Scripture Passage
Scripture Focus
Among the prophets and teachers of the church at Antioch of Syria were Barnabas, Simeon (called “the black man”), Lucius (from Cyrene), Manaen (the childhood companion of King Herod Antipas), and Saul. (Acts 8:6 NLT)
Observation
Antioch of Syria, I think, deserves more attention as a significant New Testament city than I’ve usually given it. I’ve often said that one purpose of the book of Acts is to trace the transition of the early church from Jerusalem-centered to Rome-centered and from Jewish-dominated to Gentile-dominated. I’m appreciating, today, the role of Antioch as a pivot point from one status to the other.
Part of the reason for Antioch’s importance has to be the strength of church leadership at Antioch. Acts 8:6 says that “among the prophets and teachers of the church at Antioch”…were Barnabas, Simeon, Lucius, Manaen, and Saul. The key word is "among". Even those great men were not the whole leadership team!
I heard someone recently make the point that a committee or congregation never led a church—that it takes a person…an individual…to step up to the plate and lead. I agree. At the same time (as Acts 8:6 reminds me), it takes a great team to carry out a great vision. A coach can plan, teach, and inspire but it takes a team to implement the game plan. Antioch, it seems to me, had a great team.
I write as a guy with a lot to learn about leadership—not just about leadership generically, but especially about the nuances of leadership—of *letting* others share leadership, of *motivating* still others to take responsibility and lead, of effectively sharing the dreaming, the planning, and the execution with others. But I do know that the best and most significant work gets accomplished in partnership with others. Look at the church in Antioch—with a team of great leaders they launched the greatest missionary journeys in all the New Testament. “Lord, help me to lead…a team!”
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