2. Leadership

3. (strength of character)
Leadership
Leadership makes one responsible. Leadership requires effort.
It requires confidence, wisdom, courage, strength and decisiveness.
(strength of character)
A leader will set a goal and judge whether or not the group is working toward that goal.

4. Leadership
Throughout the Bible we can read of leaders. Leadership always has its qualifications.

5. Leadership
Jethro:
Ex. 18:13-23 – There are two examples of leadership here.
First, Jethro shows a type of leadership in pointing Moses in a better direction.
Second, Jethro gives Moses qualifications necessary for the judges of the people.

6. Leadership
It is important to note the words of Jethro as he instructs Moses about his leadership. Jethro always placed emphasis on the instruction and leadership from God.
Vs. 19 – Moses was assured that God would be with him.
Vs. 21 – the first qualification was that the men fear God
Vs. 23 – only do this if God commands it

7. Leadership In the book of Acts we see leadership in action.
Acts 4:32-37 – The believers had committed themselves to one another and were sharing their resources.

8. Leadership
In Acts 6 there is an issue with the daily distribution and the apostles demonstrate their leadership.
Acts 6:1-4 – the apostles ask for the people to seek out men who can serve in a particular capacity

9. Leadership
This is an important example because it shows a pattern for the church. The people were to seek out the men necessary for the task. The apostles could have found and appointed the men but they did not.

10. Leadership
This makes the men, found by the people, leaders because the people selected them.
Acts 6:3 – The apostles gave the people the qualifications for these men

11. Leadership
The word deacon simply means a servant. This person is a servant particularly a servant of the church. In Romans 16:1, Phoebe is referred to as a deaconess or a servant of the church. She is in no way a deacon as described in 1 Timothy 3 and neither are the men of Acts 6.

12. Leadership
There are those who will call these men the first deacons of the church and they are deacons in the sense of the basic meaning, a servant, but they were not the deacons that Paul mentioned to Stephen. The qualifications for these men are completely different. While the men of 1 Timothy 3 could be the men of Acts 6, the men of Acts 6 could not be the deacons of 1 Timothy 3, based on the qualifications listed. All of them, and Phoebe, are servants of the church.

13. Leadership
In 1 Timothy and Titus we can read of another set of qualifications. Paul gave the qualifications of elders and deacons to Timothy and Titus. In 1 Timothy 3 we can read about elders and deacons and in Titus 1 we can read about elders.

14. We use elder as the general term.
Leadership
1 Timothy 3:1-7 – the qualifications for an elder
Titus 1:5-9 – the qualifications for an elder
The lists speak of a bishop.
There are several terms that refer to this position; bishop, elder, overseer, presbyter, and shepherd. These all speak of the same office in the church.
We use elder as the general term.

15. Leadership
Titus was given a direct command to appoint elders and we understand from the tone of the letter to Timothy that he was to do the same. We are not told exactly how this appointment was to happen but we have the example from Acts 6 on how this might have occurred; the church learned what the qualifications were and the church sought out men who might fit the description.

16. There are several passages that speak of a plural eldership.
Leadership
When it comes to the appointment of elders there is no passage that says you must have at least two.
There are several passages that speak of a plural eldership.
Titus 1:5 – appoint elders…
1 Timothy 5:17 – let the elders…
1 Peter 5:1 – the elders…
Acts 14:23 – appointed elders… (Lystra, Iconium, Antioch)
Acts 15:6 – the apostles and elders… (Jerusalem)
Acts 20:17 – called for the elders… (Ephesus)

17. Leadership
So, while there is not a direct command for a certain number of elders, we can see by the language that there were least two men appointed as elders.

18. Leadership 1 Timothy 3:8-13 – the qualifications for a deacon
The appointment of deacons can follow this and the same type of procedure can be followed; the qualifications are outlined, the people of the church seek these men out and with the direction of the elders these are appointed as deacons of the church.

19. Leadership
It should be remembered that God gives us the pattern for leadership that He desires. When Samuel was looking for a new king to anoint from among David’s sons he was ready to anoint the first one he saw. God told Samuel no and reminded him of His qualifications, 1 Sam. 16:7.

20. Leadership
As we look to appoint elders we must look to God’s pattern. We should not appoint elders simply to have them, but to set in order those things that are lacking, Titus 1:5.