Who is in charge of the church? Continuing this series about the church, Pastor Jamie shares about church authority. 

What is a church?

Ekklesia - a church is an intentional gathering of people who follow Jesus. It's not a building, it's a spiritual family.

Who is in charge of the church?

Jesus is in charge of the church.

Colossians 1:8 NLT "Christ is also the head of the church, which is his body."

Ephesians 1:22-23 NLT

Jesus is in charge, but He uses leaders to care for His body.

Ephesians 4:11-13

Jesus gave us some going-away gifts. He left us with the Holy Spirit, His written word, and He left us with leaders who have been gifted and commissioned to help us all grow spiritually.

In the church, everyone is a minister, but not everyone is a leader. 

Things you need to know about church leadership:

1. Leaders are stewards.       

Matthew 28:18-19a

Leaders of the church are simply stewards of Jesus' authority.

James 3:1 NLT "Dear brothers and sisters, not many of you should become teachers in the church, for we who teach will be judged more strictly."

2. Leaders are servants.       

Mark 10:42-45

Don't wait to get your life together before you serve others. Serving others is how you get your life together.

3. Leaders are imperfect and incomplete.

1 Timothy 1:16 

Don't ever try to get from a leader what you can only get from the Lord. We don't follow people, we follow Jesus.

4. Some church leaders are bad leaders.

Jeremiah 23:1-2

Leaders who have unquestioned authority, exert control over you, require you to get permission from them, practice elitism and utilize shunning are engaging in spiritual abuse. RUN.

5. Leaders are necessary.    

Hebrews 13:17 "Obey your spiritual leaders, and do what they say. Their work is to watch over your souls, and they are accountable to God. Give them reason to do this with joy and not with sorrow. That would certainly not be for your benefit."

Acts 20:28-30

We need shepherds because there are wolves out there, and shepherds lay their lives down for the sake of the sheep.  

It's time for you to get healed from church hurt.

The Lord told me years ago that he was going to send people to VFC that had been wounded.

Proverbs 14:4

The church is plan A for bringing the Kingdom to earth and there is no backup plan. Church is a spiritual hospital – you will find sick people. Church is a spiritual gym – you will find out-of-shape people.

God lives among the mess. We should as well.

Are you embracing church authority?