Continuing with our series “Let’s get our Act together” aimed at bringing about “Sound and effective church leadership for general church growth”, we will first look at priorities that defined the ministry of the early church leadership:
1. Capture: Were not disciples called to be “Fishers of men” (Matt 4:19), their mission further fuelled by the Great commission (Matt 28:16-20)? Now the Peter and co. In their “spiritual capture business” were unlike normal fishermen. If the professional fishermen of the worldly realm in order to make a living, spread their nets to capture and kill the fish eventually to fry them in the hot oven, then the spiritual fishermen of the First century in stark contrast even gave-up their lives in the process of “fishing” in order that their “captured fish” ended up in cool heaven. Strengthened by the joy of the indwelling Holy Spirit (Christian living or service is impossible without Holy Spirit empowerment from within), they set their faces like a flint to achieve their God-ordained goals, come what may!
When the heart is set on a right goal, would not the good Lord give all the strength and support that is required? Consider even the time of Holy Spirit outpouring (have we ever praised God for his perfect sense of timing – Gal 4:4- He does everything at the RIGHT TIME) on the disciples. The Lord “baptized” them with fire not a day before or after the Pentecostal day but only on the Pentecostal day -the day “plenty of live fish” would be available in Jerusalem (mind you, only on the day of important Jewish festival of Pentecost would the Jews from all over the world flock the temple in Jerusalem). How powerful was the Holy Spirit baptism that day! When Peter completed his soul-stirring sermon, he did not even give an altar call, for people “cut to their heart” by his message came of their own accord asking, “What shall we do” (Acts 2:37). That epoch-making moment, frozen in history, set the tone for the rapid growth of the Church, for from then on, it grew not in mere arithmetic progression but in geometric sequence (Acts 2:41,47, 4:4, 9:31)!
While mass evangelistic programs in the Church neighbourhood would certainly help, the Church members invariably of the same locality where the Church is, ought to be nurtured to turn into “Fishers of the unchurched” in their own neighbourhoods. Ah, that’s where the importance of Nurture comes to the fore…
2. Nurture: The Early Church leaders were well aware of the fact that at “capture”, their work only began. Spiritual transformation of an individual is very much akin to physical birth. A babe once born needs to be nurtured. Hence, we see the apostles in line with their call (John 21:15-17) diligently going about nurturing the new Christians (Acts 2:42) strengthening them in the Word of God using the available scriptures-from Genesis to only Malachi-of those days (the leaders of the present generation, with the full revealed Word of God from Genesis to Revelation doubtless have a greater responsibility- Luke 12:48).
Hampered by physical constraints (they couldn’t be at all places at all times) we also see the Apostles appointing overseers (read Pastors) in the Churches they had established, in order for the nurture process to go on unabated, even in their absence (Acts 14:23), all with the aim that the new Christians would be sufficiently equipped in Word and Spirit to “hook” the unsaved for Christ.
Correspondingly, nurture was on by way of “Distant teaching method”, also courtesy the Epistles, through which amongst other instructions, there was always a constant call from the leadership for the laity to grow spiritually (2 Cor 3:11 TLB/Hebrews 5:12-14/1 Peter 2:2-3, II Peter 1:5-9). The Apostles aimed that their flock would become thriving Christians, useful in the hands of the Lord, rather than being merely surviving Christians, the genre of which there is no shortage in modern times.
The Church representing the body of Christ (a group of believers) met mostly in homes (Romans 16:23, Philemon 1:2) which besides guaranteeing close and warm fellowship ensured that they shared their problems and burdens cheerfully. While hoping for a return to the era of house churches may be an idealistic pipedream in an age of mega-churches where the Shepherd (read pastor) may not have personal rapport with his flock, all is not lost yet! Within the Church, development of smaller fellowships on geographical basis needs to be encouraged, with the main pastor down-delegating some of his authority to the trained leadership under him to lead these fellowships. This is where, true nurture would occur.
In the next part of the series, let’s focus on two other important facets of Early Church which brought glory to God even while countless “lost” souls into His Kingdom.
Prayer: Father, into Thy hands we the Church Leaders commit ourselves. Use us for Thy glory. Amen.
Suresh Manoharan
(To access the entire “Sound and Effective Church Leadership” mini-series, please click here.)