With Jesus as the Head of the Church, it only makes sense that He determines organizational structure to best accomplish His purpose and mission. We merely guide people in our efforts to align with what He’s already put in place.
Ways Leaders Guide Organizational Efforts in the Church
We guide people to His purpose for organization. The Body “grows and builds itself up in love” (Eph. 4:16). — Our own pursuits often result in organization for the sake of organization, falling short of His purpose.
Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ. From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work. (Eph. 4:15-16)
We guide people to His blueprint for putting structure in place. That involves spiritual gifting and equipping people for serving. — Our own tendencies may be to focus on programming. The Church, however, is about His people on mission with Him.
It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up (Eph. 4:11-12)
We guide people to His assignment of their part in these efforts. We do that by helping them identify their gifting and the part God has determined for them. — Our own human wisdom can’t figure out how to best arrange the parts. He sees the big picture.
Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it. And in the church God has appointed first of all . . . (1 Cor. 12:27-28a)
But in fact God has arranged the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. If they were all one part, where would the body be? As it is, there are many parts, but one body. The eye cannot say to the hand, “I don’t need you!” And the head cannot say to the feet, “I don’t need you!” (1 Cor. 12:18-21)
We guide people to His power to function as an integrated whole. That happens when prayer becomes a part of all we do. — Our own organizational efforts won’t be strong enough to hold us together.
There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work. Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. (1 Cor. 12:6-7)
For help guiding people in these directions, go to: Church Leadership Resources
All Posts about Organization:
- Organization Following God’s Purposes?
- The Cause and Effect Factor of Organization
- The Need for Fluidity in Organization
- Living Organism Needs Organization
- Organizational Structures Help or Hinder?
- Organization Because of Freedom in Christ?
- Organization Enhancing Ministry Not Entangling It?
- Organizational Skills of Jesus
- Why Organizational Skills When We Have God?
- Spiritually Gifted to Organize
- Praying About How to Organize to Best Accomplish Goals
- Rely on the Spirit, Not Organizational Efforts
- The Gospel, the Organized Eternal Plan of God
- Organizational Efforts with a Life-Giving Effect
- The Effects of Life-Giving Organizational Efforts
- The Right Reason for Organization
- Aligning Organizational Efforts with Scripture
- Organization Reliant on the Name of the Lord
- Grace Helps Keep Organization in Check
- Leader’s Role as a Guide in Organizational Efforts
- Perspective and Power Needed for Organization