All Things NewSample

Peter Making Way for Paul

How many times have you seen a leader who is in charge, who is the best at what they do, make way for a younger leader and even support them and set them up for success? How many times have you seen that same kind of leader stand in the way of the younger leader and not show support for them, even though it would be in everyone’s best interest? We see this all the time in the sports world—a coach, who has been one of the best is nearing the end of their tenure, has a younger coach on staff who is ready to step up and take the reins. Yet instead of stepping aside and helping the younger coach to flourish, the coach resists and stays longer than they should, often only to be forced out within a year or two. In Acts 15:1-21 Peter is the veteran leader, empowered by Jesus to lead the early church. Paul is the new guy on the scene, and is showing signs that he is the future leadership of the church. At this point in Acts, Peter is still in charge and could easily stand in Paul’s way, but instead, he supports and empowers him by giving up some of his control and allowing Paul to step up in his leadership of the church. In looking at Peter’s life, this moment of mature and unselfish leadership shows that he has been transformed and made new by God. When we look back at Peter’s story throughout the gospels, he is often bold, brash, and sometimes abrasive. It wouldn’t be all that hard to imagine how he might have reacted to a leader like Paul challenging his thinking during that time in his life. It is easy to imagine that Peter would have been prideful, and would have resisted Paul and his ideas. Yet because of the transformational power of the gospel of Jesus, in Acts 15, we find Peter at a place where he is mature enough in his faith to see that it’s not all about him.

Reading: Acts 15:1-21

Reflection:

· What matters more to you: that you are the person to lead your ministry and do the bulk of the work, or that regardless of who is in charge, that the ministry is successful and honoring to God?

· Are you empowering others to lead, or mentoring anyone else?

· What areas of control can you give up to allow others to step up and lead?