Us leading together & APEST

If I am honest, I would love to spend a week in the first church as we find it in Acts. The coming of the Holy Spirit, Peter's sermon. The mega-baptismal service, breaking bread house by house. The first church, wonderful.

In chapter 6 of Acts - the congregation there is still very young - you come across a special situation. There is an issue, grumbling, fussing. And rightly so because something is going wrong in the ministry. We can assume that the leaders in the first congregation are very busy and this does not succeed (anymore). Each and everyone serving leaders, but they can't do it alone and it is wonderful to see what they are doing now.

Acts 6:2 shows them calling together the group of disciples - followers of Jesus. They are not going to plan for themselves, no this is something that concerns the disciples, the congregation. The first thing the leaders do is refer back to their own calling: pray and bring the word, this is what we are called to do, and we must continue to do it.

Just in between: What is your calling? What place and task has the Lord designed for you? Do you know?

Back to Acts. The leaders give an assignment to the disciples. They are to look out for men from among them. No solution from the leaders themselves. No solution from the outside. Prayerfully looking for a solution from within. People who are known, have a good testimony and are full of the Holy Spirit. Such people are needed. Such leaders serve. Servant leaders.

Do you see how it goes together? The leaders (apostles), the disciples. Then the deacons, they are elected and they are prayed for. The role of the Holy Spirit, the blessing from above. Together. That's the keyword. Leading is done together. And together we build up the church, the body of Christ.

In Ephesians, you find a wonderful listing of what God wants to give. It is sometimes called the "fivefold" ministry - we are talking about apostles, prophets, evangelists, shepherds, and teachers (APEST). All given to equip the saints, to build up the body of Christ. Apostles cannot do that alone. Nor can teachers. Every gift is needed. All are needed. And each gift complements each other. Do you know what gift God has given to you? With what gift may you serve? It is important to know because everyone is needed.

This plan is about servant leadership. And maybe when you think of leadership you immediately have something big in mind. But, of course, that doesn't have to be the case at all. You can be leader of a whole flock, or of a small group. Feel free to make it as small as possible, until only you and 1 other person remains. Who are you leading to Christ? To whom are you reaching out?

I really like that Psalm 23 says, "The Lord is my Shepherd." Personally, He leads me and you. Something small speaks from that. Jesus knows you. And He looks out for you. He leads you. The Lord is your Shepherd. And from that peace and relationship, you may lead.

For whom may you be a shepherd? A leader? Someone who serves? And who do you work with? You don't have to do it alone; you are made for relationship. And so we march together. Following Jesus.

Take the following questions to ponder:

• What do you think of how the apostles handle it in Acts 6? What does that teach you?
• Have you ever had a similar problem (feel free to make it small)?
• Where do you get to lead? Where may you serve?
• Who do you do that with? Do you ever talk about that?
• Do you know what gift (apostle, prophet, evangelist, shepherd, teacher) you have been given? How do you use them?
• Do you know what your calling is? What can you go for? Discuss this for example with an elder or pastor. How can you grow in this?

Prayer:

• Thank Jesus for His example in leadership, servant leadership. Worship Him for who He is.
• Express your desire to God to grow in servant leadership.
• Ask Jesus if there is someone you may reach out to. Maybe someone on your team you may invest in, or maybe someone you're not thinking about at all right now.

P.S. This is the last day of this reading plan. We hope it has helped you as a follower of Jesus and that you have enjoyed it, but, of course, there is much more to discover.

The materials in this reading plan come from Alongsiders, a European discipleship movement. Do you want to take the next step? Do you have a heart for discipleship and want to know how to really follow Jesus?

Click here for more reading plans and opportunities to grow in discipleship.