Excerpt from THE AMAZING POTENTIAL OF ONE SURRENDERED CHURCH (p. 93)
 The believers in Antioch surrendered their two key leaders, and thereby became more of what God wanted them to be. They illustrate what the parable of five loaves and two fish looks like when acted out in a church setting. Like the lad who did not withhold his lunch, the five elders did not cling to their two beloved leaders, and God multiplied their sacrifice so that multitudes of Jews and Gentiles were spiritually fed. In fact, we today are still enjoying the feast of their surrender and obedience.
In the process, the Antioch elders remind us of a lesson we may have forgotten: Our tested people are our most valuable resource. The one thing God required of them was their proven leaders.
Today we are very possessive of our good leaders. We willingly spare our mediocre leaders, but we’d never think of giving away our exceptional leaders. Yet this may be the very sacrifice God requires. This may be the kind of calling that moves our church from being preservation-oriented to being mission-oriented.
FOR DISCUSSION
What people resources has God given your church at this time? How is God preparing them for greater service?
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