The Living Church- Chapter Four
The Living Church – Chapter 4
In the next few weeks I’ll be posting on John Stott’s excellent new book: The Living Church. Stott is a writer, pastor, and teacher who is well worth reading.
Stott’s next chapter is on ministry. He looks to Luke’s narrative in Acts and highlights the Holy Spirit and the work of Satan (see Acts 5). The latter he says is out to persecute, corrupt, and distract. Stott draws our attention to Acts 6:1-7 to focus on the tactic of distraction:
1 In those days when the number of disciples was increasing, the Grecian Jews among them complained against the Hebraic Jews because their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food. 2 So the Twelve gathered all the disciples together and said, "It would not be right for us to neglect the ministry of the word of God in order to wait on tables. 3 Brothers, choose seven men from among you who are known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will turn this responsibility over to them 4 and will give our attention to prayer and the ministry of the word."
5 This proposal pleased the whole group. They chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit; also Philip, Procorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas from Antioch , a convert to Judaism. 6 They presented these men to the apostles, who prayed and laid their hands on them.
7 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.
The point Stott wants to make here is that there are different ministries for different people in the church. No one should or can do everything, and this is crucial, because all Christians are called to a variety of ministries.
After having made this important point, Stott turns to explore the pastoral ministry. We have either elevated or regulated pastors, and both these orientations create problems. Pastors are to have oversight in teaching and participate in shared leadership. Those who pastor are to value people, deeply care for them, and show them increasing love as they are part of God’s church, not the pastor’s.
Dr. Gregory J. Laughery