Growing Issues in the New Church
Acts 6:1-7
1 In those days when the number of disciples was increasing, the Hellenistic Jews among them complained against the Hebraic Jews because their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food. 2 So the Twelve gathered all the disciples together and said, “It would not be right for us to neglect the ministry of the word of God in order to wait on tables. 3 Brothers and sisters, choose seven men from among you who are known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will turn this responsibility over to them 4 and will give our attention to prayer and the ministry of the word.”
5 This proposal pleased the whole group. They chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit; also Philip, Procorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas from Antioch, a convert to Judaism. 6 They presented these men to the apostles, who prayed and laid their hands on them.
7 So the word of God spread. The number of disciples in Jerusalem increased rapidly, and a large number of priests became obedient to the faith.
- Problems Caused by Growth
- Claims of prejudice
Helenistic vs Hebraic Jewish widows.
Helenistic= Greek culture. So, after the Babylonian captivity, some Jews did not return, although they did maintain their Jewish heritage. And there were Jewish evangelistic efforts as well.
Remember that when Paul traveled on his missionary journeys he first went to Jewish synagogues and taught there. There are Jews throughout Asia minor. (Turkey)
Here is what needs to happen:
- These women need to have their needs met.
- These women need to know that they are a priority. They are important. God is the husband to the widow.
I Timothy 5:1-16
- What is it that reflects love?
- People will complain
Just as in the story of Ananias and Sapphira, here we have an example of folks complaining and the expansion of leadership.
In the Wilderness Jethro told Moses to appoint folks to hear grievances. We have a similar issue here.
Exodus 18: 13 The next day Moses took his seat to serve as judge for the people, and they stood around him from morning till evening. 14 When his father-in-law saw all that Moses was doing for the people, he said, “What is this you are doing for the people? Why do you alone sit as judge, while all these people stand around you from morning till evening?”
15 Moses answered him, “Because the people come to me to seek God’s will. 16 Whenever they have a dispute, it is brought to me, and I decide between the parties and inform them of God’s decrees and instructions.”
17 Moses’ father-in-law replied, “What you are doing is not good. 18 You and these people who come to you will only wear yourselves out. The work is too heavy for you; you cannot handle it alone. 19 Listen now to me and I will give you some advice, and may God be with you. You must be the people’s representative before God and bring their disputes to him. 20 Teach them his decrees and instructions, and show them the way they are to live and how they are to behave. 21 But select capable men from all the people—men who fear God, trustworthy men who hate dishonest gain—and appoint them as officials over thousands, hundreds, fifties and tens. 22 Have them serve as judges for the people at all times, but have them bring every difficult case to you; the simple cases they can decide themselves. That will make your load lighter, because they will share it with you. 23 If you do this and God so commands, you will be able to stand the strain, and all these people will go home satisfied.”
24 Moses listened to his father-in-law and did everything he said. 25 He chose capable men from all Israel and made them leaders of the people, officials over thousands, hundreds, fifties and tens. 26 They served as judges for the people at all times. The difficult cases they brought to Moses, but the simple ones they decided themselves.
People have issues. Many of them can be resolved by hearing the issues. People need to be heard. They need to know that they matter and are respected.
- There is a need for different leadership
The issue of overlooking widows in the standard distribution of food is a real issue.
But the Apostles are not going to change what they are doing to make sure that this is taken care of. Jesus has given them a specific testimony, and a specific calling. It would be inappropriate for them to change what it is that they are doing in order to solve this very important issue.
So, they need to delegate this responsibility to others!
- The Right Kind of Leaders
- Men full of wisdom
What is wisdom?
*Right understanding of God: What is God like? What would Jesus do? What does the Bible say about this?
*Right understanding of self: What is my calling? What are my gifts? What experiences and training/education do I have that bears on this situation?
*Right understanding of others
*Right understanding of the Kingdom of God
Is it a problem? Act to solve the problem. Carry your own load, bear one another’s burdens. Do justly, love mercy, walk humbly.
- Men full of the Holy Spirit
1.Obeying the teachings of Jesus.
John 14:
23 Jesus replied, “Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them. 24 Anyone who does not love me will not obey my teaching. These words you hear are not my own; they belong to the Father who sent me.
25 “All this I have spoken while still with you. 26 But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.
2.Led by the Holy Spirit
John 16:
12 “I have much more to say to you, more than you can now bear. 13 But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. 14 He will glorify me because it is from me that he will receive what he will make known to you. 15 All that belongs to the Father is mine. That is why I said the Spirit will receive from me what he will make known to you.”
- Men who serve others
They wait on tables. Deacon= Servant
They do more than wait on tables! They dominate the next two chapters!!!!
- The People are Allowed to Choose Leaders
- Leaders need to be mature
Titus 1:6-9 Elders (overseer)
I Timothy 3:1-7 Overseers
I Timothy 3:8-12 Deacons
If you read these lists of character qualities you will find that they are very similar.
Mature leaders in their families, the community and the church. Demonstrating the character of Christ is emphasized. Back to Acts 2. What are they devoted to?
Apostle’s teaching, prayer, breaking of bread, fellowship, serving one another’s needs, meeting together regularly.
- All leaders are to serve
Ephesians 4:
11 So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, 12 to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.
Example:
John 13:
6 He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?”
7 Jesus replied, “You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand.”
12 When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. “Do you understand what I have done for you?” he asked them. 13 “You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. 14 Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. 15 I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. 16 Very truly I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. 17 Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.
- The word of God continues to spread!
7 So the word of God spread. The number of disciples in Jerusalem increased rapidly, and a large number of priests became obedient to the faith.
This is God’s will.
These challenges are a regular part of the growth of the gospel.
People are not born again mature, just like babies aren’t born mature.
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