How to become
a spiritual leader
Acts Series: ¡§Completely Irreligious, Yet Radically Christian¡¨ Part 12
Pastor Jeff Christopherson
March 30, 2003
Acts 6:1-7
FOUR KEYS TO EFFECTIVE SPIRITUAL LEADERSHIP
1. Realize your Purpose.
¡§Day after day, in the temple courts and from house to house, they never stopped teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Christ.¡¨ Acts 5:42
2. Rethink your Problems:
¡§In those days when the number of disciples was increasing, the Grecian Jews among them complained against the Hebraic Jews because their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food.¡¨ Acts 6:1
THE IRONIC NATURE OF PROBLEMS:
A) Problems come disguised as Obstacles.
¡§So the Twelve gathered all the disciples together and said, ¡§It would not be right for us to neglect the ministry of the word of God in order to wait on tables.¡¨ Acts 6:2
B) Problems are opportunities for Breakthroughs.
¡§Brothers, choose seven men from among you who are known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will turn this responsibility over to them.¡¨ Acts 6:3
3. Restructure your Plans.
HOW TO TURN A BAD SITUATION AROUND:
A) Attack the Problem, not the Personality.
¡§His proposal pleased the whole group. They chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit; also Philip, Procorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas from Antioch, a convert to Judaism.¡¨ Acts 6:5
B) Trust the Spiritual Contribution of others.
¡§They presented these men to the apostles, who prayed and laid their hands on them.¡¨ Acts 6:6
4. Re-establish your Priorities.
¡§So the word of God spread. The number of disciples in Jerusalem increased rapidly, and a large number of priests became obedient to the faith.¡¨ Acts 6:7
ULTIMATELY, THE KINGDOM OF GOD REQUIRES
TWO PRIORITIES FROM HIS PEOPLE:
1) Growing in our understanding of God¡K
¡Kthrough His Word.
¡§¡Kand will give our attention to ¡K the ministry of the word.¡¨ Acts 6:4
¡§All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.¡¨ 2 Timothy 3:16-17
2) Growing in our participation with God¡K
¡Kthrough Prayer.
¡§¡Kand will give our attention to prayer ¡K¡¨ Acts 6:4
¡§As for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the LORD by failing to pray for you.¡¨ 1 Samuel 12:23
¡§The prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise him up. If he has sinned, he will be forgiven. Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.¡¨ James 5:15-16
Scripture passages from the New International Version unless otherwise noted.
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Home Church Discussion Guide:
spiritual leadership & communion
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1. When you hear the term, ¡¥spiritual leadership¡¦, what thoughts or images come immediately to your mind? How would you react to the statement that ¡¥all believers are called to be spiritual leaders¡¦? 2. Read Acts 6:1-7. 3. Now read Acts 2:44-45 and 4:32. How could have these Greek speaking widows possibly be neglected? 4. What was the key threat this ¡¥murmur / complaint¡¦ posed to the fellowship? What can we learn about the fragility of fellowship? 5. In Acts 6:2-6, how do the apostles resolve this problem? Since they selected only Greek speaking leaders to help in this situation ¡V what problems were they hoping to avoid? What can we learn from the way the apostles dealt with the problem? 6. How does Acts 6:7 demonstrate the power of a flexible and purposeful structure? What should The Sanctuary learn from this? 7. What secondary issues hinder churches from fulfilling their purpose? How is communion an outward expression of the inward health of our fellowship? 8. Prayerfully participate in communion together (reminding yourself of Jesus¡¦ attendance.)
㦠2003, Jeff Christopherson, The Sanctuary
