Biblical Eldership Church Leadership

Bible-Based Leadership Structure

regarded as the most significant metaphorical usage of all. . ..More than any of the other images utilized by Paul, it reveals the essence of his thinking about community.l0 The reason behind this preference for the familial aspect of the church is that only the most intimate of human relationships could express the love, closeness, privileges, and relationships that exist be tween God and man, and man and man, as a result of Christ’s incama tion and death. The local Christian church, then, is to be a close-knit family of brothers and sisters. The reality of this strong, familial community supersaturates the New Testament. The New Testament writers most commonly refer to the believers as brethren. Peter refers to the worldwide Christian community as “the brotherhood” (1 Peter 2217; 529). The terms brethren, brother, or sister occur approximately 250 times through out the New Testament. These terms are particularly abundant in Paul’s letters. The New Testament displays the family character of the Christian brotherhood in many practical ways:

0 The early Christians met in homes (Rom. 16:5; 1 Cor. 16:19; C01. 4215; Philem. 2).

- They shared material possessions (Acts 2244,45; 4232; 11229; Rom. 12:13,20; 15:26; 1 Cor. 16:1; 2 Cor. 8; Gal. 2:10; 6210; Heb.13:16;James 2215,16; 1 John 3217).

0 They ate together (Acts 2:46; 20211; 1 Cor. 11:20 ff; Jude 12).

0 They greeted one another with a holy kiss (Rom. 16:16; 1 Cor. 16:20; 2 Cor. 13:12; 1 Thess. 5226; 1 Peter 5:14).

0 They showed hospitality (Acts 16215; 2128,16; Rom. 12213; 1 Tim. 322; 5210; Heb. 1322; 1 Peter 4:9; 3 John 5-8).

0 They cared for widows (Acts 621-6; 9239; 1 Tim. 5:1-16).

- When appropriate, they disciplined their members (1 Cor. 5-6; 2 Cor. 2:1-11; 2 Thess. 326-15; 1 Tim. 5219,20).

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