clcgh.org Building The Capacity Of Christian Leaders, Equipping The Saints For The Work Of Ministry, Redirecting Straying Christians To The Sound Knowledge Of Christ
In a previous article, we looked at what Christian leadership is not, highlighting the points that it is not concerned with position, title, lordship or big seat.
It is worrying that many Church leaders today pay greater attention to the things aforementioned, thinking that they make them leaders. But they do not; if they do Christ and the earliest apostles would not be leaders at all.
This article, therefore, explores factors that make someone a true leader in the Christian faith. These factors are based on the ministries of Jesus and the foundational apostles as stated in Scripture.
Servanthood
We must understand that leadership in the Church is not about mastership but servanthood. It is not about someone being a master or boss, throwing his weight about. Rather, it is about being a servant, ministering in humility.
Jesus Christ, the Head of the Church says: “The greatest among you shall be your servant” (Matthew 23:11). Then, in Mark 9:35, the Lord tells us: “…If anyone would be first, he must be last of all and servant of all.”
What do all these mean? To say that you are a leader in a church is to say that you are a servant both to God and His people. Are you a servant or master? Again, a true Christian leader sees himself as a bond-servant and a hired labourer.
As a servant and labourer, he does not exercise his own power, authority and will, but those of his master. He is neither self-sufficient nor self-dependent, but depends on his master for everything. For this reason, he learns to be humble and obedient in all his ways.
Service
True Christian leadership is not defined by the position one occupies, but the service one renders in humility, first, to God and, second, to humanity.
A genuine church leader serves God and fellow human beings – believers and unbelievers alike. This is how Jesus Christ understood and practised leadership when He said: “…the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve…” (Matthew 20:28).
There is no doubt that Jesus Christ, a leader of leaders, served throughout His ministry. He served the rich, the poor, the crowd, the hungry and above all His disciples with greater compassion.
He served by washing the dirty feet of His twelve disciples, showing us that it is not above a leader in His Church to be involved in doing menial jobs for the growth of the Church and the expansion of God’s kingdom.
Equipment or Facilitation
A true Christian leader is an equipper or a facilitator, He is wired with an inner burden to build people that are brought under his care.
Through his Christo-centric and gospel-focused teachings, prayers and counselling the leader equips, trains, develops and prepares the saints for the work of ministry (Ephesians 4:11-12).
This means the leader helps people to identify the gifts the Holy Spirit has dispensed to them, helps them to nurture the gifts and guides them to use the gifts for the good of all.
To be continued….
By James Quansah
