Leadership
Introduction: The History of Leaders There was no doubt who the leaders were in the early church of Jerusalem because the apostles, Christ’s representatives, were still alive. Their presence was felt in a considerable way because of their appointment by Christ himself to this office. To this group of men, however, was added other godly and gifted leaders. The first ones added to guide the fledgling church, were men picked because some within the body of believers were being neglected. This neglect was in the area of “daily distribution” to the widows, especially the Hellenistic widows (Acts 6:1), and the apostles solution to the problem was to appoint a group of men (Acts 6:3) to the task of caring for the needs of the church which they called “serving tables” (6:2). These men were elected from amongst the people and appointed by the apostles because of their integrity, godliness, and ability to apply this to their ministry. They were to be fellow leaders, serving under the apostle’s leadership with delegated authority for the purpose of serving the body through serving tables and allowing the apostles to focus on prayer and the ministry of the Word (6:4). While these weren’t elders, this begins to show us the pattern for the appointment of other leaders. I will come back to this …show more content…
2:15), who can and does adeptly communicate biblical truth and defend it. Paul did not see this as a passive possession, but as an active participation. Any man claiming to be an elder or aspiring to the office of an overseer is actively teaching in some way. It is so significant to Paul that it sets him apart from the deacon, who will be addressed next, making this office God appointed through the Holy Spirit based not just upon character or wisdom, but upon
Introduction: The History of Leaders There was no doubt who the leaders were in the early church of Jerusalem because the apostles, Christ’s representatives, were still alive. Their presence was felt in a considerable way because of their appointment by Christ himself to this office. To this group of men, however, was added other godly and gifted leaders. The first ones added to guide the fledgling church, were men picked because some within the body of believers were being neglected. This neglect was in the area of “daily distribution” to the widows, especially the Hellenistic widows (Acts 6:1), and the apostles solution to the problem was to appoint a group of men (Acts 6:3) to the task of caring for the needs of the church which they called “serving tables” (6:2). These men were elected from amongst the people and appointed by the apostles because of their integrity, godliness, and ability to apply this to their ministry. They were to be fellow leaders, serving under the apostle’s leadership with delegated authority for the purpose of serving the body through serving tables and allowing the apostles to focus on prayer and the ministry of the Word (6:4). While these weren’t elders, this begins to show us the pattern for the appointment of other leaders. I will come back to this …show more content…
2:15), who can and does adeptly communicate biblical truth and defend it. Paul did not see this as a passive possession, but as an active participation. Any man claiming to be an elder or aspiring to the office of an overseer is actively teaching in some way. It is so significant to Paul that it sets him apart from the deacon, who will be addressed next, making this office God appointed through the Holy Spirit based not just upon character or wisdom, but upon