘđ±đđŠđŽ đąđ§đ”đŠđł đ”đ©đŠđź.â đđđ§đŠ đźđŹ:đźđŽâđŻđŹ
Pastors and church leaders are called to take care of Godâs flock, the church, by leading it and overseeing all the affairs concerning it. They are called by God to know the churchâs condition, oversee the care and growth of the members, and lead and direct the flock towards its God-given purpose. This also involves diligently watching for dangers that could harm church members, such as teachers of false doctrines and others who could take advantage of the members for selfish gain. Overseeing the church does not mean that the pastors and church leaders have to do everything, but that they make sure everything gets done. Because the Church is so precious to God and Jesus purchased it with His own blood, these all should be done with careful diligence. How have you seen the pastors in your church lead and oversee?
đź. đŁđźđđđŒđżđ đźđżđČ đđŒ đ±đČđđŒđđČ đđ”đČđșđđČđčđđČđ đđŒ đœđżđźđđČđż.
đđŻđ„ đ”đ©đŠ đ”đžđŠđđ·đŠ đŽđ¶đźđźđ°đŻđŠđ„ đ”đ©đŠ đ§đ¶đđ đŻđ¶đźđŁđŠđł đ°đ§ đ”đ©đŠ đ„đȘđŽđ€đȘđ±đđŠđŽ đąđŻđ„ đŽđąđȘđ„, âđđ” đȘđŽ đŻđ°đ” đłđȘđšđ©đ” đ”đ©đąđ” đžđŠ đŽđ©đ°đ¶đđ„ đšđȘđ·đŠ đ¶đ± đ±đłđŠđąđ€đ©đȘđŻđš đ”đ©đŠ đžđ°đłđ„ đ°đ§ đđ°đ„ đ”đ° đŽđŠđłđ·đŠ đ”đąđŁđđŠđŽ. . . . đđ¶đ” đžđŠ đžđȘđđ đ„đŠđ·đ°đ”đŠ đ°đ¶đłđŽđŠđđ·đŠđŽ đ”đ° đ±đłđąđșđŠđł đąđŻđ„ đ”đ° đ”đ©đŠ đźđȘđŻđȘđŽđ”đłđș đ°đ§ đ”đ©đŠ đžđ°đłđ„.â đđđ§đŠ đČ:đź, đ°
Since Jesus is the true head of the Church, pastors and church leaders should devote themselves to prayer. It is in prayer that they are spiritually nourished to do what God has called them to do. They also receive Godâs guidance through prayer. If Jesus, the Son of God Himself, devoted time to prayer, how much more should human beings commune with God? How do you think prayer will strengthen pastors and church leaders to oversee the church and disciple the nations?
đŻ. đŁđźđđđŒđżđ đźđżđČ đđŒ đ±đČđđŒđđČ đđ”đČđșđđČđčđđČđ đđŒ đđđđ±đ, đœđżđČđźđ°đ”, đźđ»đ± đđČđźđ°đ” đđŒđ±âđ đđŒđżđ±.
đđŻđ„ đ”đ©đŠ đ”đžđŠđđ·đŠ đŽđ¶đźđźđ°đŻđŠđ„ đ”đ©đŠ đ§đ¶đđ đŻđ¶đźđŁđŠđł đ°đ§ đ”đ©đŠ đ„đȘđŽđ€đȘđ±đđŠđŽ đąđŻđ„ đŽđąđȘđ„, âđđ” đȘđŽ đŻđ°đ” đłđȘđšđ©đ” đ”đ©đąđ” đžđŠ đŽđ©đ°đ¶đđ„ đšđȘđ·đŠ đ¶đ± đ±đłđŠđąđ€đ©đȘđŻđš đ”đ©đŠ đžđ°đłđ„ đ°đ§ đđ°đ„ đ”đ° đŽđŠđłđ·đŠ đ”đąđŁđđŠđŽ. . . . đđ¶đ” đžđŠ đžđȘđđ đ„đŠđ·đ°đ”đŠ đ°đ¶đłđŽđŠđđ·đŠđŽ đ”đ° đ±đłđąđșđŠđł đąđŻđ„ đ”đ° đ”đ©đŠ đźđȘđŻđȘđŽđ”đłđș đ°đ§ đ”đ©đŠ đžđ°đłđ„.â đđđ§đŠ đČ:đź, đ°
. . . đ±đłđŠđąđ€đ© đ”đ©đŠ đžđ°đłđ„; đŁđŠ đłđŠđąđ„đș đȘđŻ đŽđŠđąđŽđ°đŻ đąđŻđ„ đ°đ¶đ” đ°đ§ đŽđŠđąđŽđ°đŻ; đłđŠđ±đłđ°đ·đŠ, đłđŠđŁđ¶đŹđŠ, đąđŻđ„ đŠđčđ©đ°đłđ”, đžđȘđ”đ© đ€đ°đźđ±đđŠđ”đŠ đ±đąđ”đȘđŠđŻđ€đŠ đąđŻđ„ đ”đŠđąđ€đ©đȘđŻđš. đź đ§đđ đąđ§đđŹ đ°:đź
The Bible is Godâs word in written form and is useful for all matters of faith and practice. This is how God primarily communicates with His people. Therefore, pastors and church leaders should devote their time to study, preach, and teach Godâs word. If the church is to be strong and healthy enough to disciple a nation, feeding the flock is of utmost importance. The accurate preaching and teaching of Godâs word provides spiritual nourishment and guidance to the church. This will help members grow and mature, serve in society, and be who God has called them to be. How have pastors and church leaders helped you grow in your understanding and appreciation of Godâs word?
đ°. đŁđźđđđŒđżđ đźđżđČ đđŒ đČđŸđđ¶đœ đ°đ”đđżđ°đ” đșđČđșđŻđČđżđ đđŒ đșđ¶đ»đ¶đđđČđż.
đđŻđ„ đ©đŠ đšđąđ·đŠ đ”đ©đŠ đąđ±đ°đŽđ”đđŠđŽ, đ”đ©đŠ đ±đłđ°đ±đ©đŠđ”đŽ, đ”đ©đŠ đŠđ·đąđŻđšđŠđđȘđŽđ”đŽ, đ”đ©đŠ đŽđ©đŠđ±đ©đŠđłđ„đŽ đąđŻđ„ đ”đŠđąđ€đ©đŠđłđŽ, đ”đ° đŠđČđ¶đȘđ± đ”đ©đŠ đŽđąđȘđŻđ”đŽ đ§đ°đł đ”đ©đŠ đžđ°đłđŹ đ°đ§ đźđȘđŻđȘđŽđ”đłđș, đ§đ°đł đŁđ¶đȘđđ„đȘđŻđš đ¶đ± đ”đ©đŠ đŁđ°đ„đș đ°đ§ đđ©đłđȘđŽđ” . . . đđŁđđđŠđđđĄđŠ đ°:đđâđđź
The Church is the body of Christ. Imagine what a human body would look like if a majority of its parts were not functional. This is a picture of the Church when only the pastors are viewed as ministers. Pastors are to đŠđČđ¶đȘđ± church members to do đ”đ©đŠ đžđ°đłđŹ đ°đ§ đźđȘđŻđȘđŽđ”đłđș, not do every work of ministry themselves. They are not the star players of a team; they are playing coachesâin the game while directing the team. When pastors focus on equipping church members and the members stop relying on pastors to do all the work of ministry, the church is built up. They will be equipped to minister to one another and advance Godâs kingdom in every sphere of society. How have the pastors in your local church equipped you to do the work of ministry? How is this still ongoing?
đđŁđŁđđđđđ§đđąđĄ
âą How would you explain the role of pastors and leaders in the Church to someone who isnât part of it yet? What did you learn from todayâs lesson and how do you think this applies to your life?
âą What mindset or belief do you have of pastors and church leaders that needs to be aligned with Godâs word? What does the Bible say about it?
âą Do you have a relative or friend who may have turned away from God because of the church? What can you do for this person this week?
đŁđ„đđŹđđ„
âą Thank God for His word that guides us. Thank Him also for the spiritual leaders He has appointed in your church.
âą Pray for your pastors and leaders. Pray that they would lead with wisdom and humility, devoting themselves to prayer and the ministry of the word. Speak a blessing over their families and households.
âą Pray for the church to be equipped to minister and advance Godâs kingdom. Ask God for boldness and strength to continue the work of ministry in your sphere of society.