5 Smooth Stones

Chapter Six

SERVANT LEADERS

A s with much of life, one of the greatest things we can do in order to be tt er understand the workings of true functioning Biblical leadership is to keep things as simple as possible. In looking at the issues of leadership it is most helpful to fi rst draw a broad basis for understanding the foundational principles. By laying the groundwork for understanding the purpose and design for leadership it is possible to advance in understanding without ge tt ing bogged down with the details. Jesus set the standard for leadership in His kingdom as one of servant-hood. This is not to say that His form of servant-leadership is not true leadership or not clearly identi fi ed as leadership. However, it is to be di ff erent than the leadership He identi fi ed in the world as overbearing or controlling.Ma tt hew 23:11 "But he who is greatest [chief] among you shall be your servant.” Jesus modeled a form of plurality in leadership, yet with a clearly identi fi ed head or primary leader, which was followed throughout the New Testament. Even as the presiding leader may have changed from person to person there always was an identi fi able leader set among the leadership who was recognized not as being above the other leaders in a worldly sense, but “over” the others as in the sense of the Greek word arche which is generally translated to our word chief. For instance, the word for the chief priest and high priest was archiereus. The apostle Paul also used this word to describe himself as a master (chief) builder in 1 Corinthians 3:10, “According to the grace of God which was given to me, as a wise master builder (architekton) I have laid the foundation, and another builds on it. But let each one take heed how he builds on it.” Even in a local church where plurality of leadership is recognized, there must always be a chief elder, or presiding leader. The position is usually and culturally called a pastor or senior pastor. Without a chief leader there will not be clear leadership, therefore no vision or direction and li tt le growth in the congregation in question.

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