BUILDING A MINISTRY TEAM
"But Paul selected Silas and set out, being commended by the brethren to the grace--the favor and mercy--of the Lord. . . And [Paul] went down to Derbe and also Lystra. A disciple named Timothy was there, the son of a Jewish woman who was a believer--that is, she had become convinced that Jesus is the Messiah, and the Author of eternal salvation, and yielded obedience to Him; but [Timothy's] father was a Greek. He [Timothy] had a good reputation among the brethren at Lystra and Iconium. . . Therefore, setting sail from Troas, we (Luke now includes himself--we suppose he joined Paul's team at Troas) came in a direct course to Samothrace, and the next day went on to Neapolis." (Acts 15:40; 16:1-2,11AMP)
Let's look at who made up the ministry team of Paul: First is Paul, who was once known as Saul. He came from Tarsis. He was a Pharisee who came to faith in Jesus Christ through unusual circumstances. He was mentored by Barnabas and helped Barnabas establish the church at Antioch and went with Barnabas on the first missionary journey. He started his own mission team at Antioch with Silas. Silas, was selected from among the leading men in the Jerusalem church to go to Antioch to correct erroneous teaching. He remained in Antioch for a time. Silas was a prophet (an inspired interpreter of the will and purposes of God). He joined Paul after a split between Barnabas and Paul occurred. He was sent out by the church at Antioch. He went to Derbe where he and Paul met and invited a disciple named Timothy to join them. Timothy was a disciple (a believer in Jesus the Messiah). He had a Greek father and Jewish mother. He had a good reputation among believers at Lystra and Iconium. He joined the team at Derbe. The team then moved on to Troas. It is presumed that here in Troas Luke joined the team. Luke was a physician and a Gentile believer (or maybe a Jewish prosalyte). Luke would chronicle the mission journeys of Paul and his team. He would later write the book of Acts--a letter to a friend about the history of the church of Jesus Christ.
All these men had two things in common: They had put their faith in Jesus Christ and were ordained by God to minister God's Word to others. They were all very unique individuals with different gifts and talents, yet they worked together toward one goal--the spread of the Gospel throughout the world. Think about it.
"But Paul selected Silas and set out, being commended by the brethren to the grace--the favor and mercy--of the Lord. . . And [Paul] went down to Derbe and also Lystra. A disciple named Timothy was there, the son of a Jewish woman who was a believer--that is, she had become convinced that Jesus is the Messiah, and the Author of eternal salvation, and yielded obedience to Him; but [Timothy's] father was a Greek. He [Timothy] had a good reputation among the brethren at Lystra and Iconium. . . Therefore, setting sail from Troas, we (Luke now includes himself--we suppose he joined Paul's team at Troas) came in a direct course to Samothrace, and the next day went on to Neapolis." (Acts 15:40; 16:1-2,11AMP)
Let's look at who made up the ministry team of Paul: First is Paul, who was once known as Saul. He came from Tarsis. He was a Pharisee who came to faith in Jesus Christ through unusual circumstances. He was mentored by Barnabas and helped Barnabas establish the church at Antioch and went with Barnabas on the first missionary journey. He started his own mission team at Antioch with Silas. Silas, was selected from among the leading men in the Jerusalem church to go to Antioch to correct erroneous teaching. He remained in Antioch for a time. Silas was a prophet (an inspired interpreter of the will and purposes of God). He joined Paul after a split between Barnabas and Paul occurred. He was sent out by the church at Antioch. He went to Derbe where he and Paul met and invited a disciple named Timothy to join them. Timothy was a disciple (a believer in Jesus the Messiah). He had a Greek father and Jewish mother. He had a good reputation among believers at Lystra and Iconium. He joined the team at Derbe. The team then moved on to Troas. It is presumed that here in Troas Luke joined the team. Luke was a physician and a Gentile believer (or maybe a Jewish prosalyte). Luke would chronicle the mission journeys of Paul and his team. He would later write the book of Acts--a letter to a friend about the history of the church of Jesus Christ.
All these men had two things in common: They had put their faith in Jesus Christ and were ordained by God to minister God's Word to others. They were all very unique individuals with different gifts and talents, yet they worked together toward one goal--the spread of the Gospel throughout the world. Think about it.
© S.M. Hudson, Hidden Treasure Ministries, December 2003. All rights reserved.
Categories: forgiveness
