READ

So the word of God spread. The number of disciples in Jerusalem increased rapidly, and a large number of priests became obedient to the faith. Acts 6:7

THINK

This is quite a remarkable verse! In the book of Acts, where advance and growth ooze out of most chapters, we’re told here that when the church in Jerusalem fixed an organisational challenge, they saw the rapid spread of the gospel! This should make us stop and think! 

When the Apostle Paul, in 1 Corinthians 12, describes the church family as a body, maybe we need to take that metaphor a little more seriously! It tells us that getting the right people in the right place doing the right thing is vital for the mission that God has given us! Jumping back to Acts 6, the Apostles needed to get out of the way and allow this new emerging team of deacons to pick up the growing pressure of food distribution to the widows. Why? Because they were the right people, in the right place who knew what the right things were to do! 

So how do we ensure that we have the right people, in the right place, doing the right thing? That’s a great question and there are many different factors that needed to be considered but here at Kingsgate, we’ve narrowed things down to two massively important issues:

HEART AND SOUL

Heart and soul leadership is that which flows from a heart that is completely committed to our shared mission. It looks at the overall vision that we have as a church and says “how can I help?”. It’s not primarily looking for a way to use “my gifts to fulfil my ministry” but rather, it is heart and soul with the church in the direction of travel and style of ministry we’re trying to develop. Put bluntly, heart and soul leadership is the type that if you cut them in half they would bleed Kingsgate and our shared vision. 

FAST LEADERSHIP 

FAST leadership is a heart posture that summarises so much of what the Bible speaks about when it comes to leadership

Faithful (Luke 16:10) – Are you currently modelling faithfulness in the different areas of life (work, family, friendships)? Clearly, this has a time aspect to it because faithfulness over a number of cycles of the same activity really shows if you are serving because something is novel or because of a deep resolve.   

Accountable (Matt 12:36; Rom 2:16; 1 Cor 3:10-15; 4:5; 2 Cor 5:10) – Are you demonstrating clear accountability in what you do, or is there any sign of an unhealthy ‘me-and-my-ministry’ mentality?   

Servant-hearted (1 Pet 5:3; Matt 10:42) – Are there day-to-day examples where you are jumping in and serving without having to be asked (setting up chairs, turning up early to help, or staying behind and clearing up)?   

Teachable (1 Pet 5:5; Prov 12:1; Prov 9:9; Act 17:11) – When advice or even correction is given how do you respond? 

PRAY

Dear Father,

I pray for us as a church that we would grow more tightly together as our hearts and souls are woven into one shared mission. I also pray that you would grow me as a faithful, accountable, servant-hearted and teachable leader here at Kingsgate. Amen

This article was first published on our church website here