One thing that many don’t want to do is work. I admit, the following description seems like too much work for me.
“Every day they spent time in the temple and in one home after another. They never stopped teaching and telling the good news that Jesus is the Messiah.” (Acts 5:42 CEV)
I dream of a church with enough enthusiastic and loyal preachers and teachers to fill all the needs throughout the week, leaving enough time to fast, pray and rest for all in leadership.
Proto-Deacons
One mistake that many church leaders make is mixing spiritual duties with physical. In modern countries there is a lot of red-tape involved in ministry. Health regulations, child-safety laws, wedding regulations, and many denominations seem to impose more and more loads of internal red tape. The paperwork alone can kill the spiritual side of ministry and so it is important that faithful and skilled deacon managers are found to free the elders from these duties.
A case in point is found in an early church management problem. How were needy people to be served equitably with daily food needs?
“And the twelve summoned the full number of the disciples and said, ‘It is not right that we should give up preaching the word of God to serve tables. Therefore, brothers, pick out from among you seven men of good repute, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we will appoint to this duty.’” (Acts 6:2-3 ESV)
Notice several things about this decision. This was a congregational decision, not an apostolic decision (vs 3a). Those chosen needed to have good reputations, be filled with the Holy Spirit and be wise (vs 3b). The reason for this division of labor is clear (vs 4). They chose all men (vs 5). Once the congregation had chosen them, the apostles would appoint or ordain them to this duty with the laying on of hands (vs 6). Though this is a description of what they did and not a commanded prescription for all future similar decisions, it does have the potential to be a precedent, if we notice similar reasoning afterwards.
“But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word.” (Acts 6:4 KJV)
Those of us who may be more oriented towards physical tasks can think that “prayer and teaching the word” (NLT) are not real work. Some people even make a joke that pastors only work one day a week. However, no church will do very well when “prayer and the service of proclaiming the word” (CEB) are neglected. An effective sermon requires at least 20 hours of preparation. The so-called Saturday night special, the bad habit of leaving the sermon until the night before, is guaranteed to be a weak failure, not blessed by God, except in rare emergencies.
The best sermon preparation is to begin long before the next sermon. A whole week for prayer, research and meditation is better than any last minute scramble. Prayer and ministry of the word are foundational to the spiritual health of a local church and must be seen as the most important work of those assigned to spiritual oversight. Churches that burden their elders with a litany of physical duties will be spiritually malnourished and weak. I dream of a church that completely understands the division of labor, and is blessed with skilled, willing deacons who take care of the physical management, so that the elders are free to focus on prayer and the ministry of the Word of God.
Opposition
See a church in town that does not have opposition and perhaps it is more worldly than Christian. Church planters should expect opposition from other religious leaders. They may have what I call exclusive franchise mentality, in that they act like a religious mafia that wants to be the only business in town. In some countries it is far worse than others, but be prepared. This was Stephen’s experience.
“Now when they heard this, they were infuriated, and they began gnashing their teeth at him.” (Acts 7:54 NASB)
I dream of a church that God has so blessed with spiritual fruit, that all opposition is overcome.
Power Seekers
Do churches ever experience someone trying to buy influence like Simon the Sorcerer? Over the years I’ve noticed an arrogance among some, often wealthier church members who believe that their worldly wisdom is wiser than that of poorer church members. They often assume that they are entitled to church leadership and though they may not attempt it as blatantly as Simon did, nevertheless they can often assume that their great contributions to church coffers has granted them the office. What did Simon do?
“And when Simon saw that through the laying on of the apostles’ hands the Holy Spirit was given, he offered them money, saying, ‘Give me this power also, that anyone on whom I lay hands may receive the Holy Spirit.’” (Acts 8:18-19 NKJV)
From this story we get the word simony meaning buying or selling a church office. In Simon’s case, he seemed more interested in “this power” than receiving the Holy Spirit himself. This seems applicable to power plays within the Church throughout history. We see similar ambitious people, those who have bought an office, or seem otherwise more interested in lording it over others than letting the Holy Spirit lead. If we want our churches to be successful the shepherds of the flock must guard against anyone seeking power for selfish reasons.
May our leaders have the courage of Peter, who plainly answered Simon.
“May your money perish with you, because you thought you could buy the gift of God with money! You have no part or share in this ministry, because your heart is not right before God. Repent of this wickedness and pray to the Lord in the hope that he may forgive you for having such a thought in your heart. For I see that you are full of bitterness and captive to sin.” (Acts 8:20-23 NIV)
I dream of a church where carnal ambition has not bought anyone an office, but that all those who serve make a valuable contribution to church health.
