How can church leaders share authority?
In what ways can church leaders today apply the principle of shared authority?

Setting the Stage: Moses to Joshua

“You are to confer some of your authority on him, so that the whole congregation of Israel will obey him.” (Numbers 27:20)

Moses, under God’s instruction, hands part of his authority to Joshua, modeling a leadership structure that is both shared and accountable. The pattern is not a temporary fix but a timeless principle.


Principle Observed: Shared Authority

• Authority is God-given, not self-generated (Romans 13:1).

• Authority can be distributed without being diminished; Moses remains leader, yet Joshua truly leads.

• Shared authority prepares God’s people for continuity and unity.


New Testament Echoes

Acts 6:1-6 – Apostles delegate to qualified men so “the word of God continued to spread.”

Ephesians 4:11-12 – Christ “gave some to be apostles, prophets… pastors and teachers, to equip the saints.”

2 Timothy 2:2 – “Entrust these things to faithful men who will be competent to teach others also.”

1 Peter 5:1-3 – “Shepherd… not lording it over those entrusted to you.”

Acts 14:23; Titus 1:5 – Plural elders appointed in every church.


Practical Applications for Today

1. Team-Elder Model

• Establish a plurality of qualified elders rather than a single, isolated figure.

• Rotate teaching, shepherding, and decision-making to keep one voice from dominating.

2. Intentional Delegation

• Hand specific ministries to capable leaders—children, worship, outreach—while maintaining oversight (cf. Exodus 18:17-23).

• Grant real authority: budgets, volunteers, and schedules, not just busywork.

3. Succession Planning

• Identify and mentor “Joshuas” early; let them lead meetings, preach, and shepherd alongside senior leaders (2 Timothy 2:2).

• Publicly affirm new leaders so the congregation willingly follows (“so that the whole congregation… will obey”).

4. Shared Preaching and Teaching

• Develop a preaching team to reflect diverse spiritual gifts (Ephesians 4:7).

• Provide doctrinal guidelines, yet encourage distinct voices to keep the flock well-fed.

5. Accountability Structures

• Elders submit to one another and, when appropriate, to a regional network (Acts 15).

• Regularly review finances, doctrine, and personal conduct, guarding against abuse (1 Timothy 5:19-20).

6. Equipping the Saints

• Shift from “come watch” to “come participate.”

• Offer training tracks for evangelism, counseling, missions, and administration, unleashing the body’s gifts (1 Corinthians 12:4-7).

7. Shared Decision-Making

• Use prayerful consensus rather than unilateral decrees (Acts 13:1-3).

• Communicate decisions transparently, inviting feedback without surrendering biblical conviction.


Guardrails and Blessings of Shared Authority

• Guardrails

– Maintain biblical qualifications (1 Timothy 3:1-7).

– Test every teaching against Scripture (Acts 17:11).

• Blessings

– Greater resilience; ministry continues if one leader falters.

– Broader wisdom; multiple perspectives refine choices (Proverbs 15:22).

– Congregational trust; people see humility rather than hierarchy.


Steps to Implement

1. Pray and search Scripture together as current leaders.

2. Identify gaps where authority is hoarded or undefined.

3. Draft a clear, biblical leadership structure.

4. Teach the congregation why shared authority matters.

5. Commission and lay hands on new leaders publicly (Acts 6:6).

6. Review annually, adjusting roles as God raises up more laborers (Luke 10:2).

Shared authority, modeled by Moses and Joshua, echoed by the apostles, and empowered by the Spirit, remains God’s design for a healthy, enduring church.

How does Numbers 27:20 connect to Jesus' commissioning of the disciples in Matthew 28:18-20?
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