Speaker: Pastor Nate Herrlin

Church as God intended uses STRUCTURE wisely...

How do the apostles handle the problem?

What are the qualifications of these men?

- “known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom”

Is caring for these widows a less important priority than prayer and the ministry of the word?

Three indicators that caring for widows is NOT inferior to the apostles’ ministries of prayer and the ministry of the word:

1. They addressed the need IMMEDIATELY.

2. They required SPIRITUAL MATURITY in those who would meet the need.

3. The word used to describe “serving tables” (diakonia) is THE SAME WORD USED to describe “the ministry of the word.”

How can we best handle problems & needs as they come up in the church today?

“Hired ministers” & “Supporting congregations”

Who’s mentoring you?

Who are you mentoring?

“The apostles were not too busy for ministry, but preoccupied with the wrong ministry. So are many pastors. Instead of concentrating on the ministry of the word (which will include preaching to the congregation, counseling individuals and training groups), they become overwhelmed with administration. Sometimes it is the pastor’s fault (he wants to keep all the reins in his own hands), and sometimes the people’s (they want him to be a general factotum). In either case the consequences are disastrous. The standards of preaching and teaching decline, since the pastor has little time to study or pray. And the lay people do not exercise their God-given roles, since the pastor does everything himself. For both reasons the congregation is inhibited from growing into maturity in Christ. What is needed is the basic, biblical recognition that God calls different men and women to different ministries. Then the people will ensure that their pastor is set free from unnecessary administration, in order to give himself to the ministry of the word, and the pastor will ensure that the people discover their gifts and develop ministries appropriate to them.”

“The Message of Acts”, John Stott, p123

…fill out my own “pie chart” reflecting where I’m spending my time. Is there room for mentoring relationships & other ministry?

“hired ministers” and “supporting congregations”? Or “equal opportunity for all to serve in meaningful ways”

…ask God who at Cornerstone He might want me to pursue a more intentional friendship with (think mentoring and being mentored).

…participate in the home group book study, “Letters to the Church” by Francis Chan as a companion study to the sermon series. (read chap 7)