Coordination: The Impact of Leadership

Jubilee was the blessing. And the word came through Prophetess Jasmine “Time to Build”

#1: We want to secure the blessings released in Jubilee

The Sower sowed the word (Mark 4)

Wayside = Snatched by the enemy

Stony = Affliction and suffering scorch the word (offense)

Thorns = Deceitfulness of riches and lust for things choke the word

THE HOUSE IS CLEAN AND SWEPT (Matthew 12)

#2: We want to prepare for the glory

Solomon built the house of the Lord

The glory filled the house so that the priest could not stand to minister. (2 Chronicles 5)

On the day the church was established (a replacement for Judas put in place and the 120 gathered in faith)…Acts 2

If we want to see the glory, we have to build God’s house.

We have Looked at what it takes to build

Understand what we are building. (A Disciple-making movement)

Remember the centrality of prayer.

Conviction and holy living.

Maintain our joy.

Today, as we ordain 6 new deacons, I want to talk about the role of leadership in this movement.

Coordination: The Impact of Leadership

Sticking with the C titles

Acts 6:1–7

Now in these days when the disciples were increasing in number, a complaint by the Hellenists arose against the Hebrews because their widows were being neglected in the daily distribution. 2 And the twelve summoned the full number of the disciples and said, “It is not right that we should give up preaching the word of God to serve tables. 3 Therefore, brothers, pick out from among you seven men of good repute, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we will appoint to this duty. 4 But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.” 5 And what they said pleased the whole gathering, and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolaus, a proselyte of Antioch. 6 These they set before the apostles, and they prayed and laid their hands on them.

7 And the word of God continued to increase, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests became obedient to the faith.

PRAYER

Movement creates friction. Leaders Must Face Challenges

Confrontation is not the only way

If rebellion is the issue, confrontation is solution

If ignorance is the issue, information is the solution

If frustration is the issue, administration is the solution

Leaders cannot afford to ignore present issues

Unity Takes Work. Leaders Have To Share The Load

We are not all the same.

Uniformity is easy…

unity is hard)

The Apostles tried to do it all…

‘It is not pleasing that we, having left the word of God, do minister at tables;

The bigger and more diverse we become, the more leaders will need to step up

There are going to be more opportunities to lead

We must be prepared to

adjust procedures,

alter organizational structure,

and develop new posts of responsibility

This happens in response to changing and developing needs and opportunities.

Don’t get stuck in a structure or a role…

for the sake of the ongoing proclamation of the Word of God, remember that you can’t do everything.

The Future Is Better Than The Past. Leaders Must Embrace The New.

This is not just motivational talk.

Throughout Scripture, there is a consistent forward-looking hopefulness rooted in God’s nature, promises, and redemptive purposes.

The biblical narrative is inherently progressive—not in the political sense, but in the theological sense that God moves history toward wholeness, justice, and glory.

Look at the scriptures

Better is the end of a thing than its beginning (Ecc. 7:8)

The glory of this present house will be greater than the glory of the former house,” says the Lord Almighty. (Haggai 2:9)

I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us (Rom. 8:18)

He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. (Phil. 1:6)

He who was seated on the throne said, ‘I am making everything new!’ (Rev. 21:5)

All of the Seven are Hellenistic (Greek Speaking Jews)

This Galelian led, Aramaic-speaking sect had to make room for different group of leaders.

Sometimes you need people who are not connected to your past to help you orient toward the future that God has for you.

This is a new generation of leadership (a new branch)

Leaders who I did not grow up with.

These folks do not remember the good old days.

When Leaders Step Up, Movement Go to the Next Level.

They we increasing at first, but now they are increasing “greatly”

“Church growth continued because the word of God had free course among the believers, and outsiders were able to witness its practical effect in a loving, united community, as well as hear its challenge from the lips of the apostles.” (David G. Peterson)

Help us demonstrate the practical effect of Kingdom of God to outsiders (A Mandate On This Deacon Cohort)

2 of the 7 developed into preaching evangelists

It’s time for us to go from adding to multiplying

Many priests became obedient

The conversion of a large number of priests indicates that the gospel was not just impacting the poor, marginalized, or unlearned—it was penetrating the religious and social establishment.

Economic Diversity is powerful marker of work of the Holy Spirit

Maybe even more than ethnic diversity

People of different income levels and educational attainment worshipping the same God in the same place.

THIS IS NOT JUST DEACON ORDINATION, THIS IS A MOMENT FOR THIS ENTIRE FAITH COMMUNITY TO GO TO ANOTHER LEVEL.

PRAY FOR THE DEACONS

CALL FOR SALVATION

CALL FOR MEMBERSHIP