In Jeff Iorg’s book, “The Case for Antioch: A Biblical Model for a Transformational Church,” he stresses the pattern of that New Testament church for leadership in chapter 8. I wholeheartedly agree. This is a message I have delivered again and again. Here is a summary of my thoughts.
You will never find a growing, thriving church that does not have committed competent leadership. While good leaders cannot guarantee success, poor leaders guarantee failure. “Everything rises and falls on leadership,” is an expression I learned from John Maxwell. It is a sobering truth for every officer of the church, whether it be the pastor, a deacon, a teacher, a committee member or some other leader. As you search the pages of Scripture, you will discover that whenever God wanted to do a work, He called out a leader, whether it was Moses, Deborah, David, or Peter. We find the church at Antioch affords us a Biblical blueprint to follow in this area as well. Antioch was a model missionary church. That church had model members and model leaders.
“Then news of these things came to the ears of the church in Jerusalem, and they sent out Barnabas to go as far as Antioch. When he came and had seen the grace of God, he was glad, and encouraged them all that with purpose of heart they should continue with the Lord. For he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And a great many people were added to the Lord. Then Barnabas departed for Tarsus to seek Saul. And when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. So it was that for a whole year they assembled with the church and taught a great many people. And the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch. And in these days prophets came from Jerusalem to Antioch. Then one of them, named Agabus, stood up and showed by the Spirit that there was going to be a great famine throughout all the world, which also happened in the days of Claudius Caesar. Then the disciples, each according to his ability, determined to send relief to the brethren dwelling in Judea. This they also did, and sent it to the elders by the hands of Barnabas and Saul.” (Acts 11:22-30 NKJV)
Consider THE ROLE OF GOOD LEADERSHIP. There will be edification, education, evangelism, and equipping.
Good leaders edify. Barnabas was a prominent leader in the church at Antioch. He was sent to edify, that is, to build up the church. As we see him fulfilling that responsibility, edification was the result. We need leaders like that today. Rather than building up the church, I have seen leaders who insist on tearing down the church. Many churches today are in absolute turmoil because of poor leadership. May we commit ourselves to building up our church family.
Good leaders educate. Agabus was another man God used. Before the formation of the New Testament, God spoke by direct revelation through the prophets. They were the source of doctrine and educated the church in the truth. There are no prophets like this today. God has given us the complete revelation in the Word of God—all that we need for faith and practice. But the prophetic role is still needful today. We could compare this to teaching in the modern church. Baptists who boast of believing the Book, often don’t read the Book! We may be a Biblically illiterate people. Entire denominations are dying because of their departure from the Bible and sound doctrine. Let us teach it! Let us teach it in our homes to our family, let us teach it in our Sunday School classrooms and in our Discipleship groups. God has promised His Word will not return void.
Good leadership yields edification and education, but more, there will be evangelism. “Now those who were scattered after the persecution that arose over Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch, preaching the word to no one but the Jews only. But some of them were men from Cyprus and Cyrene, who, when they had come to Antioch, spoke to the Hellenists, preaching the Lord Jesus. And the hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number believed and turned to the Lord.” (Acts 11:19-21).
The church at Antioch was founded by evangelists. While it is true that every member is to be a witness, leaders must set the pace. Paul told the young pastor, Timothy, “do the work of an evangelist.” Philip was a deacon who was a model soul-winner, whether preaching to the masses in Samaria, or witnessing to a man in Gaza. Teachers have a great opportunity for evangelism. When was the last time you presented the Gospel in your classroom? You might protest, “All my class members are saved.” How do you know that? Can you see in their heart? I give an invitation at the end of my sermon because I dare not assume everyone is saved. Even if the whole class is saved—you should ask, “Where are the prospects? Are we not inviting unchurched people to Sunday School?” Music can help promote evangelism. The Gospel needs to be clearly expressed in our songs. We are not just after a beat to get people hyped up, but a message to get souls saved!
Good leaders will also engage in equipping. This is a primary duty of a pastor. He must not be the only “minister.” His ministry is to equip the saints for their ministry. He is like a player-coach. He is called upon to feed the flock, and shepherd the sheep. He was also known as an elder in the early church (Acts 11:29-30). We do not have time today to consider the whole topic of elders—but, suffice it to say, that these were what we would call pastors, and notice there are a plurality. We need plurality due to the enormous responsibility, and the needed accountability of those pastor/teachers in the church. Antioch did not have just one pastor, but multiple elders.
Not only do we see the role of good leadership, but THE RESULTS OF GOOD LEADERSHIP. The center of the Christian church would shift from Jerusalem to Antioch.
They had growth, “And the hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number believed and turned to the Lord,” (v. 21). God’s intent is for His church to grow. Jesus said, “Upon this rock I will BUILD my church…” Christ is the One who builds His church. That is not our responsibility. If I build it, it won’t amount to anything of eternal worth. But, good leaders point to people to the Biblical blueprint for the building of the church. Since Christ is the architect, the leaders are the on-site project managers. Jesus commanded, “Go into the highways and hedges and compel them to come in, that my Father’s house may be full.” God wants His house full. There’s still room in most of our church buildings. We need a vision of what Christ wants us to do. It ought to break our heart when one service passes without someone being saved. It shouldn’t surprise us that someone would be saved today, but should surprise us if someone isn’t.
Good leadership results in growth and in godliness, “And the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch,” (v. 26b). They called them Christians because they saw Christ in them. The populace used the term as a slur, but the believers embraced it as an honor. Why did they call them “Christians”? Because the name of Jesus dominated their conversations, directed their conduct, and was displayed in their character. It was all about Christ. As a leader, do others see Jesus in you? Paul said, “Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ.” (1 Cor. 11:1). As leaders, we should be so in step with Jesus, that when people follow us, they will be following after Christ.
Good leadership results in growth, godliness, and in generosity. We read in Act 11:28-30 concerning Antioch, “Then one of them, named Agabus, stood up and showed by the Spirit that there was going to be a great famine throughout all the world, which also happened in the days of Claudius Caesar. Then the disciples, each according to his ability, determined to send relief to the brethren dwelling in Judea. This they also did, and sent it to the elders by the hands of Barnabas and Saul.”
These were generous people. This infant church at Antioch helped support the mother church. The leadership set the stewardship pattern. Stingy leaders will beget stingy church members. As pastors and deacons in the church I led, we always believed we should set the example. We asked for and held accountable those who were in leadership to be faithful givers. So, in stewardship campaigns, or capital campaigns, we shared our commitment—not to boast of the amount, but to establish our commitment. Should I, as a leader, not practice what I preach?
How often we hear of some lost person who is hindered from coming to Christ because of the failure of some church leader. They look at a preacher, or a deacon, or a teacher and say, “If that’s what a Christian is, then I don’t want to be one.” As leaders, wherever we go in the community, we represent our Lord and this church. An inconsistent life, will repel people from coming here. Our leaders need to make a fresh commitment today. All of us are leaders to someone—even if we do not hold an office. Leadership is influence. Every one of you has an influence on someone for good or bad.
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