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The new covenant Divine Leadership
Servant Leadership in the Church of Christ
“So likewise you, when you have done all those things which you are commanded, say, ‘We are unprofitable servants. We have done what was our duty to do”. Luke 17:10
Divine Servant leadership in Ministry in The Church of Christ is about serving the people’s needs first, by the power of the Holy Spirit.
“Now there was also a dispute among them, as to which of them should be considered the greatest. 25 And He (Jesus) said to them, “The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them, and those who exercise authority over them are called ‘benefactors.’ 26 But not so among you; on the contrary, he who is greatest among you, let him be as the younger, and he who governs as he who serves. 27 For who is greater, he who sits at the table, or he who serves? Is it not he who sits at the table? Yet I am among you as the One who serves.”
Luke 22:24-27
God’s purpose is to prepare, appoint, and use HIS people for works of service so that the body of Christ may grow into the image of Jesus Christ.
God has given major distinct ministry gifts to the Church so the Church can operate in a holistic and balanced perspective and reach maturity. Effective Spiritually gifted ministers will Serve the people first. Mark 10:42-45.
That is the Divine servant leadership in Christ Jesus for His Church.
God always appoints His leaders.
In the new covenant church, The Holy Spirit appoints Leaders according to their Spiritual gifts:
“And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ”; Ephesians 4:11-13
Based on God’s spiritual assignment, this leadership model contrasts with the present Church model with a senior pastor, associate, and assistant pastor. This system controls and sometimes ignores all other ministry gifts. In such a human-made leadership model, all other ministry gifts can’t freely be represented and functional as intended by Christ in the Church.
The new Covenant Divine leadership model functions because leaders with the giftings of an Apostle, Prophet, Evangelist, Pastor, and Teacher shall freely oversee ministry areas where they have a proven anointing to grow the Church (body of Christ). These leadership ministry gifts are not ” titles ” only but ministry functions or skills descriptions. The focus can and may never be on a man or woman but rather on the task performed in obedience to Christ for the benefit of His Church.
Leader first Leadership in the Church of Christ
Many Christian leaders have described the God given leadership anointings of Ephesians 4:11-13 out of context and out of their rightful place.
- Some emphasize the importance of these offices in the local Church and try to use them to serve the interests of the local Church only, while denying them (these offices) any involvement in church government.
- Others discard the verses altogether, claiming that Paul is speaking in the apostolic age, which according to them, has long passed so that his words are not relevant to us anymore.
The limited recognition of ministry gifts in church leadership stems from a lack of understanding of the various gifts and ministries God has given the Church, to help, lead, guide, direct, and edify the saints as outlined in Ephesians 4:11-13. This lack of obedience to God’s plan of leadership has opened the door to human-made and “leader first” instead of “Servant first” parameters of leadership into the structure and philosophy of the visible Church leadership.
Leader first leadership.
Around us, we can easily see the abuse of power and the self or man-made appointment of people to positions of influence and authority, not helpful to The Church, not in submission to the Holy Spirit, and not accountable to other Leaders or ANYONE in the body of Christ.