EVANGELICAL CHURCH WINNING ALL FOOD FOR THE DAY - 2023 THURSDAY, 28 SEPTEMBER 2023 TEXT: ACTS 15 : 22 - 35 TOPIC: LEADERS AMONG BELIEVERS

 

*ACTS 15 : 22 - 35 NIV*

22:Then the apostles and elders, with the whole church, decided to choose some of their own men and send them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas. They chose Judas (called Barsabbas) and Silas, men who were leaders among the believers.

23:With them they sent the following letter: The apostles and elders, your brothers, To the Gentile believers in Antioch, Syria and Cilicia: Greetings.

24:We have heard that some went out from us without our authorization and disturbed you, troubling your minds by what they said.

25:So we all agreed to choose some men and send them to you with our dear friends Barnabas and Paul—

26:men who have risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

27:Therefore we are sending Judas and Silas to confirm by word of mouth what we are writing.

28:It seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us not to burden you with anything beyond the following requirements:

29:You are to abstain from food sacrificed to idols, from blood, from the meat of strangled animals and from sexual immorality. You will do well to avoid these things. Farewell.

30:So the men were sent off and went down to Antioch, where they gathered the church together and delivered the letter.

31:The people read it and were glad for its encouraging message.

32:Judas and Silas, who themselves were prophets, said much to encourage and strengthen the believers.

33:After spending some time there, they were sent off by the believers with the blessing of peace to return to those who had sent them.

34:KJV:Notwithstanding it pleased Silas to abide there still.

35:But Paul and Barnabas remained in Antioch, where they and many others taught and preached the word of the Lord.

*LEADERS AMONG BELIEVERS*

Today's church is muddling up an understanding of the true spiritual leader. While many do not see the difference between secular and Biblical leadership, Bill Lawrence describes Biblical leadership as an act of influencing/serving others using the interest of Christ in the followers' lives to accomplish God's purpose. 

This is amply demonstrated in today's reading. Notice the oneness and unity in the process of their delegation in verse 22. Anything done in God's spirit leads to common understanding and peace among recipients.

*QUESTION:* What leadership traits do we see in our church leaders today?

*PRAYER:* Father, thank You for blessing us with leaders in the church. Bless the right leaders and help them to keep up their good works but challenge the wrong ones to repent. Amen.

*FOOD FOR THE DAY - 2023*