Sermon Tone Analysis

Smoothing Out the Rough Spots

(Acts 6:1-7)

September 19, 2021

Read Acts 6:1-7 – God’s at work in the early church; so is the Devil!

First, he tried to stop them in their tracks by persecution.

But they prayed for help and Acts 4:31b: “they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak the word of God with boldness.”

Next he tried corruption in the hypocrisy and deception of A&S, but God dealt with that severely, insuring the purity of the church and Acts 5:14 “And more than ever believers were added to the Lord.”

But Satan never quits.

Here comes another test, and it’s from the inside.

Various Roman emperors imposed 10 great periods of persecution under in its 1st 300 years.

But the church only grew until it became the official religion of Rome under Constantine!

Julian followed Constantine, wanting to destroy Xnty.

He realized persecution wouldn’t do.

His strategy was to disrupt church unity.

So he called the Xn bishops together and told them to sort out their differences hoping that would trigger disunity.

He said he learned that “no wild beasts are as dangerous to man as Xns are to each other.”

His efforts failed as did Satan’s efforts at division in Acts 6.

That early church cared for its own – some even selling property to help the needs of the poor – especially the widows.

But now 1b) “a complaint by the Hellenists arose against the Hebrews bc their widows were being neglected in the daily distribution.”

Israel was home to 2 kinds of Jews at this time – those born and bred in Israel, Jews to the core and speaking native Aramaic.

The 2nd group were Jews who had lived outside Israel most of their lives, then returned to the homeland for various reasons.

But they were steeped Greek culture (hence, Hellenists) and spoke Greek and the native tongue of their previous homeland.

Both groups are in the church.

But old prejudices die hard.

Somehow, on purpose or accidentally, the Greek-speaking widows were not getting a fair share of the daily food distributions.

With thousands of new converts, it’s not hard to see how this could happen.

But it’s a foot in the door for the Enemy.

The problem is referred to the 12 who wisely address the issue.

But they realize if they do the work themselves, they will soon be spending all their time waiting tables.

So they call the church together, ask them to pick out 7 highly qualified men to see to this problem and submit them to the apostles who authorize them by praying for them before loosing them for ministry.

Conflict is avoided, focus on the gospel is renewed, and the work goes forward with renewed energy.

That’s the big picture, but it illustrates 4 great principles of church leadership.

This is wise leadership every church needs.

I. Be Faithful to Your Calling

The 12 knew their priorities and would not be diverted: 2b) “It is not right that we should give up preaching the word of God to serve tables.”

They’ve been criticized as too high and mighty to distribute food?

Won’t roll up their sleeves and help.

Maybe Jesus’ lesson on foot washing didn’t take too well!

But that misses the point.

In v. 2 they say they should not “serve tables” but rather (v.

4) devote themselves to the “ministry of the word” -- “ministry” being the same word translated “serve” in v. 2. They weren’t above serving.

They didn’t see one job as above the other.

Their choice was between serving physical food or serving spiritual food, and they knew their gifting and their commission.

It wasn’t a question of one job being more important than the other; it was a question of remaining true to their calling – which, by the way, allowed someone else to be true to their calling!

Right?

They were saying, “You serve the food; we’ll serve the Word.”

They had focus!

Do you realize how many good men leave the ministry?

It’s around 20,000 – every year.

Sometimes it’s too little pay, too much criticism, but at the top of the list is unrealistic expectations.

The pastor is often expected to do it all – from hospital visits to admin to special projects to cleaning the restrooms – oh, and have a good sermon on Sunday.

Burn out is the #1 killer for pastors.

So, they must know their priorities – from God.

And like the 12, top of the list must be prayer and the serving the Word.

If there’s time for more, great.

But those are the priority.

The 12 knew that.

So must any pastor worth his salt.

When someone tells a pastor, “But that’s what we pay you for – to serve,” he ought to say, “No, it isn’t.”

Pastors are paid to train the congregation for the work of ministry.

You say, “Where did you get that?”

From the Bible.

Eph 4:11) “And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, 12) to [do what – visit, administer, write, evangelize?

No.

They are to] equip the saints [all believers] for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ.”

Check it out!

Who are the ministers in a church?

All of us.

If we’re not all ministering (serving), being involved, using our giftedness – we not a church, we’re a social club.

So, we should not fool ourselves.

But as each of us begins to understand our gifting and put it into practice, oh – what a difference that makes.

Each one faithful in using the spiritual gifts that have been given to every believer to accomplish the specific calling that God has put on our lives for this time and place.

That’s a thing of beauty.

Michael Eisner was CEO at Disney for 10 great years.

But Frank Wells was president, freeing Eisner from the management duties so he could work his magic on movie projects, theme park rides, TV and countless other endeavors.

Wells was killed in a helicopter crash in 1994; Eisner never again found the right manager, and never regained the magic touch.

That’s the principle the apostles apply here – each faithful to his or her calling.

Ministry is for all of us.

It’s like a 1000—piece puzzle.

One missing piece ruins the whole thing.

II.

Share the Workload

The 12 knew they could not meet this need alone – without sacrificing their own calling.

So the solution – share the workload.

Others are given the opportunity to utilize their giftedness.

3) “Therefore, brothers, pick out from among you seven men of good repute.”

This is the principle of division of labor, and it is crucial to smooth sailing.

Any church following the norm of 10% of the people doing 90% of the work is going to have a stifled existence.

Moses had this problem with millions of people.

God had just used him to deliver Israel from Egypt when his father-in-law, Jethro, came for a visit.

Jethro complimented Moses and rejoiced with him.

But then: Exod 18:13: “The next day Moses sat to judge the people, and the people stood around Moses from morning till evening.

14) When Moses’ father-in-law saw all that he was doing for the people, he said, “What is this that you are doing for the people?

Why do you sit alone, and all the people stand around you from morning till evening?” 15) And Moses said to his father-in-law, “Because the people come to me to inquire of God; 16) when they have a dispute, they come to me and I decide between one person and another, and I make them know the statutes of God and his laws.”

17) Moses’ father-in-law said to him, “What you are doing is not good.

18) You and the people with you will certainly wear yourselves out, for the thing is too heavy for you.

You are not able to do it alone.”

Interesting?

Here’s one of God’s choicest servants.

But he had a flat spot.