Jeff Van Wyk

The Power of the Local Chruch for Students Jeff Van Wyk

Leading a church is not an easy task. Leading in this context means to serve and not to command. Throughout church history, there has been a quest to find the most Biblical model of church governance. A study of the New Testament as a pattern of leadership reveals a structure that is very fluid and diverse. During the past two thousand years, the church has used various leadership models which have reflected different emphases, needs, and amalgamation of contemporary cultural methods and specific Biblical principles. Jesus said virtually nothing about how the church was to be organized or who was to lead it. The only thing He emphasized was that leaders were to be servant-like and not ruler-like. A church is a complex entity. It consists of people from all walks of life. This includes different age groups, various levels of education, and different cultural backgrounds. It also includes singles, married couples, and families. In order to be successful, the church has to serve all these diverse needs and wants. The church in the modern world looks to the Bible for guidance in establishing Godly and effective leadership structures. It should be noted that the New Testament does not prescribe a set structure, model, or list of titles that must be used in all situations. The emphasis is on function and the ongoing growth and health of the church. All this depends on Godly, balanced leadership. Various churches and denominations within the wider body of Christ often declare that their particular leadership structure is based on the teachings of the New Testament. The difficulty lies in the fact that there are so many different leadership structures existing today and all claim the Bible as their primary source and authority. In order to formulate leadership in the modern church, it is important to search for principles of good church leadership as portrayed in the Bible rather than to seek a specific model. A cultural and historical analysis in conjunction with a study of relevant Biblical principles is an essential process of identifying and designing a church leadership structure. The leading of the Holy Spirit should also be followed before appointing anyone to positions of authority. Titles should be given to match or identify specific ministry functions. Titles are to be descriptive of the actual work that the leader does.