Act 14:21-23

After they had preached the gospel to that city and had made many disciples, they returned to Lystra and to Iconium and to Antioch,

strengthening the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to continue in the faith, and saying, “Through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God.”

When they had appointed elders for them in every church, having prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord in whom they had believed.

Paul and his entourage were traveling.
They were proclaiming the Gospel…the Good News of the Kingdom of God…salvation provided in the death, burial and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ.

People believed.
In this believing, local churches were “born”.
The church is the Body of Believers.
Not a building.
Not an organization.
Not an institution.
Not a denomination.

An organic Body of Believers.

Note they “made disciples”.
Discipleship is active, not passive.
They pointedly taught and modeled the Kingdom.

They strengthened the souls of the disciples.
They encouraged them in the faith.
They let them know that trials and tribulations were part of the Kingdom.
(We as the Body today do a rather poor job of all three…strengthening the should, encouraging in faith, know of trials/tribulations)

Then this.
Did you see how the leadership was established?
Prayer.
Fasting.
Appointed.

You do not see “congregational rule” in the Word.
You do see the “congregation”/ church involved in decisions.
You do see them being consulted.
You do see debate, argument and the working out of situations.
But, you do not see the church “voting” on an issue.

Paul and his group prayed, fasted and then appointed those the Lord revealed.

They then did this.
They commended them to the Lord.
They did not seek to control, micro-manage, etc.
They commended them to the Lord.
They were the Lord’s.
The Lord was in charge.

Such is rare today.

The question is this…

Do we trust our ways, means, strategies and abilities…
Or…
Do we trust the way of the Lord?

The answer is sadly obvious in most situations…