Category: Leadership Qualifications

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The Character Qualifications for Leadership

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This is Part 10 of the Biblical Leadership Series. Click here to go to Part 1.

Up to this point, we have looked at five of our six categories of biblical qualifications for leadership. That includes the spiritual, calling, capability, family, and emotional qualifications. In this post, we will look at the final category which is the “character qualifications” of the leader. These are the qualities which pertain, particularly, to the outward reputation of the leader.

Character Qualification 1: Above reproach (1 Timothy 3:2, Titus 1:6, 7)

The first character qualification is that the leader must be “above reproach.” This means that their character and integrity are such that no criticism will come about to discredit them. This does not mean that people will not try to discredit a leader. That happens all the time. It happened to Jesus! What it means, however, is that the leader will be found blameless before such criticisms, and his character will remain in tact. There will be no credible blame of fault placed on him or her, which would require public reprimand or censure.

This qualification is especially necessary in our modern “cancel culture.” People who hate Christianity are looking for every opportunity to discredit people’s integrity, in order to remove their ability to have a public voice. While biblical Christianity will always be a target of this “cancel culture” and the “woke” generation, our personal character should be able to stand up to any accusation or attack which comes at us.

Character Qualification 2: Self-controlled (1 Timothy 3:2, Titus 1:8)

While the ESV (my Bible of choice) says “self-controlled,” a more apt definition of the Greek word here, “sophron,” would be “prudent.” It means that we are thoughtful about our actions, and live a moderate life.

One Bible Lexicon1 says this is being,

“careful or wise in handling practical matters; exercising good judgment or common sense.”

It goes on to say it is,

“avoidance of extremes and careful consideration for responsible action”

To be self-controlled simply means that you are thoughtful about all of your outward, public actions, remembering that everything you do is a reflection of Christ to the watching world.

Two secular thinkers who used this same Greek word in their writings were Aristotle and Aeschin. Aristotle said,

“the prudent [sophron] person is intentional on the what, the how, and the when of doing what should be done.”2

I think that “intentional” is a great definition of being self-controlled.

Aeschin wrote that this kind of person is

“moderate [sophron] in lifestyle so as not to be tempted by bribes.3

If we are not intentional in every area of our lives, then we will find it easy to stumble in our character and witness before others.

Character Qualification 3: Respectable (1 Timothy 3:2)

If you are going to be a leader in the body of Christ, as well as a public face for the church in the world, you must be respectable before men. Another translation would be “honorable.”

According to our lexicon4, this means,

“having characteristics or qualities that evoke admiration or delight, an expression of high regard”

While it is true that we should not be working for men or trying to gain their approval, the reality is that too often we want to throw off any need for human approval. The way we dress. The music we listen to. The places we frequent. The language we use. While these things (and many more) might not be sinful in and of themselves, they will lower us in the eyes of people. The leader should be respectable. That means we live in such a way that our lifestyle wins people’s approval.

And remember, this is not a call to simply “put on a show” in front of people. You cannot be a hypocrite who lives one way in front of people, and another way in private. To be a biblically qualified leader your life must actually be respectable; not just a pretense when people are looking.

Character Qualification 4: Dignified (1 Timothy 3:8)

Going hand in hand with being respectable is the call to be dignified. This is a different Greek word which carries the same connotation. The leader must live in such a way that they are worthy of respect. It means “noble” or “honorable.”

If we are representatives of the Kingdom of God – not as servants, but as sons/daughters of the King – then “noble” ought to describe how we live. We should carry ourselves as royalty.

(For an extended look at this idea, I recommend the book “The Supernatural Ways of Royalty” by Kris Vallotton.)

Character Qualification 5: Not a drunk (1 Timothy 3:3, 8, Titus 1:7)

Paul writes the same idea to Timothy and Titus, by saying “not a drunkard.” Then he repeats the idea, again, to Timothy by saying “not addicted to much wine.”

Without getting into a full discourse on whether or not a Christian can drink alcohol, I will suffice it to say this: if you are going to lead the church of God, getting drunk (or putting yourself in a situation where you might be tempted to get drunk) is out of the question. If you have a glass of wine at dinner or an occasional drink at social functions, that is between you and the Lord. However, if you occasionally drink too much, your public witness will be destroyed and you are disqualified from leadership. I have seen too many “great” pastors destroy their ministries over a love for alcohol. Complete abstinence is better than compromising yourself with temptations to have “just one more.”

Going back to the idea of being royalty, we should remember the words of King Solomon to his son:

“It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine, or for rulers to take strong drink, lest they drink and forget what has been decreed and pervert the rights of all the afflicted.”

Proverbs 31:4-5

Addiction Can Go Beyond Alcohol

Secondly, however, is this idea of not being “addicted.” This can go way beyond alcohol. There are many pastors and leaders who struggle with addiction to many things, as a way of escaping the stress and anxiety of the ministry. I know pastors who are addicted to drugs — some to things like smoking marijuana, others to things like prescription meds such as pain killers and anti-psychotics. (Please note that I am not against medications given under a doctor’s supervision, but I am talking about those who have legitimate addictions and “self-medicate” without legitimate medical oversight.) Others are addicted to junk food (my major temptation to feel better), binge watching television, video games, and other forms of escapist entertainments.

I believe it is in reference to many of these things which Paul writes to the Corinthians,

“‘All things are lawful for me,’ but not all things are helpful. ‘All things are lawful for me,’ but I will not be dominated by anything.”

1 Corinthians 6:12 (emphasis mine)

If you are addicted and controlled by anything other than the Spirit of God, then you need to seek help and overcome before stepping into ministry leadership.

Character Qualification 6: Gentle/Not Violent (1 Timothy 3:3, Titus 1:7)

Although these are technically two qualifications for leaders, they go hand in hand with one another. The Greek word for “gentle” means that you are “kind, tolerant, or fair.” The Greek word for “not violent” simply means that you are not a bully.

In your interaction with people, you must have the reputation of being a kind person, who treats people with tenderness. You are tolerant of people, even if they are not easy to get along with, rather than pushing them around or bullying them into conformity or into agreeing with you.

Personally, this is an area I have to work very hard at. Not because I consider myself to be a bully, but because I have been told by many people that I am an intimidating figure and I have a naturally loud, booming voice. For some people, it makes me seem very unapproachable. Unapproachable is not an acceptable disposition for a leader!

If we are going to qualify to lead God’s people, we must have the same gentle spirit that Jesus had to all who came to him.

Character Qualification 7: Thought of Well by Outsiders (1 Timothy 3:7)

Again, it is easy for many leaders to think it doesn’t matter what other people think about us. However, not only are we called to be “respectable” and “dignified”, but Paul goes out of his way to let us know this does not just pertain to our reputation within the church. Our communities and those outside of the body of Christ should “think well of us,” if we are leaders in the ministry.

This is a difficult one for too many. Let me ask you: do you sincerely care about building relationships with non-believers, or do you simply want to hit them with truth bombs and run away?

Protesting Sin or Proselytizing Sinners?

Too often the church is accused of not truly caring about people. Many leaders only want to add notches to their belts, to make themselves look good to the body of Christ, rather than truly caring for the sinners. This has led to some ridiculous activities within the body of Christ. Just look at the various Christian groups who hold up signs of judgment at gay pride rallies, abortion clinics, and funerals of soldiers. They spew their hate-filled rage at people, thinking it is a holy work of the Lord, yet they have no love for sinners and no grace to offer the lost and hurting.

A most extreme example for me personally was when I was out one evening with a group of friends from Bible college, and we were met by a large “sin protest” in Fort Worth, Texas. We were confronted by these men and women, with their pamphlets condemning people to hell, and even after we informed them that we were Christians and studying to be ministers, they still wanted to tear us down and prove that God did not love us because we didn’t look or act like them.

Jesus was completely different!

Jesus was loved by non-believers. Tax collectors and sinners welcomed him into their homes for banquets. Massive crowds followed Him through the streets to hear Him teach and to be blessed by Him. In fact, it was His reputation with the non-religious that made the religious community suspicious of Him.

If we are going to reflect Jesus and be thought well of by outsiders, we must learn to prove our love for people first, before we prove to them how right we think we are.

Character Qualification 8: Not a Slanderer (1 Timothy 3:11)

To fulfill this qualification means that we not only love people when we are face to face with them, but we love people behind their backs. It means that as leaders we do not gossip about people. We don’t speak with malice toward those who disagree with us, and we certainly do not try to destroy the reputation of others before our congregations or our communities.

The Greek word here for “slanderer” is “diabolos.” This is literally the word for “devil.” To be a devil means that you are making yourself an adversary and bringing public charge against people to bring them down. To use modern language, it means that you are not the target of “cancel culture.” You have become “cancel culture,” seeking to destroy those you disagree with or disapprove of.

To be a slander means that you are using your mouth in a way opposite of the gospel. To preach the gospel is to speak truth resulting in the good of others. To share gossip is to use rumors and accusation to cause harm to them.

(Although I will not discuss it here, there is a lot to say about pastors and leaders who want to argue theology for the sake of arguing. They will play “devil’s advocate,” intentionally speaking falsehoods to bring division or challenge those they don’t fully agree with. That, too, seems to fit the Greek definition of a slanderer.)

Character Qualification 9: Upright, holy, disciplined (Titus 1:8)

Again, this qualification could be divided into three, but I believe they go hand in hand, and are listed in this order in the book of Titus, so we will keep them together.

The word “upright” means “righteous, just, or fair.” To be “holy” means to be “devout” and “pleasing to God.” And “disciplined means “having one’s emotions, impulses, or desires under control.”

This is a holistic qualification for a person’s character and public reputation. If we are to lead people as representatives of the Lord, we must be outwardly seeking to live a righteous life before men. This comes from an inward devotion to holiness in how we reflect Jesus through our lives. The day-to-day outworking of these things is that we discipline ourselves, daily, to become more and more like Christ in the world.

Paul says this was a conscious process of making sure the life we live fits the Gospel we preach:

“But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.”

1 Corinthians 9:27

In Summary

To be a biblically qualified leader, we must be intentional in our character and the reputation we hold before the church and our community. There can be no hint of hypocrisy, in which we say one thing while doing another, and there can be no credible accusation standing against us which would destroy our own witness, or the reputation of the ministry or church we lead.

God cares about how the world views us and why. While it is expected that they will hate us, persecute us, and seek to bring us down, that is not our way. If we are to reflect those characteristics back on the world, we are not ministering for the Lord. Instead, our lives must be known for love, building others up, and bring out what is best in us and in others. That is what will qualify us to lead.

Let’s Connect

In the next post we will look at the idea of team ministry, and discuss why it was never God’s intention to have one person leading an entire ministry by themselves. You can make sure to never miss any future posts by subscribing to my newsletter below. I promise never to spam your inbox or share your info with others.

You can also join me on social media for more #ChristianLife and #Gospel Leadership insights throughout the week. I can be found on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Parler, and LinkedIn, and would love to see you there.

1 William Arndt et al., A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature (Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2000), 987.

2 Ibid.

3 Ibid.

4 Ibid.

If you’re enjoying the content I produce, a little caffeine to keep me going would be appreciated!



© Anthony Scott Ingram 2020. All Rights Reserved.

Photo by Andrew Seaman on Unsplash

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®, copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.”

Please note that I do get a small kickback from Amazon for purchases made using the links on this site. 
Should you choose to purchase from them, I just want to say thank you for further supporting my work in ministry! 
You can also donate to my missionary work and ministry through Sozo Ministries, here.

emotional

The Emotional Qualifications for Leadership

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This is Part 9 of the Biblical Leadership Series. Click here to go to Part 1.

So far in this dive into the biblical qualifications for leadership, we have already discussed, in depth, the spiritual, calling, capability, and family qualifications for Christian leadership. In this post, we will continue to look at the private life of the leader by looking at the emotional qualifications for Christian leadership.

Emotional Qualification 1: Lover of good (Titus 1:8)

At first glance, this qualification seems obvious. I mean, you cannot be a good leader but love it when bad things happen. It is usually in the stressful, negative moments of ministry that leaders have the most thoughts about throwing in the towel and doing something else. What kind of sane person would give their lives to ministry to enjoy the worst moments of life?

However, that isn’t exactly the meaning here. There is a nuance to what kind of “good” a person must be a lover of, and it has very little to do with the good of yourself. The Greek word used here specifically means loving the public good. In the Greco-Roman world, this trait would be “a characteristic of an especially respected and responsible citizen” of the empire.1

This means, that as a leader, in your emotional life, you do not spend your time thinking about your own welfare or problems. Rather, you spend your time delighting in purposes and making plans that will benefit the body of Christ and the community you are called to serve. Even in your most introspective self, you must be outwardly focused, and love it when good things come to those around you. You must not be guilty of the sin of jealousy or of comparison with others!

I believe this qualification will sum up the rest of the emotional qualifications. Unfortunately, this is a trait that is lacking in many leaders in the body of Christ. Too many are consumed with making things happen for their own benefit — overcoming their own problems, receiving their own blessings, and building up themselves — that they actually become jealous and spiteful toward others whose circumstances work out for the better.

A self-serving heart can not be a lover of the good of others, and therefore cannot qualify for biblical leadership.

Emotional Qualification 2: Sober-minded (1 Timothy 3:2, 11, 1 Peter 5:8)

This qualification is not specifically talking about being a drunkard. We will get to that in the next post, when we discuss the character qualifications. Instead, being “sober-minded” means that as a leader you are emotionally cable of being sensible. It implies that you are level-headed or well-balanced in your thinking.

Most people get emotionally overwhelmed and cannot think straight in extreme circumstances. That is normal. However, ministers of the Lord are called to serve others in the most difficult and heart-wrenching times of their lives and should have a level of extra stability in their emotional balance. We must be capable of keeping our sensibilities at all times.

We must be aware that if we are easily overwhelmed emotionally, then we will struggle to stay tuned-in to the Lord in order to hear Him clearly, or to lead others effectively.

In 1 Peter, he actually adds that we must be sober minded and watchful, because our “adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.” If we are unable to keep our thinking clear, we will be an easy target for him!

No Drama Queens

Another type of person who falls into this category of not being “sober-minded” is the leader who loves drama. They love it when there is controversy and things are out of balance between people. This kind of person loves to “stir the pot” and keep the confusing situations going. That is not a characteristic of an emotionally balanced person.

Not only should we value our own emotional stability, but we must encourage it in others as well.

To fulfill this qualification as leaders, we must be able to think clearly in every situation, and to be able to submit our minds to the voice of the Lord, rather than getting knocked off track by overwhelming emotions.

Emotional Qualification 3: Not Arrogant (Titus 1:7)

Some people might list “not arrogant” among the character qualifications for leadership rather than emotional. However, as I was praying through them, I felt it is more fitting among the emotional qualities. That is because many people tie arrogance to the person’s public persona and appearance. Yet it is not only leaders who wear brand-name clothing, get expensive haircuts, and drive big black SUV’s with tinted windows who are capable of arrogance. (Nor do those things necessarily mean that those people are arrogant, either.) Instead, arrogance is first and foremost a condition of the heart. Yes, it has outward fruit, but it is an emotional trait first.

The biblical idea for not being arrogant means that the person should not be “self-important.” Just as the first qualification says they must be focused on the public good of others. This trait says that in our minds, we value others personally more than we value ourselves. Paul echos this sentiment in Philippians 2:3,

“Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.”

When we truly view ourselves as less important than those we minister to, lowering ourselves in humility to serve, then our motives will never be self-willed. Instead, we will give our time and emotional energy to others, no matter their circumstances or character, because we truly value them more than we value ourselves.

Arrogance also carries the idea of primarily being concerned with your own interests. Again, this means that leaders who only look out for “number 1” (themselves), and resist things that do not glorify or validate themselves, are not qualified to lead God’s people.

Emotional Qualification 4: Not Double-Tongued (1 Timothy 3:8)

According to one lexicon, “in some languages the equivalent of [double tongued] is ‘to speak in two directions’ or ‘to cover one’s thoughts by means of one’s words.’”2 It means that when you open your mouth to speak, you are saying one thing while thinking or doing another. You are a hypocrite or “two-faced.”

The obvious outcome is that you are not a trustworthy person. If people doubt the sincerity of your words because your actions say otherwise (or because you say one thing to one person, but the opposite to another), then they will never be able to believe you as a person.

No One Follows Two-Faced Leaders

Sadly, in my own life, I have had a number of jobs where my manager was a “double-tongued” person. One boss in particular would give instructions to our team in how he wanted us to do our work. However, when his overseers were not happy with the work, my manager would blame us, telling his boss that he instructed us to do something else, but we failed to obey. Needless to say, his lack of integrity in this way made it difficult for people to work for him, and the rate at which people quit that job was high.

Within the church, where leaders are suppose to hold to the word of God with a clear conscience, it is difficult to teach people the truth, when our words and actions do not demonstrate them. We must have the emotional strength to speak honestly and tell the truth, even when it might cost us personally.

Emotional Qualification 5: Not Quick-Tempered (Titus 1:7)

This qualification simply means that your emotional state cannot be “always ready for a fight.” If your default personality qualification is that you are inclined to anger and short-tempered, then you will lack the grace to deal with God’s people effectively. You must not get offended quickly, whether it is by direct personal attacks or by the outward actions of others.

In the Bible, we do see Jesus getting frustrated at times, and He is even overcome with righteous anger when He made a whip and chased the money changers from the temple (John 2:15). However, as the physical representation of God (Colossians 1:15, John 1:14), Jesus’ default emotional state was “merciful and gracious” and “slow to anger” (Exodus 34:6). Remember, His name is “Prince of Peace” (Isaiah 9:6).

If we are going to be the hands and feet of Jesus in the world today, representing as the leaders of His church and servants of His Kingdom, then how can our emotional state be any different? If He is “slow to anger,” we must also be if we are going to be qualified to lead others for Him.

Emotional Qualification 6: Not Quarrelsome (1 Timothy 3:3)

In the same way as not being quick-tempered in how we respond to others, we must also not be out looking for a fight. The Greek word, here, means that we must be peace-makers. We cannot be contentious in our relationships to people, and especially in the things of God.

There are way too many self-proclaimed teachers of the Word of God who are simply making bold declarations, looking for an argument. They don’t speak from a conviction of truth. Instead, they want to fight and play “devil’s advocate.” (I cannot think of any role that should be less desirable to the servant of God than advocating for the devil.)

Beware Those Who Quarrel to Prove Themselves

One danger that is found in those who do not fulfill this emotional qualification is that they are quarreling with others, hoping it will somehow prove their own value and worth.

I personally believe the “not quarrelsome” requirement is especially necessary when evaluating younger men for ministry service, for this reason. Until the young man realizes that he does not know it all, and learns to lay down the prideful pursuit of “proving himself,” then he shouldn’t be given leadership over others.

Again, in humility and in truth, we should allow God to prove us, rather than looking for a fight to demonstrate our credibility or superiority.

Emotional Qualification 7: Not Greedy (1 Timothy 3:3,8, Titus 1:7, 1 Peter 5:2)

The final emotional qualification for leaders is that they are “not greedy.” This is one of the only qualifications which makes all three of the apostles’ lists.

At face value, it seems easy to understand. To Timothy, Paul says you cannot be a “lover of money.” To Titus he says, as Peter also writes, you cannot be “shamefully greedy.” Both of these statements mean that you cannot be obsessed with the pursuit of wealth or excessively hoarding of your finances.

If Peter and Paul saying the same thing is not enough, we must also remember the words of Jesus Himself:

No servant can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.”

Luke 16:13

Money-Hungry Leaders

As we have discussed before, seeking financial gain is the absolute worst reason to get into ministry! But to add the weight of Jesus’ words to this reality, I will say this: if you are in Christian ministry for personal financial gain, you are disqualified and you need to quit, immediately. If you are actively pursuing money from your service to the body of Christ, you are not serving the Lord! (This does not mean pastors should necessarily work for free, but money should not be the motivation.)

Again, greedy people are the ones who abuse God’s flock by manipulating them for money. They will promise blessings that God never promised, and they will prostitute any spiritual gift God may have given to them, for their own gain.

I don’t know how to say it any more clearly than Jesus did. “You cannot serve God and money.” If you are going to serve God, then you must become like Paul, who says,

“…I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me.”

Philippians 4:11-13

Money-Obsessed Leaders

In the same vein, there are many leaders who are not in ministry for financial gain, yet they are still emotionally obsessed with money — usually the lack of it — and it prevents them from fulfilling the call of God on their lives.

In the case of “not being greedy,” the Greek language implies that in no way should our minds be obsessed with money, at all. While worrying about the lack of money is not the same sin as hoarding cash, it is still sinful, nonetheless.

God has revealed Himself to be Jehovah-Jireh, or “YHWH, Your Provider.” If we, then, doubt His provision, and fail to do the work He has called us to because of lack, then we have sinned against Him. This is literally taking the name of the Lord in vain!

Confession: This is My Greatest Anxiety

To be transparent, this is the emotional qualification I need the most sanctification in. I used to have a small, framed quote in my office which said, “We have done so much, with so little, for so long, that we think we can do anything, with nothing, in no time flat.” I lived with a poverty mindset for a long time, always obsessing over what I lacked.

The Lord had to rebuke me for this attitude. While earthly appearances may show that my family are poor missionaries in East Africa, begging for money for every project or need. The truth is that we are servants in the Kingdom of God, and that we have access to the abundance of heaven to do anything He calls us to do.

This is a reality I have to remind myself of often, as the enemy is quick to prick my anxiety with a perception that there is not enough money for the ministry.

A Mindset of Trust

To fulfill the biblical qualification of “not greedy,” we must keep a balanced mind, focused on God as our provider in all circumstances. We cannot be seeking to get rich and hoard money. Neither can we be obsessed with our poverty, and desperate for where to get our needs met. We must trust Him alone, and handle our money as stewards of His gifts.

When He says save or invest, we do. When He says spend or give lavishly, we do. That is what it means to serve God instead of money. Any other mindset, constantly fixed on money, is disqualifying for leadership.

In Summary

To fulfill these emotional qualifications, we must have a balanced, stable state of mind. We should be able to think clearly, and make decisions based on truth and the leading of the Holy Spirit, rather than the outcome or consequences.

We don’t look out for ourselves, but focus on the public good. We don’t build ourselves up or try to prove ourselves to others by winning arguments. We don’t seek our own financial blessing over the needs of others. Instead, we keep a mindset of trust in the Lord to fight our battles and provide our needs. Most of all, we are emotionally prepared to follow His will and do what He says at all times. Anything less than that is not acceptable to serve as a leader in the body of Christ.

Let’s Connect

In the next post we will look at the final category of qualifications as we look at a person’s “character” requirements for biblical leadership, and deal with their public reputations. You can make sure you don’t miss any future posts by subscribing to my newsletter below. I promise never to spam your inbox or share your info with others.

You can also join me on social media for more #ChristianLife and #Gospel Leadership insights throughout the week. I can be found on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Parler, and LinkedIn, and would love to see you there.

1 William Arndt et al., A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature (Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2000), 1055.

2 Johannes P. Louw and Eugene Albert Nida, Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament: Based on Semantic Domains (New York: United Bible Societies, 1996), 766.

If you’re enjoying the content I produce, a little caffeine to keep me going would be appreciated!



© Anthony Scott Ingram 2020. All Rights Reserved.

Photo by Andrew Seaman on Unsplash

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®, copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.”

Please note that I do get a small kickback from Amazon for purchases made using the links on this site. 
Should you choose to purchase from them, I just want to say thank you for further supporting my work in ministry! 
You can also donate to my missionary work and ministry through Sozo Ministries, here.

Family Qualifications

The Family Qualifications for Leadership

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This is Part 8 of the Biblical Leadership Series. Click here to go to Part 1.

So far we have discussed the spiritual, calling, and capability qualifications for Christian leadership, which all deal with the person’s outward life. However, in this post, and the next two, we will turn our attention inward, at the personal life and character of the leader.

Today, as we focus on the family life of the leader, we will touch on some issues that are controversial to modern thought. As people have gone through the “sexual liberation” of the 1960’s, and global media pushes the boundaries of what is acceptable further and further from biblical standards, it becomes difficult to speak truth in the darkness. However, as Christian leaders, we must understand and believe that culture-driven and/or self-determined morality do not take precedent over biblical commands. God’s Word is the standard for life and godliness, and as we will see, there are reasons behind every command God has given to our sexuality and family life.

Every person has a right to their own opinion, and every person has autonomy over what they do with their bodies. They can believe and practice whatever they want. However, if you desire to be a mature Christian and serve as a leader in the body of Christ, you must submit yourself to the Word of God, and live by its standards. Though you might see it as hate speech or “intolerant,” the Bible is clear about these things. Any compromise in the areas we discuss in this post are disqualifying for ministry.

Family Qualification 1: Must Have a Biblical Marriage (1 Timothy 3:2, 12; Titus 1:6)

Near the beginning of Paul’s list of qualifications for church oversight to Timothy, he makes a statement that has been controversial to almost every culture that has read his words:

“Therefore an overseer must be… the husband of one wife.”

1 Timothy 3:2

The number of questions this one statement brings up in every leadership training I hold is incredible. It is also justifiable. In one statement, Paul seems to cut out many people from leadership, including women, unmarried men, homosexuals, divorcees and those in polygamist cultures.

The truth is, however, that there is some nuance in who can lead in the Body of Christ which must take Paul’s words into consideration through the light of other scriptural commands. We will deal with each of these five groups shortly, but first, let’s look at the heart of what Paul commanded here.

“A One Woman Man”

The phrase “husband of one wife” literally means “a man of one woman.” This means that before a man can be the caretaker of the Bride of Christ (the church), he must first be fully committed to his own wife. How he loves and serves his own bride will demonstrate his care for the church.

Not only does a husband’s care for his wife give credibility to his capability to lead the church, but how he loves his bride is also a picture of how Christ loves the church, as a living testimony to those around them. We should see this leadership qualification as a need to be exemplary in how we fulfill Paul’s call on all husbands:

Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish. In the same way husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ does the church, because we are members of his body. “Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.” This mystery is profound, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church. However, let each one of you love his wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband.

Ephesians 5:25-33

The Christian leader must be fully committed in his marriage and love for his wife. He should want to be with her even more than he wants to be ministering or enjoying other hobbies. This will protect his testimony in front of others, and ensure he is mentally committed to her alone.

When this level of commitment is kept, there will be no wandering eyes. There will be no temptation to lust for others or desire slipping into his heart to walk away. This ability to withstand temptation will not just deter you from other women, but will give a built-in desire to guard your eyes from temptation-inducing materials in the culture. This includes an aversion to pornography and even a careful attitude for what movies you watch or music you listen to.

This is the essence of biblical marriage. You must be fully committed to your spouse with the same love and care Christ has for the church, or else you will not demonstrate Him to His bride in your ministry.

What About Singles?

If the call and the qualification must include a biblical marriage, then what happens to singles? Well, again, we must take other passages of scripture into account if we are going to get a clear answer. Fortunately, Paul has a lot to say about singleness, and much of it is very favorable toward singles in ministry. After all, Paul himself was a single man in the ministry.

To the unmarried and the widows I say that it is good for them to remain single, as I am. But if they cannot exercise self-control, they should marry. For it is better to marry than to burn with passion.

1 Corinthians 7:8-9

In this verse, he expresses that singleness is more desirable than marriage for Christian service, so long as you can keep your physical passions in check. He goes on a few verses later to explain that this is because singles are able to give their full attention to the things of God, while married people’s cares are split between the things of God and their family affairs.

I want you to be free from anxieties. The unmarried man is anxious about the things of the Lord, how to please the Lord. But the married man is anxious about worldly things, how to please his wife, and his interests are divided. And the unmarried or betrothed woman is anxious about the things of the Lord, how to be holy in body and spirit. But the married woman is anxious about worldly things, how to please her husband. I say this for your own benefit, not to lay any restraint upon you, but to promote good order and to secure your undivided devotion to the Lord.

1 Corinthians 7:32-35

With this in mind, I do not find any place in scripture that disqualifies an unmarried person from serving in Christian leadership. However, they must remain pure in their sexuality in order to be qualified. Lust, fornication, pornography addictions, and the like are disqualifying factors. If they cannot control themselves, they should seek a spouse and be settled into marriage before pursuing any leadership role in the ministry.

What About Women?

Another question that arises is that if an overseer must “be husband of one wife,” then what about women in leadership, whether single or married?

This has been a major point of disagreement among biblical scholars all throughout history. Certain scriptures seem to say that women cannot have any leadership in the church, while another seems to be saying the complete opposite.

Though this brief post is not the place to look at each of those scriptures in depth, let me simply point out a few biblical truths which must guide us.

Man is Head of the Home

No matter where you land on women in public ministry, it cannot be denied that the man is the head of the household. Even if you allow for women in ministry, in the home, she must be submitted to her husband’s leadership in life and family affairs (Genesis 3:16, Ephesians 5:23).

As a side note, I would argue that this does not give him the right to usurp her authority given by the body of Christ. If she meets the biblical qualifications to lead the church and he does not, then her leadership stands among the greater body of Christ, even as he must grow in maturity to be recognized.

God Has Raised Up Women Leadership in Every Other Area of Creation.

Moving beyond leadership in the home, God has appointed godly women in every other area of senior leadership, both inside the family of God and in the secular world. Just a brief overview of scripture will show:

  • Female Judges — Deborah (Judges 4-5)
  • Female Prophets — Miriam (Exodus 15:20), Deborah (Judges 4:4), Abigail (1 Samuel 25:3), Huldah (2 Kings 22:14), the unnamed wife of Isaiah (Isaiah 8:3), Anna (Luke 2:36), and Philip’s four daughters (Acts 21:9). (Based on Joel’s prophecy in Joel 2:28-29, we should expect more female prophets as Jesus’ return approaches.)
  • Female Governmental Rulers — The Queen of Sheba (2 Chronicles 9:1-9), Queen Esther of Persia, who delivered the Jews because of her position (Book of Esther), Queen Candace of Ethiopia (Acts 8:27)
  • Other Powerful Women Who Guided Governmental Leaders — Sarah, the mother of Israel (Genesis 17:15-16), Huldah (2 Kings 22:14).
  • Jesus’ own companions in ministry — Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Susanna and others (Luke 8:2-3) as well as others like Mary and Martha (John 11:5).
  • Female Apostles, Evangelists, and other church leaders — Priscilla (Acts 18:2 and Romans 16:3), Phoebe (Romans 16:1), Mary (Romans 16:6), Junia (Romans 16:7), Euodia and Syntyche (Philippians 4:2)

Many more names could be added to this list of women in leadership positions throughout scripture, but again, that is a longer study for another time and place. Suffice it to say that Paul, the other Apostles, Jesus, and God Himself have all affirmed female leadership in the church. It is very difficult, then, to use their words in minor verses to disqualify women from service.

I do not believe the exclusion of women should even be attempted. After all Peter quotes the prophecy from Joel on Pentecost that we are now in the epoch where God’s Spirit is being poured out on all flesh – men and women – for God’s service (Acts 2:16-18). Then Paul goes out of his way to show that within the church, men and women are of equal standing, just as jews and gentiles have been made equal in the eyes of God.

There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.

Galatians 3:28

What About Divorcees

This question may be the most difficult to answer, as believers in every generation have openly held differing opinions. For instance, among the early church fathers, Pope Innocent I and St. Augustine both taught that being divorced and remarried was 100% disqualifying for ordination. Jerome, translator of the Latin Vulgate, however, believed that if your divorce happened before you were saved, then the grace of God covered you, and you could still qualify for leadership.1

I, personally, agree with Jerome. I do not believe that any sin, including that of divorce, which was committed before your life is transformed through the grace of God in salvation, can be held against you after your salvation. If it could, then no one would qualify for leadership according to the biblical qualifications (Romans 3:23-24).

Cases of Adultery

The 100% disqualifying stance is also difficult to hold as the Bible gives two scenarios where divorce was tolerated among God’s people. The first was in the giving of the Law, where Moses allowed for divorce by those whose spouse had committed adultery (Deuteronomy 24:1-4). (I do understand that Jesus contradicted the heart behind this allowance, yet He echos this same legal command in Matthew 19:9.)

Please do not hear me saying I support divorce. For the Christian, we shouldn’t be quick to throw away our spouse when they sin. Even in the matter of adultery, according to Jesus words in Matthew 19:3-9, forgiveness and reconciliation are more desirable than divorce, as this shows the heart of God.

Unequally Yoked Divorces

For the believer, however, Paul makes one other allowance for divorce (though he specifically says it is a matter of practicality, and not a prophetic command). If an unbeliever divorces a believer due to their faith, then the believer should let them go.

To the rest I say (I, not the Lord) that if any brother has a wife who is an unbeliever, and she consents to live with him, he should not divorce her. If any woman has a husband who is an unbeliever, and he consents to live with her, she should not divorce him… But if the unbelieving partner separates, let it be so. In such cases the brother or sister is not enslaved. God has called you to peace.

1 Corinthians 7:12-13, 15

This is the situation I have faced in our ministry, in the area of divorce, more than any other. My wife was married prior to us knowing one another. However, shortly after their daughter was born, God miraculously worked in my wife’s life and she was saved, sanctified, and changed. Within a week, her unbelieving husband chose to leave. After seeking reconciliation for some time, she finally had to let him go. When we met a couple of years later, it was clear that she had received a fresh start by the grace of God, and I do not believe we are living in sin in our marriage.

The same story is true of my spiritual father, who shortly into his ministry career had his wife reject the faith and him, and walked away. Thankfully, through the support of other ministers around him, he was encouraged to follow the Lord, and the fruit in his life has since touched millions around the world through salvation and a healing gift.

Just recently, I met with another female pastor in our ministry whose Muslim husband has decided he can no longer tolerate her Christian faith, and has sent her away. Though I have encouraged her to take time away from ministry as she is still seeking reconciliation, and trying to put her home in order, I do not believe his choice to leave disqualifies her from serving in the church.

What About Homosexuals?

This, again, is another area where the cultural prerogative is being used to justify an overthrow of scriptural truth. However, as we survey the relevant passages of scripture, homosexuality is always called a sin, and is therefore disqualifying for church leadership. (See Leviticus 18:22, 1 Corinthians 6:9, 1 Timothy 1:8-11, Romans 1:26-28.)

Does this mean that homosexuals cannot be saved? Absolutely not. And I wholeheartedly support churches and leaders to be welcoming of those who struggle with homosexuality, gender dysphoria, and other abnormal sexual desires, and to press them toward Jesus Christ with love, compassion, and the power of the Holy Spirit. However, someone who sees their sin as an identity does not demonstrate the biblical lifestyle necessary to be a leader over God’s people (i.e. “I am a homosexual” versus “I struggle with same-sex desires.”)

What About Polygamist Cultures?

From God’s plan in the beginning we see that God designed marriage to be between one man and one woman. Even before humanity entered into sin, God declared:

Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.

Genesis 2:24

Once again, throughout the ages, human culture has indulged personal passions and preference, leading to polygamy and even a system of unmarried concubines to be acceptable in many times and places. This, however, is not the case in a biblical marriage, which is the qualifier for Christian leadership.

At the end of the discussion, we must remember that our marriages are to be examples to others, and pointing to a bigger reality, which is Christ and His Bride, the church.

Family Qualification 2: No accusation of debauchery (Titus 1:6)

Coming back to the other family qualifications for leadership, the second qualification goes hand in hand with the first. If you are going to be committed to a biblical marriage, there cannot be a public reputation of “debauchery.”

Historically, the word debauchery has meant “extreme indulgence in sensuality,”2 though in modern usages it means “excessive indulgence in sex, alcohol, or drugs.”3 Both of these definitions are appropriate here.

This goes back to living one way in church, but another way in your personal life. This disconnect cannot happen in the life of a leader. Not only are you to be committed to a biblical marriage, but there cannot be a hint of sexual promiscuity or a “partying” lifestyle in your public reputation.

This issue also plays into many of the heretical cults that have arisen in many cultures throughout history, which, while claiming to be Christian, idolize their leaders and require participation in public orgies and other sexual perversities. In the end, this is a doorway for the demonic to enter into the group and actually lead them away from Christ.

As Christians, and especially as leaders, our lives should be marked by purity!

Family Qualification 3: Manages the Home Well and With Dignity (1 Timothy 3:4)

The word Paul uses for “manage” literally means “to exercise a position of leadership, rule, direct, be at the head (of), to have an interest in, show concern for, care for, give aid.”4

Although it does carry the general idea that you are an overseer of your family, I believe that more specifically it means you are mindful of the daily goings-on of your family.

All too often, I see ministers happily sacrificing their family on the altar of the ministry. They are willing to spend the majority of they daily activities caring for the needs of God’s flock, only to come home with nothing left to give of themselves to their spouse and children.

It seems that if your calling is apostolic or evangelistic in nature, the expectation is that you should sacrifice weeks or even months at a time, traveling to various cities and nations, equipping the people of God, while abandoning your spouse to lead your family all alone.

Do not be deceived. This is sin!

Before God will allow you to lead His family, He first requires you to give the best of yourself to your own family. This is a holy calling. In fact, when Paul uses the word, “dignity,” it is synonymous with the word “holiness.”

If you do not set yourself apart (holy) for the work of managing your home, you will never prove holy enough to be an overseer to God’s people.

The word “dignity” is also synonymous with the word “majestic.” It implies that when you step up to the task of loving and leading your family well, it gives you an air of majesty in how you are recognized as a leader in the church.

Family Qualification 4: Disciplined Children (1 Timothy 3:4, 12)

Paul says that one requirement for Christian leadership is that a person must “keep his children submissive” and “manage their children.” Once again, the personal life qualifications mirror your public duties as a minister. As we have already discussed, one of the capability qualifications of the leader is the ability to rebuke and correct wayward believers. However, the Bible says that before you can help bring discipline to God’s family, you must demonstrate a competency and ability to discipline your own family, first.

The root word for “discipline” is “disciple.” This qualification, therefore, does not mean that a leader learns to beat their children into submission, just as you do not beat the church into submission. Rather, this means that a leader must patiently raise their children according to the gospel and the Word of God. This takes grace and a whole lot of humility. Yet, again, this is training for dealing with the people of God, who also, often, act like irresponsible children in their obedience to Christ.

This qualification goes hand-in-hand with the next.

Family Qualification 5: Children are Believers (Titus 1:6)

It seems like a difficult qualification to put the salvation of another person onto the leader, in order for them to lead the church. However, I am not exactly sure it is that simple. Obviously once your children reach maturity and begin taking responsibility for their own lives, they will come to the place of choosing to follow Christ or walk away from Him. At that point, I don’t think their personal decision affects your calling and qualification for service.

However, when your children are young and living in your care, they should demonstrate in their own lives the fact that you are discipling them into Christ behind the scenes. The way they act in public will directly correlate to how they are raised in the home.

By way of example, if your children are allowed to run around undisciplined, using fowl language, watching inappropriate movies on TV, and spend their time with openly sinful friends, this is a direct reflection on your ability to raise them as believers. On the other hand, if your children are respectful to people, kind and loving in their words, and happy to pray for people, sing worship songs, or talk about Jesus, it is a sign that you are a good spiritual father or mother, as well as just being a good parent.

The Bible tells us in Proverbs 22:6

Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.

The question of whether or not your children are (and will remain) believers, is dependent, in many ways, on how you raise them.

In Summary

The Bible talks about the Christian community as a family. We are the Bride of Christ, and the Children of God. The reason the Lord requires so much of us in our roles as spouse and parent, is because how we do in our own home, will reflect on how much we are truly bearing the image of God as Father and Bridegroom. Not only will this demonstrate our capability of being spiritual guardians within the church, but it will also be a living testimony (or obvious challenge) to the truth of the Word we preach.

Let’s Connect

In the next post we will look at the “emotional qualifications” for biblical leadership. As we will see, the way your mind works internally will directly affect your ability to lead. Make sure you don’t miss any future posts by subscribing to my newsletter below. I promise never to spam your inbox or share your info with others.

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1 “Oceanus, a Roman nobleman zealous for the faith, had asked Jerome to back him in a protest against Carterius a Spanish bishop who contrary to the apostolic rule that a bishop is to be “the husband of one wife” had married a second time. Jerome refuses to take the line suggested on the ground that Carterius’s first marriage having preceded his baptism cannot be taken into account. He therefore advises Oceanus to let the matter drop. The date of the letter is 397 A.D.” (Quoted from Jerome, “The Letters of St. Jerome,” in *St. Jerome: Letters and Select Works*, ed. Philip Schaff and Henry Wace, trans. W. H. Fremantle, G. Lewis, and W. G. Martley, vol. 6, A Select Library of the Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers of the Christian Church, Second Series (New York: Christian Literature Company, 1893), 141.)

2 Inc Merriam-Webster, Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary. (Springfield, MA: Merriam-Webster, Inc., 2003).

3 Catherine Soanes and Angus Stevenson, eds., Concise Oxford English Dictionary (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2004).

4 William Arndt et al., A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature (Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2000), 870.

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capability qualifications

The Capability Qualifications for Leadership

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This is Part 7 of the Biblical Leadership Series. Click here to go to Part 1.

As we continue to look, in depth, at the biblical qualifications for Christian leadership, we have already discussed the spiritual qualifications, as well as the calling qualifications of a person’s life. We now turn our attention to the “capability qualifications” for leadership.

As we have noted before, when the Bible discusses the capability requirements, it doesn’t look at your level of formal education or prior work experience, which are often needed for your earthly career. Instead, the Bible lays out a framework for how the Bible is held at a central place in your own life, and your ability to impart that biblical truth to the lives of others.

As we look at this list, notice that each one flows together with the others, and builds a picture of someone who is capable of being a senior disciple-maker. After all, the work of making disciples of nations is at the core of the Great Commission (Matthew 28:18-20).

Capability Qualification 1: Holds to the Word of God (Titus 1:9)

When Paul writes to Titus, he specifically says, “He must hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught…” The implication is, before a person seeks to lead others in the word of God, they have first submitted themselves to the process of learning the Word of God for themselves.

This learning must come with the heart of the Bereans, whom the book of Acts says, “received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so” (Acts 17:11). It is not simply that we have heard the Bible stories and know the general truths of scripture. It means we have invested our time and effort to learn as much as we can of God’s Word. We have to ensure we have learned the “trustworthy word,” despite living in a world where there are many false teachers, misusing scripture for their own selfish gain.

This also implies that a leader cannot “graduate” from the Word of God. It is not a text book to be studied until we can pass an exam. Rather, it is the written, authoritative revelation of God, which requires us to come back daily. We never move past the Word of God. We hold to it at all times, and in all circumstances of life.

Capability Qualification 2: Holds the Mystery of Faith with a Clear Conscience (1 Timothy 3:9)

As we live in the Word of God, Paul adds instruction to Timothy, that our lives must be visibly measured against the scriptures. As we submit ourselves to learn the word of God, and discover the depths of the faith, we also live out the process of repentance and sanctification, so that our conscience is clear.

If I can state this simply, a Christian leader who allows hypocrisy to become their way of life is disqualified from being a Christian leader. That is not to say that leaders never sin or fail. We are still human. It is simply to say that as a leader of others, we must lead ourselves first! This leads to the next point.

Capability Qualification 3: Sets the Example (1 Peter 5:3)

The goal of Christian leadership is to be a living embodiment to the church and the world of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. If this sounds like a big responsibility, it should! This is the reason God places a calling on people to lead, and then requires them to meet all the qualifications we are discussing in this series.

Paul writes to the Corinthians,

I think that God has exhibited us apostles as last of all, like men sentenced to death, because we have become a spectacle to the world, to angels, and to men.

1 Corinthians 4:9

He is extremely aware that his life is under the scrutiny of all who see him, and therefore he strives to be the example to all. When he later writes to them, “I have become all things to all people, that by all means I might save some.” He says, “I do it all for the sake of the gospel…” (1 Corinthians 9:22-23). This means that Paul did not just live among people, trying to fit in. He lived among people, taking on their way of life, so that he could demonstrate how to live that kind of life in light of the gospel!

This is why he repeatedly tells those he leads to imitate him, as he seeks to imitate Christ (see 1 Corinthians 4:16, 1 Corinthians 11:1, Philippians 3:17).

If people do not see in you a public display of the Christian life, then you have no right to lead them spiritually.

Capability Qualification 4: Exercises Oversight (1 Peter 5:2)

Once you have learned the Word of God, measured your life by the Gospel, and are a living display of Christ, then you can step into the place of leading others (Matthew 7:2-5). Once you are able to clearly see the Gospel and guide yourself, you will also be able to rightly judge the state of the church, and give guidance as necessary.

The greek word used by Peter for “oversight” is “episkopeo.” This is the same word used by the author of Hebrews,

See to it [episkopeo] that no one fails to obtain the grace of God; that no “root of bitterness” springs up and causes trouble, and by it many become defiled; that no one is sexually immoral or unholy like Esau, who sold his birthright for a single meal.

Hebrews 12:15-16

As we have said before, the statement “only God can judge me,” is not found in the Bible. Exercising oversight as a leader, by nature, involves making judgement according to he scriptures, so that we are able to guide and direct people into the Gospel, and toward Jesus as King.

Capability Qualification 5: Not Domineering Over the Flock (1 Peter 5:3)

When Peter writes that we are to “exercise oversight,” this is held in contrast to being “domineering over the flock.” This word, domineering, means “to master” or “to be lord over.”

As we seek to exercise oversight in the church, we must remember that we are not the lord. Jesus is Lord. We are simply intermediaries, guiding people to live in submission to Him.

I believe it is the sin of domineering leaders that have given much of the world a bad taste for “organized religion” and spiritual leadership. As we live in an age primarily guided by democratic principles and individualism, people are unwilling to submit to leadership if there is a notion of control. This is a good hesitancy.

No matter your biblical title — pastor, prophet, apostle, etc — the Bible never gives you control of people’s lives. You are a guide; not a dictator. You do your best to press people toward Jesus, and correct them when they go astray, but they must be allowed to make their own choice. At the end of the day, you will be judged on how you led God’s people; but they will be accountable to how they followed God, not you.

Capability Qualification 6: Able or “Apt” to teach (1 Timothy 3:2)

In order to lead people well, one of the highest priorities for Christian leadership is that you are able to teach. The greek word here, “didaktikos,” means both “teachable” and “able to teach others.” The King James version says, “apt to teach,” which means you not only have a willingness to teach, but are skilled in the art of teaching the Gospel.

A famous quote, often attributed to Francis of Assisi, says, “Preach the gospel always. When necessary, use words.” While this sentiment of living out the gospel for others to see is commendable, the idea that you can successfully preach the gospel without using words is not found in scripture. As you “hold to the word of God,” you must also be able to impart gospel truth to others as well.

Capability Qualification 7: Able to instruct in doctrine (Titus 1:9)

When Paul writes to Titus, he takes the “able to teach” statement a little further. He implies that you are not just teaching verse by verse through books of the Bible (which is the way you should be preaching), but that as you lead people in the study of scripture, you are able to explain the larger themes and doctrines of the Bible in each verse.

Yes, we should be able to teach expositionally, but we must be able to explain how each narrative works together to explain the larger truths of our faith.

For those who say, “I just read the Bible, I don’t believe in ‘doctrine,’” I am sorry to say, you are wrong. It is impossible. From the earliest days of the Christian church, those faithful to the gospel have written down their creeds or statements of faith. Many years before we got the “apostles creed” at Nicea or the “Westminster catechism of faith,” we had the early church leaders teaching biblical doctrine and reciting their apologetic in song and letter. The Bible says of Paul and Timothy,

As they went on their way through the cities, they delivered to them for observance the decisions that had been reached by the apostles and elders who were in Jerusalem. So the churches were strengthened in the faith, and they increased in numbers daily.

Acts 16:4-5

Paul shares with the Corinthian church and early version of a “creed” or statement of faith.

For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve.

1 Corinthians 15:3-5

Even Stephen’s final discourse before being stoned demonstrates a strong sense of doctrine which the early church held to, pulled from the larger biblical narrative. You can read this speech in Acts 7.

Capability Qualification 8: Able to rebuke unfaithful believers (Titus 1:9)

The ability to teach is more than imparting a belief in a set of doctrines. It is intended to guide the believers in their own growth and sanctification. This is why Paul writes to Titus that a leader must, “be able to give instruction in sound doctrine and also to rebuke those who contradict it.”

Although spiritual leadership cannot be domineering or controlling, it is also not passive in bringing correction for sin and faithlessness. The scriptures give very specific guidelines for how to bring a wayward believer back to faith and right living (see Matthew 18:15-17). It also gives the provision that if someone refuses to repent and seek to live a godly life, they should be put out of the regular fellowship of believers, until there is heart change. Their influence should be avoided (see Romans 16:17, 1 Corinthians 5:9-13, 2 Thessalonians 3:6,14, among others.)

The point is, spiritual leaders must be strong in their faith and act with conviction to lead people toward Christ and truth. Although you cannot control, you must be willing to speak truth, even when people don’t want to hear it. We are not passive, and we do not preach “happy thoughts” to attract people to ourselves. Remember, there were times when even Jesus needed to throw over some tables to get his point across.

We speak truth about sin, hell, the devil, and Kingdom warfare, so that people will desire repentance, salvation, and reconciliation with God. However, when people refuse to follow the way of truth, we turn them over to the path they are choosing (see Romans 1:18-24 and 1 Corinthians 5:1-5).

This is one of the most difficult parts of the job, but if you cannot rebuke when necessary, you are not qualified to lead.

Capability Qualification 9: Hospitable (1 Timothy 3:2, Titus 1:8)

The final qualification I put in the “capability qualifications” is that a leader must be hospitable. The greek word used in both Timothy and Titus is “philoxenos” which comes from two words: philos, meaning “friendly love” and “xenos” meaning stranger or foreigner.

The Baker Encyclopedia of the Bible explains, saying:

Hospitality: Biblical concept often used with the terms “guest,” “stranger,” and “sojourner.” It is useful to limit the meaning of “hospitality” to benevolence done to those outside one’s normal circle of friends, as is implied in the literal meaning of the Greek word (“love of strangers”).

David K. Huttar, “Hospitality,” Baker Encyclopedia of the Bible (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House, 1988), 1006.

Although a Christian leader’s primary job is to exercise oversight to the body of Christ, and ensure care for those inside the church first (Galatians 6:10), it is also a requirement that they show love and care for those outside the faith at every opportunity.

Like Jesus, we are called to live “in the world” even though we are not “of the world” (John 18:36-37). Unfortunately, what I see too often in church leadership is an absolute hatred of the lost. There is a desire to separate from all unbelievers until they repent. However, the Bible is clear that there will be no repentance, until someone steps out to show them the way.

For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching?

Romans 10:13-14

In order to qualify for spiritual leadership, you must have a love for those in the church, as well as an affection for the lost which is welcoming to them.

In Summary

Though the “capabilities” necessary to be a leader in the body of Christ are not based on secular criteria, we would be foolish to think they are easy. If we are going to lead God’s people, the demand on us is to be “gospel literate” in how we live, teach, guide, mentor, disciple, and reach out to others. This requires a high level of self awareness, as well as the capacity to give oversight to others in our care.

As we have said before, these gifts do not come naturally for most people. For instance, I myself am an introvert, so being hospitable is not a natural ability for me. However, God will give grace, and develop these things in you if He has truly called you to lead.

Let’s Connect

In the next post we will continue looking at the “family qualifications” for biblical leadership. It may be the most controversial of all, but we will do so as true to scripture as possible. Make sure you don’t miss any future posts by subscribing to my newsletter below. I promise never to spam your inbox or share your info with others.

I would also be excited to have you join me on social media. I can be found on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Parler, and LinkedIn.

If you’re enjoying the content I produce, a little caffeine to keep me going would be appreciated!



© Anthony Scott Ingram 2020. All Rights Reserved.

Photo by Andrew Seaman on Unsplash

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®, copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.”

Please note that I do get a small kickback from Amazon for purchases made using the links on this site. 
Should you choose to purchase from them, I just want to say thank you for further supporting my work in ministry! 
You can also donate to my missionary work and ministry through Sozo Ministries, here.

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The Calling Qualifications for Leadership

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This is Part 6 of the Biblical Leadership Series. Click here to go to Part 1.

In the last post, we looked at the spiritual qualifications for Christian leadership. Those are foundational. Until those are met, none of the other qualifications can be truly fulfilled in their lives. However, once a person has met the spiritual qualifications, it is time to begin testing them for the other qualifications of someone truly called by God for a leadership role. That is where we turn our attention in this post.

Qualification 1: Desires the Role of Overseer (1 Timothy 3:1)

The first thing Paul makes note of in his letter to Timothy is that someone who is being looked at to become an overseer in the church (which I believe applies to any level of spiritual leadership), is that they have a desire to become a spiritual leader in the first place.

God can be forceful when necessary, and can demand people obey Him when He speaks. However, I do not see a biblical example of anyone stepping into spiritual leadership before God’s calling on their lives was matched by their own, personal desire. I am not saying people called to lead will automatically have the desire at first. Simply that if God is going to call and appoint someone, He will work in their hearts first, to give them the desire and aptitude to lead.

Your Desire Determines Your Passion.

Just imagine if God appointed someone to ministry leadership who truly did not want to be there. Everything they did in that role would be done grudgingly and half-heartedly. It is impossible to be passionate when you are forced into doing something you don’t want to do.

Though this sounds like is should be obvious and simple to follow, the problem often arises when a church has a need for leadership with no obvious choice to fill the role. When that happens, the church finds themselves stuck with making a choice between an unqualified person who wants the job, or appointing someone to the job who, although they are spiritually qualified, does not want to be there.

We must make sure, as we look to ordain and/or follow leaders in ministry, that their desire is truly for the job.

Qualification 2: Not Under Compulsion, but Willing (1 Peter 5:2)

Peter adds to the need for desire, when he says the person should serve in the leadership role “willingly,” and “not under compulsion” (1 Peter 5:2). This is because when someone is forced into a job they do not want, it becomes the fastest route to burnout. Sadly, from what I have seen in ministry, when someone is pushed into ministry against their will, the burnout can cost them more than just their job. It often destroys their faith as well.

This goes back to the last post, where I discussed the fact that I was placed into ministry too early, simply because there was an “urgent need” for a youth pastor in the church. Though I had a desire to be in ministry, and was already in Bible college studying to be a pastor, I stepped into that job (and really, even joined that church) due to pressure from my friends and the church leadership. What I found was, the weight of the expectations put on me in that job were oftentimes crushing, leading me to sometimes doubt my calling, and at times, even my faith.

Fear of Being Out Front

As we identify people who are qualified spiritually and even show a desire to grow into leadership, we must also be aware of any hesitancy or fear they have in stepping out. Though they may have complete faith in the Gospel and show excellence in the Christian life, if there is a fear of leadership within them, it will become a doorway to the enemy to bring condemnation and shame when things do not go smoothly or successfully.

Instead of pushing these people into leadership against their will, we must move them to the front slowly, giving them smaller opportunities to use their gifts and explore their calling to lead others. If someone is truly called to ministry, every small opportunity and experience will build within them more faith (and more willingness) to take the bigger leaps into a leadership role when the time comes.

My Journey Into Evangelism

When people look at me now, they see someone who is comfortable standing on a platform in front of thousands, preaching the gospel, leading people to accept Jesus Christ as their Savior, with demonstrations of healing and deliverance along the way.

That, however, was not always the case. The first time another minister invited me to join them for an outreach in a juvenile detention center (youth prison), I was afraid of what it would entail. I did want to go with them, but I didn’t want to be the one praying with people, and I certainly didn’t want to be the one preaching. Thankfully, my friend coached me on how to pray with people, and while he led the service completely, I was given the opportunity to pray with one young man, and lead him to Christ for the first time ever. This first small step led to many more small steps to becoming the minister I am today.

My point is, we cannot compel people to lead, but we can give them opportunities that will build them up until they are ready and willing to lead on their own.

Qualification 3: Not Leading For Personal Gain (1 Peter 5:2)

On the other side of the “willingness” coin we have those who are overly zealous to step into leadership because of the personal benefits they hope to derive from it. I will not repeat what we have discussed in an earlier post about those who want to lead out of a desire for power, status, and wealth. However, it needs to be said that someone who is truly qualified for biblical leadership will do so out of a heart of service for others, rather than for the benefit of themselves.

Every leader in scripture who had personal gain as a motive finished in failure or rejection. You see this in men like Gehazi, the servant of Elijah who chased Namaan for payment (2 Kings 5:19-27); or in Balaam, the prophet who accepted money to curse Israel for a pagan King (Numbers 22). Some examples even let their greed turn them away from truly following Jesus, as they sought their own benefits. Just look at Judas Iscariot, who sold Jesus out for 30 pieces of silver (Matthew 26:14-16).

If a person’s desire to lead God’s people is based on anything other than a heart to serve, they are not qualified for the job.

Qualification 4: Identifies as God’s Steward of the Whole Church (Titus 1:7)

The final “calling” qualification in the list is tied to this, a servant heart. Paul tells Titus that an overseer in the church is “God’s steward.” What this means is that as a leader over the church they have a vision for the whole church, rather than their own pet projects or the small areas they are comfortable in.

While it is true that many people are called to minister to a smaller section of God’s people, whether it is a youth pastor whose role is to lead the youth group, or the choir director, who oversees the praise and worship teams. When God calls someone to the highest levels of leadership in the body of Christ (apostle, prophet, evangelist, pastor, overseer, elder, bishop, etc.), they cannot build a vision that serves any less than the whole church. They must be a father or mother to the entire ministry.

“You love my pastor. Why don’t you love me?”

This was a question I was recently asked in one of our village churches, as I was dealing with a sinful division arising around some of our local leadership in Uganda. As I was explaining to the church members that the outside pastor who brought this division was wrong and had been dealt with, I was also expressing my affirmation of the work their own pastor was doing, so that they could be confident in their leaders. Multiple times in the conversation I expressed to them that as the apostolic overseer of our ministry, “I love and support your pastor, and I trust them completely.”

However, as I explained how I am trying to train and equip the pastors of Sozo Ministries’ churches, one elderly woman in the church was perplexed by what she saw as my willingness to ignore her as an individual member of the church. She wanted to know why I did not love her with the same pastoral care I was giving to her pastor.

I had to take the time to explain that God had appointed certain levels of leadership within our ministry, each with it’s own sphere of influence. At the local church level, the pastors are the highest authority, tasked with the personal, daily care of the congregations. However, my role as the apostolic leader for the entire ministry requires me to be more focused on pastoring and caring for our church leaders, rather than every church member.

I told her that as much as I love their local church, and would happily be there every week, if possible, this would require me to neglect the rest of the ministry I am called to lead. Instead, it is through my love and leadership to her pastors that I am able to love her and every other member of our network of churches the same.

In Summary

If someone is going to fulfill the “calling qualifications” for leadership, they must have a God-given desire for the role, and be free from fear of man and failure. They must have a willing heart, desiring to serve for the sake of others, rather than for any personal gain, and this desire must encompass the whole of the church, rather than the areas they are comfortable in. The calling to ministry leadership is not small. We must, therefore, be willing to follow the Lord’s visions completely, even when it is difficult and draining. Anything else will fall short of His calling to lead.

Let’s Connect

In the next post we will continue looking at the “capability qualifications,” which determine if someone has the required skills for ministry leadership. To stay connected and make sure you don’t miss any future posts, subscribe to my newsletter below. I promise never to spam your inbox or share your info with others.

I would also be excited to have you join me on social media. I can be found on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Parler, and LinkedIn.

If you’re enjoying the content I produce, a little caffeine to keep me going would be appreciated!



© Anthony Scott Ingram 2020. All Rights Reserved.

Photo by Andrew Seaman on Unsplash

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®, copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.”

Please note that I do get a small kickback from Amazon for purchases made using the links on this site. 
Should you choose to purchase from them, I just want to say thank you for further supporting my work in ministry! 
You can also donate to my missionary work and ministry through Sozo Ministries, here.

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The Spiritual Qualifications for Leadership

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This is Part 5 of the Biblical Leadership Series. Click here to go to Part 1.

So far in our series we have looked at many areas of leadership, from discerning a call, being a great follower, and what the leadership roles are for. Now, as we continue looking at the biblical qualifications for all ministry leaders, we will set our attention on the spiritual calling qualifications for leadership. If I were to divide this category in half, I would say we will look at the “spiritual” qualifications in this post and the “calling” qualifications in the next (though they tend to blend together).

This category of qualifications looks at the person’s spiritual life, ensuring they are mature believers with a heart for God’s people, rather than for their own benefit.

As we said in the previous post, these qualifications are generally taken from 1 Timothy 3:1-13, Titus 1:5-9, and 1 Peter 5:1-4. I will attempt to put them into a logical order, so we can see how they are developed in a person’s life.

Qualification 1: Not A Recent Convert (1 Timothy 3:6)

The foremost expectation of any leader in Christian ministry is that they are a mature believer in Christ. This should seem obvious, yet in practice, it is one of the most overlooked qualifications I see as I minister around the world. It seems that so many churches and existing leadership teams are so desperate for “laborers in the field” that they will quickly appoint anyone to the team based on non-essential qualities. They look at the person’s enthusiasm for the church to grow, or at their charismatic and likable personality, and quickly appoint them to help lead others. This is a mistake! The most essential thing is that a person has come to faith in Christ, and has been discipled into some level of maturity, before they are assigned a leadership role over others.

I was appointed too early.

I, myself, was appointed to ministry leadership too early, and there were many challenges that came because of it. This happened because the church leader assigned over me as a youth was also appointed to ministry while not being a mature believer, and therefore the cycle continued.

At age 16, I was saved at a church camp, but lacked ongoing discipleship in my life. A few months later I became a quick hypocrite as I began drinking a lot of alcohol with my non-believer friends, while keeping on a “holy mask” on in church each Sunday. It didn’t take long for my youth pastor to discover the truth. Yet, as he himself was not qualified in this regard either, we began to drink together on Saturday nights, before attending church together on Sunday mornings.

Since I had my “holy mask” held tightly in place, it wasn’t long before I was considered one of the leaders in the youth group, and began getting asked to occasionally teach in Sunday school and other youth meetings. It wasn’t until I was 18 that God really began speaking to me about my hypocrisy and leading me toward Bible college that I truly repented and began to grow.

Once I moved to Bible college, I truly saw the level of immaturity in my own life and set out to grow in the Word and in the Christian life. However, as the small church I joined after the move was desperate for help, I was quickly appointed as the Youth Pastor for the church’s 8 or 9 teenagers. (This was November of 2003, from which I count my actual ministry service as having begun.) I pray that my time as a youth pastor was beneficial to those kids. However, the reality is that I was the one growing the most, and didn’t do well at pouring into them as I should have.

If God Calls You “Too Soon”

I have talked to many new believers who immediately feel called to ministry once they are saved. I make it a point to never doubt that calling or discourage them. However, I am also quick to point out that God lives outside of time, yet He works through our time. Just because God has called you, does not trump the process of growth. He is the one who said leaders cannot be new converts, so if He has called you “too soon,” then you must seek to grow in maturity, in order to be worthy of fulfilling that call. Remember, “many are called, but few are chosen” (Matthew 22:14).

Qualification 2: Not Puffed Up With Conceit (1 Timothy 3:6)

Paul continues writing to Timothy as to why a person cannot be a recent convert, by giving two additional reasons. The first is that it runs the risk of puffing them up with conceit. If someone is appointed to lead without the character of a leader, they will be prone to arrogance and pride.

Again, I have seen this over and over again in many, including my younger self, where the “role” of leadership has given an overconfidence in the “responsibility” of leadership, making the person unwilling to hear correction when necessary. After all, if God and the Church has appointed you to lead, then how can anyone tell you that you are wrong/misguided/immature/sinning? We all know what happens when pride sets in (Proverbs 16:18).

Instead, before an individual can be appointed to leadership, they should develop a maturity in Christ that understands, “this is not about me.”

The Downfall of Arrogant Ministers

The problem with people who live in pride and think ministry is about themselves is that whether things go good or things go bad, the response is always wrong.

When things go well in ministry it adds to their sense of pride and arrogance, making them even more unwilling to face correction. As they get more puffed up, they celebrate. “Look what I have done!” They view themselves as God’s gift to the church, rather than a lowly servant to all.

On the other hand, when things go wrong in ministry, it will wound their ego. In the best cases this will lead to burnout, causing them to step out of ministry and seek healing and restoration. In the worst cases, they become like a wounded animal, seeking to tear down others around them. They will not take responsibility for failure; they will find someone else to blame.

Qualification 3: Not Under the Devil’s Condemnation (1 Timothy 3:6)

The second problem Paul identifies with new converts in leadership roles is that they can easily fall into condemnation. When they get puffed up with pride, but then fail or fall into sin, the enemy is always there to catch them on the way down. He doesn’t just let you hit rock bottom, he wants to make you suffer while you’re there.

One of the biggest challenges of the gospel life is learning to live free of condemnation when you stumble and fall. The Bible is very clear:

There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.

Romans 8:1

However, this truth must be applied not only to our hearts, but to our minds. When the devil comes near to whisper in your ear that you are a failure, you cannot be used by God, or even that God cannot love you, you must be able to overcome these lies with truth. New believers seldom have this ability. They must be discipled and grow in it.

I cannot tell you the number of times, throughout my early ministry years, when I would fall back into old habits, and the condemnation would be overwhelming. This was true whether I had committed “big” sins like running back to pornography or “small” sins like not reading my Bible and praying every day. I would hear the voice of the enemy telling me I was not worthy, and I would run and hide from God, just like Adam and Eve did in the beginning (Genesis 3:8).

Until a believer has learned to always run to God when they fail, and fall back on the grace He offers, they will continue to live with the condemnation of the devil over their lives. In order to be a leader in the church, they must first learn to live according to the grace of God, and not their own abilities. (I highly recommend you read Romans 8:1-11.)

Qualification 4: Not Accused of Insubordination (Titus 1:6)

As a person grows into maturity as a believer and finds there is a calling on their lives, the scripture seems to lay out a pattern for what a movement into ministry ought to look like. They are to be discipled and mentored, serving under someone else’s ministry first, before they are released on their own. I believe it is through this process, which Paul writes to Titus that the upcoming leader must be subordinate.

This was the Jewish pattern for leadership. A child who went through religious school and did well, would continue religious training, and eventually submit themselves to a Rabbi in order to learn from them how to serve the Lord. After some years, when the Rabbi believed they couldn’t impart any more, they would commission their students to become Rabbis as well.

Jesus followed a similar pattern when he called the 12 and spent three years discipling them, mentoring them, and giving them more responsibility as time went on before He finally launched them out into ministry on their own. The process is repeated with Paul’s raising of Timothy, Titus and others into ministry. Even Paul, who many see as set apart in a completely different way than the other apostles, went through this process!

Paul’s Path to Ministry

When Paul was saved and called into ministry (simultaneously), he first submitted himself to Ananias and the church in Damascus (Acts 9:17-19). They even let him preach among them (v. 20), though he wasn’t sent out to the nations yet. Paul expands on what happened next when he writes to the Galatians:

But when he who had set me apart before I was born, and who called me by his grace, was pleased to reveal his Son to me, in order that I might preach him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately consult with anyone; nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me, but I went away into Arabia, and returned again to Damascus. Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to visit Cephas and remained with him fifteen days. But I saw none of the other apostles except James the Lord’s brother. (In what I am writing to you, before God, I do not lie!) Then I went into the regions of Syria and Cilicia. And I was still unknown in person to the churches of Judea that are in Christ. They only were hearing it said, “He who used to persecute us is now preaching the faith he once tried to destroy.” And they glorified God because of me.

Galatians 1:15-24 (emphasis mine)

Just a couple of notes on this. Paul clearly knew he was called to preach among the Gentiles from the day he was saved. First, however, he went into Arabia to spend time in the Word of God and hear from the Holy Spirit. He wasn’t looking for man’s validation, only God’s. I believe when he went into “Arabia” it was to Mount Sinai where God gave the Law to Moses, and where the prophet Elijah is also rumored to have hidden from Jezebel and heard the Lord speaking (1 Kings 19). From there, Paul returned to Damascus to be discipled, before visiting Jerusalem and then moving to Syria and Cilicia three years later.

Later, in Acts 13:1, we find Paul living in Antioch (which is in Syria), and serving the local church there. He had been discipled, trained, and given opportunities to preach for years. Then, after the Holy Spirit spoke to the church leadership, Paul was finally ordained to be sent out on his own to do the ministry God had previously shown him (Acts 13:2-4).

Serving Another’s Vision

One of the hardest aspects of growing into leadership is the call to be subordinate to another, before we can be trusted to lead on our own. This goes back to my previous discussion of “self-appointed leaders” and the problems posed when someone gets out of God’s alignment and process. However, I firmly believe that the call to serve under another person’s ministry is the greatest test of a leader’s trustworthiness, before God will allow them to have their own ministry. I mean, if a person cannot be humble enough to follow a leader who is doing their best to fulfill God’s vision and command, then how can they be trusted to follow God’s vision and command directly? If they cannot submit to correction and accountability from a mature man or woman of God, first, then how can they be trusted to submit directly to God’s correction and accountability when no one else is there?

Believe me, this is difficult. Though I knew the calling God had placed on my life for many years, I kept being “held back” by God’s Spirit. The first time I visited Uganda in 2007, I knew that I had an assignment here, yet God placed me back in Texas as a volunteer (unpaid) Associate Pastor for over 4 years. As the missionary bug was in me, I also began volunteering with another missions ministry, where, after leaving that church in Texas, I served at the discretion of the Board of Directors for another 3.5 years before God led me out to launch Sozo Ministries.

During those years, I had prophetic words, dreams, visions, and thousands of random thoughts about “my calling,” yet I was appointed to serve those other ministries in those seasons. Looking back, though I was eager to step out and “do my own thing,” I am so glad for the growth in both my maturity and my giftings which came through those years.

In Summary

In looking at someone’s “spiritual calling” into Christian leadership, the first qualification that matters is that they have been established into the faith and ministry life, before they are ordained to lead others. They must not simply be born again, but they must demonstrate growth in their understanding of the Gospel with their own lives. They must be able to overcome the devil’s voice in their own lives, and there must be a humility in them concerning their own calling. This will be proven and improved upon as they submit to those in authority over them, first, as they grow through the process into leadership of their own.

Let’s Connect

In the next post we will continue looking at the “spiritual/calling” qualifications which come into play as someone is finally being commissioned into ministry on their own. To stay connected and make sure you don’t miss any future posts, subscribe to my newsletter below. I promise never to spam your inbox or share your info with others.

I would also be excited to have you join me on social media. I can be found on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Parler, and LinkedIn.

If you’re enjoying the content I produce, a little caffeine to keep me going would be appreciated!



© Anthony Scott Ingram 2020. All Rights Reserved.

Photo by Andrew Seaman on Unsplash

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®, copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.”

Please note that I do get a small kickback from Amazon for purchases made using the links on this site. 
Should you choose to purchase from them, I just want to say thank you for further supporting my work in ministry! 
You can also donate to my missionary work and ministry through Sozo Ministries, here.

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Biblical Qualifications for Leadership

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This is Part 4 of the Biblical Leadership Series. Click here to go to Part 1.

Up to this point in our series, we have looked at what it means to be called by God to lead His people, what it means to be a great follower, first, and the purpose of the biblical leadership roles of apostle, prophet, evangelist, pastor, and others. Now, we will shift our focus toward the biblical qualifications for leadership in the church.

The Heart of the Matter

All throughout scripture, God gives insights into the characteristics and qualifications He expects from His leaders. While the world looks at a person’s resume and list of accomplishments, God puts His emphasis elsewhere. Just as He spoke to the prophet Samuel about anointing David as King:

“Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature… For the LORD sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the LORD looks on the heart.”

1 Samuel 16:7

As we begin to look at the biblical qualification for leadership, pay close attention not only to what is there, but also what is not there. There is no requirement for a university degree or previous work experience.

All throughout scripture God calls leaders who, from the world’s perspective, were not good enough.

  • Abraham was a coward who would lie and let his wife go with other men just so he wouldn’t be killed.
  • Moses was a royal-reject turned sheep herder.
  • David was an adulterer and murderer.
  • Jeremiah was a man filled with depression.
  • Amos was a humble farmer.
  • Peter, James, and John were peasant fishermen (Acts 4:13 – “uneducated” and “common”).
  • Other disciples were tax-collectors (traitors to Israel), prostitutes, vigilantes (zealots), former demoniacs, and other sinners (Matthew 9:19).

However, when the transformational power of the Holy Spirit comes into a person, their lives are reshaped completely. As has been said many times, “God does not call the qualified, He qualifies the called.”

The Scriptures

As we turn our attention to the qualifications God requires, there are two specific ones that give exhaustive lists. The first is in 1 Timothy 3. Here, Paul is writing to his young protege, and newly appointed “senior pastor” to the church in Ephesus, Timothy. Paul had left Timothy in Ephesus for the purpose of equipping local leadership (1 Timothy 1:3-7), and gives him instructions as to what kind of person should be considered as a qualified candidate.

The saying is trustworthy: If anyone aspires to the office of overseer, he desires a noble task. Therefore an overseer must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, sober-minded, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not a drunkard, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. He must manage his own household well, with all dignity keeping his children submissive, for if someone does not know how to manage his own household, how will he care for God’s church? He must not be a recent convert, or he may become puffed up with conceit and fall into the condemnation of the devil. Moreover, he must be well thought of by outsiders, so that he may not fall into disgrace, into a snare of the devil. Deacons likewise must be dignified, not double-tongued, not addicted to much wine, not greedy for dishonest gain. They must hold the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience. And let them also be tested first; then let them serve as deacons if they prove themselves blameless. Their wives likewise must be dignified, not slanderers, but sober-minded, faithful in all things. Let deacons each be the husband of one wife, managing their children and their own households well. For those who serve well as deacons gain a good standing for themselves and also great confidence in the faith that is in Christ Jesus.

1 Timothy 3:1-13

Paul repeats a similar list to another pastor named Titus, whom he had appointed to oversee the church in Crete.

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— 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. 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, but hospitable, a lover of good, self-controlled, upright, holy, and disciplined. 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.

Titus 1:5-9

In addition to these two passages by Paul, I will also include another passage from the Apostle Peter, as we move forward in the following posts.

So I exhort the elders among you, as a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, as well as a partaker in the glory that is going to be revealed: shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you; not for shameful gain, but eagerly; not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock. And when the chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory.

1 Peter 5:1-4

The Breakdown

Reading through these lists is a little overwhelming to say the least. In less than 500 words, these two biblical writers gave us no less than 39 qualifications for biblical leadership. Many of them were repeated multiple times.

As I was praying about how to explore these characteristics in-depth, the Holy Spirit began to show me 5 general categories, into which all of these qualities fit.

Now, please note that these 5 categories are simply used to help us think through these qualifications. In your own mind you might add or remove categories, and you might think I have misplaced some of them. All I can say is when you write your own blog on the subject, you can edit this list however you want.

The Spiritual Calling Qualifications

The first category that sticks out to me are the spiritual qualifications that are specific to the calling of becoming a leader. As we have discussed before, these are things like the person’s “desire” to be a leader in the church. They are to do it “not under compulsion, but willingly.” It requires the spiritual maturity that comes from an experience of life in Christ. Therefore a person should “not be a recent convert.”

They must also understand that their role is to be “God’s steward” of the whole church. They cannot only focus on the comfortable parts of ministry or the easy people to minister to. This is a voluntary role, that requires them to fully give themselves to God for the work.

The Capability Qualifications

Although we have already said that God does not (necessarily) require a university degree or prior work history to get the job, He still gives us some general qualifications regarding the capabilities necessary to lead His people.

These are things like having a deep understanding of the Word of God and “able to teach” doctrinal truths from the scriptures. This person must also be able to give oversight to the people of God, discipling them, guiding them into His truth and “rebuke those who contradict it.” This is done out of love, not a power grab over people’s lives (“not domineering”).

Don’t worry if you don’t naturally have gifts of teaching or leadership. All of these are God-empowered abilities that He will build in you if you are truly called.

The Family Qualifications

Coming to the most controversial area of the biblical qualifications for leadership, we see that God puts the demand on how the person leads their family first, before He will give them leadership in the church.

The writers deal with a biblical marriage. It is one man married to one woman. This rules out polygamy, which is still an area of contention in many parts of the world. It also rules out the ordaining of homosexuals to church leadership. We will deal with those issues more in a future post, as well as whether God will allow singles or women to lead in the church (my answer is yes to both).

There are also some ground rules about how this person raises their children. The leader must be able to guide their children into the faith and discipline them well, before God will allow them to take up those roles in the church.

The Emotional Qualifications

Before a person can lead others into the “mind of Christ,” they must first have their own emotional stability in the Lord. They must have a biblical mindset which guides how they live their lives and lead others. This includes things like being “sober-minded” and a “lover of good.” It also includes not being “quarrelsome”, “double-tongued,” or “greedy.”

Remember, your mindset is what guides everything else in your life. If the mindset is wrong, then the actions will not be stable.

The Character Qualifications.

The final category of qualifications deals with the person’s integrity and their reputation in the community. Not only will they be representing the Lord to the church, but they will also be representing the Lord and the church to the world outside. That is why they must be “above reproach” and “well thought of by outsiders.” They must live their lives “upright, holy, and disciplined.” That means they cannot be alcoholics or violent. They must keep a godly reputation with all.

This is not to advocate for a hypocritical lifestyle that lives one way in private and other way when people are looking. You cannot just put on a holy mask in public. Integrity is more about what happens when you are alone, when no one is watching.

Over the next few weeks we will look at each of these categories in-depth, and attempt to paint a picture of what biblically qualified leaders look like. This will help us to truly learn to be the leaders God calls us to be in the church. My advice is that you not let these lists lead you into condemnation for where you are lacking. Rather, let them guide you into the secret place with the Holy Spirit, asking Him to do a work inside you, filling in the gaps where you are lacking.

Let’s Connect

You can make sure you do not miss a single post by subscribing to my weekly content newsletter (below). I promise never to share your information or fill your inbox with junk!

You can also find me on social media for more #ChristianLife and #GospelLeadership insights throughout the week. I am on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Parler, and LinkedIn. I would love to connect with you on any of those platforms.

You can also find out more about our ministry work in East Africa by going to www.SozoMinistries.net. There you can find out how to join us on a mission team, get prayer from our network of intercessors, or partner with us financially as we seek to build leaders in the Kingdom of God among the nations.

If you’re enjoying the content I produce, a little caffeine to keep me going would be appreciated!



© Anthony Scott Ingram 2020. All Rights Reserved.

Photo by Andrew Seaman on Unsplash

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®, copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.”

Please note that I do get a small kickback from Amazon for purchases made using the links on this site. 
Should you choose to purchase from them, I just want to say thank you for further supporting my work in ministry! 
You can also donate to my missionary work and ministry through Sozo Ministries, here.

BL IMAGE1

Ministry Roles Explained

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This is Part 3 of the Biblical Leadership Series.
Click here for Part 1: “Called to Lead” and here for Part 2: “Called to Follow.”

Within the church today, there are many differing opinions about the roles of leadership among Christians. The Bible is very clear about some of them, and then some groups and denominations have added more titles to their spiritual authorities than the Bible uses itself. (I am not saying this is good or bad. Just a fact.) However, generally, there is consensus on what are God-given leadership roles, and as we come to understand them, we will begin to see where we fit in, with our specific callings and gifts.

Biblical Leadership Roles

Throughout the Bible, we see God appointing people into all kinds of leadership positions. We know from the Old Testament that God appointed civic leaders, such as the Judges and various Kings (1 Samuel 10:1, 1 Samuel 16:13, and others). Then, in the establishment of His worship, He ordained priests to lead in the Temple ministry (Exodus 28:1), and appointed Prophets to guide the nation in following the Lord.

In the New Testament, we see that Jesus placed in the church “apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers,” who would lead His people (Ephesians 4:11). We also see leaders who are called elders (Acts 14:23), overseers (Acts 20:28), and deacons or official “servants” (Acts 6:3, Philippians 1:1).

Different variations of leadership positions have been taken from the original languages, giving us words like bishops (typically synonymous with overseer or elder) and presbyters (typically used to reference a member of a group of elders, which would be called a “presbytery.”)

You Don’t Choose Your Calling

What I find interesting about these various leadership roles is that all of them are appointed by God. They are spiritual, and therefore originate with the Holy Spirit. Though a person might choose to become an architect or a lawyer as a career, a person does not have the ability to choose a spiritual role for themselves. The Holy Spirit must initiate that appointment Himself. For example, in the Old Testament, a person could not wake up one day and decide to become a King or priest. Those callings had specific guidelines set by God, determining who would fill them. If someone met those guidelines, there still had to be a recognized call from God, and acceptance by God’s people, in order for them to take on that role.

Similarly, today, although we live in the age of “the priesthood of all believers,” even those desiring to take on a leadership role in the body of Christ must ultimately be called by God and recognized by the church. Unfortunately, there are many people seeking spiritual authority who do not meet God’s guidelines and qualifications to lead. They instead appoint and anoint themselves to lead.

Self-Glorifying Authority Figures

In addition to self-appointed leaders, another major problem facing the church is with leaders who may be legitimately called, yet seek to use the ministry for their own benefit. It is common to find Christian leaders who go far beyond what their biblical calling mandates or allows in taking authority over others.

Although to give an exhaustive list of how some leaders self-glorify would be impossible, let’s explore just a few.

Some seek power and influence.

It is common today to see people who use their spiritual role as “pastor” or “apostle” as a means to hold power over others. They live to be served, and their role enables them to both expect and require others to follow their orders, and meet their every need.

In Africa, I see too many pastors who surround themselves with an spiritualized entourage, who’s job it is to make sure their leader is treated like a celebrity. They give them superstar introductions when they come to preach. They lead the congregation in giving standing ovations to celebrate the appearance of “God’s man” on the platform, and again after they have “ministered” to the people. It isn’t God getting the glory. It is aimed at the man (or woman).

Out of church settings, this entourage spends their time making sure the leader doesn’t have to do anything for themselves. They drive his car, carry his bags, do his laundry, cook his food, manage his social media, and even manage his wife and children on his behalf.

Just turn on a Christian television station for a little while. It won’t take long to see the Christian version of Jay-Z or Beyonce. Their desire is to be rock stars in the pulpit, and expect people to glorify them as such.

Some seek wealth and personal gain.

When I entered into ministry almost 17 years ago, I wrestled with the fact that most pastors I knew were generally poor. Coming from a lower-middle class family, I had big aspirations to do something with my life to pull myself and my future family up economically. However, recognizing the clear leading of the Lord, I resigned myself to live by whatever He would provide, and follow Him into the work He had for me.

You can understand my shock, then, as the rise of global technology has spread the prosperity gospel around the globe, faster than the message of salvation!

The Prosperity Gospel

If you are unfamiliar with the basic premise of the prosperity gospel, it is this. If you give God your “seed” offering, you have put Him into your debt, and in turn, He is obligated to give you back a “harvest” on that seed. Usually, this promise is 10x or 100x your original gift.

Now, I do believe that God blesses our finances when we are faithful stewards of what He has given to us. I do believe there is blessings which come when we give our tithes and offerings. However, the mindset is different. The prosperity gospel says because of my giving, God owes me. The Bible says that by my giving, I am acknowledging that I owe Him everything!

The secret of the prosperity gospel, as I have observed it, however, is that the only ones who truly prosper are the pastors collecting the “seeds.” They manipulate God’s people to grow their own wealth, by making false promises for the Lord. Even Benny Hinn has recently repented of his involvement with this false gospel, saying “It doesn’t work for the people.” None of those planting seeds has ever prospered.

Spiritual Prostitution

Another problem with the money-seeking leaders is that when they do have legitimate gifts of the Holy Spirit, such as prophecy or healing, they begin selling their services, rather than “freely giving” as Jesus commanded (Matthew 10:8). This is a prostitution of their gift!

No matter what they call themselves – pastor, apostle, bishop, or something else – leaders who are only interested in financial benefits are not serving the Lord and His Kingdom. They are only serving themselves. Jesus Himself said,

“No servant can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.”

Luke 16:13

I have said it many times before, and I will say it again: “if your pastor talks more about money than he talks about Jesus, you need to find a new pastor!”

Some seek titles and recognition.

Even if leaders are not trying to get rich and famous from the ministry, many still deal with a sinful need to be recognized for their work in order to feel validated. Their self-worth comes from human affirmation, rather than from the Lord.

These leaders may not seek great applause after their sermon, but they still eagerly wait for compliments from the members at the exit door, or from their spouse on the way home. They don’t have big television shows or radio programs with their names plastered all over them, but their self-esteem is still boosted or suppressed by public recognition in their own towns such as getting asked to pray before civic meetings, or to speak at public events.

In a way, this is more dangerous than the rich, celebrity pastors, because it is more subtle, and often harder to spot. For these leaders, their identity is in their ministry title, and their self-worth is in public validation, when those things should come only from God.

I think it is this low-level form of self-glory that almost all ministers deal with at some point in their lives. We must remember that Jesus called us to Himself before He called us to the work. Therefore our identity and validation is in Him alone. The ministry is for His service and benefit, only.

Job Titles or Job Descriptions

This brings us back to leadership roles themselves. If becoming a pastor or evangelist is not about having a title on our business cards or getting our names put up on posters and billboards, then what are they for? If “Pastor” or “Apostle” isn’t supposed to be a new name for church members to call you, then what are they?

I believe that the biblically-identified leadership roles — apostle, prophet, evangelist, pastor, teacher, etc — are actually the job descriptions of the work we are called to do.

Apostle is not the top of a hierarchical food chain. Paul says that the apostles are the “last” and a “spectacle to the world, the angels, and men” (1 Corinthians 4:9). When he talked about his apostleship he said he was an “ambassador in chains,” whose only job was preaching the gospel where it had not been named (Ephesians 6:20 and Romans 15:20). The Apostles job is to pioneer the Kingdom of God into new territory and new wineskins as the Lord leads. They lay the foundation of the church (Ephesians 2:19-20), and raise up the leaders who will come up behind them to take over.

Evangelist is not a title to be honored in a committee meeting, (and certainly not a title for a pastor without a church). Rather, an evangelist is someone who serves the church by reaching out to the lost, and equipping other believers to evangelize as well. Their job is to pull people out of the grip of hell. It isn’t about the numbers of salvations or miracle-signs taking place. For them, it is to “become all things to all men so that by all means they might save some (1 Corinthians 9:22).

Pastor is not your nickname. It means you are called to do whatever it takes to “shepherd” and raise the “sheep” entrusted to your care.

Being a prophet isn’t about having a platform before men, it’s about having an intimate relationship with the Lord so that through you He can communicate His heart.

I could go on, and look at every role, but I won’t. My point is that if God appoints you to one of these roles, it is not just another title for your resume. It is the categorization of the work which you are called to do. It is simply your job description.

Not Levels of Promotion

I would also note that the different roles Jesus appoints are not levels of promotion in ministry. You don’t start as an evangelist who gathers the lost and get them saved, then transition to being a teacher to disciple them, then get promoted, once again, to pastor once there is a church formed.

I often joke that some think they are a Pastor when they lead a church. Then when there are other pastors raised up within the church, they become the Bishop. Then when those other pastors leave and open other churches, now they become Apostles. That is not how it works. These are job descriptions, given by God, assigned to workers in His church and His Kingdom. They are not a hierarchy, and they are not about getting to higher levels of honor from men.

True leadership in the church is upside down. Rather than being at the top, the apostles and prophets, who lay the foundation of the church, are actually at the bottom, serving the evangelists, pastors, and teachers. The “higher” your ministry role sounds, the lower you are actually called to go.

Biblical Leadership is Servant Leadership

I must once again remind us that Jesus says “If anyone would be first, he must be last of all and servant of all” (Mark 9:35). No matter the calling you take on — pastor, teacher, minister, choir leader, other or none of the above — it is all about serving God and His people.

If you are called into a leadership role, the thing you must remind yourself of often is that it is not about you. It is all about Jesus. You bring people to Him and He reaches out and touches people through you. Like a hammer or drill, you are simply being held in the hand of the Carpenter as He builds His House. Serve Him and serve His people, and you will succeed in the ministry.

Let’s Connect

In the next post, we will begin looking at the biblical qualifications to serve as a leader in the body of Christ. Until then, I would love to connect with you!

Leave your thoughts and questions in the comments section below, and if you’re enjoying what you’re reading, I would be honored to have you on my weekly content newsletter. I won’t share you info or spam your inbox. I promise.

You can also join me on social media. I can be found on  Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Parler. I’d love to see you there.

If you’re enjoying the content I produce, a little caffeine to keep me going would be appreciated!



© Anthony Scott Ingram 2020. All Rights Reserved.

Photo by Andrew Seaman on Unsplash

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®, copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.”

Please note that I do get a small kickback from Amazon for purchases made using the links on this site. 
Should you choose to purchase from them, I just want to say thank you for further supporting my work in ministry! 
You can also donate to my missionary work and ministry through Sozo Ministries, here.

FOLLOW

Called to Follow

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This is Part 2 of the Biblical Leadership Series. Click here for Part 1: “Called to Lead”

As we continue our series on Biblical Leadership, we began last week by asking the question, “Am I called to lead?” We said that your calling must be given by God, as well as affirmed by the church. Before we dig into more of the specifics of how God’s calling to leadership works, in this post, we will first ask the question, “Am I called to follow?”

As we approach the topic of leaders and followers, I see two problems facing the church, which must be corrected if biblical leadership is to be upheld. We will look at the first of these two problems, today, which is on the side of the followers. Then we will come back next week and look at the problem on the side of leadership.

The Age of Autonomy

One major problem we face in today’s world is the rejection of all forms leadership by people who want to live autonomously from all authority. These people believe that the idea of “all men created equal” means that there should never be a situation in which their lives must be submitted to another. They also tend to reject any outside accountability for their actions or lives. The guiding principle is “mind your own business, and leave me alone.”

This problem is obviously broader than just the church. The internet is filled with videos and teachings of crazy people who declare themselves completely free of any societal structure of leadership and law. For an extreme example, just search Youtube for “sovereign citizen” or “freemen on the land.” These are people who believe that they can reject any accountability to world governments, just by refusing to accept a personal citizenship or civil law. (It isn’t true!)

For decades (or longer), every upcoming youth generation has sought to throw off their “bondage” to all authority, whether parental, governmental, occupational, or familial. They “fight the man” and refuse to “bow down” to people in charge. The problem is that, eventually, they find themselves in need of those leaders to work on their behalf. They must then, either recant their personal convictions of “no authority,” or hypocritically claim a right to receive help from the authorities without otherwise giving deference to them. Just look at what is happening with the “defund the police” movement in America, today. Radical people want the police to be disbanded, until they themselves are attacked or abused, then they cry out for the police to help them.

Autonomous Believers

Within the church, the insistence of autonomy by some individuals creates a number of problems for both the leadership and the church people they are trying to serve. While many (if not most) born again Christians understand their need, and actually desire healthy, biblical leadership over them, those who do not can cause problems for everyone involved.

They reject submission to biblically ordained authority.

While it can be said that a good leader knows how to gain a dedicated followership, it is also true that some people will never follow a good leader, simply out of spite for the fact that leadership exists in the first place.

These people may attend church, listen to sermons, sing the worship songs, and take part in the ongoing life of the church (although many refuse to do so). However, they are also the first to criticize church leaders when things don’t fit their own definition of right, good, or true. They have no problem gossiping or causing divisions between godly leaders and the rest of God’s flock, simply because they imagine their own opinions and desires are of equal standing to those God has appointed as leaders.

This is not only a rejection of the leaders themselves, but of the biblical commands regarding leadership and the Holy Spirit’s calling on those leaders’ lives. This causes challenges for the leaders, but it also does major damage to the rebellious person’s personal growth in Christ. By rejecting any oversight and guidance from those God has called to help them grow as Christians, they actually hinder their own spiritual life, and create limitations on the possibility that they might step into a godly leadership role themselves, one day.

They reject the role of discipleship and mentoring, which Jesus called for.

God has placed leadership in the church with one great charge:

to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes.

Ephesians 4:12-14

This means that it is the role of leaders to do the hard work of discipleship with the people who come under their ministry. That does not mean the leaders simply require people to attend a 6-week class on the foundational teachings of the church, or attend a special small group for new believers.

It means that the leaders take an active interest in the lives of their followers, and seek to help them grow into Christ in every area of their lives. It means that the leader does more than just teach biblical truth or spiritual principles. They must also know the lives of their followers, intimately, to be able to coach and form them into mature believers.

For example: A leader doesn’t just teach biblical principles on marriage. He or she also knows and understands the challenges their people are currently dealing with in marriage, and seek to help them apply the biblical principles in real life. They pray with their people. They counsel their people. They spend time with their people, making sure they are working to grow and strengthen their marriages. I could give other examples, as well, but I think you get my point.

If people refuse to acknowledge or submit themselves to spiritual leadership, then the leader will forever be unable to fulfill God’s command on their work, and those who refuse leadership will have their spiritual development stunted, at best.

They reject personal accountability, which usually also includes a refusal to confess sin or repent of wrong behaviors.

A refusal to submit to godly authority, also usually implies a disregard for God’s truth and standards of morality. They will defend themselves against any personal failure with the famous words of Tupac, “Only God can judge me!”

This isn’t true, though! Listen to these words from the Apostle Paul (emphasis added):

I wrote to you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people— not at all meaning the sexually immoral of this world, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters, since then you would need to go out of the world. But now I am writing to you not to associate with anyone who bears the name of brother if he is guilty of sexual immorality or greed, or is an idolater, reviler, drunkard, or swindler—not even to eat with such a one. For what have I to do with judging outsiders? Is it not those inside the church whom you are to judge? God judges those outside. “Purge the evil person from among you.”

1 Corinthians 5:9-13

God calls His people to submit to the authority He has placed in the church, and He expects the leaders He appoints to encourage, equip, and even discipline His people, as necessary.

I do realize that much of the rebellion against biblical authority has come from the excesses and abuses caused by bad leadership, so any talk of discipline can cause anxiety to some. I promise we will address much of that in the next post. But for now, we must recognize that God has ordained that there will be leaders put in place to serve His body and bride. We cannot go against Him by claiming and choosing to live otherwise.

How Do We Become Better Followers?

If God has appointed Godly leadership and expects His children to all be great followers, as well as leaders, then we must ensure we are following our leaders well. I believe the first way we can become a better follower is by first growing in our understanding of God’s design for leadership. That is why I said last week, this series will be helpful for both leaders AND church members.

We Must Identify What God Says about Godly Leadership

We first learn what godly leadership looks like by studying the scriptures. We read His commands for leadership, and we view the examples He has given of both good and bad leadership in His Word. Jesus, of course, is the epitome of a great leader, so we must pay close attention to Him.

As we learn what a great leader looks like biblically, it will act as a grid by which we will examine the leaders to whom we will submit ourselves.

We Must Submit to the Right Leaders

Once we have this grid, we must ensure that we are following those leaders who are truly appointed by God, and not those who are seeking to put themselves over us for their own pride or benefit. Even if they are fully anointed and called by God to lead in the church, it does not necessarily mean they are called to lead you.**See note.

Just because someone around you is a pastor or an apostle does not mean that they are your pastor or apostle. Leadership comes with it’s own sphere of influence and boundary of limitations. Paul was an apostle to the gentiles, but while in Jerusalem, he submitted himself to the other apostles and elders of the Jews.

To share a personal example, I was once introduced to a couple of godly leaders, who I have much respect for in their pastoral and prophetic ministry. On the advice of a leader I served under, I came to them seeking wisdom on certain issues within our ministry which they had experience in. However, after a short time they determined themselves to be some sort of spiritual authority over my life, rather than my coworkers in the Kingdom.

A few years later, when I was praying about marrying my wife Liz, the advise I received from those whom God had called me to submit myself to was “yes. You should marry her.” However, this couple was opposed to the marriage, and began to come against me as being out of God’s will for my life, and refusing to even speak to me for rejecting their opinions (given as prophetic words). Though God has confirmed many times that marrying Liz was the right decision, I am sure I am one of this couple’s many stories of rebelliousness to their ministry.

My point is that we must know how to hear and follow the Holy Spirit’s leading for ourselves, in order to make sure we are submitting to the right leaders (and in the right seasons). Not every leader is appointed to guide, counsel, and equip you. But some are!

Make Sure You Follow Jesus as You Follow His Under-Shepherds.

Paul was quick to tell his followers that in imitating His example, they should be becoming more like Christ. He told them, “Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ” (1 Corinthians 11:1). He later writes to the Thessalonians,

“And you became imitators of us and of the Lord, for you received the word in much affliction, with the joy of the Holy Spirit, so that you became an example to all the believers in Macedonia and in Achaia.”

1 Thessalonians 1:6-7

Likewise, the author of Hebrews commands,

“Remember your leaders, those who spoke to you the word of God. Consider the outcome of their way of life, and imitate their faith.”

Hebrews 13:7

As we seek to become better followers, we must remember that at the end of the day, we are not seeking to follow men of man’s sake. We are following those men and women in whom we see the life of Christ demonstrated and who love us just as Christ does.

We cannot throw off submission to biblical leadership! God has ordained it. Rather, we honor the Lord by following those whom He has placed to guard our lives and point us to Himself.

Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you.

Hebrews 13:17

Let’s Connect

In the next post, we look at the purpose of specific leadership roles in ministry. Don’t miss it.

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Don’t forget to leave your thoughts and questions in the comment section!

**Note: if you are a member of a church, then that church’s pastor and leadership team are your leaders. You don’t get to rebel by staying in the church, but not following the appointed leaders. If God isn’t calling you to follow that pastor, then it is time to find a different church.

If you’re enjoying the content I produce, a little caffeine to keep me going would be appreciated!



© Anthony Scott Ingram 2020. All Rights Reserved.

Photo by Andrew Seaman on Unsplash

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®, copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.”

Please note that I do get a small kickback from Amazon for purchases made using the links on this site. 
Should you choose to purchase from them, I just want to say thank you for further supporting my work in ministry! 
You can also donate to my missionary work and ministry through Sozo Ministries, here.

CALLED

Biblical Leadership

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Let’s talk about leadership. Some, in both the religious and secular world, would argue that quality leadership is among the highest priorities of any group of people with a goal to achieve. In the famous words of John Maxwell, “Everything rises and falls on leadership.” This is true whether you are running a business, building a community organization or social club, forming a movement to change culture, or overseeing the church of God.

Declaring Spiritual Independence

For some, talking about spiritual leadership carries a connotation of oppression, and they fight against it. There are entire movements within the Christian community that argue against “organized religion” or any kind of spiritual oversight within the church.

Partly, this comes from evangelicalisms roots in the Protestant reformation, when the unbiblical overreaches of the Catholic hierarchy were overthrown. To be sure, this was necessary. The church was never intended to have a king claiming to sit on the throne of Jesus Christ in the world. The church was also never intended to choose its leaders based on wealth, family lineage, or political and military abilities.

Jesus said that the leadership structure of His church would be “upside down” from the world’s leadership, and that the highest level leaders would be “servant of all” (see Mark 10:42-45). Remembering the long history of spiritual abuses by church leaders for centuries, we thank God for reforming the structures, and moving Christianity back to the grassroots levels. This, however, does not nullify the need for leadership.

Still, there are many today who want to throw off all spiritual authority. They believe that “personal salvation” implies complete autonomy in their spiritual life and sanctification. Not only do many want to do away with large organized structures of leadership, such as denominational oversight or national fellowships, but they want to do away with pastors and elders in the local church.

In my ministry in East Africa, where I oversee Sozo Ministries’ 35 churches, I have been accused of being an abusive spiritual dictator for simply following clear and biblical church discipline procedures to correct or remove unqualified pastors within our network. Recently, when I removed a pastor from our ministry for refusal to repent of sin and comply with our ministry policy, I felt the need to let our broader network know. There was nothing said about his sinful behavior or that he had been removed for wrongdoing. I simply said that this pastor “has chosen to leave Sozo Ministries International and will no longer be representing our ministry in any capacity.”

This, however, was met by a personal attack from someone outside of our ministry, who knew the pastor, but not the full details of his sin. They claimed I had made a direct attack on this pastor, intending to destroy his future in ministry, and accused me of unbiblically elevating myself over others, whereas (in their opinion) God has made everyone equal. According to this person, no ministry leader has the right to pass judgement (i.e. attempt to correct the sinfulness) of other leaders who serve under or alongside them.

I am not sharing this story to justify the actions I have taken within our ministry. I believe the Bible when it says I will stand before God and be held to a higher standard for how I have led my ministry (James 3:1), and I do not take that reality lightly. I am simply using this experience to point out how some want to throw off any spiritual leadership, as though God’s intentions were to invest all authority into individual Christians privately, rather than to publicly call leaders to stand as overseers of His church.

God Appoints Leaders

The truth is that God’s original plan was that every individual would be equal, and would be led by Himself alone. However, since the day sin entered into the world, God has appointed leaders among humanity.

  • He appointed the man to be the leader in his home (Genesis 3:16).
  • He appointed the formation of nations (Genesis 11:8, Deuteronomy 32:8), and the establishment of national leaders (Genesis 17:4, Daniel 2:21).
  • He began to raise up righteous men to stand in positions of leadership for the benefit of His people, like Joseph (Genesis 41:44 and 50:19-20) and Daniel (Daniel 2:47-48).
  • He appointed men who would be deliverers and defenders of His people, Israel (Moses, David, Nehemiah).
  • He appointed the Judges (male and female) to defend His people, and keep the peace within Israel.
  • He appointed Priests to act as mediators between Himself and sinful humanity.
  • He appointed Prophets (male and female) to declare His Word and call His people to faithfulness and repentance.
  • He appointed Kings to lead the nation of Israel in righteousness.
  • In the New Testament, Jesus appointed the 12 Apostles to build the church He established, after He returned to heaven.
  • Later, He gave to the church apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers (male and female in each category) to lead the church until we all, finally, reach maturity in Christ (Ephesians 4:11-16). (I believe this will happen at His return.)

While it is true that at the final judgement men will cast all their crowns (authority) at the feet of Jesus, we cannot deny that until that day comes, God looks for, calls, and appoints men and women who will lead in every area of life, including the church.

Am I Called by God?

One of the most challenging questions we must ask ourselves, if we are to take on a role in spiritual leadership, is whether or not God has called us to that role, and if we are qualified to step into the work.

As we move ahead in this series, we will discuss the qualifications for spiritual leadership, at length. For now, let me focus on the “called” question.

I am convinced that God’s “calling” of people into ministry hinges as much on our own willingness and desires, as it does on His sovereign appointment. For example, in the Old Testament, God often speaks of “searching for a man” who had a heart to seek God and lead the people:

And I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?” Then I said, “Here I am! Send me.”

Isaiah 6:8

(God says) And I sought for a man among them who should build up the wall and stand in the breach before me for the land, that I should not destroy it, but I found none.

Ezekiel 22:30

(In anointing King David) But the LORD said to Samuel, “Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the LORD sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the LORD looks on the heart.”

1 Samuel 16:7

For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to give strong support to those whose heart is blameless toward him…

2 Chronicles 16:9

Of course, we know that the leaders God called – Isaiah, David, Ezekiel, and others – had been moved in their spiritual pursuits by the Holy Spirit, to lead them into the place of willingness to lead. Yet, it was ultimately their response to the love and calling from God which made them acceptable to be appointed.

As we begin to look at the appointment of spiritual leaders within the New Testament church, Paul writes to Timothy,

The saying is trustworthy: If anyone aspires to the office of overseer, he desires a noble task.

1 Timothy 3:1

This implies that being “called” into the position of a pastor or elder has as much to do with your own desire and pursuit, as it does with Jesus’ calling.

Discussing this verse, Simon J. Robinson says,

“The word ‘aspires’ is the translation of a word which describes someone who is taking specific steps towards a goal he has in mind and the word ‘desires’ refers to the passion that drives him. Paul is not talking about someone who might like to be a leader because of the status it brings, but about a man who has a conviction that God has called him to this ‘noble task’.”

Simon J. Robinson, Opening up 1 Timothy, Opening Up Commentary (Leominster: Day One Publications, 2004), 55–56.

The first step to knowing you might have a calling from God to ministry is that you have within you a desire and a willingness to serve God’s people without seeking personal glory or benefit. This is a rare characteristic to be sure, yet as Paul continues to list the necessary qualities these men and women must demonstrate (1 Timothy 3:2-13 and Titus 1:5-9), and this selfless lifestyle shines through in each one of them.

Am I Called By The Church?

A second question that must be asked, which is also under attack in the modern world, is “has my calling by God been verified by the church?” Meaning, if you say that God has called you, has this been confirmed by the men and women who have led you in the faith throughout the course of your Christian life.

One of the qualifications we will discuss in a future post is that they “must not be a recent convert” (1 Timothy 3:6). There is a need for them to have been discipled and raised up to maturity in the faith.

From the examples given in the Old Testament, continuing throughout the history of the church, there has been a process of “ordination,” where a persons gifts and callings are recognized by the church, and hands are laid on them, commissioning them into public ministry. We see this in Acts 13:

Now there were in the church at Antioch prophets and teachers…While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” Then after fasting and praying they laid their hands on them and sent them off.

Acts 13:1-3

This was the public recognition of God’s ministry calling on Paul and Barnabas by existing church leadership. Yet verse 4 says of this ordination ceremony that, they were “being sent out by the Holy Spirit.”

Paul also reminds Timothy of the time when the elders laid hands on him, appointing and releasing gifts into him for ministry.

Do not neglect the gift you have, which was given you by prophecy when the council of elders laid their hands on you.

1 Timothy 4:14

Paul later writes to Timothy that as he appoints elders in the church not to prejudge what he sees or to show partiality in this work. He specifically commands him, “Do not be hasty in the laying on of hands…” (1 Timothy 5:22).

Self-Appointed Leaders

Biblically speaking there cannot be legitimate spiritual authority that has been established on it’s own. If there is a call to lead God’s people publicly, there will first be recognition and release by existing church leaders who have seen you grow in spiritual maturity, develop your gifts, and discover the calling on your life.

There is a major crisis in the modern church in this regard! On the one hand, we have many self-proclaimed apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, overseers, bishops, and more, whose giftings have never been publicly recognized or verified by the broader church body. These men and women simply take on the title for themselves, and enter ministry without support or connection with others.

Right now, one of our Sozo Ministries’ pastors in Uganda has been handed the reigns of a church which was founded and built by a self-appointed “prophet.” This man was able to use deceptive means (and likely a lot of witchcraft) to build a big following in the name of Jesus, but by the grace God, the truth about this man was revealed, and he was chased out of the community. Our pastor is now working with this large, but spiritually immature group of people to disciple them into true Christianity. It has proved to be a difficult task, as the faith they have been taught has no foundation in truth. We must be wary of any spiritual leaders who have not been affirmed by spiritual fathers and mothers in the faith

On the other hand, the crisis in the church extends to the fact that many called and appointed leaders remain ignorant and insecure in their spiritual authority, and they do not attempt to raise up and release other leaders into public ministry. Either they do not know the responsibility they have to equip leaders in the church, or worse, they blatantly ignore it because they fear it would threaten their own leadership role if other anointed men and women are raised up.

Let’s Look at Leadership

As we spend the next few weeks looking at the requirements for biblical leadership, it is my desire to call all men and women of God to rise up and meet the qualifications of mature Christianity. If you are already in a spiritual leadership role, it is my desire to spur you on in your personal growth and development in Christ, as He leads you to repent and/or further affirms your standing in the church.

If you are desiring to step into a spiritual leadership role, then I pray you discover what it means to truly be a man or woman of God who leads from truth and integrity, rather than simply relying on the fact that “God called me.” After all, “many are called, but few are chosen” (Matthew 22:14).

If you are someone who despises the thought of spiritual leadership, I hope you can see that the bible not only mandates it, but also gives guidelines to keep it healthy and on track. On the other hand, if you are currently in submission to bad spiritual authority, I hope you will discover God’s true plan for His leaders, and can be set free to submit yourself to better pastors and overseers, who will represent Jesus well.

Whether you feel a calling to ministry or not, I encourage you to stay tuned to this series, as spiritual leadership will affect your life in some way or another. Let’s seek to find out how to live in submission and in authority, biblically.

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© Anthony Scott Ingram 2020. All Rights Reserved.

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