• 1 Timothy 3:1-5
    This is a faithful saying: If a man desires the position of a bishop, he desires a good work. A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, temperate, sober-minded, of good behavior, hospitable, able to teach; not given to wine, not violent, not greedy for money, but gentle, not quarrelsome, not covetous; one who rules his own house well, having his children in submission with all reverence (for if a man does not know how to rule his own house, how will he take care of the church of God?);
     
  • 1 Corinthians 12:18
    But now God has set the members, each one of them, in the body just as He pleased.
     
  • Philippians 2:5-7
    Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men.
     
  • 1 Timothy 5:17
    Let the elders who rule well be counted worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in the word and doctrine.
     
  • 2 Timothy 4:2-4
    Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables.
     
  • Titus 1:6-9
    if a man is blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children not accused of dissipation or insubordination. For a bishop must be blameless, as a steward of God, not self-willed, not quick-tempered, not given to wine, not violent, not greedy for money, but hospitable, a lover of what is good, sober-minded, just, holy, self-controlled, holding fast the faithful word as he has been taught, that he may be able, by sound doctrine, both to exhort and convict those who contradict.
     
  • 1 Peter 5:1-4
    The elders who are among you I exhort, I who am a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that will be revealed: Shepherd the flock of God which is among you, serving as overseers, not by compulsion but willingly, not for dishonest gain but eagerly; nor as being lords over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock; and when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that does not fade away.
     
For more scripture references, please see Bible verses for Church Leadership


Resources

Principles of Church Leadership

Feast of Tabernacles Sermon by Richard T. Ritenbaugh

A major responsibility for the fracturing of the WCG rested with the leadership, based on a philosophy of authoritarianism Christ warned against.


What's Wrong with Leadership Today?

Commentary by Martin G. Collins

For those aspiring to leadership in God's Kingdom, greatness comes from humbly serving others, not arrogantly ruling over them like gentile rulers.


Anarchy in God's Church? (Part Three)

CGG Weekly by David C. Grabbe

If we reject the spiritual gifts God gave to others, we put ourselves at risk of being deceived, and altering our belief system in response to every new idea.


Character and Leadership

Sermon/Bible Study by Richard T. Ritenbaugh

Leaders cannot compartmentalize their personal and public lives. Immorality in private life will bleed into public leadership. Jesus condemned hypocrisy.


Letters to Seven Churches (Part Two): Ephesus

Sermon by Richard T. Ritenbaugh

The Ephesus church effectively battled various heresies, for which Christ commends it. However, the members lost sight of the reason, having left their first love.


The Church Family - Convinced and Persuaded

Sermon by Martin G. Collins

Church government should reflect God's government, typified as a family, with Christ as the loving husband and the church as the submissive wife.


Unity (Part 2): God's Pattern of Leadership

Feast of Tabernacles Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh

God is not the author of confusion, but throughout the scriptures has used a consistent pattern of appointing leaders over His called-out ones.


What Type of Leader Are You?

Sermonette by Ted E. Bowling

Jesus Christ did not teach the pyramid model of leadership, where successive levels of leaders provide direction to those in the lesser ranks. He served.



For more resources, please see the library topic for Church Leadership