Read: Acts 6:1-7
Watch: https://bibleproject.com/videos/vocab-insight-avad-serve-work
Jesus said, “Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant.” (Matthew 20:26, NLT). In the Kingdom of God, there is only one Lord—His Name is Yahweh. As Scripture says, “There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.” (Ephesians 4:4–6, NLT).
We, the Body and Bride of Christ, exist under a theocracy—God is the sovereign ruler over all. We submit to His authority and reign. Yet, within His perfect plan, God has chosen and set apart individuals to lead. Noah, Abraham, Moses, Joshua, Deborah, David, Jeremiah, Daniel, Peter, Paul, Phoebe, Aquila, and Priscilla—these are just a few of the many whom God called to lead His people.
Of course, nothing is impossible for our Almighty Father; there is nothing He cannot do! Yet He chooses to work through people. Just as He called and empowered leaders in the past, He continues to gift us with talents and abilities to be used for His Kingdom. Jesus sent the Holy Spirit to empower us with spiritual gifts. When we surrender and use these gifts for His glory, God works powerfully through us—even the gates of hell cannot prevail against the Church of Christ Jesus!
In the early Church, as growth accelerated, practical challenges arose. The apostles recognized their primary calling—to remain devoted to prayer and the ministry of the Word. So they asked the Church to identify seven individuals who were well-respected, full of the Spirit, and wise. These seven were set apart through the apostles’ prayers and the laying on of hands. This moment became the model for appointing deacons—literally, “servants”—in the New Testament Church.
This year at Immanuel, we are taking a deep dive into the role of every individual in the Church. Our goal is to establish clear and simple role descriptions for every task, including expectations, requirements, opportunities, and responsibilities. A natural starting point is with our senior leadership. What are your expectations of your pastors, shepherds, elders, deacons, and team coordinators? Do these align with the teachings of Scripture?
Let’s work together to become the disciples we are R2B—so together, we can become the people we are R2B!
Pray: Lord, make me a servant.
Discussion Questions:
Leadership & Servanthood
- Jesus said the greatest among us must be a servant. What does servant leadership practically look like in our church today? How can we guard against worldly ideas of leadership creeping into the Church?
Spiritual Gifts & Empowerment
- What spiritual gifts do you believe God has given you? Are you currently using them for His Kingdom? Why or why not?
- How can we, as a church family, better encourage and empower one another to use our gifts for God’s glory?
Biblical Alignment & Structure
- Are the current leadership roles in our church aligned with the biblical model? Where do we see room for realignment or growth?
- What expectations should we place on pastors, elders, deacons, and team leaders? How do we ensure those expectations are both biblically grounded and grace-filled?
Personal & Corporate Calling
- What does it mean to you to be the disciple you are “R2B”? What specific steps can you take this season to grow into that identity?