The Significance of Biblical Teaching of Church Leadership and Its Implications to

Sumi Baptist Church in Nagaland

Chapter One

1. Introduction

Leadership appear to affect every sphere of life. Lack of proper and efficient leadership

seems to have resulted in many crises, especially in Nagaland India. In this thesis the

researcher will do in-depth study on biblical principles of church leadership and explain its

significance for today and the much need of biblical leadership model in the church and our

society. The situation of the world is deteriorating from bad to worse, corruption is rampant,

hatred is seen in all walks of life, chaos in society, relationship breakdowns in all relations,

evil and notorious governments. We need godly leadership to rebuild our society,

governments and homes.that the true leader is concern primarily with the welfare of others.

Not with his own and comfort or prestige. Many people have needs that their ministers have

overlooked. This problem should be addressed with concern because the Christian leader role

is to seek the comfort of the members under him. The another problem is church leaders

today appointing the members in church if they find favour in them example, if they are

wealthy and in good position they appoint them as Deacon, deaconess, Ushers in the church

randomly without observing their life with God. Because of all those problems the church is

corrupt today. Therefore this thesis focuses on the perception and practice of Christian

leadership in the deeper life bible church. It deals with how leadership is perceived and

practiced, and how churches have to run according to the pattern of Jesus. This makes it

possible for the church to assign roles and responsibilities equitably among leaders. The

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effectiveness of every institution whether secular or spiritual, may be guarded by the set of

leadership principle.

1.1. Reason for Selecting of the Topic

The researcher would like to study of how church should practice the leadership in a biblical

ways, because many church members are dying in their spiritual life.. There is more human

influence leadership in the church rather than godly leadership, more about human concept

and less of the biblical foundation, in dealing with the functioning of the Church.

Therefore, the researcher present this thesis to called upon the Nagaland Sumi Church to

recommit themselves to biblical strategies of human service and the functioning of the church

that will result in an inside-out transformation. The researcher will bring biblical teaching or

role in church for the leaders to be more effective and rooted in biblical teachings and fulfil

their responsibilities.

1.2 Literature Review Commented [WU1]: You may improve upon you literature
review

In this thesis the researcher will use the following books which are mention below.

1.2.1.J. Oswald Sander, (1997)

In this book, Spiritual Leadership, he says that “commitment to spiritual growth, he is a

consulting director of overseas missionary fellowship and international preaching ministry.

He designed as a tool to help the Church leader to grow and successfully apply the principle

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of biblical teaching. He also point out the responsibilities of church leaders.”1 So the

researcher believes that his writing of this book will help the church leaders to grow and learn

the biblical teaching.

1.2.2. TodEngstorm& Paul Cedar, (2000)

In this bookCompassionate Leadership: rediscovering the Jesus radical leadership style

“Author share the thoughts about the example of Jesus modeled as a servant leader to learn

with them as they examine his guiding legacy. Their discussion is focused of Jesus habit of

generosity, believing in people meeting the needs encouraging friend getting excited about

good things that happen to others and challenging people to draw close to God”.2 Researcher

thought this are the step to become of the compassionate service to God and the member of

the church.

1.2.3. Hans Finzil, (1994) Commented [WU2]: Careful how you give your footnote

In this bookThe Top Ten Mistakes Leaders Make.“The author of this book brings the top-

down leadership style is all about command and control. The top-down attitude places the

leader as the most important person at the top of the organisational pyramid. It is

domineering and autocratic. It is the opposite of empowerment”.3 Researcher felt that this

book will help the readers to learn and see which area he/she fail.

1.2.4 ThabitiAnyabwile,(2012)

1
J. Oswald Sander, spiritual leadership, (Moody Publishers:1997).
2
TodEngstorm& Paul Cedar, Compassionate leadership, ( Baker Books: 2000).
3
Hans Finzal, The top ten mistakes leaders make: rediscovering the Jesus radical leadership style (2000)
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In this bookfinding faithful servant and deacon “ThabitiAnyabwile writes from his expertise

as a pastor and elder, showing how to identify and reproduce legitimate leaders and willing

servants throughout the ranks of the local church. Balancing thoughtful analysis of pertinent

passages with thorough application for practical use in a contemporary context, Anyabwile

answers the questions, "Who should we look for to lead and serve in the church?" and "What

should they do to fulfill their calling? 4

Every church leader knows the qualifications for elders and deacons that are spelled out in

the Bible, but actually finding other leaders who fulfil the biblical qualifications can be

difficult”.

1.2.5 Ken Blanchard (2008)

In this book Lead Like Jesus:Lessons from the Greatest Leadership Role Model of All Time,

“With simple yet profound principles from the life of Jesus and dozens of stories and

leadership examples from his life experiences, veteran author, speaker and leadership expert

Ken Blanchard guides readers through the process of discovering how to lead like Jesus. He

describes it as the process of aligning two internal domains-the heart and the head-and two

external domains-the hands and the habits. These four dimensions of leadership form the

outline for this very practical and transformational book”5. This book will help today leaders

how to lead their assign tasks like Jesus

1.2.6 Ted Wilhelm Engstrom, (1978)

In this bookThe Making of a Christian Leader, “This book talk about Dynamic and effective

leadership is the key to growth and success in any organization, including the Christian

4
ThabitiAnyabwile, finding faithful servant and deacon, (2012)
5
Ken Blanchard, Lead Like Jesus:Lessons from the Greatest Leadership Role Model of All Time, (Baker book
2008).
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Church. In The Making of a Christian Leader, Ted W. Engstrom explains that good

leadership begins with a clear understanding of tested principles of management and human

relations. Then, building on practice and experience in developing skills, the leader cultivates

the qualities and personal traits that make good managers. "When we decry the scarcity of

leadership talent in our society," Engstrom says, "we are not talking about a lack of people,

but rather a scarcity of people willing to assume significant roles and get the job done

effectively”.6 This book has been written to help the Christian leader get a clearer picture of

what he wants to do and be in a church or organization and how to get there."

1.2.7Howard A. Snyder, (1983).

In this bookLiberating the Church: The Ecology of the church and kingdom“The major

portion of this book explain about, how to liberation the church. And the author gives us the

conclusion that it is through an effective role of a leadership, function of Scripture in church

functioning, and also the concern of justice and the poor within and outside the church”.7

The church should liberate with full dynamic implication of the biblical functioning of the

church that’s what the researcher also believe and will discuss in this research paper. The

functioning and organization of the church should be distinct which has to be God’s intended

derivation as the author suggest. Leadership within the church should not be outside the

biblical which will lead to crises of leadership spiritual. The authors also mention the worldly

qualification for leadership replace biblical leadership which is partially happen in our Local

churches today and the researcher also mention all this problem which it happen within the

Naga churches.

6
Ted Wilhelm Engstrom, The Making of a Christian Leader, (Zondervan, 1978).
7
Howard A. Snyder: Liberating the Church: The Ecology of the church and kingdom, (InterVarsity Press,
1983).
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1.2.8 John N. Collins, (2002)

In this book Deacons and the church: Making connection between old and new “It was

written for deacons of all denominations, and it has implication for the whole church as the

issues it raises go beyond the office of the deacon and touch on the nature of the church itself,

on its ministry and its use of the scriptures”.8

There is totally confusion in the church regarding the role of deacon. If we can understand the

early church deacons we ought to be in a better position to decide what we actually meant to

be a deacon in the church. The question is for clearer understanding of the role of deacon in

our modern church and for that we have to clear away the misunderstanding of early deacons

so that we would be able to avoid working from unreliable models there is conflict between

pastor and deacon because of those error.

1.2.9 John MacArthur, (1991).

In tis bookThe Master’s Plan for the Church“It is absolute essential that a church perceives

itself as an institution for the glory of God and to do that, John the author claim that the

church must adhere unfalteringly to biblical leadership principles. In this book the author

explains what church pastor’s meant to be, as Christ never intended church leadership to be

earned by seniority, purchased with money, or inherited through family ties. He never

compared church leaders to governing monarchs, but rather to humble shepherds. Not to slick

celebrities but to laboring servant”.9

The researcher feel that church leaders need to understand the biblical leadership principle

thoroughly especially pastor in the church.

8
John N. Collins: Deacons and the church: Making connection between old and new, (Morehouse Publishing,
2002)

9
John MacArthur: The Master’s Plan for the Church,( Moody Publishers; New edition ( September 2008)
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1.2.10 Mark Senter(1990)

Recruiting Volunteers in the Church“The author of this book wrestled with recruiting

problems in three churches over the period of his eighteen years. He tackle with topic not

detached observer, he says recruiting volunteer in the church offer step by step procedures

and abundance of resources material to help leaders in their recruiting”.10

Researcher will bring more idea from this book to help the leaders today who have trouble in

electing volunteer in the church.

1.3 Statement of the Problem

Today as we look at Church around we can encounter that Church is corrupt and is in a mess

because Church leadership fails to follow the biblical teaching and practice, for example:

electing church deacons and deaconess, youth leaders and ushers and responsibility of pastor

and the role of deacon chairman, therefore the researcher felt that the Churches today should

study thoroughly of what the Bible talks about leadership and how to effectively lead the

sheep as the pastor to avoid problems in his ministry.

1.3.1. Elaboration of the Problem

One of the most discussed issues in our contemporary world today’s is that of leadership

crisis. The main cause of leadership problem in Nagaland is misusing the position appointed

to them, because many leaders don’t look for someone who is spiritual but seek after those

10
Mark Senter, Recruiting Volunteers in the Church.(Victor Books (October 1990).
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people who are man of position, wealthy and known by society and keeping aside those who

really have intimate relationship with God. Today leader should know biblical teaching

thoroughly because leadership taught in the Bible is better than any model we can find, Jesus’

leadership with his disciple is best example. He teaches and train before they involve in

ministry.

1.4. Significance of the Study

Nagaland is basically a Christian state , however most of the church is dying spiritually

because of lack of godly leadership in the church. Abuse of leadership in the church, showing

partiality or favouritism in all aspects of church life, what is the cause of all this misfortune in

the church and its effect on the spiritual life of the individual members and corporate life of

the church. The researcher believes the study will enable to bring change and transformation

in all aspects of church life and at every level of believers life in the church.

1.5. Definition of the Terms

Church: Many people today understand the church as a building. This is not the biblical

understanding of the church. The word ‘church’ comes from the Greek word ekklesiawhich is

defined as “an Assembly” or “called out one.” The root meaning of the church is not that of a

building but of people. The church is the body of Christ of which he is the head.

Leadership: A simple definition is that leadership is the art of motivating a group of people

to act towards achieving a common goal. In a business setting, this can mean directing

workers and colleagues with a strategy to meet the company's needs. This leadership

definition captures the essentials of being able to inspire others and being prepared to do so.

Effective leadership is based upon ideas (whether original or borrowed), but won't happen

unless those ideas can be communicated to others in a way that engages them enough to act

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as the leader wants them to act. Put even more simply, the leader is the inspiration and

director of the action. He or she is the person in the group that possesses the combination of

personality and leadership skills that makes others want to follow his or her direction.

1.5. Purpose and Objective of the Study

1. To investigate a biblical teaching on church leadership to Nagaland India

2. To provide the biblical teaching to all the churches in Nagaland. The purpose of this

research paper will enlighten the core meaning of how principle of biblical teaching of

Church leaders should follow which the Lord Jesus Christ founded and also the biblical

functioning of the church: what and how it ought to be. It will also make sure to deal with

from Biblical perspective, which will be more effective in dealing the Church functioning.

3. The choice of this topic is to re-examine the Church as the Body of Christ on which the

function and principles should be based on the biblical understanding of the Church.

4. To provide right qualification to be a part of Church minister and to serve God

5. Activities to follow inside the Church according to Biblical teaching

6. Biblical conclusion on Church leadership to support the research.

1.6.The Research Questions

This research will be mainly deal on the important feature in Biblical study on the important

of church leadership which will be helpful for churches in Nagaland today. The following

major question will be tried to answer by this study. The questions are as follows:

Q1. What principles should the pastor follow?

Q2. What does the Bible say about the Church leadership?

Q3. What qualification is needed when electing the member in church service?

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Q4. What activities should leaders follow and un-follow?Should secular people involve in

Church office?

Q5. What are the qualification of Pastor’s and the Deacon’s according to the Bible?

1.7. Methodology of the Study

This thesis will be following a Biblical teaching of the Church leadership and method is base

on the information which already available and analysis to make a critical evaluation of the

sources as it exists at present. And also the researcher will also base on the applied research

method which aims at finding a solution for an immediate problem faced by the church.

The researcher will be using the research materials from AECS library, and also access other

library, internet sources, Bible, and for the implication section mostly an interview with local

pastor and church leaders within the churches in Nagaland.

1.9.Scope and Limitation of the Study

The researcher feels the need of the Church’s to understand the biblical teaching of church

leadership in NagasSumi Church because the Church is corrupt and dying in spirituality.

Therefore, this research paper will be limited to the Churches in Nagaland in general and in

the conclusion and motivational application will also refer to the churches in Nagaland.

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CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION Commented [WU3]: Can you make an outline by outlining the
following outline?
1. Introduction Chapter One: Introduction
Chapter Two: Nature and Function of the Church
1.1 Reason for Selecting the Topic Chapter Three: Leadership Pattern in the Old Testament
Chapter Four: Leadership Pattern in the Gospel
Chapter Five: Leadership Pattern in Pauline Writings
1.2 Literature Review Chapter Six: Implications of Biblical Leadership Pattern to Sumi
Baptist Churches
1.3 Statement of the Problem
1.3.1 Elaboration of the Problem
1.4 Significance of Study
1.5 Definition of the Terms
1.6 The Research Questions
1.7 Purpose and Objective of the Study
1.8 Methodology of the Study
1.9. Scope and Limitation of the Research
1.10. Tentative Outline

Chapter Two: Nature and Function of the church Commented [U4]:

CH 2: Nature and Function of the Church
2. Introduction 1.Leadership in the gospel church
2.Leadership and Nature of the church
2.1. Pattern of leadership in the church 3.Leadership and function of the church

2.1.1. The responsibilities of leadership

2.1.2. Emergence of leadership in the church
2.2. Compassionate Leadership
2.2.1. Servant leadership
2.2.2. Shepherding leadership
2.2.3. Animating leadership
2.3. The top ten mistakes leaders make
2.3.1. The Top-down Attitude
2.3.2. Putting Paperwork before People work
2.3.3. The Absence of Affirmation

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 2.3.4. Failure to Focus on the Future
2.4. Summary

Chapter Three: Leadership Pattern in the Old Testament Commented [U5]: The Significance of the Pattern Leadership in
the Old Testament
3. Introduction 1.The principle of headship
2.The principle of Anointing
3.1. What is leadership and authority? 3.The principle of empowerment
4. The principle of delegation
5.The principle of the Word
3.1.1. Leadership accountability 6.The principle of sovereignty of God
3.1.2. Leadership limitation
3.1.3. Discipleship and mentoring
3.2. What does the bible say about the church leadership?
3.2.1. Commitment
3.2.2. Emergence of Leadership
3.2.3. Leader must effectively control the operation
3.2.4. Developing leadership skills
3.3. Interviewing and Recruiting volunteer in the Church
3.3.1. Evaluating personally
3.3.2. Biblical teaching to new volunteer
3.3.3. Nurturing the recruiting
3.4. Summary

Chapter Four: Leadership Pattern in the Gospel Commented [U6]:

Ch 4:The Significance of leadership pattern in the Gospel
1.The principle of Servant-hood leadership
4. Introduction 2. The principle of influence
3.The principle of compassion
4.1. Significant of Biblical foundation 4. The principle of faithfulness
5.The principle of character
4.1.1. The process of identifying, developing, and affirming elders and deacons 6.The principle of good communication
7.The principle of divine calling
4.1.2. How to identify and reproduce legitimate leaders and willing servants 8.The principle of shared responsibility
9.The principle of a team
4.1.3. knows the qualifications for elders and deacons
4.1.4. Replacing leaders
4.2. The responsibilities of the leadership
4.2.1. Be willing to restore a fallen brother
4.2.2. Have a positive awareness of the will of God

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 4.2.3. Have a spiritual mind
4.2.4. Avoid division and arguments
4.3. The role of church leader
4.3.1. Casting a Compelling Vision
4.3.2. Aligning the resources necessary to accomplish the vision
4.3.3. Godly church leaders are responsible to walk personally with God
4.4. Summary

Chapter Five: Leadership Pattern in Pauline Writings Commented [U7]:

CH 5: the significance of Pauline Pattern of leadership
1. gift of leadership is foundational
5. Introduction 2.character if foundational qualification
3. team work is foundational
5.1. A brief background of Nagaland churches 4. shared vision is foundational
5. equipping next generation is foundational
5.5.1. The land 6. the Holy Spirit’s leading is foundational
7. Suffering for Christ is foundational
5.5.2. The arrival of Christianity 8. Prayer is foundational

5.5.3. Early church leaders

5.5.4. Present churches situation
5.2. The impact of church mission
5.5.1. Positive impact
5.5.2. Negative impact

Chapter Six: Implications of Biblical Leadership Pattern to Sumi Baptist Churches

5. Introduction
5.1. A brief background of Nagaland churches
5.5.1. The land
5.5.2. The arrival of Christianity
5.5.3. Early church leaders
5.5.4. Present churches situation
5.2. The impact of church mission
5.5.1. Positive impact
5.5.2. Negative impact

Conclusion

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Bibliography

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