Throughout the history of the
church, men and women have stepped up to renew the church and stretch its
ministry in new directions. These are
pathfinders, entrepreneurs, or pioneers who see new opportunities for Kingdom
work and respond accordingly.
Stephen, one of the first
deacons in the church at Jerusalem, provides a good model of a true “thought
leader,” one who moves things in a new direction. Although originally chosen as
one “to wait on tables” or care for widows, Stephen had the ability and the
opportunity to do much more than this simple task of service. A servant leader in the best sense of the
term, he was ready and willing to follow the leadership of the Spirit.
In the descriptions of
Stephen in the Book of Acts, a pattern is clear. He was “known
to be full of the Spirit and wisdom” (6:3); “a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit” (6:5); and “a man
full of God’s grace and power” (6:8).
There was
a spiritual vitality in Stephen that issued forth in service to others. His walk with God empowered and motivated him
to perform “great wonders and signs among
the people” (6:8). In the familiar
phrase, he walked the talk.
Stephen was also deeply
rooted in the Hebrew scriptures. In the
lengthy discourse credited to him in Acts 7, he shows a deep understanding of
scripture, the history of his Jewish forebears, and a remarkable grasp of the
role of Christ in ushering in a new age for all people. He was an articulate and faithful
spokesperson for the Kingdom of God.
A person of faith and
wisdom, Stephen exhibited the key personality characteristic of a
leader--personal integrity. People
responded to him because his actions backed up his words. He understood his motivation and lived out
his values. We want to follow people
like Stephen.
(All scripture passages are
NIV.)
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