As I read through the New Testament, I frequently have wrestled with a frustrating thought: I’m not Paul.

Paul sets the standard for the dynamic, confrontive, visionary, genius, self-abasing, persecuted, passionate ministry leader. We love him, we know him, and at times, we really don’t like him. Why? Because he sets a standard that fits a personality that most of us don’t have, even those of us in ministry.

And this is particularly difficult for those of us who are in leadership roles or aspire to those roles. We think that Paul sets the standard of how to be a leader. We look at the people who are leading the big churches, people who are writing the significant books on pastoral leadership. Those of us who are not Paul (or what we perceive to be his contemporary counterparts) start to wonder how God can use us.

I have wondered myself.  You see, I’m a second generation second fiddle. My dad was an incredibly effective leader in his organization, but he never moved to the “top” position, the role of executive director. Instead, he “plateaued” at the role of director of the field staff. It sounded better, of course, as Senior Vice President. It meant that “all” he did was to work with the men who represented the organization. He prayed with them, encouraged them, challenged them, hired them, fired them. He was responsible for the well-being of the guys who did the real work of the organization.

In a sense, my dad would have been wasted if he had been moved into the top position.

In the next few weeks, I’ll be talking occasionally about some of the people we find in the early church who aren’t Paul, but matter. I hope you find it helpful. I know I will.