Church Government

CHURCH LIFE CLASS

CHURCH GOVERNMENT

PREFACE: As we look across the landscape of the church we see many different ideas when it

comes to the government of the church. We need to attempt to return to New Testament patterns of church government if we are to build according to Christ’s design. Without government there would be lawlessness, anarchy, and disorder. God’s government on earth and in the church is expressed through delegated authority. This authority is delegated to those whom God appoints to be leaders in the church.

I. LEADERSHIP WITHIN THE ORGANIZATION OF THE LOCAL CHURCH

Two leadership graces defined within the organization of the local church.

It is important to note that the rise of the Synagogue system in the Intertestament period formed a

backdrop (God designed structure for the local religious life of God’s people in various places) of

understanding for the local church. The Synagogue had a structure similar to local churches in

terms of leadership, discipline, education, and instruction.

The New Testament indicates the office of an Elder/Bishop with the function of a deacon closely

connected with it.

1. Elder/Bishop

2. Deacon

Philippians 1:1 1 Paul and Timothy, bond-servants of Christ Jesus, to all the saints in Christ Jesus who are in Philippi, including the overseers (elders/bishops) and deacons: (NASB)

Acts 14:23; 20:28; 15:22-23; Titus 1:5-7; 1 Peter 5:1-2; 1Thes 5:12

B. Three New Testament terms (Greek words) to designate the office of Eldership.

1. Greek “presbuteros” Elder - speaks of “senior” or maturity and experience, an older man

This speaks of the man.

2. Greek “episkopos” Bishop/Overseer - Greek epi - over, skopeo - to look or watch. This term

speaks of the leaders’ responsibility to watch over, protect, care for, and feed the flock.

This speaks of the office.

In the Scriptures this term is used in the same sense as an elder. Titus 1:5, 7; Acts 20:17, 28;

1 Tim 3:1; I Peter 5:1-2

3. Greek “poimen” Pastor/Shepherd - One who is a feeder.

This speaks of what He is doing.

The Scriptures show us the interrelatedness of these three words.

Acts 20:17-28 “take heed therefore unto yourselves and to all the flock over which the Holy Ghost made you overseers (episkopos) to feed (poimen) the church of God.

1 Peter 5:1-2 “I exhort the elders (presbuteros)…feed (poimen) the flock of God which is among you,

exercising oversight (episkopos) not under compulsion,..

Titus 1:5-7 For this reason I left you in Crete, that you might set in order what remains, and appoint

Elders (presbuteros) in every city as I directed you…For the overseer (episkopos) must be above reproach,…

I Tim 3:1

C. Functions of Eldership

1. Ruling - 1 Tim 5:17. The elders form the government of the Local Church. They have authority

that comes from God. Acts 20:28; 1 Pet 5:1-4

2. Teaching - or feeding- 1 Tim 3:1-2; Heb 5:12-14; Jn 21:15-17; Acts 20:28; 1 Thes 5:12

3. Leading and guiding the church forward - Heb 13:17

4. Being examples - 1 Tim 4:12

Serving the people of God - Lk 22:25-27; Jn 13:1-20 Jesus washing the disciples feet.

Eldership is about function not office. One is an Elder as long as they perform the function.

Some of the ways you can express the functions/responsibilities of an Elder are: making decisions;

being responsible for all that goes on in the church; leading, guiding, and setting direction/vision of the

Church; ruling or making decisions on a variety of issues including discipline of members; serving and

not being served.

D. Scriptures indicate a plurality of Eldership. They work as a team.

1. Acts 14:23 “Elders in every city”

2. Acts 15:4-23 “Elders in Jerusalem”

3. Acts 16:4 “Elders in Jerusalem”

4. Acts 20:17 “Elders of Ephesus”

5. 1 Tim 5:1, 17-21 “Let the Elders rule”

6. James 5:14 “Call for the Elders of the Church”

7. 1 Pet 5:1 “The Elders which are among you”

8. Titus 1:5-11 “Ordain Elders in every city”

9. Heb 13:17 “obey them that rule”

As in any team, including leadership team, there is a leader. Elders tend to have different measures and areas of rule according to calling. Elders are equal in value but not in authority or gifting. Elders lead as a team. They carry out their function through the prayerful discussions of issues. They come to one mind on issues and the team leader pulls together the direction.

E. What is a Deacon?

The Greek word for deacon is “Diakonos” - to be an attendant, to wait upon. In other words they are

one who is a servant or renders service.

The words used in Scripture from the word “Diakonos” are “Deacon” used 3 times (1Tim 3:8,

Phil 1:1), “Minister” used 20 times (Mk 10:43-45), and “Servant” used 7 times (Mk 9:35)

The church world has greatly minimized the office of a Deacon. They are servants but servants of

high stature. Why else would the qualifications for them be almost identical to the elders.

The Acts 6 men who are commonly referred to as the first deacons in the early church, were gifted,

called men (Philip the Evangelist) who were anointed and powerful in their own right. They

administered a great task in caring for the widows (remember there were several thousand people

in the church at that time). It was a great project.

While we still are in the process of learning about the Deacon ministry, one way to show the

difference between elders and deacons is to see the relationship between a husband and wife in

a home. The husband is the head (leader) but the wife has a co-leader role in which she manages

in the home. Traditional ideas of Deacon have reduced it of the authority and dignity God has

designed.

How the church responds to the leadership.

Submitting to the leadership of the elders. Heb 13:17

2. Following their example. Heb 13:17

3. Expressing love and appreciation to them, praying for them, and helping them. 1 Thes 5:12-13

4. Being generous towards them, so that they don’t have to live under unnecessary financial

pressure. Gal 6:6, 1 Cor 9:9, 1 Tim 5:17-18

G. Qualifications for elders and deacons.

1 Tim 3:1-7 and Titus 1:5-9 show the moral, domestic, and spiritual qualifications of those who are

elders and deacons in the church.

One of the major qualifications has to do with the way they rule in their home. Paul said if they

didn’t know how to manage their own home well that they wouldn’t be able to manage God’s home,

the church. 1 Timothy 3:4-5. You might say it like this, “The way they treat their bride is how they will treat His bride, and how they run their home is how they will run His home.”

Setting in of elders (Ordination).

A simple way to sum up the NT examples of ordination is that it has three elements to it.

There is a grace and calling of God.

It has recognition by a church body. (Hard to say you are a doctor if you can’t get patients).

It is confirmed by proven leadership. (Apostolic and/or other proven ministry). A good rule of

thumb regarding proven ministries that confirm is “have they built a healthy church.” In other

words, it is hard to recognize a grace in someone to build a local church if you have never had the

experience of building one.

It is a recognition by the leadership and the church body of what they have the grace and the character to do. They should have already been doing elder type things without the title. Recognition

is recognizing what is already being done.

It is based on the need of the local church. It is local church based and doesn’t transfer from one body to another.

Setting in or ordination. This is a special time of setting needed and qualified leaders aside to do the

work at hand. It is a time of impartation and recognition as they are set apart. 1 Timothy 4:4

There must be carefulness of laying hands on a novice. 1 Timothy 5:2. If we lay hands too soon on someone who isn’t proved they will tend to fall into the same condemnation that motivated Satan

(the biggest thing is pride).

II. THE FIVE FOLD ASCENSION GIFT MINISTRIES OF EPHESIANS 4

Paul speaks of the gift ministries of apostle, prophet, evangelist, pastor, and teacher, as given

to equip the church. This means their primary function is to train, enable, motivate, discipline, and

instruct the church so that they will be able to carry out the work of the ministry of building up the body

of Christ (Eph 4:11,12).

We also note that God calls certain of the elders to those functions and that at times there seems to

be an overlap of ministry. Eph 1:1; Gal 1:1; 2 Tim 1:11; I Pet 1:1,5:1

A. Apostle - “one who is sent” Eph 4:11; I Cor 12:28; Acts 14:23; 15:12; Gal 2:4-14

Apostolic ministry typically functions in:

1. Appointing and training leaders.

2. Establishing churches.

3. Strengthening existing churches.

4. Administrating leadership.

5. Formulating doctrine.

6. Administrating churches.

B. Prophet - “bubble up and gush forth”

A prophet is God’s mouthpiece, speaking on His behalf.

A Prophet typically:

1. Works alongside apostles in foundational ministry. Eph 2:20; Acts 15:32

2. Receives revelation to direct, warn, inform, edify, exhort, and console God’s people. Eph 3:3-5;

Acts 15:32; 11:28; 13:1,2; 21:10,11

3. Sometimes prophets receive revelation to foretell future events. Acts 11:27-28

C. Evangelist - “a messenger of good, one who proclaims good news”

Philip’s ministry is the best Scriptural example of an evangelist. Acts 6:5; 8:26-40; 21:8

Philip wasn’t a one man show; he asked Peter and John to come and help his situation with the

Samaritans.

Evangelists not only do the work themselves but are to equip the church to do the work.

D. Pastor - ‘one who feeds and cares for the sheep’

1. He shepherds the local church. Ezek 34:12-16

2. He discerns false ministers. Rev 2:2

3. He is willing to lay down his life for the sheep. Jn 10:10

E. Teacher - “one who is skilled and gifted in the exposition of the Word of God”

1. He has insight into God’s Word and an ability to convey God’s message.

2. He has a concern for exactness, and also the ability to bring various parts of truth into a

comprehensive, understandable whole.

All these ministries have a primary responsibility to equip the saints in the local churches. As we are coming into more insight of these ministries there needs to be a flexibility in how we view them. Our focus on these ministries should not be so much on clarity of title or guidelines but on function.