Church Leadership

Remember them that had the rule over you, men that spake unto you the word of God; and considering the issue of their life, imitate their faith.

Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit to them: for they watch in behalf of your souls, as they that shall give account; that they may do this with joy, and not with grief: for this were unprofitable for you.

Take heed unto yourselves, and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit hath made you bishops, to feed the church of the Lord which he purchased with his own blood.

Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in the word and in teaching.

The bishop therefore must be without reproach, the husband of one wife, temperate, sober-minded, orderly, given to hospitality, apt to teach;

And let us not be weary in well-doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.

Be not manyof youteachers, my brethren, knowing that we shall receive heavier judgment.

Keep thy heart with all diligence; For out of it are the issues of life.

Not so shall it be among you: but whosoever would become great among you shall be your minister;

doing nothing through faction or through vainglory, but in lowliness of mind each counting other better than himself;

For the bishop must be blameless, as God’s steward; not self-willed, not soon angry, no brawler, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre;

Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an ensample to them that believe, in word, in manner of life, in love, in faith, in purity.

He must increase, but I must decrease.

fear thou not, for I am with thee; be not dismayed, for I am thy God; I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.

And he gave some to be apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; — read the full passage →

And when they had appointed for them elders in every church, and had prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord, on whom they had believed.

Faithful is the saying, If a man seeketh the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work. — read the full passage →

neither as lording it over the charge allotted to you, but making yourselves ensamples to the flock.

So he was their shepherd according to the integrity of his heart, And guided them by the skilfulness of his hands.

Give diligence to present thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, handling aright the word of truth.

For this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou shouldest set in order the things that were wanting, and appoint elders in every city, as I gave thee charge;

not looking each of you to his own things, but each of you also to the things of others.

I can do all things in him that strengtheneth me.

And we know that to them that love God all things work together for good, even to them that are called according to his purpose.

Faithful is the saying, If a man seeketh the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work.

Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall exalt you.

And the things which thou hast heard from me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.

And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise.

Tend the flock of God which is among you, exercising the oversight, not of constraint, but willingly, according to the will of God; nor yet for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind;

Deacons in like manner must be grave, not double-tongued, not given to much wine, not greedy of filthy lucre; — read the full passage →

All things therefore whatsoever ye would that men should do unto you, even so do ye also unto them: for this is the law and the prophets.

Moreover thou shalt provide out of all the people able men, such as fear God, men of truth, hating unjust gain; and place such over them, to be rulers of thousands, rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens:

And he gave some to be apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;

Where no wise guidance is, the people falleth; But in the multitude of counsellors there is safety.

The elders therefore among you I exhort, who am a fellow-elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, who am also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed: — read the full passage →

Faithful is the saying, If a man seeketh the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work. — read the full passage →

Blessed is the man that endureth temptation; for when he hath been approved, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord promised to them that love him.

And I also say unto thee, that thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.

Ye call me, Teacher, and, Lord: and ye say well; for so I am. — read the full passage →

For this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou shouldest set in order the things that were wanting, and appoint elders in every city, as I gave thee charge; — read the full passage →

But we beseech you, brethren, to know them that labor among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you; — read the full passage →

And Jesus came to them and spake unto them, saying, All authority hath been given unto me in heaven and on earth. — read the full passage →

And Jesus called them to him, and saith unto them, Ye know that they who are accounted to rule over the Gentiles lord it over them; and their great ones exercise authority over them. — read the full passage →

Now in these days, when the number of the disciples was multiplying, there arose a murmuring of the Grecian Jews against the Hebrews, because their widows were neglected in the daily ministration. — read the full passage →

for bodily exercise is profitable for a little; but godliness is profitable for all things, having promise of the life which now is, and of that which is to come.

And from Miletus he sent to Ephesus, and called to him the elders of the church.

When the righteous are increased, the people rejoice; But when a wicked man beareth rule, the people sigh.

The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show unto his servants, even the things which must shortly come to pass: and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John;

It is an abomination to kings to commit wickedness; For the throne is established by righteousness.

if any man is blameless, the husband of one wife, having children that believe, who are not accused of riot or unruly.

holding to the faithful word which is according to the teaching, that he may be able both to exhort in the sound doctrine, and to convict the gainsayers.

Seest thou a man diligent in his business? he shall stand before kings; He shall not stand before mean men.

For God gave us not a spirit of fearfulness; but of power and love and discipline.

And whatsoever ye do, in word or in deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Faithful is the saying, If a man seeketh the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work. — read the full passage →

Commit thy way unto Jehovah; Trust also in him, and he will bring it to pass.

But ye shall not be so: but he that is the greater among you, let him become as the younger; and he that is chief, as he that doth serve.

Salute all them that have the rule over you, and all the saints. They of Italy salute you.

(but if a man knoweth not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?)

But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Ye know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. — read the full passage →

through the hypocrisy of men that speak lies, branded in their own conscience as with a hot iron;

Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee, and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee; I have appointed thee a prophet unto the nations.

But if any of you lacketh wisdom, let him ask of God, who giveth to all liberally and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.

Then it seemed good to the apostles and the elders, with the whole church, to choose men out of their company, and send them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas; namely, Judas called Barsabbas, and Silas, chief men among the brethren:

And he gave some to be apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; — read the full passage →

But we beseech you, brethren, to know them that labor among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you;

Let deacons be husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well.

Every scripture inspired of God is also profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for instruction which is in righteousness: — read the full passage →

But let your speech be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: and whatsoever is more than these is of the evil one.

Take heed to thyself, and to thy teaching. Continue in these things; for in doing this thou shalt save both thyself and them that hear thee.

Likewise, ye younger, be subject unto the elder. Yea, all of you gird yourselves with humility, to serve one another: for God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace to the humble.

If thou faint in the day of adversity, Thy strength is small.

To him therefore that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.

Look ye out therefore, brethren, from among you seven men of good report, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business.

For I say, through the grace that was given me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but so to think as to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to each man a measure of faith. — read the full passage →

but he that knew not, and did things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes. And to whomsoever much is given, of him shall much be required: and to whom they commit much, of him will they ask the more.

and let us consider one another to provoke unto love and good works; — read the full passage →

Be thou diligent to know the state of thy flocks, And look well to thy herds: — read the full passage →

And the word of Jehovah came unto me, saying, — read the full passage →

Brethren, even if a man be overtaken in any trespass, ye who are spiritual, restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness; looking to thyself, lest thou also be tempted. — read the full passage →

Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus, to all the saints in Christ Jesus that are at Philippi, with the bishops and deacons:

But he said, The things which are impossible with men are possible with God.

Now these were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, examining the scriptures daily, whether these things were so.

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth on him should not perish, but have eternal life. — read the full passage →

Brethren, be ye imitators together of me, and mark them that so walk even as ye have us for an ensample.

Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath set over his household, to give them their food in due season? — read the full passage →

Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and will show thee great things, and difficult, which thou knowest not.

no brawler, no striker; but gentle, not contentious, no lover of money;

being confident of this very thing, that he who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Jesus Christ:

I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will counsel thee with mine eye upon thee.

for it is God who worketh in you both to will and to work, for his good pleasure.

Deacons in like manner must be grave, not double-tongued, not given to much wine, not greedy of filthy lucre;

but if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how men ought to behave themselves in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.

casting all your anxiety upon him, because he careth for you.

The king that faithfully judgeth the poor, His throne shall be established for ever.

I exhort therefore, first of all, that supplications, prayers, intercessions, thanksgivings, be made for all men; — read the full passage →

And my God shall supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.

And there was given me a reed like unto a rod: and one said, Rise, and measure the temple of God, and the altar, and them that worship therein. — read the full passage →

But the Spirit saith expressly, that in later times some shall fall away from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of demons, — read the full passage →

Open thy mouth for the dumb, In the cause of all such as are left desolate. — read the full passage →