Sent to serve
Day 505, Monday, Dec. 29
Acts 12:19-13:12
While the word “ordain” isn’t used in the New Testament, the beginning of chapter 13 presents a model for ordination that much of the Christian church has followed. While the church at Antioch is worshiping and fasting, “the Holy Spirit said, ‘Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.’ So after they had fasted and prayed, they placed their hands on them and sent them off.”
Barnabas and Saul aren’t the only prophets and teachers at Antioch; they are just two chosen to be sent out to spread the word beyond that particular church.
In most of Christianity, including the Global Methodist Church, a local church does not ordain its own leadership; leaders are ordained by the larger church and sent out to serve, reflecting the model seen in Acts 13.
Here, as elsewhere in Acts and the letters, there appear to be major church, like Antioch and most of all Jerusalem, that appear to be hubs of the Christian movement and are looked to for leadership. That pattern developed over the years into the modern practice in many churches of having regional, rather than strictly local, coordination of ministry.
-Rev. Mark Fleming
Monday meditation
Psalms 50:16-23
But to the wicked person, God says: “What right have you to recite my laws or take my covenant on your lips? You hate my instruction and cast my words behind you. When you see a thief, you join with him; you throw in your lot with adulterers. You use your mouth for evil and harness your tongue to deceit. You sit and testify against your brother and slander your own mother’s son. When you did these things and I kept silent, you thought I was exactly like you. But I now arraign you and set my accusations before you.
“Consider this, you who forget God, or I will tear you to pieces, with no one to rescue you: Those who sacrifice thank offerings honor me, and to the blameless I will show my salvation.”
Prayer focus
Bless your church, God, and keep us connected to one another in our life and mission.