I have been extensively studying the book of Acts for a class I am participating in and one of our assignments was to identify “keys” to the establishment and expansion of the first-century church. That is, what recurring themes do we find in the book of Acts that helped the church become grounded and grow “to the ends of the earth”? And what of those things that occurred in the first century church a few thousand years ago are still applicable today? Over the next six weeks I would like to share some of the things I found in my study of Acts that if we were to take seriously and adopt as a church we may see the amazing power of God unfold in our lives and ministries.
Common patterns that seemed to arise in the book of Acts that contributed to the establishment and expansion of the First-Century Church are centered around the following themes: Leadership, Prayer, Witnessing, Unity, Holy Spirit Empowerment, and Persecution. Many of these areas overlap (i.e., praying in one accord is both prayer/unity) but it was helpful for me to compartmentalize the keys into these general categories.
Today we’ll talk about LEADERSHIP
Leadership pertains to the apostles, elders and disciples seeing themselves under right authority of God and those He appointed for ministry. It involves them honoring their leaders (especially the Lord), as well as those whom they were appointed to lead. Proper submission and obedience was observed throughout their works and whenever the structure was in order and observed the church grew and multiplied.
I invite you to check out some (by no means a full list!) of these keys pertaining to leadership I identified, along with their scripture references from the book of Acts. As you read through these, decide what of these we can apply to our lives today to be in alignment with God’s design for His church.
The apostles submitted themselves to Jesus’ teaching over the course of three years and 40 days of final preparation to assume leadership and obeyed His commands to wait until they were baptized with the Holy Spirit (1:1-14)
Those being saved submitted themselves to the leadership of the apostles and followed their lead in fellowship, prayer, and breaking of bread (2:42)
The apostles were entrusted with the gifts of their people and they stewarded them appropriately (4:34-35)
Peter called out sin and gave correction to Ananias and Sapphira and the Holy Spirit made an example of Ananias and Sapphira to inspire fear of the Lord, lest other believers fall into the same trap of greed and falsely representing themselves (5:1-11)
Peter and the other apostles knew to follow the leading of God rather than man when in opposition (5:29)
In response to an issue, the apostles delegated responsibilities to a group of qualified leaders so that they could continue in their ministry of the word of God while felt needs were being met (6:1-7)
Peter rebuked Simon for attempting to gain power through bribery and called for his repentance (8:18-25)
Ananias obeyed Lord (though he experienced trepidation) and went to Saul in order that he might receive his sight, be baptized with water and the Holy Spirit, and begin the ministry for which was destined (9:10-18)
Peter submitted to the Lord by considering his heavenly vision and obeyed the command of the Spirit and went to Cornelius’ house, despite the cultural implications of such an unlawful action (10:1-33)
The believers of the circumcision trusted Peter’s witness of the Holy Spirit falling on the gentile believers and accepted the gentiles’ inclusion in salvation (11:1-18)
Leaders from the church of Jerusalem sent Barnabas to support and encourage the community of believers at Antioch and he recruited Saul to assist in the gathering and teaching of these believers. They dedicated a whole year to teaching and cultivating the spiritual maturity of the Christians, as they were first known at Antioch (11:22-26)
By the prompting and obedience of the Holy Spirit the leaders of the church at Antioch prayed for, laid hands on and sent Saul and Barnabas to the work that was set before them (13:1-3)
Paul and Barnabas circled back around to Lystra, Iconium and Antioch to strengthen and exhort the believers. They appointed elders to oversee in their absence (14:21-23)
Paul recognizes the potential of Timothy and begins to prepare him for the work of ministry alongside himself and Silas (16:1-5)
Paul and his party responded to the Holy Spirit with obedience and did not go where He had not permitted them, but instead went to the Macedonia as the Spirit had instructed (16:6-10)
Paul continued to travel around to different areas preaching and strengthening disciples in the churches he had established in Ephesus, Caesarea, Antioch, Galatia and Phrygia on his way back to Jerusalem (18:18-22)
Aquila and Priscilla take time to instruct Apollos in the way of God more accurately, so that he may have a more effective witness Jesus and established his credibility to the brethren at Achaia (18:24-28)
Though the disciples did not want Paul to go and be persecuted, they submitted to his decision to go as well as to the Lord by saying, “The will of the Lord be done” (21:14)
As I reflect upon how we do ministry today, I am encouraged that when we as disciples employ these same principles within the context of our lives and ministries we should hope to see the same power, signs and wonders the apostles experienced. After all, the same Spirit that worked in each of the men and women during the establishment and expansion of the First-Century Church is the same Spirit that was in Jesus, and continues to dwell in us today. As we seek to turn our ministries to become realigned with the Way of Christ and His Apostles I am confident we shall continually move to see the Church unfold in power and in great works in the world, as well as transform the hearts and lives of His people to a greater degree.