Educational

1. LEADERSHIP
Part 3
LEADERSHIP OF THE
CHURCH THEIR
QUALIFICATIONS

2. 1. Leadership to understand the gospel
commission is given to all, both men
and women
2. The Church is God’s house, we are
living stones, Christ is the foundation
3. The Church is the Body of Christ, we
are the members, He is the Head
4. Gifts of the Holy Spirit given to the
Church for the work of Ministry
RECAP OF YESTERDAY’S LESSON
-The Church and It’s Work-

3. {6T 13.3}
In order to manifest the character of God, in
order that we may not deceive ourselves,
the church, and the world by a counterfeit
Christianity, we must become personally
acquainted with God. If we have fellowship
with God, we are His ministers, though we
may never preach to a congregation. We are
workers together with God in presenting the
perfection of His character in humanity.
RECAP OF YESTERDAY’S LESSON
-God’s Ministers-

4. 2 Corinthians 6:1-4
We then, as workers together with him, beseech you also
that ye receive not the grace of God in vain. (For he
saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the
day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the
accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.) Giving
no offence in anything, that the ministry be not blamed:
But in all things approving ourselves as the ministers of
God, in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in
distresses,
1 Peter 4:11
If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God; if
any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God
giveth: that God in all things may be glorified through
Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion forever and
ever. Amen.
-God’s Ministers-

5. Leadership of The
Church and Their
Qualifications

6. One that leads or
conducts; a guide
Noah’s Webster’s 1828 Dictionary
Definition:
LEADER

7. {AA 95.2}
In the work of setting things in order in all
the churches, and ordaining suitable men
to act as officers, the apostles held to the
high standards of leadership outlined in
the Old Testament Scriptures. They
maintained that he who is called to stand in
a position of leading responsibility in the
church "must be blameless, as the steward
of God;….. " Titus 1:7-9.
Leadership of The Church

8. The qualifications required
of ELDERS are the same
as those of DEACONS
• Titus 1:7-9
• 1 Timothy 3
Leadership of The Church

9. {AA 91.1}
The organization of the church at Jerusalem was to
serve as a model for the organization of churches in
every other place where messengers of truth should
win converts to the gospel. Those to whom was given
the responsibility of the general oversight of the
church were not to lord it over God's heritage, but, as
wise shepherds, were to "feed the flock of God, . . .
being ensamples to the flock" (1 Peter 5:2, 3); and the
deacons were to be "men of honest report, full of the
Holy Ghost and wisdom." These men were to take
their position unitedly on the side of right and to
maintain it with firmness and decision. Thus they
would have a uniting influence upon the entire flock.
Elders
Deacons

10. Acts 20:17,28
And from Miletus he sent to Ephesus, and called the
elders of the church. 20:28 Take heed therefore unto
yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the
Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the
church of God, which he hath purchased with his own
blood.
1 Peter 5:1-2
The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also
an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and
also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed: 5:2
Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the
oversight [thereof], not by constraint, but willingly;
not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind;

11. 7BC 942.6
Commenting on 1 Pet 5:2,3 and Acts 20:28
A Wide Field for Church Leaders.-
God is not glorified by leaders in the church who seek to
drive the sheep. No, no. "Feed the flock of God which is
among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint,
but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind;
neither as being lords over God's heritage, but being
ensamples to the flock." There is a wide field for the ELDERS
and the HELPERS in every church. They are to feed the flock
of God with pure provender, thoroughly winnowed from the
chaff, the poisonous mixture of error. You who have any part
to act in the church of God, be sure that you act wisely in
feeding the flock of God; for its prosperity much depends
upon the quality of this food

12. {7BC 914.11}
Commenting on 1 Timothy 3:1-10
Carefulness in Selecting Church Leaders.
May the Lord impress upon the minds and hearts
of all connected with the sacred work of God, the
importance of ascertaining whether those who are
to minister as DEACONS and ELDERS are suitable
men to be entrusted with the flock of God. Jesus
calls Himself the "Good Shepherd." He does this in
contrast with those who occupy positions of trust
in connection with the church, but who have no
right to these places, because they put a wrong
mold upon the work. What is natural will appear.

13. ORDINATION OF PAUL
THE
STONING OF
STEPHEN
MARKED AN
IMPORTANT
CHANGE IN
SAUL’S LIFE

14.  Saul witnessed the stoning of Stephen (Acts 7:58)
 He persecuted the Church in the days of the apostles
(Acts 8:1-4)
 On his way to Damascus He meets Christ and is made a
minister (Acts 9:1-16; 26:16)
 Saul is healed, he is baptized and immediately starts to
preach Christ in the synagogues (Acts 9:17-20).
 Saul escape after an attempt is made on his life, and he
goes to Jerusalem where he is introduced to the apostles
by Barnabas (Acts 9:27).
 He still continues preaching there at Jerusalem (Acts 9:29).
Saul and Barnabas go to Antioch and for a whole year they
stay with the Church there teaching them. It is there that
the disciples are first called CHRISTIANS (Acts 11:22-30)
ORDINATION OF PAUL

15. All this time, Saul and Barnabas
are still “ministering” and yet
they haven’t been “ordained”
Acts 12:25
And Barnabas and Saul returned from
Jerusalem, when they had fulfilled
their ministry, and took with them
John, whose surname was Mark.
ORDINATION OF PAUL

16. Acts 13:1-4
Now there were in the church that was at Antioch certain
prophets and teachers; as Barnabas, and Simeon that was
called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, and Manaen, which had
been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. As they
ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said,
Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I
have called them. And when they had fasted and prayed,
and laid their hands on them, they sent them away. So they,
being sent forth by the Holy Ghost, departed unto Seleucia;
and from thence they sailed to Cyprus.
It is from this time that Saul started using the name Paul
(Acts 13:9).
ORDINATION OF PAUL

17. {AA 160.2}
Before being sent forth as missionaries to
the heathen world, these apostles were
solemnly dedicated to God by fasting and
prayer and the laying on of hands. Thus
they were authorized by the church, not
only to teach the truth, but to perform the
rite of baptism and to organize churches,
being invested with full ecclesiastical
authority.
ORDINATION OF PAUL

18. Topeka Daily Capital Vol.11 pg 3.9 (May 16,
1889)
Here the Lord chose Saul; now Acts 26:15-18,
the Lord tells him why he appears to him, to
make him a minister and a witness to be sent to
the gentiles, yet Acts 13:1-4 shows when he
was ordained, which was ten
years after the Savior appeared
to him, Paul being all this time
among the Churches ministering
but not sent to the gentiles in the
broad field until he could go
with the authority of the
brethren in the church.
ORDINATION OF PAUL

19. {AA 161.2}
Both Paul and Barnabas had already
received their commission from God
Himself, and the ceremony of the laying
on of hands added no new grace or virtual
qualification. It was an acknowledged
form of designation to an APPOINTED
OFFICE and a recognition of one's
authority in that office. By it the seal of
the church was set upon the work of God.
ORDINATION OF PAUL

20. {AA 163.2}
There have ever been in the church those who are
constantly inclined toward individual independence.
They seem unable to realize that independence of spirit
is liable to lead the human agent to have too much
confidence in himself and to trust in his own judgment
rather than to respect the counsel and highly esteem the
judgment of his brethren, especially of those in the
OFFICES that God has appointed for the LEADERSHIP of
His people. God has invested His church with special
authority and power which no one can be justified in
disregarding and despising, for he who does this
despises the voice of God.
ORDINATION OF PAUL

21. {AA 661.3}
The Thessalonian believers were greatly
annoyed by men coming among them
with fanatical ideas and doctrines. Some
were "disorderly, working not at all, but . .
. busy-bodies." The church had been
properly organized, and OFFICERS HAD
BEEN APPOINTED TO ACT AS MINISTERS
(Elders) AND DEACONS.
Officers acting as ELDERS and DEACONS

22. OFFICERS IN THE
LEADERSHIP OF THE
CHURCH

23. 1 Timothy 3:1,10
This [is] a true saying, If a man desire the
Office of A Bishop, he desireth a good
work. 3:10 And let these also first be
proved; then let them use the Office of A
Deacon, being [found] blameless.
Philippians 1:1
Paul and Timotheus, the servants of Jesus
Christ, to all the saints in Christ Jesus
which are at Philippi, with the Bishops And
Deacons:
OFFICERS OF THE CHURCH

24. QUALIFICATIONS OF
CHURCH OFFICERS
• Elders
• Deacons

25. {20MR 318.5}
Please read the first seven verses of the third
chapter of First Timothy. We are here given a
positive declaration of God, and those who refuse
to see the necessity for this work in the home will
be so blinded that they will not see the necessity
of obeying the work in other lines. The command
extends to deacons. See verses eight to thirteen
of the same chapter. Had we not better give heed
to the work of God. Paul charged Timothy, "Take
heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue
in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save
thyself, and them that hear thee" [1 Timothy
4:16].
QUALIFICATIONS OF CHURCH OFFICERS

26. {5T 617.1}
Selection of Leaders
The apostle Paul writes to Titus: "Set in order the things that are
wanting, and ordain elders in every city, as I had appointed thee: if any
be blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children not
accused of riot or unruly. For a bishop must be blameless, as the
steward of God." It would be well for all our ministers to give heed to
these words and not to hurry men into office without due
consideration and much prayer that God would designate by His Holy
Spirit whom He will accept. Said the inspired apostle: "Lay hands
suddenly on no man." In some of our churches the work of organizing
and of ordaining elders has been premature; the Bible rule has been
disregarded, and consequently grievous trouble has been brought
upon the church. There should not be so great haste in electing leaders
as to ordain men who are in no way fitted for the responsible work--
men who need to be converted, elevated, ennobled, and refined
before they can serve the cause of God in any capacity. {5T 617.2}
Don’t Ordain in Haste

27. The qualifications for the
office of elders/bishops
and that of deacons are
explained in the book of
1 Timothy 3:1-13
Titus 1:5-9

28. -Lessons from The Reformation pg 142-
Christian liberty is loving service, and loving
service is Christian liberty.....he who can best
serve the most people is the greatest, and in the
nature of things, just by virtue of that grace, he is
chief....the grace willingly to serve most people,
the grace to be most cheerfully at everybody’s
call, is the badge of greatness, the
certificate of chieftancy, and this
is the primary and highest
qualification for the
office of elder or deacon..
Willing Service

29. {DA 550.3}
In the kingdoms of the world, position meant self-
aggrandizement. The people were supposed to exist for the
benefit of the ruling classes. Influence, wealth, education, were
so many means of gaining control of the masses for the use of
the leaders. The higher classes were to think, decide, enjoy, and
rule; the lower were to obey and serve. Religion, like all things
else, was a matter of authority. The people were expected to
believe and practice as their superiors directed. The right of man
as man, to think and act for himself, was wholly unrecognized.
Christ was establishing a kingdom on different principles. He
called men, not to authority, but to service, the strong to bear
the infirmities of the weak. Power, position, talent, education,
placed their possessor under the greater obligation to serve his
fellows.
Don’t Ordain in Haste

30. 1) Blameless -One whose life is so fully
conformed to the rules of right that no
one can justly lay blame upon him, or find
fault with him
2) Husband of one wife -He shall not have
more than one wife
3) Vigilant -attentive to discover and avoid
danger
4) Sober –Sound,well-regulated mind and
self-controlled.
QUALIFICATIONS
A.T. Jones-THE SIGNS OF THE TIMES Vol 14 pg 535-536
(August 24, 1888)

31. 5) Of good behavior -One who will so
conduct himself as to "dignify," and "be an
honor to" the position to which he is called;
not exalting nor magnifying himself, but
exalting his calling and magnifying his office
6) Given to hospitality - One who receives
and entertains strangers, with kindness and
without reward
7) Apt to teach -Skillful in the word of
knowledge so that he may instruct in truth
8) Not given to wine - One who does not
drink the fermented juice of the grape.

32. 9) No striker -Not one who is contentious,
or given to reproaches
10) Not greedy of filthy lucre -Not a lover
of money, not covetous or stingy, but
generous
11) Not a brawler -Not disposed to fight,
not quarrelsome or contentious; not a
complainer, nor one who scolds.
12) But patient -Reasonable, fair, kind,
gentle, yielding
13) One that ruleth well his own house
-For if a man know not how to rule his own
house, how shall he take care of the church
of God?"

33. 14) Not a novice -Not a new convert, not
one newly come to the faith
15) -Moreover he must have a good report
of them that are without -The church must
have a care for the opinion of those who
are outside of the church
16) Not self willed -Not governed by his
own will
17) But a lover of hospitality, a lover of
good men, sober, just, holy, temperate;
holding fast the faithful word as he hath
been taught, that he may be able by sound
doctrine both to exhort and to convince the
gainsayers." Titus 1:8, 9.

34. WHO
HAS
SUCH
QUALIFICATIONS
???

35. It is very likely that many, as they have read
the foregoing, have said within themselves,
"Where can such a man be found?" Well, he
ought to be found in every church in the land.
He ought to be found in the very church to
which you belong. He ought, in fact, to be
found in yourself. These are the qualifications
which the word of God requires that there
shall be in the officers of the church…
QUALIFICATIONS IN EACH MEMBER
A.T. Jones-THE SIGNS OF THE TIMES Vol 14 pg 536 (August
24, 1888)

36. …The officers of the church are to be chosen
from among the membership of the church.
Therefore these are the qualifications, these are
the virtues, which the word of God requires
shall be found in every member of the church. If
these qualifications are not found there, then
whose fault is it? It is your own fault. And if such
persons as are here required are not found in
the church, then whose fault is that? It is still
the fault of the individual members. For every
member of the church of God is required by the
word of God to be just such a person as is
described in these scriptures.