Today, I want to talk to you about three types of leaders in your church. So, let’s take a look.
Now, if you watch much 90SL, you know how passionate I am about Paul’s charge in Ephesians 4 for church leaders to equip the saints for the work of the ministry. Often, we feel the pressure to do all the work of the ministry ourselves. There is a variety of excuses for this: maybe it’s time, maybe it’s lack of knowledge or training, maybe it’s easier to do myself, or maybe it’s because you don’t feel like anyone else can do it as well as you.
However, Ephesians 4 reminds us that we must develop and equip others in the body of Christ. So, biblically and historically three types of leaders exist in the church to fulfill the church’s mission. The church calls a pastor; it selects leadership – that could be deacons, elders, or a leader board; and then it also recruits and develops ministry leaders and volunteers. But, please note, these people aren’t just supposed to all do the work of the church. The great commission says all are called, all are sent, and we must understand that Christ didn’t just call us to be a disciple, He called us to make disciples who make disciples. Through these groups the church is equipped to carry out its mission, not do the mission.
Take a moment to think about your church. Are these three groups present? Are these three groups equipping the church or are they simply fulfilling the task to do the mission? Are you leading out and modeling how to develop and equip others? Once you answer these questions you decide what you are going to do about it.
