@FirstChurchofJerusalem
Today's Early Church Wisdom
“I shall not hesitate also to put into ordered form for you, along with the interpretations, everything I learned carefully in the past from the elders and noted down carefully, for the truth of which I vouch. For unlike most people, I took no pleasure in those who told many different stories, but only in those who taught the truth. Nor did I take pleasure in those who reported their memory of someone else’s commandments, but only in those who reported their memory of the commandments given by the Lord to the faith and proceeding from the Truth itself. And if by chance anyone who had been in attendance on the elders arrived, I made enquiries about the words of the elders—what Andrew or Peter had said, or Philip or Thomas or James or John or Matthew or any other of the Lord’s disciples, and whatever Aristion and John the Elder, the Lord’s disciples, were saying. For I did not think that information from the books would profit me as much as information from a living and surviving voice.
~ Papias of Hierapolis (c. 60–130 AD) From the Preface to his lost ‘Expositions of the Sayings of the Lord’
This week's Psalm is Psalm 31 'My Rock, My Shield, My Song'

Leadership Style

What's yours?

Jesus both taught and modelled a leadership style that He intended would characterise leadership in the church throughout the church age. It was a simple discipline of seeking Him in all things and following His guidance from Heaven. All who hear and act upon what the Spirit is saying to the churches (Revelation 3:22) will prove the finest leaders of the church period. The first church embodied this attitude. The lives of its leaders were deeply rooted in seeking God, practicing His presence, and listening to His voice. So it was that they remained grounded in His life and teachings. Apostles, elders,
deacons, and spiritually gifted individuals all served in different capacities, yet with a unified purpose: to faithfully do the will of God, and by so doing glorify Christ and build His Church. Leadership was neither rigidly hierarchical nor anarchic, but was relational, Spirit-led, and accountable to Christ. How is your personal relationship with Jesus? Are you daily listening to Him and following His guidance? What does the Holy Spirit say to you today?