By Not Known
Much is expected of those who serve as church leaders, including the Elders and Deacons that we elect today.
Read what qualities they are expected to have:
1The saying is sure: If any one aspires to the office of bishop, he desires a noble task.
2Now a bishop must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, temperate, sensible, dignified, hospitable, an apt teacher,
3no drunkard, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, and no lover of money.
4He must manage his own household well, keeping his children submissive and respectful in every way;
5for if a man does not know how to manage his own household, how can he care for God’s church?
6He must not be a recent convert, or he may be puffed up with conceit and fall into the condemnation of the devil;
7moreover he must be well thought of by outsiders, or he may fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.
8Deacons likewise must be serious, not double-tongued, not addicted to much wine, not greedy for gain;
9they must hold the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience.
10And let them also be tested first; then if they prove themselves blameless let them serve as deacons.
11The women likewise must be serious, no slanderers, but temperate, faithful in all things.
12Let deacons be the husband of one wife, and let them manage their children and their households well;
(1 Ti. 3: 1- 12)
Now read what duties are expected from church leaders:
11And his gifts were that some should be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers,
12to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ,
13until 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 fulness of Christ; (Eph. 4: 11- 13)
Do pray for all our leaders (Elders, Deacons and pastoral staff). Pray that they will have grace to always show the qualities spoken of in the Scriptures. Pray also that they will always have a heart for ministry – to help God’s people graw into Jesus, to be like Jesus and to serve Him.