When we consider what we see in the book of Acts, we must reconsider how we view church today.

Do we simply attend weekend service because it’s just what we do as a Christian? Do we simply attend church to make ourselves a better person? Do we do it just to make God happy with us? If so, we have missed the point.

Terry Virgo says this: “If we are going to reach our generation with the gospel and build churches that are relevant to our contemporaries and true to Scripture, we must rediscover the style of New Testament Christianity.”

When we look at Acts 2:42-47, we don’t see a weekly performance done in the fanciest costumes. What we DO see is real people, coming together around a common Person, Jesus. We see them engaging in real relationship with each other. There’s no performing. There’s no faking it. Just being real.

In fact, if you think about it, those who tried to perform were quickly removed from the scene (Ananias and Sapphira in Acts 5).

It’s in that realness that brokenness can be healed. It’s in that realness that hearts and lives can be restored. It’s in that realness that we see relationships made new.

What if we understood church in the proper light of Scripture: A gathering together, centered on Jesus, of real people with a real, tangible love for each other. I wonder if we caught that vision of church if we would have a similar impact that the church of Acts 2 had?

What if we really become the church and not simply attend a service?

I think for anyone desiring leadership, that they should take a good long look at the life of Stephen (Acts 6-8). There are some things that really stick out about his life that provides a beautiful picture of true, biblical leadership:

1. Stephen was a servant (Acts 6:1-7)
   The first time we see Stephen mentioned, he’s being called upon to serve food. He was a waiter (one filled with the Spirit, I might add). He was a servant. Literally. With that in mind, it’s important to note, him serving wasn’t the route to leadership, rather it WAS leadership. Him serving was leading.

   I think we have the misconstrued idea that the way to become a leader is to serve first and then we get promoted to leadership. Not so in the Kingdom. Serving IS leading. If you don’t believe me, go back and read the Gospels and just take a solid look at how Jesus lived.

2. Stephen was himself (Acts 6:3,8-10)
   Often times, in our culture, the way up is working hard, having a degree, and knowing someone important, with a bit of brown-nosing thrown in. Again, a bit contrary to Kingdom leadership.

   In Acts 6:3, we see the requirements to be: “…of good repute, full of the Spirit and of wisdom.” We then seeing the Spirit literally “spilling out” of Stephen just a few verses later (see 8-10). It’s important to note his position or title wasn’t prayer team or apostle or evangelist or bishop reverend holiness. He was a man of good repute, full of the Spirit and wisdom who was called to serve tables. And as he operated as he was gifted and called, people were being impacted.

   He wasn’t trying to be something or someone he wasn’t. Stephen was himself. He operated within the gifting and ability that the Spirit had given him. And when he did, he did amazing things for the Kingdom.

   If you’ve been gifted to lead, then lead. But if you haven’t been, then don’t. It’s that simple. Not everyone has been gifted by God to lead. That may come as shock to our American dreams, but it’s the truth. I wouldn’t ever want to do something that God hasn’t given me the ability to do.

   Be yourself. Be who God has created and gifted you to be. Only then will you be most satisfied.

3. Stephen was faithful even to death (Acts 6-8)
   Something else we see in Stephen’s story is faithfulness. Stephen was faithful to the Gospel and he was faithful to do what he was asked to do. He was even faithful all the way to death. He was willing to lay down his life for the Gospel (sound like anyone else!?).

   Leadership isn’t a joy ride. It’s a call to be faithful, even when it’s not easy. It’s a call to lay down our life.

   There have been many, many times that I wanted to walk away because it was hard. But I didn’t because I knew I was called by God to do ___ and I had to be faithful to what He asked me to do.

   You want to be a leader? BE FAITHFUL. Keep your word. Complete a task, even if it seems insignificant. Be faithful with giving. Be faithful with attending gatherings and events. Be faithful to lay down your life for the sake of the Gospel.

   So often in our instant culture, we want a title now or a position now. It’s important that we take time to count the cost, to see if we’re truly willing to pay the price of faithfulness.

If you desire to lead and/or if you are in a leadership position currently, I would encourage you to get before the LORD, read through Stephen’s story and ask Holy Spirit to point out anyway you can learn from Stephen. It’s important that we always lay our lives before the Father and allow Him to prune… especially as leaders.