Bible Verses About Church Leadership

Remember them which have the rule over you, who have spoken unto you the word of God: whose faith follow, considering the end of their conversation.

Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you.

Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.

Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially they who labour in the word and doctrine.

A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach;

And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.

My brethren, be not many masters, knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation.

Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.

But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister;

Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.

For a bishop must be blameless, as the steward of God; not selfwilled, not soon angry, not given to wine, no striker, not given to filthy lucre;

Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.

He must increase, but I must decrease.

Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.

And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;

And when they had ordained them elders in every church, and had prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord, on whom they believed.

This is a true saying, If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work.

Neither as being lords over God's heritage, but being ensamples to the flock.

So he fed them according to the integrity of his heart; and guided them by the skilfulness of his hands.

Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

For this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou shouldest set in order the things that are wanting, and ordain elders in every city, as I had appointed thee:

Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.

I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.

And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.

And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise.

Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind;

Likewise must the deacons be grave, not doubletongued, not given to much wine, not greedy of filthy lucre;

Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets.