Once upon a time there was a wonderful church that suddenly found itself in trouble. After an exciting season of growth, things just didn’t seem to be working as well as they once did. For one thing, many of the new people came from very different backgrounds, culturally and religiously. They didn’t understand the way things had always been done in the church, and brought a whole new set of needs and ideas.
As a result, some of the members began to resent these newcomers; they felt like their church was changing, and they couldn’t control it. And the newer folks, especially those from different cultural backgrounds, were feeling left out and that their needs and ideas were being overlooked.
At times, the leaders seemed so preoccupied with all this growth and outreach that they lost track of what was really important. Some folks felt the teaching ministry of the church wasn’t as strong as it used to be. Others felt there should be more of an emphasis on prayer. There were stories of people “falling through the cracks”—not being cared for.
The leaders seemed to be overwhelmed at times, like they couldn’t keep up and didn’t know what to do next. It was a very unsettling time, and the future of the church seemed to be questionable.
You may be guessing that the church I’m describing is our church, or one you used to attend. Actually, the troubled church I have in mind is the church in Acts - the early church we’ve been reading about in these opening chapters of the Book of Acts.
As we’ve been following the launch of the kingdom of God movement through the book of Acts and the growth of the early church, we’ve seen some extraordinary challenges and successes.
God is really blessing this infant church…there is great growth in numbers and effectiveness…the HS is powerfully moving through signs and wonders…but there are problems caused by their phenomenal growth…
-we’re going to read about that in Acts 6:1-7 (turn there)
The growth of a church can be a mixed blessing. Many of you would probably say you want our church to grow in numbers and effectiveness, but we get uncomfortable when it happens. Many of us are positive about growth until we experience it.
Growth means change, and we don't like change.
Growth also brings problems, and those problems can be painful. Pretty soon we find ourselves longing for the good old days when everything was simple and we knew everyone's name and they were all like us. Then, because of our discomfort and all these problems, we end up sabotaging the very growth we thought we wanted, and we end up back where we started.
Our passage today in Acts 6:1-7 shows us how the early church faced this challenge head on and successfully navigated through it, led by the Lord of the church, JC Himself…
And what we’re going to see as we read the passage, is the solution to the problems caused by growth was in the choosing of the right leaders…the choosing of qualified spiritual leadership…that God then used to guide the church the church forward…
Today God is going to show us the kind of person He can greatly use in His church and His kingdom…when there is a mission to accomplish…the first thing God usually does is find a person…raises up a leader…a spiritual leader…someone He can use…is that person you? Has God called you to be a spiritual leader? Let’s learn more about this…
Couple of explanations:
- Hellenistic Jews were converts to Christ who were raised in a Greek culture…
- Hebraic Jews were born and raised right in the Jewish culture…considered the Hellenistic Jews foreigners, which created some tension between the two groups…still in the process of forming into the new family of Jesus in which we are all united in our identity in Christ…all of us brothers and sisters…have the same Heavenly Father…
- daily distribution of food to widows…in those days, widows were provided for by the church because if they had no family, they had no way of taking care of themselves…so the church provided a daily meal…meals on wheels…but free of charge…
We see in this passage that for this new kingdom of God movement to grow, God had to multiply leaders; had to raise up more and more leaders to meet the demands and challenges…the twelve apostles couldn’t carry it by themselves anymore…to keep them doing everything, would be to strangle the movement and keep it small…
-the apostles had to let go of hands on ministry and delegate leadership to qualified people…whole thing had to be re-structured to meet the demands of a growing church…
…similar to what we’re doing here at Northgate with the expert help of Gary Zander…restructuring of our leadership model…presentation at our last business meeting…info available for those interested…
-that’s true for today as well…pastors/paid staff can’t do it all…LC members can’t do it all…but you know that!…Northgate has such a great army of volunteers that minister in so many ways…so thankful for you…
In case you have your guard up listening to this message…thinking it’s some kind of leadership recruiting talk…make you sign up for something you don’t want to do…relax, let your guard down…
…but on the other hand, I make no apology for challenging some of you to become the leader God is calling you to be…
…to aspire to high levels of spiritual leadership in our church…in the kingdom of God…organization/ministry…God is wanting to raise up leaders, men and women He can use greatly in His church and Kingdom…and we have to keep calling people to spiritual leadership…the future of our church depends on it…
-godly leadership is essential for the effectiveness of church ministry…everything rises and falls on the quality of leadership…not just in church, but at the workplace and in the classroom…and in government…
So rather than shying away from leadership, God’s Spirit wants to put a desire in us to become godly leaders that He can use greatly in whatever sphere of leadership He has placed us in…
-especially us men, in our homes and marriages…you’ve heard me say many times that God wants us to be willing, godly leaders with our wives and children…and in our church…to rise up to the calling He has on men especially to lead…not to be passive, indifferent, lazy…but to be leaders who lead with courage, conviction, boldness, with love and gentleness. So let’s spend the rest of our time looking at:
Seven Qualities of A Spiritual Leader
-churches in general haven’t always been the greatest at choosing leaders…sometimes more importance is put on a person’s business experience or workplace accomplishments or education or popularity, rather than the condition of their spiritual life…
…we’re just happy to get someone with a pulse in place rather than wait for the right person to be prompted by the HS…
** we have to think biblically about leadership…
1. knows their unique calling and gifting vv. 2,4
-sp leaders know what it is God has called and equipped them to do…and what He has not called and equipped them to do…
-thru time and experience, thru confirmation from the church body… these people have learned what they do well and not do well, how God has gifted them and how He uses them…so they can prioritize their time and effort…
-they are self-aware and realistic about themselves…
Rm. 12:6-8 “We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.”
-eg. in my particular role as your senior pastor, my calling is exactly what v.4 says: prayer and the ministry of the word…I’ve got to constantly work at not trying to do a dozen other things so that this main thing suffers…
By the way…equally important that a church knows it specific calling and gifting…proclaim the gospel of JC thru the ministry of the word and prayer…
-do what you’re gifted and called to do: no more, no less…
2. can work with a team v. 2
-it’s all over this passage and throughout the Bible…quality sp. leaders are people who can work well with others…have the humility and relational skills to cooperate with co-workers, which can sometimes be challenging…
…but they have the sp and emotional maturity to work through misunderstandings and disagreements and come through unified and focused on the mission and ministry of serving Christ…
3. can take direction from those in authority vv.3, 6
-also all over this passage and throughout the Bible…
…quality sp. leaders are cooperative and responsive to those whom God has placed in spiritual authority over them…
-they’re humble and gracious and respectful of those in positions of authority…
…a spirit which God blesses and multiplies throughout their ministry…sets the tone for a church and ministry…
**the key thing to look for is a spirit of servanthood…
-the word used in this passage to describe the ministry of waiting on tables is diakonos, which means servant…serving…a servant heart and servant spirit is a major component of a true spiritual leader…
4. are recognized from within the church body vv. 3, 6
-when it comes to choosing sp. leaders in a church, the body really knows best…God gives people discernment to know who the true sp. leaders are… as long as that church body is biblically informed, prayerful, seeking God…
-sp leaders become known in a church over time…those who embody a living faith and a heart for God become recognized and respected…they become trusted…they are looked to for wisdom and guidance…
-you can tell who a spiritual leader is by seeing who people are going to for help, prayer, advice, care…
-and then it’s simply a matter of the body recognizing and affirming those people like they did in v.6…
** For example, as we think about future LC members, the highest level of sp. leadership in our church…those who work with me in giving sp. oversight to our church…it’s so important to recognize men and women who are first of all highly qualified spiritual people…
1 Tim. 3:2-7 “Now the overseer is to be above reproach, faithful to his wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not given to drunkenness, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money.
He must manage his own family well and see that his children obey him, and he must do so in a manner worthy of full respect. (If anyone does not know how to manage his own family, how can he take care of God’s church?) He must not be a recent convert, or he may become conceited and fall under the same judgment as the devil.
He must also have a good reputation with outsiders, so that he will not fall into disgrace and into the devil’s trap.”
-through prayer, discernment, the church body is able to recognize who these people are and then set them apart for sp. leadership…
Then we come to the last three qualities: three things that comprise the heart of true sp. leadership. Sp. leaders have to be full of three things:
5. full of the Holy Spirit v.3
-how can you tell if a person is full of the HS? *primarily by the evidence of the fruit of the Spirit – Gal. 5…
-we need sp. leaders in every level of leadership in our church that are first of all spiritual, Spirit-filled, Spirit-led…under the control of the HS…not driven by human plans and wisdom and strength…
-who are set on fire for God by the HS…who are passionate for Jesus…who are growing in the love for God and others…whom God is using to impact the lives of people…
6. full of wisdom v.3
-closely connected to that is being full of wisdom
-wisdom is simply understanding how life works thru a mind informed by God’s word…thru waiting on God in prayer and hearing what He has to say…which results in plain old practical common sense…
-these people make good decisions because they’re sensible, in touch with reality, thoughtful and prayerful…
7. full of faith v.5
-speaks for itself…faith in a powerful and loving God who can do great things and calls us to follow Him without reservation…faith that obeys without hesitation…faith that goes forward despite the challenges…faith that is willing to take risks for God and do the hard thing if that’s what God is asking…faith firmly placed in our awesome God…
Conclusion
-what kind of a sp. leader are you? what kind do you want to be? Is God stirring in you the desire to grow as a spiritual leader? Sp. leadership is a calling and an equipping by God…are you willing to be that kind of person…someone God can use greatly…
Jesus Christ
Jesus is the ultimate sp. leader…Who embodies all this and more…Who’s leadership was best shown by His servanthood…the willing sacrifice of Himself on the cross…so that He could serve God’s purposes and the people He loves…
When it comes to learning how to be a great leader, He is the best example and teacher you could ever hope for…
It is to Jesus we come now as we gather around the communion table…to worship Him…remember His death…confess our sins…and receive His love, mercy and grace…