Dealing With Issues Part 3 Series

DEALING WITH ISSUES: PART 3

Text: Acts 15:22-35

Introduction

1. Illustration: “I firmly determined that my mannerisms and speech in public would always reflect the cheerful certainty of victory – that any pessimism and discouragement I might ever feel would be reserved for my pillow... I adopted a policy of circulating through the whole force to the full limit imposed by physical considerations. I did my best to meet everyone from general to private with a smile, a pat on the back and a definite interest in his problems. " (Dwight Eisenhower, The Road to Character, p. 61).

2. In our look into dealing with problems within the church, we have seen the problem, the solution, and today we will look at the implementation of the solution.

3. For the solution to the problem to be implemented takes three essential things.

4. Read Acts 15:22-35

Transition: First, to implement the solution takes…

I. Strong Leadership (22-23).

A. Apostles and Leaders Together

1. Whenever there is an issue within the church, strong leadership is essential.

2. We can see this from the reaction of the leadership in the early church. In v. 22 it says, “Then the apostles and elders together with the whole church in Jerusalem chose delegates, and they sent them to Antioch of Syria with Paul and Barnabas to report on this decision. The men chosen were two of the church leaders—Judas (also called Barsabbas) and Silas.”

a. So, here is the leadership of the early church mentioned by Luke.

b. The apostles did not hold a church office, but the position had more to do with their function and their gifts.

c. An apostle was someone who was an eyewitness of Jesus’ resurrection.

d. Furthermore, they were sent out to preach the Word to the lost. In fact, the word apostle means “sent out ones.”

e. Elders were appointed to lead and manage the local church.

f. We can see at this meeting that the apostles submitted to the leadership of an elder - James, Jesus’ half-brother.

3. Two elements of good leadership that we see in this section.

a. First, is decisiveness, there was a problem, and the leadership of the church stepped up and dealt with it.

b. As we talked about earlier, they didn’t let the problem linger, but they took the situation in hand and came to a conclusion.

c. Second, they communicated, they sent out a letter affirming their decision to the rest of the church.

d. In fact, they not only sent out a letter, but they sent two church leaders, Judas (also called Barsabbas - not Judas Iscariot), and Silas.

e. They sent these two church leaders out with the letter to make it certain that this letter was in fact from the leadership of the church.

B. Care for the Flock

1. Leadership: James Hunter in his book “The Servant” presents a powerful picture of what it really means to be a leader/servant. He shares “leadership is ultimately rooted in our will. Not forcing our will on others but demonstrating our will to serve.”

a. There is a big difference between leading through power and leading through authority.

b. Many people can simply force people to do what they want because they have the power to make them. However, few people like to be forced to do anything. Eventually such “power driven leadership” destroys relationships.

c. On the other hand, some can lead through authority. Authority is different than power. Power is something you have and force on people. Authority is something you gain – it’s given to you by the people you lead.

d. How does one gain authority from those they lead? Only through service and sacrifice. When people see that you have their best interests at heart, when they see you are willing to sacrifice and serve them, they will be willing to follow. That’s servant leadership, that’s authority.

2. True leadership in the church is not based on power, but on authority that is given to you from the people you lead. It is authority that is earned.

a. “And now, a word to you who are elders in the churches. I, too, am an elder and a witness to the sufferings of Christ. And I, too, will share in his glory when he is revealed to the whole world. As a fellow elder, I appeal to you: 2 Care for the flock that God has entrusted to you. Watch over it willingly, not grudgingly—not for what you will get out of it, but because you are eager to serve God. 3 Don’t lord it over the people assigned to your care, but lead them by your own good example. 4 And when the Great Shepherd appears, you will receive a crown of never-ending glory and honor.” (1 Pet. 5:1-4).