In this short study we intend to direct our pastors and ministers in a new testament pattern and style of leadership that has been lost throughout the ages but we have as a church once again discovered these spiritual truths.
In the book of Ecclesiastes it says there is nothing new but it has been before, in the same way many of these trends that we call new, are only discoveries if old patterns and practices.
It is important for the church to get back to Gods pattern of leadership.
This can be a problem for some because they have a modern pattern existing in their church or denomination.
The Key is Gods choice, or Gods choosing, it is everything.
Romans 10: 14 How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach, except they be sent?
It is his choice, he chooses
The right man for the Job
When I was younger we would play football with our friends, once we worked out who the captains were we would then allow the captains to choose the players he wanted for his team.
In the same way Jesus is our captain and it is his prerogative to choose whom he wants on his side.
We must presume to take the place of God, then we are making ourselves captains.
At CRCI we believe it is God that calls Pastors and not men.
Ephesians 4: 8 Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men. 9(Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth? 10He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.) And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:

The New Testament Format for Ministry

It is Jesus that gives these ministers to the body:
In order of Authority:-
Apostles……………….Governs
Prophets……………….Guards
Evangelist……………...Gathers
Pastors …………………Guide
Teachers………………...Grounds
In theological terms this is called the five fold ministry
All of these ministers are had picked and chosen by God, no different to the Old Testament prophets, such as Isaiah, Jeremiah ect.
There is so much I can say about the five fold ministry, but at this time we will concentrate on the role of the pastor.
In Greek the word used for Pastor is poimen, which simply means shepherd.
Pastors today are voted in, by men, sometimes a board of trustees, they are ordained by men, Trained in bible colleges by men, to possibly degree level or bachelors degree, and somehow this qualifies them to be a pastor.
The role of pastor has been so undermined and misunderstood, it is no wonder the church finds itself in such a mess.
I wonder how many churches have pastors over them that were not chosen by God.

When a pastor is truly called he is given complete oversight of the church, he is the authority of the local church, he answerable only to God then the Apostle.
He is not answerable to a church board of trustees, to a presbytery (council of elders), the congregation or even a bishop, later on we will give the true meaning of this word.
He is answerable to God as he is a five fold minister.
The biggest hindrance to many churches is tradition.
Jesus greatest battles was with tradition. he said to the Pharisees that there tradition makes the word of God ineffective.
I will list some traditional forms of church leadership.
Episcopalian
This type of church government is found in many churches: Roman Catholic, Anglican, and even church of God (Pentecostal) the word Episcopalian comes from the word episkopos which is another word for bishop overseer, or superintendent.

In this form of government the pastor is answerable to the Bishop, then the bishop to the archbishop, then the pope, many organization do not use the word pope, but they can call the person at the top general overseer, or international bishop, it all boils down to the same thing.
This is unscriptural, because bishops and elders are chosen by the Pastor and not visa versa. Titus 1: 5 For this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou shouldest set in order the things that are wanting, and ordain elders in every city, as I had appointed thee:
If any be blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children not accused of riot or unruly. For a bishop must be blameless, as the steward of God; not self-willed, not soon angry, not given to wine, no striker, not given to filthy lucre;
Notice, Titus is the Pastor the five fold minister given the job of choosing the elders and even bishops. The word for bishop and elders are interchangeably, because a bishop is an elder.
It is a role one can aspire to….Timothy 3: 1 This is a true saying, if a man desires the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work.
You can desire or aspire to the office of a bishop or elder and there are certain moral qualifications that must be met.
It is God given, it is Gods choosing.

Tradition has taught us that the bishop is above the Pastor, by doing this we are putting mans choice above Gods choosing, then we fall into the sin of Israel when they chose to have a King when Yahweh was their King. I Samuel 8: 4 Then all the elders of Israel gathered themselves together, and came to Samuel unto Ramah, And said unto him, Behold, thou art old, and thy sons walk not in thy ways: now make us a king to judge us like all the nations. But the thing displeased Samuel, when they said, Give us a king to judge us. And Samuel prayed unto the LORD. And the LORD said unto Samuel, Hearken unto the voice of the people in all that they say unto thee: for they have not rejected thee, but they have rejected me, that I should not reign over them.

God continued to work with Israel, but it was never the same.
In the same way God still works with this format of church government but it is not his best.

The Presbyterian
The Presbyterian style of church government was first seen in the 16th century with Zwingli and Calvin church reformers who were resisting the totalitarian authority of bishops and the pope.
Later on it was popularised in Scotland, and Great Britain by Knox and others.
In this form of church government the Presbytery, control the church, they choose the pastor and he is answerable to the board, or council of Elders.
The problem with this for is that in scripture we find the reverse it is the Pastor that ordains and chooses elders.
Congregational
By the title we can see that it is the congregation that has the authority.
Voting is usually the means by which decisions are made.
Baptist, Assemblies of God, Churches of Christ, and Congregationalist conform to this pattern.
It is important to note that many of these came up around the time of democratic government in the USA and across Europe.
It was assumed that as the nation was run by the people, even so the church should be run by will of the people.
This form of government may even work in the world for a season, but the church is a supernatural entity and it cannot work.
Moses was divinely called to lead the children of Israel, at one time it was the will of the people to kill Aaron and Moses and go back to Egypt, could you imagine the disaster that would have taken place if the people had there way.
In Exodus when Moses went up into the mountain to receive the Ten Commandments, it was the will of the people to make golden calves and have orgies, Aaron listened to their voice, the consequences were devastating.
God's way is the best way, let us allow our pastors to rule and direct as God gives them direction.

Not just anyone can be a PASTOR he must be called to the position. It is dangerous for us to, make ourselves pastors, this role is only for specific people, it was during the reign of Jereboam an evil took place
Ii Kings 13; 33 After this thing Jeroboam returned not from his evil way, but made again of the lowest of the people priests of the high places: whosoever would, he consecrated him, and he became one of the priests of the high places. And this thing became sin unto the house of Jeroboam, even to cut it off, and to destroy it from off the face of the earth.
Jereboam made anyone a priest, isn't that common today, since the shift from the larger traditional denominations, there are now thousands of new independent churches, and self appointed pastors. God have mercy on us.
Did not Paul say to pastor Timothy that he should make full proof of his ministry.
How many so called pastors can pass the acid test of biblical teaching, there are more erroneous doctrines now, than ever in the history of the church.
CRCI Pastors must adhere to all he recommendation made for elders and deacons in I Timothy 3:1-13

Acts 6: 1 And in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplied, there arose a murmuring of the Grecians against the Hebrews, because their widows were neglected in the daily ministration. Then the twelve called the multitude of the disciples unto them, and said, It is not reason that we should leave the word of God, and serve tables. Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business. But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word. And the saying pleased the whole multitude: and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Ghost, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolas a proselyte of Antioch: Whom they set before the apostles: and when they had prayed, they laid their hands on them. And the word of God increased; and the number of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem greatly; and a great company of the priests were obedient to the faith.

They were chosen, for and by the people to serve, the actual words means to minister, similar to a waiter, these take care of the day to day menial tasks as well as have some opportunity to minister in ehhortation under the Elders.

Here is the pattern for the Local Church:

Pastor …………Five fold minister, called by God

Bishop………….Cheif elder, or superintendent is worthy of double honour I Timothy 5:17….they also preach the word

Elders………….Again he is part of local church management, but not all elders are required to preach.

Deacons…………Minister and serve the people, church preparation

To be continued...