Nepaug Bible Church - http://www.nepaugchurch.org - Pastor's Evening Sermon Notes - http://www.nepaugchurch.org/ev/ev19971130.htm

ACTS: THE LOCAL CHURCH AS GOD'S AGENCY FOR DISCIPLING MEN
Part XX: God's Program For Molding Leaders For The Church
(Acts 9:6-31; 11:19-26; 13:1-3; Gal. 1:15-2:2)
  1. Introduction
    1. It is generally acknowledged that there is a shortage of effective Church leaders on a worldwide scale.
    2. However, good Christian leaders, in contrast to an industrial production line, take years to grow well.
    3. To understand the steps involved, and to conform to God's timetable on molding leaders for the Church, we examine the preparation of Saul of Tarsus for his apostolic call as a pioneer missionary as follows:
  2. God's Program For Molding Leaders For The Church, Acts 9:6-31; 11:19-26; 13:1-3; Gal. 1:15-2:2.
    1. When Jesus apprehended Saul of Tarsus on the road to Damascus, and Saul was converted, He told Ananias that Saul was a chosen vessel to witness the Christian faith before many people, Acts 9:6, 10, 15.
    2. However, from Acts 9 to Saul's being sent forth officially by the Church at Antioch in Acts 13:1-3 as a missionary was a span of around 14 years, cf. Ryrie Study Bib.: KJV ftn. to Acts 11:25; Gal. 1:15-18; 2:1.
      1. Between his conversion and life's work, Saul spent 3 years in Arabia, Acts 22:14-15, Gal. 1:15-17.
      2. Next, he was sent by the believers in Jerusalem back to his home town of Tarsus where he stayed for around another 11 years before serving as a missionary, cf. Acts 9:28-30 with 11:25 and Gal. 2:1; 1:18.
        1. We understand Paul's reference to 14 years later in Gal. 1:18 to date from his conversion.
        2. Thus, he stayed in Tarsus a total of 14 minus 3 years, or around 11 additional years, Acts 9:28-30.
    3. That timespan stretching 14 years between Saul's announcement by Christ as His messenger to the nations in Acts 9 and his actual time of ministry itself in Acts 13 was necessary for Saul's leadership development:
      1. Stage One - God's time for Saul's conversion, of arresting his theology through conversion, Acts 9:1-6:
        1. Though very highly trained and intelligent, Saul was 180 degrees the opposite of where Christ wanted him to be as a missionary when he traveled on the road to Damascus in Acts 9:1-2.
        2. Thus, Christ had to startle him on the road, indicating that he was dreadfully wrong, Acts 9:3-6.
      2. Stage Two - God's time of theological training for Saul, Acts 9:20-23; Ga. 1:15-17.
        1. Right after he was converted, Saul immediately tried to spread the Gospel in Damascus, Acts 9:20.
        2. He actually increased in strength in this evangelistic fervor, presenting Jesus as the Messiah, 9:21-22.
        3. However, he needed to understand if Jesus was the Messiah, where was his kingdom so he could explain it to questioning listeners, and that took extensive dispensation al training. Thus, we believe that Jesus sent Saul into Arabia where, for 3 years, he received theological retraining, Gal. 1:17.
        4. Then he returned to Damascus with such insight in his presentation that it produced a negative, persecuting reaction from the threatened authorities there, Acts 9:23 with Gal. 1:17.
      3. Stage Three - Thus, though theologically trained, Saul had 11 years interpersonal training to edify.
        1. Saul's fervor in spreading the truth at Damascus troubled the believers there, so they sent him to Jerusalem, letting him out of the enclosed, hostile city with a rope basket, Acts 9:23-26a.
        2. At Jerusalem, he needed Barnabas to introduce him to the believers as they were too shy of his brash, newfound love for them to attach themselves readily to him, Acts 9:26b-28.
        3. Yet, Saul's brashness in sharing his faith in Jerusalem helped keep persecution fires going against the Church, so the Jerusalem saints sent him back home to Tarsus apparently to mature, Acts 9:29-31.
      4. Stage Four - After 11 more years of learning how to edify with the truths he taught, God used Barnabas to bring Saul into Antioch where he helped, gaining recognition by the Church at large, Acts 11:25f.
      5. Stage Five - Finally, with his reputation as an edifying leader solidified, the Holy Spirit caused Saul's ordination by godly leaders as time for his missionary work to begin had arrived, Acts 13:1-3.
Lesson: God GROWS effective leaders over TIME. (a) He converts them, (b) theologically trains them and (c) provides interpersonal instuction. (d) When the whole Body recognizes their value and (e) Church LEADERS signal the time for them to lead, THEN we ordain them for maximum blessing.

Application: We dare not skip steps lest we damage people or God's work when developing leaders. We should RECOGNIZE these steps of God's leadership training, and YIELD to His timetable in any given potential leader's life so that the Church can e nd up with really quality leaders who edify!