Sign up to save your podcasts
Or
Share Leaders Needed
Share to email
Share to Facebook
Share to X
Share to email
Share to Facebook
Share to X
Or
Leaders Needed
Listen to today’s devo!
Whoever aspires to be an overseer desires a noble task. (1 Tim. 3:1)
Expanded Passage: 1 Timothy 3:1
Surrounded on that summer evening by seasoned ministers, male and female, who laid their hands on the young man and his wife in prayer, he pledged himself to faithfully preach the Word of God, administer the sacraments, and shepherd the souls entrusted to his care. That memorable night was his ordination service. Years ago, that young man was me. More recently, it was a former student of mine, and I was honored to be one of those laying hands on him to consecrate him to ordained ministry.
The church’s line of leaders runs clear back to the first century. Paul instructed Titus to appoint (or ordain) elders and advised Timothy on overseers (the Greek word is the root of our word “bishop”) and deacons (1 Tim. 3:8–13). All these were originally local positions but quickly expanded to include regional jurisdictions, too. From the start, God’s people have needed leadership.
Our need for strong leadership continues today. The general church, its districts, and local churches all need leaders, whether superintendents, pastors, worship leaders, board members, office managers, treasurers, teachers, disciple makers, or other leadership roles. But finding them isn’t always easy. God calls us each to unique tasks. We must each follow God’s calling, whether he calls us to the noble task of leadership or to supporting others in leadership roles.
Consider a way you could lead or support church leaders in their noble task.
Jerome Van Kuiken is professor of Christian thought at Oklahoma Wesleyan University (OK) and author of The Creed We Need (Amazon) and The Judas We Never Knew (Seedbed).
© 2026 Wesleyan Publishing House. Reprinted from Light from the Word. Used by permission. Scriptures taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®.
View all episodes
By The Wesleyan Church
4.8
1212 ratings
Listen to today’s devo!
Whoever aspires to be an overseer desires a noble task. (1 Tim. 3:1)
Expanded Passage: 1 Timothy 3:1
Surrounded on that summer evening by seasoned ministers, male and female, who laid their hands on the young man and his wife in prayer, he pledged himself to faithfully preach the Word of God, administer the sacraments, and shepherd the souls entrusted to his care. That memorable night was his ordination service. Years ago, that young man was me. More recently, it was a former student of mine, and I was honored to be one of those laying hands on him to consecrate him to ordained ministry.
The church’s line of leaders runs clear back to the first century. Paul instructed Titus to appoint (or ordain) elders and advised Timothy on overseers (the Greek word is the root of our word “bishop”) and deacons (1 Tim. 3:8–13). All these were originally local positions but quickly expanded to include regional jurisdictions, too. From the start, God’s people have needed leadership.
Our need for strong leadership continues today. The general church, its districts, and local churches all need leaders, whether superintendents, pastors, worship leaders, board members, office managers, treasurers, teachers, disciple makers, or other leadership roles. But finding them isn’t always easy. God calls us each to unique tasks. We must each follow God’s calling, whether he calls us to the noble task of leadership or to supporting others in leadership roles.
Consider a way you could lead or support church leaders in their noble task.
Jerome Van Kuiken is professor of Christian thought at Oklahoma Wesleyan University (OK) and author of The Creed We Need (Amazon) and The Judas We Never Knew (Seedbed).
© 2026 Wesleyan Publishing House. Reprinted from Light from the Word. Used by permission. Scriptures taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®.