Leadership Qualifications

1 Corinthians 16:15-16 (ESV)

[15] Now I urge you, brothers —you know that the household of Stephanas were the first converts in Achaia, and that they have devoted themselves to the service of the saints— [16] be subject to such as these, and to every fellow worker and laborer.

In the church, leadership is acknowledged, not taken or conferred. The word “be subject,” in verse 16, is the same word used in Ephesians when it says that we are to submit “to one another out of reverence for Christ. Wives to your husbands as to the Lord” (Eph 5:21-22). It means to voluntarily place yourself under the authority or leadership of another.

There are three qualifications, in the verses quoted above, that set the household of Stephanas up for leadership. First, they were the first converts in Achaia. They are not new believers. They have been Christ followers longer than anyone in the community. 1 Timothy 3:6 says that an Elder “must not be a recent convert.” We have too often taken recently converted celebrities and placed them on the platform to speak for Christianity. That is both dangerous and destructive. It is dangerous because they have not been a believer long enough to mature or to really know what they believe or what the scriptures teach. It is destructive because it builds a celebrity mindset, feeds their ego, and sets them up for a fall. Leadership in the church should be mature believers.

Second, they “devoted themselves to the service of the saints” (1 Cor 16:15). Leadership is about service, not authoritarianism. Stephanas and his household have earned the right to be looked up to by virtue of their servitude. They have not stepped up into positions of leadership. They have served the saints. We should look for a servant’s heart in church leaders.

Third, verse 16 says, “be subject to such as these, and to every fellow worker and laborer.” Leadership is not about one person at the top. It is about recognizing that Christ is at the top. We are fellow laborers. Stephanas has not only served the saints, but he has labored. The word for labored here means to work hard to the point of fatigue. The church should notice and acknowledge those who work hard for the ministry.

Church leadership is not something to aspire to in order to feel good about ourselves, or to have people look up to us. Church leadership rises to the top as a believer matures in their faith, faithfully serves others, and works hard at doing so. Those are the kind of people we want in leadership. When you see those people in the church, take notice, and listen to them. Follow their lead. But be careful.

Jesus, the Son of God (mature; he knew who he was and what was truth) said he did not come to be served, but to serve (Mk 10:45; servant). Jesus said of himself, “The Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head” (Lk 9:58). He then said, “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God” (Lk 9:62; hard worker). It is a three-fold package. Working hard is one thing. Working hard in serving others is quite another. Working hard and serving others when you have been a believer for some time and have been growing in your faith . . . That is what we are looking for in a leader. Any one or two qualifications without all three leaves both the church and the leader vulnerable.