There can be little doubt about the importance of effective leadership in our world. On a political level, in business, within the family, on sports teams… in almost any venue you can think of, leadership is a key component to the health and success of any venture. God’s Church is no different. Jesus Himself stressed the role of good leadership when He appointed Peter as the rock upon which the Church would be built (Matthew 16:18). Moses (Exodus 18:21), Solomon (Pro 29:2), the prophets (Jeremiah 23:1), and Paul (Acts 20:28) all speak to the value and importance of godly governance. And, this is something that is woven into the very fabric of our world—as testified by many insights into good leadership.
“Where there is no guidance, the people perish.” – Proverbs 11:14
“You know that the rules of this world lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. It shall not be so among you. Whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be your slave, even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve.” – Matthew 20:25-28
“The first responsibility of a leader is to define reality. The last is to say thank you. In between, the leader is a servant.” —Max DePree
“A leader is one who knows the way, goes the way, and shows the way.” —John Maxwell
“Leadership is lifting a person's vision to high sights, the raising of a person's performance to a higher standard, the building of a personality beyond its normal limitations.” —Peter Drucker
“A leader is best when people barely know he exists; when his work is done, his aim fulfilled, they will say: we did it ourselves.” —Lao Tzu
“He who has never learned to obey cannot be a good commander.” —Aristotle
“Shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you; not for shameful gain, but eagerly; not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock.” – 1 Peter 5:2-3
Finding good leadership is a challenge for any institution or group, and Christ’s Church is no exception. And yet God promises to raise up the leaders He will use to further His Kingdom. As we eagerly seek the fulfillment of all His promises, so too do we look for His blessings of leadership—trusting always in our ultimate Leader, Christ Himself.
In preparation for worship this week, read 1 Timothy 3.
1. What does it mean and/or imply when something is “trustworthy” (vs. 1)?
2. Make a list of the qualifications for an elder. Then, a list of the qualifications for deacons. What do you find? What’s similar, different?
3. Why would each be a qualification? Why is each important in godly leadership?
4. Why would one have to be warned against putting a young believer in a position of leadership? Why would anyone be tempted to do so?
5. Given what is listed here, what are the job responsibilities of the elder and the deacon? What can you tell from the absence of a real, live job description?
6. Notice how the Church is described in verse 15. What do the metaphors imply about the Church? What do “household,” “pillar,” and “buttress of the truth” mean?
7. Read the poem at the end of this chapter. Obviously, Jesus is the subject here. What is said about Him? And, why is it phrased in this way? What line strikes you as most instructive? Confusing?
