1. Not Just Men, But Leaders Acts 1

2. Jesus Pre-req for Leaders
Foolishness
Disciples of Christ are foolish men
1 Cor 1:18 For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God. 19 For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.20 Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? 21 For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.
Foolishness is defined by anyone willing to believe and preach the message of the blood of Christ.

3. Jesus Pre-req for Leaders
B. Faithfulness
Disciples of Christ are faithful men
2 Tim 2:2 And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.
Faithfulness is defined by your trustworthiness to follow, fight and work full of faith

4. KEY POINT #1:
A leader is faithful enough to give up anything and foolish enough to preach Just one thing.

5. Jesus Pre-req for Leaders
C. Jesus Disciples Were Faithful & Foolish
Mat 4:17 From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. 18 And Jesus, walking by the sea of Galilee, saw two brethren, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers. 19 And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men. 20 And they straightway left their nets, and followed him. 21 And going on from thence, he saw other two brethren, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in a ship with Zebedee their father, mending their nets; and he called them. 22 And they immediately left the ship and their father, and followed him.

6. A Message Appealing to Men
“Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”
“ And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.”
The appeal was three fold:
“Repent” - an invitation to find forgiveness. A call to change
“Kingdom of heaven is at hand” - there is something bigger than you
“Follow me” - be a part of something bigger than yourself

7. KEY POINT #2:
A leader is someone who knows how to rest in the knowledge of their original calling

8. KEY QUESTION: What tempts you to be distracted from true ministry?
Has ministry become an intellectual exercise?
Has ministry intimidated you?
Has ministry grown difficult and weary?
Has ministry become inconvenient?

9. KEY QUESTION: What tempts you to be distracted from true ministry?
We get distracted because we lose our focus on the call
John 16:4 But these things have I told you, that when the time shall come, ye may remember that I told you of them. And these things I said not unto you at the beginning, because I was with you.

10. ACTS I A Meeting with God’s Main Men
Acts 1:12 Then returned they unto Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is from Jerusalem a sabbath day's journey. 13 And when they were come in, they went up into an upper room, where abode both Peter, and James, and John, and Andrew, Philip, and Thomas, Bartholomew, and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon Zelotes, and Judas the brother of James.

11. Jesus is Preparing them to Go
4 And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me. 5 For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.
Jesus emphasizes being equipped for the mission - the empowerment of God’s Spirit….
Yet the disciples attention us on other things

12. Jesus is Preparing them to Go
6 When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?
7 And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power.
The disciples are struggling with prioritizing what Christ is prioritizing, not out of wickedness but out of immaturity.

13. KEY POINT #4:
Developing leaders often struggle with prioritizing great things over great things that are needful.

14. Jesus Resets the Priority
8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.
Mission: I want you to be empowered to witness to the world.

15. Jesus Resets the Priority
9 And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight.10 And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel; 11 Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.

16. KEY POINT #5:
Leaders recognize that time with Christ gives our lives meaning, demands movement and rejects meandering

17. When we Prioritize What Jesus Prioritizes
Acts 1:12 Then returned they unto Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is from Jerusalem a sabbath day's journey. 13 And when they were come in, they went up into an upper room, where abode both Peter, and James, and John, and Andrew, Philip, and Thomas, Bartholomew, and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon Zelotes, and Judas the brother of James. These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren. 15 And in those days Peter stood up in the midst of the disciples, and said, (the number of names together were about an hundred and twenty,) 16 Men and brethren, this scripture must needs have been fulfilled, which the Holy Ghost by the mouth of David spake before concerning Judas, which was guide to them that took Jesus.
...and in chapter 2 three thousand people were saved.

18. When we Prioritize What Jesus Prioritizes
Acts 1:12 Then returned they unto Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is from Jerusalem a sabbath day's journey. 13 And when they were come in, they went up into an upper room, where abode both Peter, and James, and John, and Andrew, Philip, and Thomas, Bartholomew, and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon Zelotes, and Judas the brother of James. These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren. 15 And in those days Peter stood up in the midst of the disciples, and said, (the number of names together were about an hundred and twenty,) 16 Men and brethren, this scripture must needs have been fulfilled, which the Holy Ghost by the mouth of David spake before concerning Judas, which was guide to them that took Jesus.
...and in chapter 2 three thousand people were saved.