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Leadership Ingredients in the Growth of the Early Church

Published: January 18, 2009 - 8:06pm — Pastor Rick Alay
January 18, 2009 Message
Text: Acts 5:12-16
 
In the Christian Church, its not only the pastor that is growing and getting better, in tagalog “Dapat sa Church di lang si pastor ang magaling at gumagaling, dapat lahat ng mga members”
 
Most part of this outline was inspired by John Maxwell.
 
The leadership of the early church produced growth naturally. Though they didn’t pursue growth but they practiced obedience, commitment, healthy relationship and faith. As a result growth was the natural result. With these four practices, this message will go a distance. Jesus’ goal was to produce leaders for the Church to achieve the goal for the Harvest.
Seven Ps that enable the Church to grow based on Acts 5: Most part of this outline was inspired by John Maxwell.
 
  1. Purity. 1-11. The leaders didn’t settle for anything less than integrity. As a leader of the church we should not do anything that will tarnish our name. As a leader we should live above reproach. The story of Ananias and Saphira should always remind us that God is not mocked and He really means righteousness.
  2. Power. 12-16. The early leaders and believers modeled an attractive, supernatural power that meets human needs… Outsiders had a high regards about the early believer’s refutation and their Spirit filled life. Leaders’ main ministry is to equip believers.
  3. Persecution. 17-18. Opposition served to strengthen the believers & leaders in their conviction. One of the reasons why non- believers in the early century became Christian because they saw the steadfastness of the believers even in times of persecution. Christian should shine all the more in times of trials, testing and persecutions.
  4. Proclamation. 19-28. The believers and leaders were so eagerly proclaimed and communicated the Gospel message with conviction and clarity. How did they do that? By studying the word of God daily and remain in the apostle’s teaching. Acts 2: 42-47.  We follow the strategy of the CELL Vision, and we encourage everyone to undergo the process.
  5. Priorities. 29-32. The leaders and believers clearly laid out their top priorities which made decisions easier. One of their top priority lists is obedience. Every believer should know how to balance relations and vision. We can maintain our relations with each other even though some seems don’t flow with the vision.
  6. Praise. v. 41. In the midst of adversity, leaders maintained an attitude of gratitude and continued to praise God for everything. Are we rejoicing when our brother or sister in the Lord are prospering? Or is it otherwise. Are we rejoicing when our neighbor church seems growing? Or are frowning?
  7. Perseverance. v. 42.  Leaders kept right on influencing others, living a life of conviction not a life of caution. We are called for completion not for competition. One of my favorite quotation was about the snail going to Noah’s Ark. “By perseverance, the snail reaches the ark”
There are pains in every growth. Biblical growth is both with quantity and quality.