Daily Devotions
An Equipping Church
Reading for April 29th: 2 Kings 23-25
Weekly reading for April 26-May 2: Acts 11-15
Now there were in the church at Antioch prophets and teachers, Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen a lifelong friend of Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, "Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them." Then after fasting and praying they laid their hands on them and sent them off.
Acts 13:1-3
We need a paradigm shift. The work on churches today is focused too much one one man (i.e. the preacher). We need to spread opportunities to others.
When Barnabas came to Antioch he could have taken advantage of being out of the shadow of the apostles in Jerusalem and taken the spotlight. But one of the first things Barnabas did when he came to Antioch is asked Paul to come join him in the work (Acts 11:25-26).
Apparently, Paul was not the only one who trained with Barnabas. By the time we come to chapter thirteen there are no less than five teachers in Antioch. That doesn't happen by accident.
It's understandable why churches would want the best foot forward and have the most talented and qualified man in the congregation to do all of the preaching and teaching. But to do this is the fail to fulfill the mission of the church, which is "to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ." (Eph 4:12).
Father, give us leaders who have the desire and skill to equip and encourage more to become teachers.
