We have seen that growth can bring problems. But help is at hand!
Acts 6 and problem solving
Here is a classic combination — growth and grumbling (v.1)! An issue of complexity has led to a potentially disastrous situation. It’s what the apostles do about it that’s so helpful. First, they set priorities for themselves and the church (vv.2,4). You’ll notice that word and deed both have to be carried out by the church. They invent a solution and initiate a plan. This is not ‘steamrollered’ through but they gain the ownership of the whole church (v.3). A team is identified, and then publicly empowered for the task (vv.5,6). The result is... more growth — both in quantity and ‘quality’ (v.7).
Notice also what they did not do: no sermons about contentment, or calls for special prayer for members to be less difficult! Some difficulties need an ‘Acts 6 approach’, where elders ‘manage’ change by identifying problems, develop plans to deal with issues, gain ownership by the church and empower people and teams to take on major responsibilities.
But, remember, this isn’t about absolving church leaders from dealing with complex issues so they can hide in the study!
Acts 20 and eldership activity
Paul is not describing how heroic he had been, but sets forth a training model for the whole eldership to practise. Elders should plan for regular congregational visitation, for outreach initiatives, for consultation together about the wellbeing of the church. Paul also models vision here — he is looking ahead at potential dangers, as well as opportunities. Does your eldership get away for times like this (note v.17)? You need to think ‘bigger picture’, to have a ‘health check’ on your own ministries, and consider the present and future good of the whole church.
Acts 16 and leadership recruitment
Leaders are involved in growing other leaders — it is a key leadership function, and crucial if growth pressures are to be dealt with. It is risky, time-consuming, and a serious responsibility that never ends. Notice how Paul is always on the lookout for those he can encourage and train. He had taken John Mark with him at first, but that hadn’t worked out (Acts 15.36-39). But notice how Paul, despite setbacks and disappointments, immediately takes up others — Silas and then Timothy (Acts 15.40, 16.1-3).
The lesson is that leaders must invest in training other leaders. Mentoring individuals, developing teams (see Acts 20.4), and deploying leaders to where they are needed (Acts 17.14,15) are all part of what it means to help churches grow.
The pastoral epistles
The leadership lessons here are: a) ‘become a lifelong learner’, and b) become a leadership trainer. Paul wants Timothy to keep developing personally (see 1 Timothy 4.14,15; 2 Timothy 2.15). But he also wants him to develop others (see 2 Timothy 2.1-7). Training is not something leaders did ‘back then’, but is ongoing. Without them being committed to their own growth, the church will stall as they fail to keep developing both godliness and capability. Modelling ‘self-leadership’ is vital; it shows that the ‘disciplines' of the Christian life — personal devotion to the Lord and to holiness, family love and stability, church commitment, and responsible citizenship — can be lived out.
Training other leaders is also vital for the health of the church and must become a priority. The pastorals underline this. Training is to take place at every level and in every way (Titus 2 is a classic passage that illustrates this.) Training combines both knowledge and practice. The leaders model obedience and can say ‘mimic me’ (1 Corinthians 11.1). It isn't just a case of training ‘the best of the best of the best’, but enabling leadership at every level — the single mum who leads her children, the dad who leads his wife and family, the home group leader who helps his small group, the team leader who gets a group to complete a significant task.
Philemon and the ‘Big Ask’
What is going on in Philemon? First is ‘a great vision’. Paul believes that the gospel supernaturally transforms people, not just breeds ‘niceness’. You see it in the way that human relationships can be healed by the gospel. Those who would otherwise be ‘natural enemies’ are brought together by 'the blood of the cross' and knitted together in a new community — humanity in union as it should be. That’s the vision. But it’s no pipe dream — Paul believes it can be worked out in all the messiness of reality.
So, second comes ‘a bold move’! Paul sends someone back to a potential death sentence; a returning slave could be treated just as the master wished in terms of punishment. Imagine being Onesimus with just a thin piece of paper — a short letter from Paul to his former boss — between himself and a potential ‘end of life scenario’! But, for Paul, here is an opportunity to demonstrate just what the gospel can do. To go forward we may need to take similar bold gospel moves. I don’t know what they will be for you, but they will take your breath away sometimes!
Then comes a gospel call to action on Philemon’s part. Paul reminds him of the grace that has been shown him and which should prompt him to act freely to advance the gospel. This is the ‘big ask’. Paul doesn’t want just a ‘tolerance’ of the former slave, but an embrace as a brother (see vv.16-19). This is costly — financially he will lose out, emotionally it could be tough, and who knows how his reputation with other slave owners will fare. Paul knows it’s no small thing, but as a wise leader he realises that these ‘big asks’ can bring the best out in people (see Hybels’s book Axiom for more on this).
Leaders will need to do likewise — it may be over money, recruiting someone, or changing something in church life for the sake of the gospel. But you can’t make progress without it.
Conclusion
A wise comment puts all this in perspective: ‘The number one “vision problem” with churches today is not (as is widely held) leaders who “lack a vision.” The real problem is when our primary focus shifts from who God is (a vision alone that can lead to “the peace of Christ reigning in our hearts”) to what we are doing. The cure is to discover a vision of the beauty of God’. John Ortberg here reminds us that, in our discussion of leadership, planning, and activity, we must not get away from what is central. We are worshippers of the Lord and all this is to be driven by a love for him and a desire to see him glorified. This must not become a pious refrain, but the wellspring of our hearts.
We are all ‘only servants’ (1 Corinthians 3), we are not ‘anything’, and it is all ‘only God’. But what a privilege to be also called ‘God’s fellow labourers’, working together with him in his ‘field’, his ‘building’. What confidence that should give us to serve him well.
Footnotes
Bill Hybels, Axiom (Zondervan)
John Ortberg, The ‘We’ we want to be (LeadershipJournal.net, posted 7/5/2010)
