Audio Sermons
God’s Requirements for Church Leadership (I)
Building up the Church of Christ:
God’s Requirements for Church Leadership
Life B-P Church Worship Service, 12th March 2023
Text: Acts 6:1-7
- In some churches, people are appointed to lead without much regard for biblical requirements. (cf. 1 Timothy 3:6)
- We need to be very careful in the matter of church leadership.
- Biblical standards must be maintained when selecting leaders.
There are three things that God’s people must be willing to do to for the church:
1. Recognise the Need for New Leaders (vv.1,2)
- The church in Jerusalem had grown to about eight to ten thousand.
- With multiplied blessing, there comes multiplied responsibility to meet multiplied needs.
- The apostles were not afraid:
a. To admit that they were unable to meet the increased needs of the church.
b. Of sharing their burden of service and leadership with others.
2. Use the Right Criteria to Choose Leaders (vv.3,4)
- The apostles spelled out three important criteria to be met by prospective leaders:
a. “Of honest report” - Moral qualifications
b. “Full of the Holy Spirit” - Spiritual qualifications
c. “Wisdom” - Skill in administrative matters
- All three criteria were to be met at the same time.
3. Select the Right People to Lead (vv.5,6)
- There was a peaceful and orderly election.
- Who were elected: Stephen, Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas and Nicolas.
- They were blessings to the church (v.7):
a. The problem of neglected widows was solved.
b. The Word of God increased.
c. The number of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem greatly.
- There is a constant need for new leaders:
a. Stephen was martyred. (ch.7).
b. Philip was forced to migrate elsewhere because of persecution. (ch.8)
Questions for Reflection:
1. How can you be involved in the election of church leaders?
2. How can you know if God is calling you to serve in a leadership role?
3. How can a leader know when it is time for him to step down?