Written by Josh Benadum, pastor with Acacia House Churches in Orlando, Florida
The first eight chapters of Acts show us that as churches grow, pastors and church leaders can bet on certain obstacles emerging. Peter, James, John, and the other apostles quickly ran into problems with hypocrisy, inequality, opposition, and opportunism in the early Christian church. Their experiences are recorded for our benefit, and they ought to inform our expectations.
At first, it might feel discouraging to hear you’re bound to encounter hypocrites like Ananias and Sapphira, or opportunistic influencers like Simon the Sorcerer. But recognizing that problems and opposition are inevitable doesn’t mean pastors can only grit their teeth and brace for the impact. God’s Spirit used each of the challenges the early church faced to shape it in important ways. He gave the early believers the wisdom they needed to navigate their difficult circumstances. Apart from facing such problems and learning through them, these believers wouldn’t have developed the convictions and character they needed to make it past Acts 9. God sovereignly used the problems that come with growth to shape and mature his global church.
In 13 years of pastoring, developing lay leaders, and coaching church planters, I’ve seen leaders at all levels surprised by the ministry troubles they encounter. We shouldn’t be. Our Lord Jesus warned us in John 16:33 (NIV), “In this world you will have trouble.” He then added, “But take heart! I have overcome the world.” Christ promised that hell’s gates will buckle before us (Matt. 16:18). So when we read Acts, let’s remember that God is still at work to grow and bless his church. He does this despite (and even through) the troubles we must face.
