READ: 1 Timothy 3:1-13
“Nevertheless the LORD raised up judges, which delivered them out of the hand of those that spoiled them.“ – Judges 2:16
The Bible reveals diverse descriptions of leaders.
Leadership is called government by the apostle Paul. It is considered a grace from God: “And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly, teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues” (1 Corinthians 12:28).
A leader is described as a ruler by Paul. Leadership is considered a gift from God: “Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; He that ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness” (Romans 12:8).
The biblical style of leadership is different from leadership as prescribed by the world: “But not so with you, but let him who is the greatest among you become as the youngest, and the leader as the servant” (Luke 22:26, NASB).
In the Bible, a person is qualified to lead a church if he is able to lead a woman. Leadership is considered the preserve of some people (not all men): “(For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?)” (1 Timothy 3:5).
The leaders of Israel were called judges or kings at different times. Their leadership styles and their achievements were described in the books of Judges and Kings: “As the Lord hath been with my lord the king, even so be he with Solomon, and make his throne greater than the throne of my lord king David” (1 Kings 1:37).