ADMINISTERING THE CHURCH ACCORDING TO

JESUS’ PATTERN OF LEADERSHIP: AN EXPOSITION

OF MARK 1

Jantiku I. Jamare

ABSTRACT
The pastor is called by God and saddled with the responsibility
to shepherd the flock that has been entrusted into his care. The
pastor’s assignment is multi - facet and it ranges from
preaching, teaching, caring, visiting and administering. The
pastor as the chief administrator of the church is expected to
lead and administer the church according to the pattern of the
one who has called him. This paper seeks to identify the pastor
as the chief administrator of the church and also to expose the
first chapter of the Gospel according to Mark (Mark 1) with the
aim of revealing Jesus leadership pattern that can and should be
emulated by the pastorfor effective administration ofthe church.

I. Introduction
n any given human institution, administrators are very
important. The roles that administrators play are vital to the
progress and development of such organization. The
effectiveness of such roles depend much on how well they can
administer without jeopardizing the development of such
organization. The church today seems to restrict and limit the roles
and responsibilities of the pastor to the pulpit ministry and he has
little or nothing to say or do when it comes to administering and
leading the church in sensitive and crucial decision, making. This
is a misconception of the ideal function of the pastor. The pastor is
the spiritual leader as well as the chief administrator of the church.
Administration today is more about people and not files
and cabinets.1 In church administration people count. People are
the heart and spirit of all that counts in church administration.
Since people are involved then the pastor who is the under
shepherd of the church should champion and administer the
church according to Jesus’ leadership pattern.

II. Understanding “Church Administration”

The church as a “communion of saints” is the primary
relationship of believers drawn together by the Holy Spirit and
sharing a variety of worship, learning, witnessing and serving
responses to God’s call in Christ. The church as an organization, if
the fellowship has one, is a set of secondary relationships intended
to help shape the primary ones.2
Administration as getthing things done through other
people, administration from a four fold dimension: it is an
economic organ, it requires productive use of human and material
resources, it involves the integration of worker and work and it
necessiates a consideration of both present and future.
Administration as a distinct process consisting of activities of
planning, organizing, actuating and controlling, performed to
determine and accomplish stated objectives with the use of human
beings and other resources
Administration presupposes authority, powers,
prerogatives. These are derived from some form of organized
society or association or cooperation. Administrative authority is
the right to govern and direct. Administration was one of the gifts
that apostle paul highligted as been given to the church in 1st Cor
12:28. Administration comes from the greek word koPepvgeu;
which means helsman in whose hands lies the tiller of the rudder
of a ship which take the vessel and the cargo to the desired
destination. A helsman is the key to the effectiveness of the ship.3
In that vein, an administrator is saddled with the responsibility of
directing and charting an organization in the right course or path.lt
can also be traced to the latin word administrare which means “to
serve” and embedded in this word is another word minister. A
minister is considered as a servant of the people, he or she serves
 the people. The administrator whether he serves in an organization
or firm or institution serves the people.
Administration in the church of Christ is the exercise of
those powers or prerogatives with which one has been vested by
the church. The exercise of administrative authority, the use of the
power to direct and govern involves the question of
leadership.4Church Administration equips the church to be the
church and to do the work of the church in a coherent and
comprehensive manner.5 It is the guidance provided by church
leaders as they lead the church to use its spiritual, human,
physical, and financial resources to move the church toward
reaching its objectives and fulfilling its purpose. Church
Administration enables the people of God who make up the
church to become and do what they can become and do, by God’s
grace.6
Major Stewart identifies three basic elements that give a
clear and comprehensive definitions which best explains church
administration.7 Firstly, the overarching concern of church
administration is the fulfillment of the purposes of the church of
God. Church administration exists to enable the local church to
fulfill its purpose: The local church exists to glorify God (I Cor.
10:31) through loving the Lord and our neighbors (Matt. 22:37-
40) by evangelizing people to Jesus, developing people to Christ-
like maturity and equipping people for ministry in the church and
world (Matt.28: 19-20). Effective church administration will help
keep the purposes of the church in focus, while keeping individual
responsibilities clear to leaders. The administrative documents will
also help keep all involved parties moving in the same direction,
minimizing confusion and frustration. Also, effective written
administrative documentation will help maximize human,
physical, and financial resources by providing controls designed to
ensure good use of resources.
Secondly, this definition of church administration is
comprehensive, viewing the administrative task as concerned with
every aspect of church life and seeking to coordinate every
experience toward one unified purpose. Administration cannot be
confined only to the organizational, programmatic, and
promotional aspects of church life. Worship, preaching, pastoral
care, and every other experience within the church must be seen as
interrelated parts of one whole. Each must be viewed in relation to
its contribution toward the church’s mission. Conversely, no
activity is to be considered an end in itself (e.g., preaching,
evangelistic outreach, finance); but, each is to be an avenue of
ministering to the needs of the people, as those needs are defined
by the gospel and exposed by the Holy Spirit.8
Thirdly, this definition involves all members of the church
in administrative responsibilities - the leaders and laypeople.
Administration is not the concern only of the pastor and a few
“key” lay people. The entire congregation must understand the
nature too and mission of the church and must be involved
individually and corporately in glorifying God (I Cor. 10:31), so
that the congregation can fulfill its mission.9
Since the Church is of God, there are certain characteristics
that are intrinsic to its very nature that the people must accept and
which cannot change by congregational vote. It must be
understood that the Church is of God and the reason for its
existence is to please God and not people. Likewise, church
administrative policies and procedures are of God in that they
provide guided and adequate instructions that will result in God
being glorified and loved, and therefore worshiped.10
This means that the standard of judgment or measurement
for any “successful” activity, ministry or program in the church is
based upon whether or not God’s glory is attained (I Cor. 10:31).
A God-centered administration model measures it success by
whether or not the activities, ministries or programs glorify God (I
Cor. 10:31), and strengthen ones love for God and others (Matt.
22:37-40) rather than on attendance and neatly executed
programs.11
 Even though the church is of God, it is for people. It is for
people in the model that should be concerned with people and
their needs. The study of the nature of the Church makes it clear
that God’s purpose for the Church is to be fulfilled in and through
the people. Every aspect of the life of the Church derives its
importance and relevance from their contribution toward whether
or not the activities, ministries or programs contribute positively
towards evangelizing people to Jesus, developing people to Christ-
like maturity and equipping people for ministry in the church and
world (Matt. 28:19-20).12 The experiences of the church, recorded
in the Old (Exodus 20:1-17) and New (Mark 6:30-44) Testaments
indicate how effective church administration models are of God
but are designed for people. As stated previously, they are of God
in that they provide guided and needed instructions that will result
in God being glorified and loved and therefore worshiped. They
are for the people in that, when church administration is adhered
to, people are coherently evangelized to Jesus, developed to grow,
and equipped for ministry.13

III. The Pastor as an Administrator

The term pastor comes from the word pasture which means
shepherd and in the New Testament sense, implies much more
than merely feeding the sheep, even if it is assumed with great
leniency that preaching is actually feeding of the sheep.14 The task
of the shepherd is to shelter the sheep, protect the sheep, lead the
sheep, develop the and even to shear the sheep. All of these
responsibilities may well be carried over in more elevated sense to
be sure, into the work of the pastor. 15The pastor is a leader and
administrator on whom a heinous responsibility lies. The success
or failure of the church depends on the leadership style and
administrative capability of the pastor.16 Leadership turns to
service when the leader equips those called or employed to carry
out the now shared mission. Leadership is complete when the
equipper empowers those he has equipped into team to maximize
resources in order to execute the mission.17
The pastor as an administrator and servant leader is also a
servant to those on mission with him. While serving the mission,
servant leaders actively recruit and build up others to join them.
The leader becomes servant to those who have joined him when he
provides adequate vision, direction, correction and resources to
carry out the mission entrusted to the group. 18Preaching
undoubtedly is the core responsibility of the pastor that it does not
encompass the entire responsibilities of the pastor but more to
preaching lies the administrative responsibilities of the pastor.

IV. Exposition of Mark 1

The gospel of Mark begins by revealing some basic
characteristics of Jesus’ leadership style that is the ideals for
effective Christian leadership. There are some distinctive traits of
Christ that every team leader can learn, When the first chapter of
Mark’s Gospel is read! The biblical truths of his teachings and the
pattern of his leadership are valuable to any leader.

1. Submissiveness (Mark 1:11)

As Jesus began his ministry, he made it clear that there was
a higher power at work. The fact that he placed himself under the
care of John the Baptist for baptism showed that Jesus was going
to teach his followers submission which should not be
misunderstood to mean weakness. What Jesus was displaying was
the first expression in his ministry of what true servanthood was
all about.
Jesus Christ was stripped of his Glory and Majesty to come
to earth to show forth the love of God for sinful humanity. This
action shows the characteristics of Jesus as a servant-leader. There
is no doubt that when Christ came to earth he also revealed his
skills as a leader, however; his example as a servant cannot be
ignored. Jesus’ ministry has a strong foundation in servanthood.
On one occasion, he told his disciples, My command is this: Love
each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this:
to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.19
These are the words of a true servant. Christ’s life and
death on the cross are the supreme example of his commitment to
being a servant. Matthew explains in more detail why Jesus began
his ministry by not promoting himself but allowing John to be in
charge. Matthew writes these words, “Then Jesus came from
Galilee to the Jordan to be baptized by John. But John tried to
deter him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come
to me?” Jesus replied, “Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do
this to fulfill all righteousness.” Then John consented.”20 Humility
is the hallmark of a Christian leader and administrator. Jesus
Christ told his disciples to turn away from pride and instead take
on the lowly bearing of the servant.

2. Spirit’s Lead (Mark 1:12-13)

After Jesus’ baptism, the Gospel writer Mark says that “at
once the Spirit sent him out into the wilderness, and he was in the
wilderness forty days, being tempted by Satan. He was with the
wild animals, and angels attended him.”
As the Gospel writer Matthew tells this story of Jesus
going into the wilderness he goes into more details.21 Jesus was
tested in every temptation known to man in these three
temptations. The Apostle John placed all sins in three categories
when he wrote his epistle to the early New Testament Church.22
The job of church leaders is to recognize the wave of
God’s Spirit and respond appropriately in total obedience, it is not
our responsibility to make waves but to recognize how God is
working in the world and join him in the endeavor. It is the Holy
Spirit who has the blueprint of our lives and ministry and he
should be depended upon for guidance.
3. Simplistic Vision (Mark 1:15)
Not long after Jesus began his ministry, John was arrested.
When this happened “Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the
gospel of God, and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom
of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.” One of the
most powerful components of Jesus’ ministry was his ability to be
simple, clear and direct. This behavior was shown in his
preaching and teaching. His ability to tell the truth through a
simple parable was the foundation of all he did. These parables
had a purpose that was greater than the story.
When Jesus called his disciples he says to them, “follow
me and I will make you fishers of men.” the vision of Jesus was
simple and clear in calling his disciples which was to transform
them from fisher men to fishers of men. They followed him
without knowing how that will be possible but they were aware of
what he purposed to turn them to. They followed him because the
vision is simple and every way better and greater than being
fishers of fishes.24

4. Strategic Team Builder. (Mark 1:17)

When Jesus called the first four disciples, who were
fishermen, to follow him he said, “Come, follow me,” Jesus
said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.” When Jesus
began the process of calling his disciples to follow him, he started
with men who had something in common. In the Gospel,
according to Matthew, the first two people that Jesus called were
fishermen who also were brothers. Their names were Peter and
Andrew. The next two recruits were friends of Peter and Andrew
who were also fishermen. They were brothers whose names were
James and John. Is this process of Jesus’ first recruits
insignificant or is there a lesson to be learned?
The act of Christ in recruiting the first disciples is a lesson
on how important it is for any leader to begin with people who
share common traits and values. These four men did not have to
explain themselves to one another, neither did they have to learn
each other’s backgrounds.
Anytime a leader is attempting to build a team it is
essential to have a core group of people who understand each
other. This action enables the establishment of stability before
diversity and conflict come along. Before Jesus recruited the other
eight disciples, his first action was to create a stable core.
Leaders begin to develop wisdom when they realize they
can’t do anything significant on their own. Leaders can develop
more humility and begin working to build a team once this is
realized. This to further buttress what John Maxwell says “A team
of people will always be more powerful than an individual
working alone.25 The work of the ministry is no longer to be seen
as a one man affair or business anymore but rather should be seen
as a team work. Jesus revealed this when he carefully called and
selected his disciples to be his team so that God’s agenda can
continue through them even when he is no more.

5. Synergetic Relationship Builder. (Mark 1:19)

As noted above Jesus began recruiting his disciples by
finding those who shared some common ground. This strong
foundation led to calling those of differing character. Take, for
example, Matthew the tax collector for Rome and Simon the
Zealot. The make-up of these two people shows how Jesus can
build relationships.
Matthew worked for Rome in the collection of Roman
taxes while Simon the Zealot was an ardent Jewish nationalist that
was in constant headlong with the Romans. For Simon, the idea
of paying taxes to Rome went against everything he believed. It
would not be out of line to say that Simon the Zealot hated Roman
tax collectors with a passion. The bringing together of these two
men showed the power of Jesus to merge diverse people. Jesus is
all about building relationships. It started with two sets of brothers
that liked fishing together to drawing in a tax collector and a
Zealot.26
The most effective and successful leaders in the church are
those who have good people relationship.27Human relations is
people. Working effectively and productively with people is a skill
that can be learned. Human relations is knowing how to handle
difficult people problems; understanding the motivation of other
people as well as your own; and building sound working
relationships with many kinds of people. Human relationship is
not manipulation and it is not built on mass approach but built on
person to person relationship, it is an individual matter.

6. Strong in Dealing with Crisis (Mark 1:30-31)

Often a crisis will cripple many people. However, Jesus
often took a crisis head-on. The Bible story says, “Simon’s
mother-in-law was in bed with a fever, and they immediately told
Jesus about her. So he went to her, took her hand and helped her
up. The fever left her and she began to wait on them.”
When Luke included this event in his Gospel, he
approached it from his occupation as a doctor. He noted that
Peters mother did not have just a fever but “a great fever.”28 This
type of illness was a very violent one that could have possibly led
to death, and was extremely dangerous to an old person. The
approach of Christ to deal with this situation was an expression of
engaging the crisis head-on. There will often be times when a
strong leader will have to take on what others fear. Jesus is the
perfect example.

7. Solitude (Mark 1:35)

Jesus prayed every day. Here are some examples of his
daily practice29. Not only did Jesus show us by his practices of
praying that it is a good idea, but the Old Testament also indicates
that prayer can empower a leader to be better.“If my people, who
are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek
my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from
heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.”30
The prophet Isaiah also pointed out the need for a prayer
life when he wrote these words.
“He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of
the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men
stumble and fall; but those who hope in the LORD will renew
their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run
and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.”31 Prayer is
not an option but an obligation; it is not a choice but a command
effective leadership. Prayer is a powerful and helpful tool for
anyone who desires to be a healthy leader.

V. Summary and Conclusion

The leadership style and pattern of are not exhaustive from
the exposition of Mark 1. Jesus set the pace for effective Christian
leadership via his life; he is our practical example. No doubt that
Christ was fully God, even though fully human. In his divinity he
would have done things as a super hero but he decided to lay down
patterns which he followed to the very end of his life and ministry.
Jesus was both a spiritual and administrative leader and so were
his disciples after him.
The kind of administrative skills that enables a man to see
the church whole, in all its complicated relationships is significant.
Perhaps the way to say this is that a man must have the ability to
think of the church organically or as an organism, as composed of
a highly dynamic set of relationships in which the health of any
part is exceedingly significant for every other part.32 The
administrator must be able to interpret overall purpose. He must
know how to delegate responsibility without shirking his own
continuing responsibility. This is evidence in the leadership of
Jesus and of the apostles of the early church.
The misconception of the pastor as just a spiritual and not
an administrative head should be corrected so that there can be a
balanced pastoral responsibility in the church. In this regards the
pastor should have and carry out a holistic leadership that is
spiritually and administratively oriented.
 END NOTES

’Oluwaponmile Gideon Adetunji, Leadership in Action: A

Sourcebook in Church Administration for Students and Ministers
(Ibadan: Baptist Press Ltd, 2010), 10.
2 David S. Luecke and Samuel Southhard, Pastoral
Administration: Integrating Ministry and Management in the
Churchifexas: Word Book Publishers, 1986), 58.
3 Adetunji, Leadership in Action: A Sourcebook in Church
Administration for Students and Ministers, 4.
4 Oliver Montgomery, Principles of Church Organization
and AdministrationfKashingtone DC: Review and Herald
Publishing Association, 1942), 22
5 Alvin J. Lindgren, Foundations For Purposeful Church
Administration (New York: Abingdon Press, 1965), 60.
6 Charles Tidwell, Church Administration - Effective
Leadership for Ministry (Nashville: Broadman& Holman, 1985),
27.
7 Major Stewart, Key Elements to an Effective Church
Administration Strategy. http://www.theafricanamerican
lectionary.org/pdf/dialogue/KeyElementsofanEffectiveChurchAd
ministrationStrategy.pdf/ seen on 4th September 2019.
8Stewart
9Stewart
10 Stewart.
11 Stewart.
12C. Gene Wilkes, Jesus on Leadership: Discovering the
Secret of Servant Leadership from the Life of Christ (Illinois:
Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., 1998), 235.
I3Stewart, Key Elements to an Effective Church
Administration Strategy.
14Gilbert F. Guffin, Pastor and Church: A Manual for
Pastoral Leadership (Nashville: Broadman Press, 1955), 2.
 15Kyenvel Saleh Koeleh, “The Pastor and the Focus of his
Calling (2nd Timothy 4:1-5),” in BTSK Insight. Edited by Reuben
I. Chuga (Kaduna: BTSK, 2018), 54.
16 Simon A.Ishola, “Effective Staff Relationships and
Pastoral Leadership,” in Indeginization of the Church in Africa:
The Nigerian Situation. Edited by Adelani A. Akande, Moses
Audi and Olusayo B. Oladejo (Ibadan: Baptist Press, 2012), 263.
l7Wilkes, Jesus on Leadership: Discovering the Secret of
Servant Leadership from the Life of Christ, 235.
I8Wilkes,19.
19John 15:12-13
20Matthew 3:13-15 (NIV)
21
“Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to
be tempted by the devil. After fasting forty days and forty
nights, he was hungry. The tempter came to him and said, “If you
are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.” Jesus
answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on
every word that comes from the mouth of God.” Then the devil
took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of
the temple. “If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself
down. For it is written: ‘“He will command his angels concerning
you, and they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not
strike your foot against a stone.” Jesus answered him, “It is also
written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.” Again, the
devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the
kingdoms of the world and their splendor. “All this I will give
you,” he said, “if you will bow down and worship me.” Jesus said
to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the
Lord your God, and serve him only.” Then the devil left him, and
angels came and attended him.” (Matthew 4:1-11).
22“Do not love the world or anything in the world. If
anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them. For
everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the
eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from
the world. The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does
the will of God lives forever.” (1 John 2:14-18). All sins fall into
these three categories, the lust of the flesh, the lust of the
eyes, and the pride of life. Here is how Jesus temptation and the
teachings of John go together.
Lust of the flesh - “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to
become bread.”
Lust of the eyes - “Again, the devil took him to a very high
mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their
splendor. “All this I will give you,” he said, “if you will bow
down and worship me.”
Pride of life - “Then the devil took him to the holy city and had
him stand on the pinnacle of the temple and said to him. “If you
are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down.’
23 Rick Warren, The Purpose Driven Church: Growth
without Compromising your Message and Miss ion(Grand Rapids:
Zondervan Publishing House, 1995), 14.
24 Akin J. Oyedele, “True Leadership,” in The Master Plan
Leadership and Growth: A Publication of Narayi Baptist
Association Workers Conference (Kaduna: Radiant Prints and
Publishers, 2015), 8.
25 John Maxwell, The 360° Leader: Developing your
Influence from Anywhere in the Organization (Nashville: Thomas
Nelson, Inc., 2005), 266.
26 Dale Roach, 9 Characteristics of Jesus as a Leader.
http://likeateamleader.com/9-characteristics-of-iesus-as-a-leader.
seen on 5th September 2019.
27 Leonard E. Wedel, Church StaffAdministrator. Practical
Approaches (Nashville: Broadmans Press, 1978), 147.
28Luke 4:38
 29“After he had dismissed them, he went up on a
mountainside by himself to pray.” -Matthew 14:23. “Then Jesus
went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and he said
to them, ‘Sit here while I go over there and pray.'” -Matthew
26:36. “Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus
got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he
prayed.” (Mark 1:35). “But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places
and prayed.” -Luke 5:16. “One of those days Jesus went out to a
mountainside to pray, and spent the night praying to God.” -Luke
6:12. “Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that
they should always pray and not give up.” -Luke 18:1.
302 Chronicles 7:14
3‘Isaiah 40:29-31
Herman J. Sweet, The Multiple Staff in the Local Church
(Philadelphia: The Westminster Press, 1963), 29.
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