Leadership
Jesus is the Head of the Church
Jesus is the head of the church and the church is the body of Christ. (Ephesians 1:22-23, Ephesians 5:23, Colossians 1:24). When a pastor begins to think that he is the head of the church, the direction of the church and the church’s focus on scripture can easily be compromised. When the people within the local assembly believe that Jesus is the Head of the church and we are subject to Him and His word, truth will be the focus of the church and the foundation of all we believe. Programs, ministries and well intentioned ideas must always be subject to the unchanging word of God. The church must draw its direction from Christ and the word of God regardless of popular consensus or personal philosophies.
The church body must be eternally focused and not allow themselves to be swayed by temporary goals that have no eternal benefits. The church must pursue it’s God given mission with the long-term goal of binding on earth what will be bound in heaven (Matthew 18:18-20). We are working for the eternal benefits of obedience to God and not merely the things that we count as successful now. Temporary success can be used as tools for the eternal purposes of God, but truth must be the rock we build on. Below the head, church leadership is defined in the Bible as Pastors, Elders and Deacons.
Reference:
Ephesians 1:22-23
Ephesians 5:23
Colossians 1:24
Matthew 18:18-20