Young Adults' Group

Men Of Quality

by Pastor Mark
September 19, 2019

The challenges of ministry

As we enter into our 47th year of ministry, we recognise that challenges and problems will arise. It is crucial that as a church, we would have leaders to meet up to these challenges in the biblical manner. As the Jerusalem church grew, problems did arise. (Acts 6) A complaint arose against the Hebrew Christians by the Hellenist Christians who were Greek-speaking Jews. There was some friction between the two groups. The Hebrew servers were giving more food to the Hebrew widows. The Hellenist widows were being neglected.

The place of the Apostles

The Apostles were the existing leaders of the church. To address the problem, they sought to expand leadership roles to include non-apostles. They sought to explore how other leaders could enhance ministry to the growing church. (Acts 6:2) The Apostles explained that the main concerns of their ministries were the ministry of the Word and of prayer. It was not desirable for them to leave the Word of God and to serve tables. (Acts 6:2) They should give themselves continually to both prayer and the ministry of the Word: “but we will give ourselves continually to prayer and to the ministry of the Word.” (Act 6:4) These are the concerns that we have as pastors too, that we would give ourselves to the ministry of Word and prayer. There is a need for more lay leaders to serve the Lord.

The search for men of quality

“Therefore, brethren, seek out from among you seven men of good reputation, full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business;” (Acts 6:3)

What were the criteria of the leaders that the Apostles were looking out for?

1. Good reputation…The Greek word “martureo” means to be “a witness, a testimony”. They were men who had a good testimony, a good reputation among the brethren. We must build for ourselves a good witness by how we live our lives and how we minister. Let us be challenged to develop for ourselves a good testimony.

2. Full of the Holy Spirit…The Holy Spirit should fill our lives as we see in the life and ministry of the Lord Jesus, “The Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon Him, the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord.” (Isaiah 11:2) These seven aspects were manifested in the Lord Jesus in fullness. For us, we can be filled with some of these different aspects too as we seek to be filled with the Spirit of God.

3. Full of wisdom…A leader is one who is full of wisdom…to have the discernment to understand and resolve problems such as the one that the widows were having. Let us be challenged to be filled with the wisdom of God to make good choices in our life and ministry.

4. Full of faith…One of the leaders chosen was Stephen, and he was full of faith. (Acts 6:5) A leader should have a strong faith in the Lord and His Word to guide him and the church. Let us be challenged to develop a strong faith to face whatever challenges that may come our way.

It is with these qualities that we can become lay leaders of the church. However, the criteria are not only for leaders but for all of us who serve the Lord. Let us be challenged to grow and cultivate these areas in our life that we may better serve the Lord, doing our part in Bethany.

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