“I had no idea that there’s so much to do!”

Now in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplying, there arose a complaint against the Hebrews by the Hellenists, because their widows were neglected in the daily distribution. Then the twelve summoned the multitude of the disciples and said, "It is not desirable that we should leave the word of God and serve tables. Therefore, brethren, seek out from among you seven men of good reputation, full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business… Acts 6:1-3 [Hellenists were Greek converts to Judaism.]

I think everyone who has worked in any sort of administrative role in our church has said something like, “I had no idea that there’s so much to do!” Many people think the church sort of runs itself. We need only to show up and everything is automatically in order—by itself. LOL!

My point in this blog post is not to weary you with a long list of all the things that must constantly be attended to. Rather, from the text in Acts 6:2, it is to make the point that the primary responsibility of the elders (the primary preaching elder in particular), is the prayer and the ministry of the Word.

Pastors in smaller churches—that do not have a ton of paid staff to attend to everything else so that the they can give 100% of their time to prayer and the ministry of the Word—must spend a fair amount of time setting up chairs, making copies, fixing broken door knobs, fussing over sound and video equipment, overseeing finances, etc., etc., etc.

No pastor is above such tasks, but pastors’ first call and priority is prayer and the ministry of the Word. Pray for pastors to not become distracted from that primary calling, by the rest of what makes a church tick. Pray for deacons to be able to protect their pastors from such distractions. Pray for more men in the church to aspire to be deacons (especially young men).

Next time: Elders are not apostles, but are now what the Apostles were then.