Servant leadership should mark the leaders of the church.
Let’s look at Titus 1 to see this principle in action. Here we find one of a few lists of qualifications for the office of overseer/pastor/elder – the office charged with overseeing the congregation, caring for the people of God, and equipping them for the mission of God.
The Apostle Paul is writing to one of his children in the faith – Titus. He says to him: 5 This is why I left you in Crete, so that you might put what remained into order, and appoint elders in every town as I directed you— 6 if anyone is above reproach, the husband of one wife, and his children are believers and not open to the charge of debauchery or insubordination.
7 For an overseer, as God’s steward, must be above reproach. He must not be arrogant or quick- tempered or a drunkard or violent or greedy for gain, 8 but hospitable, a lover of good, self- controlled, upright, holy, and disciplined. 9 He must hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught, so that he may be able to give instruction in sound doctrine and also to rebuke those who contradict it.
Now, this is instructive for us. There are groups of people, who have believed the gospel and come together in local churches. Paul has left Titus back in Crete to appoint elders/pastors/overseers in every town–in these churches.
These are the sorts of people who are qualified to lead the church:
- Above reproach
- Husband of one wife and leads his family well
- He must not be arrogant
- He must not be quick tempered
- He must not be a drunkard
- He must not be violent
- He must not be greedy for gain (money hungry, power hungry)
- My buddy Andrew said something about this that really stung: “Going into ministry is the only way for a narcissist to remain a Christian.” OUCH.
- He must be hospitable
- He must be a lover of good
- He must be self-controlled, upright, holy, and disciplined.
- He must hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught, so that he can give solid instruction and rebuke those who contradict the truth.
Titus, you are not looking for the greatest, richest, or most powerful. You are looking for people whose lives are shaped and being shaped by Jesus. These are the sorts of people who Jesus has called to lead his church. Jesus is calling men to lead his church, not use his church. Healthy churches know they belong to Jesus – not their pastor.
In his parting words to the church at Ephesus, Paul gives pastors a solemn charge: Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood.
The pastor (and ideally) team of pastors serve and lead the people Jesus has made his own.
Jesus has given apostles, prophets, evangelists, shepherds, and teachers, for the building up of the church.
He has established two offices in the local church: elders and deacons. Some say elders serve by leading and deacons lead by serving. I think this is helpful.
Healthy churches are led by pastors who are willing to teach the Word of God plainly and clearly, to build up the people of God for the mission of God, carried out by the Spirit of God.
Healthy churches have leaders who should have high character and who are seeking to grow in their capacity for the sake of God’s people and the world around us.
There are no perfect leaders. Full stop. But healthy churches have leaders who are interested in being healthy, not just looking healthy.
A healthy church’s vision for leadership is more shaped by Jesus than a leadership guru.
As your pastor and one of your elders, we must continue to cultivate a culture of leadership development–of shaping leaders who serve the people of God for the mission of God.
