Serving vs. Leading

Just to make sure we can establish the difference, we wanted to make clear that there is a distinction between serving in the church and leading in the church.

Servanthood is for any believer in Christ Jesus.

This is for EVERYONE. Jesus said Himself “But he who is greatest among you shall be your servant” in Matthew 23:11.

Serving comes in many forms such as:

  • Volunteering to help clean up after a service, event, or fellowship meal
  • Decorating or helping set up for an event
  • Helping on workdays at the church
  • Cooking meals for families in need within the church or helping in the kitchen.
  • Serving in the nursery
  • Etc.

Serving comes in many forms, and we encourage anyone to serve in any capacity that
they can, but what separates them is the teaching aspect.

If someone is going to be leading a study within the church or in affiliation with the church, teaching a Sunday school class, or a children’s lesson within the Children’s Ministry, then we must be held to a higher level of accountability. This is explained below!

It is our firm belief that all believers should be striving for perfection and holiness! Not only those in leadership or teaching positions! May we all desire to live this way!

For Teachers/Leaders

First, thank you for your desire and interest in teaching or leading.

Before you read what is written below please understand the significance of leading something within the church. James 3:1 states “My brethren, let not many of you become teachers, knowing that we shall receive stricter judgement.”

A leader is someone that the children, teens, and other adults are going to be watching closer and listening more to what you have to say because you are in that position.

As Pastors, Caitlin and I must realize that we are held accountable and judged more harshly by the way we lead as well as who we allow to lead within the church that He has called us to lead.

This also means that you will be held more accountable to the Lord as you lead. We cannot allow ourselves to be a stumbling block to others.

Supporting Scriptures:

1 Corinthians 8:9 “But beware lest somehow this liberty of yours become a stumbling block to those who are weak.

2 Corinthians 6:3 “We give no offense in anything, that our ministry may not be blamed.”

Matthew 18:6 “But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to sin, it would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were drowned in the depth of the sea.”

This is why we are setting these standards for those that want to lead within the body. The goal is not to promote self-righteousness because we are all sinners (Romans 3:23), but to establish a leadership team that seeks holiness and is setting an example for the ones who are in attendance

Expectations for Leadership/Teaching Roles:

  • A Professed believer in Jesus Christ as Lord
    All scripture points us to this very thing! Jesus is Lord! We stand on Romans 10:8-9 “But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith which we preach): that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.”

  • Possesses an understanding of the Gospel
    We believe that all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. All need a Savior. We believe that salvation is a gift that comes through the knowledge of Jesus Christ in His birth, life, death, and resurrection. We believe that salvation comes by grace through faith to the believer. That is someone comes to the realization of their sin and believes in the death of Christ as the perfect sacrifice for our sins, His burial, and His resurrection over death and confesses with their mouth that Jesus is Lord, they shall be saved. There is no other way unto salvation except through Jesus Christ. We believe that it is the Lord’s desire that all come to the knowledge of Jesus Christ and be saved. This is why we preach the gospel!

    1 John 1:8-9; John 3:16; John 14:6; Romans 3:23; Romans 6:23; Ephesians 2:8-9; Galatians 2:16; Romans 10:9, 2 Peter 3:9

  • Must have followed through with the step of Immersion Baptism
    Although we believe that faith in Jesus Christ is what saves a believer, we still believe the important step in obedience of immersion baptism of a believer. This was significant even in the life of Jesus himself and an important part of the Great Commission given to the church before Jesus’ ascension into heaven.

    Matthew 28:19     “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit”. The Greek word used for “baptizing” in this passage is baptizontes and means to dip or sink.

  • Must value and model the sanctity of Marriage and flee sexual immorality
    We believe that marriage is defined in the Bible as a sacred covenant between one man and one woman instituted by God and is a direct reflection of the relationship between Jesus (the Groom) and His church (the bride). As a leader within the church, we should be setting the standard for all of those that we are leading by modeling what commitment in marriage looks like and refraining from sexual immorality outside of wedlock. (This does NOT mean you must be married to teach or lead; it just means that we must save intimacy for the marriage bed)

    Matthew 19:4-6; Hebrews 13:4; Genesis 2:18-24; Isaiah 62:5; 1 Corinthians 6:18;     1 Corinthians 7:2

  • Must not be a drunkard but refrain from intoxication
    We must always remain sober minded! One moment of weakness or dissipation can cause much stumbling to occur.

    Ephesians 5:18     “And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit.”

  • Be committed and love your church!
    If God has called you here to Centerville, commit to this part of the body! Be present and promote the love for Christ and the brethren!

    Hebrews 10:24-25     “And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching."

  • Like-mindedness
    Unity comes from having the same mindset as the others around you and gives the desire to push to a goal! Our desire is to lead and edify others to Christ!

    Philippians 2:1-4     “Therefore if there is any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and mercy, fulfill my joy by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord of one mind. Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others."

  • Speak Life and Refrain from Gossip Talk As mentioned in previous parts, we must desire to edify others to Christ and be an example of Christ. We must honor Ephesians 4:29 that states “Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers.”

    A leader is one who promotes unity! We must not be the ones to stir conflict or cause division but be the ones who are seeking unity and peace between the brethren.

    Proverbs 16:28     “A perverse person stirs up conflict, and a gossip separates close friends.”

    Proverbs 26:20     “Without wood a fire goes out; without gossip a quarrel dies down.”

    Matthew 5:9     “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.”

    Romans 12:18     “If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men.”

    ** Also be aware the social media can be used by the enemy this way as well! Be cautious!

When the Lord returns, He wants to find a bride without spot or wrinkle! He wants to find
a bride that is adorned for Him! The only way that we can attribute to this is to hold
ourselves accountable and seek righteousness!

Ephesians 5 speaks about how Christ wants to sanctify His church as a Husband should want to sanctify his bride!

Ephesians 5:25-27 “Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish."

May we desire not only to be sanctified but to also show those who we are leading what it looks like!

Please feel free to ASK QUESTIONS if you have them. If you need more clarity, please ask me.

– Pastor Jacob Guillory