Qualifications for Leadership By :Jason Groff скачать в хорошем качестве

Qualifications for Leadership By :Jason Groff

Lessons from Acts 6OverviewA heartfelt message reflecting on biblical qualifications for church leadership, inspired by Acts 6 and the example of Stephen. The speaker emphasizes that these qualities are not just for leaders but for all believers, highlighting the role of relationship with God, the work of the Holy Spirit, and the importance of integrity, wisdom, and humility.Core Scripture:Acts 6:1–8; reference to Titus 3:2Key Themes• Prayer as Relationship:• "Pray without ceasing" (1 Thessalonians 5:17) is not a burdensome command but an invitation to ongoing relationship with God, like that of a child with a loving father.• Leadership and spiritual growth flow from this relational posture, not from duty alone.• Biblical Qualifications for Leadership:• Integrity (Honest Report):• Leaders must be trustworthy inside and outside the church.• Their families should affirm their character; there should be no discrepancy between public and private life.• Includes discretion—knowing when to speak and when to remain silent.• Faithfulness in Relationships:• "Husband of one wife" means being above reproach in interactions with women—safe, loyal, and Christlike.• Full of the Holy Spirit:• Leaders are led and corrected by the Spirit, seeking guidance in difficult times rather than reacting out of impulse.• Wisdom and Emotional Intelligence:• Leaders need practical wisdom, discernment, and the ability to understand how their actions affect others.• Emotional intelligence is vital—knowing how actions can be perceived, especially by those with different backgrounds or wounds.• Grounded in Faith:• Leaders stand firm on biblical truth, not swayed by trends or personal stories that contradict Scripture.• They respond to difficult issues (like divorce and remarriage) with compassion but unwavering biblical conviction.• Giftedness:• Spiritual gifts (e.g., preaching, pastoring) are necessary alongside character. Not everyone is gifted for every role, even if they are godly.• God uses both gifting and character to accomplish His purposes.• Unity and Diversity in the Church:• The early church faced challenges of ethnic division. The solution involved wisdom, fairness, and inclusion of both Hebrews and Greeks in leadership.• Church is not "us vs. them" but a family of brothers and sisters.• Results of Godly Leadership:• When leadership is chosen and functions according to God's design, the church grows, and even outsiders (like Jewish priests) are drawn to faith.• Success in ministry should not change a leader’s humility or dependence on God.The Example of Stephen• Stephen embodied all the qualifications: integrity, Spirit-filled, wisdom, faith, and giftedness.• His ministry was powerful, even at great personal cost—his face shone "like that of an angel" as he testified before the council.• Success and recognition did not change his character; he remained humble and faithful to God’s call.Application and Encouragement• These qualifications are for every believer, not just official leaders. Everyone has influence—children, students, relatives, or others are watching.• God still empowers ordinary men and women today, just as He did in the early church.• The real question: Am I willing, like Stephen, to let God work in and through me, trusting the Holy Spirit to fill the gaps where I fall short?