Acts 6
April Memory Verse: But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. Acts 1:8 NIV
Read: Acts 6
The issue at hand in chapter 6 is that the Greek Jews were being overlooked by Hebrews in the daily distribution of food. It’s important to know that the first people to come into a relationship with God through Jesus, and join the church, were Jews. However, among this group was also the Jewish converts. It was this group whose needs were unmet.
The apostles dealt with this situation by raising up a group of men from within the Greek Jewish community so that no one would be overlooked. This solution has several implications. First, although it isn’t “beneath” the Apostles to pick up the slack, they had bigger fish to fry. This is a fantastic leadership principle—prioritization and delegation. What is the work that only you can do? What work needs to get done that you can hand off to somebody else? The apostles needed to devote themselves to prayer and the ministry of the Word. Any other work would detract from the task that they needed to do of first importance.
Second, we see that the Church needs different people to fulfill different roles. The apostles selected seven men of good reputation, full of the Spirit and of wisdom. Even to “serve tables,” service is leadership and leadership requires standards. To have a reputation you must, first, be known. This means participating in biblical community. These men also had to be “full of the Spirit.”
God does not give believers the Spirit to sit in the bleachers—get on the field. The Spirit equips people differently, not everybody has the same spiritual gifts. That is a great thing because none of us can do it on our own. Just like we have to depend on the Spirit for the gifts he’s given us, we have to depend on others who the Spirit has gifted differently. The Christian life is one of interdependence. We need the Lord and we need each other.
These leaders were Greek, they were not Jews. Because of their ethnicity and background, they were uniquely suited to fulfill a need in the church. The Church needs different people to fulfill different roles. If you’re not serving, we’re missing a critical component of God’s design for the local body. If you want to serve, but don’t know how to get started, let us help you.
The second half of Acts 6 points to a man named Stephen—the first martyr of the Church. Through the apostles elevating leaders, the word of God kept spreading; and the number of disciples continued to increase greatly in Jerusalem. Stephen’s effectiveness, his Spirit-led ministry, gained him the attention of the enemies of the Church. However, as they looked at him and saw his face, it was like the face of an angel.
God has gifted individuals differently. We all have a unique role to play. Walking in the Spirit, we can accomplish great things for the Kingdom. However, don’t believe that it’s safe. Christian history is full of “hot-spots” where persecution flourished. It seems like things may be heating up again. The question is which will we love more, people getting saved and growing in their faith, or the comfort and safety of nominal Christianity. If Christianity doesn’t cost us something, we probably aren’t living like the One who gave everything. The time is coming, and now is, that we must count the cost of true discipleship—we need you, but safety is not guaranteed.
By: Tyler Short
Read: Acts 6
The issue at hand in chapter 6 is that the Greek Jews were being overlooked by Hebrews in the daily distribution of food. It’s important to know that the first people to come into a relationship with God through Jesus, and join the church, were Jews. However, among this group was also the Jewish converts. It was this group whose needs were unmet.
The apostles dealt with this situation by raising up a group of men from within the Greek Jewish community so that no one would be overlooked. This solution has several implications. First, although it isn’t “beneath” the Apostles to pick up the slack, they had bigger fish to fry. This is a fantastic leadership principle—prioritization and delegation. What is the work that only you can do? What work needs to get done that you can hand off to somebody else? The apostles needed to devote themselves to prayer and the ministry of the Word. Any other work would detract from the task that they needed to do of first importance.
Second, we see that the Church needs different people to fulfill different roles. The apostles selected seven men of good reputation, full of the Spirit and of wisdom. Even to “serve tables,” service is leadership and leadership requires standards. To have a reputation you must, first, be known. This means participating in biblical community. These men also had to be “full of the Spirit.”
God does not give believers the Spirit to sit in the bleachers—get on the field. The Spirit equips people differently, not everybody has the same spiritual gifts. That is a great thing because none of us can do it on our own. Just like we have to depend on the Spirit for the gifts he’s given us, we have to depend on others who the Spirit has gifted differently. The Christian life is one of interdependence. We need the Lord and we need each other.
These leaders were Greek, they were not Jews. Because of their ethnicity and background, they were uniquely suited to fulfill a need in the church. The Church needs different people to fulfill different roles. If you’re not serving, we’re missing a critical component of God’s design for the local body. If you want to serve, but don’t know how to get started, let us help you.
The second half of Acts 6 points to a man named Stephen—the first martyr of the Church. Through the apostles elevating leaders, the word of God kept spreading; and the number of disciples continued to increase greatly in Jerusalem. Stephen’s effectiveness, his Spirit-led ministry, gained him the attention of the enemies of the Church. However, as they looked at him and saw his face, it was like the face of an angel.
God has gifted individuals differently. We all have a unique role to play. Walking in the Spirit, we can accomplish great things for the Kingdom. However, don’t believe that it’s safe. Christian history is full of “hot-spots” where persecution flourished. It seems like things may be heating up again. The question is which will we love more, people getting saved and growing in their faith, or the comfort and safety of nominal Christianity. If Christianity doesn’t cost us something, we probably aren’t living like the One who gave everything. The time is coming, and now is, that we must count the cost of true discipleship—we need you, but safety is not guaranteed.
By: Tyler Short
11 Comments
My weak and fleshy old nature bristles at the loss of certain safety and comfort. It calls everyday to invite me to sit, take ease with myself, recline and take it easy. But the Holy Spirit generously extends the more precious gift of eternal security and hope for the present...and this has far more meaning than mere comfort and safety.
May those who serve the Lord, be it teaching or serving, remember His promises best.
So true Korbet. Discomfort and difficulty are often the cost of serving and sharing Christ. Service takes time and energy, and those are precious resources to be invested well.
Powerful message! Enjoying the book of Acts! It is humbling to think that the community of church and the spread of Christianity started here. Christianity would spread from generation to generation throughout the centuries! And here we are today, Christians in the 21st Century. Powerful and amazing! God be the glory!
Thank you Ms. Norma, you are a gift. It's incredible that it all started here. It's also crazy that stephen's death was the catalyst for the spread of Christianity in that region, as Greek (Jewish convert) Christians fled.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DuuVbXxvmsI&ab_channel=I'llBeHonest
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ou8y_0377wE
Two great resources for further consideration of the cost of Christ
Thanks Jordan!
"The Spirit equips people differently, not everybody has the same spiritual gifts. That is a great thing because none of us can do it on our own."
Excellent word today Tyler. Five or six years ago I went through a year of training to potentially serve as an Elder at CPC. At the end of that year I was overwhelmed with a sense of how unqualified I was for the role. I knew my innermost flaws and sin struggles and was somewhat fearful of accepting the role if asked. Finally God revealed to me that ALL men are unqualified in their own power. A man must rely upon the power of the Holy Spirit to do any good for the Lord. When Paul called himself the worst of sinners (1st Timothy 1:12-17) he was recognizing his condition. If a man waits till he is fully qualified and free from sin then he will never serve because that day won't come this side of heaven. God has equipped all of us to serve in the local church. Don't wait until you've cleaned yourself up and feel qualified. Humbly come before the Lord and pray about how God might use you to fulfill The Great Commission in Lexington, Kentucky and around the world.
Yes, many times I have asked God, "why me? Are you sure?" But it's not about us. God calls all people to serve, but like we just studied in Ephesians, we all serve differently. However, every service area is accomplished through His power.
Mike, I really appreciate you sharing this. Being in a position of leadership causes me to think much like you, but if God waited for perfect people to step into those roles, we would have no leaders. Thankful for God's grace and mercy in allowing his people to serve even when we are imperfect sinners.
Yes, many times I have asked God, "why me? Are you sure?" But it's not about us. God calls all people to serve, but like we just studied in Ephesians, we all serve differently. However, every service area is accomplished through His power.
I too noticed the standards of those served tables. It reminds me why the church should not just put anyone in a role no matter how big or small. The church is set apart for Jesus... so should the people who serve. A great reminder!
Very convicting passage today. What am I doing for the kingdom that is causing me any level of discomfort? Many people had the same result as Stephen (death, and not an easy death, but a painful one) because they preached Christ unashamedly. Praying I can step out of my comfort zone and make an impact for the kingdom like so many before me have done.