Team Ministry and Complete Surrender
Over the past three weeks, we’ve examined how the early church established its foundation, built authentic community, and demonstrated resilience. Today, we’ll look at perhaps the most challenging aspects of church health: integrity, team ministry, and complete submission to Christ’s lordship.
Modeling Purity and Integrity (Acts 5:1-11)
It’s fascinating that Luke included this sobering account of Ananias and Sapphira. The early church faced its first internal crisis not from doctrinal dispute, but from integrity failure.
“The church doesn’t need new organizational forms but organisms who manifest His life.” – Watchman Nee
Consider This Pattern:
- The issue wasn’t about money but integrity
- The response was immediate
- The result was increased fear of the Lord
Modern Application:
- How quickly do you address integrity issues?
- Is there a gap between what you proclaim and practice?
- Does your church culture promote transparency or performance?
Creating Timely Solutions (Acts 6:1-4)
Notice how the early church handled its first organizational crisis:
- They acknowledged the problem openly
- They created a spiritual solution
- They maintained priority on prayer and the Word
- They involved the entire body in the solution
“Problems are not stop signs, they are guidelines.” – Robert Schuller
Functioning as a Team (Acts 6:5-6)
The selection of the seven reveals crucial principles about team ministry:
- Different gifts were honored
- New leaders were empowered
- Spiritual qualification was primary
- The whole church participated
Health Indicators:
- Is authority shared or hoarded?
- Are new leaders being developed?
- Do all gifts have space to function?
Submitting to Christ’s Lordship (Acts 6:7)
“The word of God spread; the number of disciples multiplied greatly.” Notice the order – first the Word, then the growth.
The Four Final Marks of Health
1. Integrity in All Things (Acts 5:1-11)
- Truth was valued above appearance
- Sin was dealt with directly
- God’s holiness was honored
2. Problem-Solving with Wisdom (Acts 6:1-4)
- Issues were faced honestly
- Solutions were spirit-led
- Priorities remained clear
3. Team Ministry Engagement (Acts 6:5-6)
- Gifts were recognized
- Leadership was multiplied
- Unity was maintained
4. Complete Submission to Christ (Acts 6:7)
- The Word was central
- Growth was natural
- Jesus remained Lord
Modern Church Assessment
Rate your church in these areas (1-5):
- Integrity Culture:
- Is truth valued above success?
- Are problems addressed biblically?
- Is holiness pursued practically?
- Problem-Solving:
- Are issues acknowledged openly?
- Are solutions spirit-led?
- Are priorities maintained?
- Team Function:
- Is ministry shared widely?
- Are new leaders emerging?
- Is authority delegated?
- Christ’s Lordship:
- Is the Word central?
- Is growth natural?
- Is Jesus truly Lord?
Implementation Strategy
- First 30 Days:
- Conduct an integrity audit
- Review decision-making processes
- Evaluate leadership pipeline
- 60-Day Goals:
- Develop team ministry plan
- Create leadership development pathway
- Establish accountability structures
- 90-Day Objectives:
- Implement new team structures
- Launch leadership training
- Review and adjust
Final Thoughts
A.W. Tozer said, “When we try to be better Christians by our own efforts, we only succeed in being worse followers of Jesus.”
The early church succeeded because:
- They prioritized integrity over image
- They solved problems through Spirit-led wisdom
- They functioned as a true team
- They submitted completely to Christ’s lordship
Your Next Move
Before closing this series, take these steps:
- Review all 15 vital signs
- Identify your three weakest areas
- Create an action plan for each
- Schedule quarterly health checks
- Keep Acts as your template
Remember: The goal isn’t to build a better organization, but to become a more faithful expression of Christ’s body.
“The church’s greatest deficiency today is God’s power. We’ve organized so well that we can accomplish almost anything without depending on Him.” – A.W. Tozer
This concludes our series, but it should begin your journey toward greater church health. What’s your first step?
