A Challenge to Your Leadership 

By: Roy DeLaGarza

From the Series: "Leadership equals Servanthoot" Session #3

Acts 6:1-10

We begin with the example of Momentum:

While the first century church grew in maturity they were faced with the tensions between Grecian and Aramaic speaking Jews. The Grecian Jews felt that they were being considered inferior and therefore grew resentful to their Aramaic speaking Jewish friends. The church leadership found a solution. The Holy Spirit led them to meet the need that there was. The Holy Spirit can direct you too as a leader to meet the need in the best possible way.

1. Remember that there will be problems wherever there is a group of more than one.
Trust the Lord to give you Spirit led wisdom to know how to meet the needs of your people without sacrificing the essential priorities of your organization. The disciples remembered what Jesus said; you shall be my witnesses in Jerusalem, Judea, and Samaria and unto the uttermost parts of the earth. (Acts 1:8)

2. Refuse to get discouraged when you hear complaints, criticisms, or accusations.
a. Acknowledge each person’s concern as important: Ask him or her to allow you to meet with Godly elders in your fellowship to find a creative solution. Often times when there is a problem, the Lord will give someone a relevant way of solving the problem without sacrificing on the priorities of the fellowship.

b. Trust the Lord to help you deliberate with Godly leaders: There are people within your organization or group who are able to pray, counsel and seek God’s word to find a good solution to whatever problem arises.

 

c. Graciously recognize your limitations: Paul the apostle graciously recognized his limitations without overstretching his God given constraints. The first century apostles voiced their concern that it would not be advisable to stop the preaching of the word just to wait upon tables to widows. They recognized their God given calling to the prayer and to the ministry of the word. God expects leaders to remain on course with the priorities of the gospel ministry in the face of all kinds of temptations to take detours.

d. Ask the Lord to help you exhibit creative leadership communicate with all the people who are involved in a transparent, loving, and progressive manner. Do not assume that critics are your enemies. God can use suggestions of all types to help the leadership of the church to be all that He wants them to become.

e. Read, study and practice ways that you can improve your communications Remember that we please the Lord most when we are speaking and listening to the truth spoken in love as we grow in all aspects in to Christ who is the head of the church. (Eph. 4:15).

f. Ask the Lord privately and corporately to give you discernment that often comes with Godly experience with difficult problem solving. Solid food is for the mature who because of practice have their senses trained to discern good and evil. (Heb. 5:14)

g. Assign responsibility to responsible people. The apostles found ways of appointing Godly Greek men who were able to take care of the needs of the widows. Stephen and Philip grew from their service to be significant leaders in other fellowships.

h. Believe that the Lord will use your problem: God will use the problem to cause growth in your members and in the church. God blessed the apostles with great growth in their fellowship as a result of their Spirit applied solutions to a prickly problem. Dr. Luke wrote, then the word of God spread and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem.

Application: Never underestimate the importance of solving any concern in the church or ministry department. God will multiply your fellowship through obedient problem solving ministries.