Min. Brandy Moore
There is a great deal of importance in having an effective leadership within the church community. The growth and maturity of the church depends upon the leadership that is being applied into the lives of the people each day without any excuses.
1 Corinthians 3:1-17 explains the event of when Paul was addressing the church of Corinth about leadership. “For when one says, I follow Paul, and another I follow Apollos, are you not mere human beings? What, after all, is Apollos? And what is Paul? Only servants, through whom you came to believe—as the Lord has assigned to each his task. I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow” (1 Corinthians 3:4-6). We must choose to follow Christ and not man. We are His servants. Effective leadership involves touching the lives of others with encouragement through the Word of God. We plant the seed of knowledge, and it takes the watering of continuing to learn, and only God can bring forth the growth and elevation. True leadership is the direct result of planting seeds of God’s wisdom into the lives of His people.
In Matthew 16:14-18, we see the importance of building a foundation in Christ. In these scriptures the church is being built on a solid foundation and the gates of hell will not prevail against it. This is surely true within proper leadership and a growing church. When a leader is seeking the face of God per Matthew 6:33, God is present among every part of the church. With this presence, nothing can come against it. Good leadership leads to good results; bad leadership leads to bad results.
We know this because our ministries are tested eventually. Based upon the reaction and faith from the test and trials within a ministry, the strong have the victory. The foundation of the church (the people) must be strong, stable, and able to produce a harvest of gold. This gold only becomes refined and not tarnished when good leadership is available. If there is not substantial leadership in place the foundation can be burned.
Paul explains further in our above scripture in 1 Corinthians 3:1-17 how he had given them milk to grow but have not matured past it. They should be able to eat meat, but are still relying on milk. This analogy is used quite often in ministry. Babes in Christ who have not grown in spiritual maturity continue to drink milk, as if a baby would.
Though people of great spiritual maturity can eat meat like a true child of God can. Paul then gives three metaphors of the church of God through a field, building, and temple. We are all God’s field, building, and temple. We are the church! We must nurture it and protect it, for within the temple of our bodies the anointing of God resides.
There are seven aspects an effective leader must possess for great growth within the church. First, great leaders must take the time to lead. Secondly, a great leader must be gifted, committed, and sacrificial. Thirdly the leader must be found in only one foundation, which is Jesus Christ. Fourth, the effective leader must teach and be found effective in the Trinitarian. Fifth, leaders must also be able to promote unity in the fellowship of diversity. Six, they must also seek to be an asset. Lastly, the leader must also establish that the membership must respect, but not idolize the leadership of the church.
Overall an effective leader must remain humble and remain focused on the true meaning of leadership within the church. We are to be a humble people serving God and understanding that we are nothing without Him. God is the giver of all, and we are the messengers and recipients of His grace and mercy. Our community needs us, and its time for greater leadership.
(Minister Brandy Moore is the 1st Lady of Celebration Christian Center, Inc. located at 1215 9th Ave. N., Nashville, Tenn. 37208. For more information, visit their website at www.celebrationchristian.online.)
