Introduction

I remember one day, while in a computer hardware/repair class, that I looked at my professor and told him that I had a problem. He looked at me and stated that there was no such thing as a problem. I looked at him and said, then how would you explain this. I had a computer, that everything, that I could see, was installed correctly, but it was not coming on. His response to me was simple. There is no such thing as a problem. What we have is a situation in need of a solution. I looked at him, at this point, and stated, then we have a situation in need of a solution. Since that day, I have held on to that philosophy. We do not have problems per-say, as much as we have opportunities for growth.

As we continue our study within the book of Acts, we find such a truth. Peter and the apostles, leaders of the 1st Century church, begin to face difficulties of growth. We find in Acts 2, that God was adding to the church daily. We find that thousands of men and women, boys and girls, were coming to saving faith in Jesus Christ. As they joined, the apostles were trying to take care of all of them and this was not a good thing.

Focus Passage

Acts 6:1–7 NASB 2020

1 Now at this time, as the disciples were increasing in number, a complaint developed on the part of the Hellenistic Jews against the native Hebrews, because their widows were being overlooked in the daily serving of food. 2 So the twelve summoned the congregation of the disciples and said, “It is not desirable for us to neglect the word of God in order to serve tables. 3 Instead, brothers and sisters, select from among you seven men of good reputation, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we may put in charge of this task. 4 But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.” 5 The announcement found approval with the whole congregation; and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, and Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas, a proselyte from Antioch. 6 And they brought these men before the apostles; and after praying, they laid their hands on them. 7 The word of God kept spreading; and the number of the disciples continued to increase greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests were becoming obedient to the faith.

Outline

Problems | Opportunities for Growth

Acts 6:1 NASB 2020

1 Now at this time, as the disciples were increasing in number, a complaint developed on the part of the Hellenistic Jews against the native Hebrews, because their widows were being overlooked in the daily serving of food.

As the church grows, So then, those who had received his word were baptized; and that day there were added about three thousand souls (Acts 2:41 NASB), she faces a situation. She begins to see that some of her members were being neglected unintentionally. What was causing this neglect? How was involved in the neglect? Was it intentional? All good question. These are questions that need to be addressed. This is what the apostles did.

As we look at the historical setting within our text, we need to address a couple of items that we may miss within our text, if we are not familiar with the facts. One, in the beginning of the church, the apostles would gather foods and necessities daily from the members of the church and then go and disperse these needs among those that had need. This was a daunting task to say the least. The second fact was who are the those being neglected.

The Bible states that there was some grumbling going on among the people, a complaint developed. This grumbling was about to cause a split within the first church, as most grumbling will do if not addressed properly and promptly. We should not feed grumbling but quail grumbling. Those grumbling were the Hellenistic Jews, the Greek speaking Jews and that were not native to the Jerusalem. They probably did not speak Aramaic. This language barrier and cultural barrier was causing problems and in the end was seen as the cause for their neglect. What were the apostles to do? They realized the truth, this problem that was about to cause a split within the church was an opportunity for growth. How they responded was as equally as important as the problem itself.

1. Problems give churches an opportunity to examine their current ministry

The apostles took a step back and asked themselves, What is causing this? As they examined their current ministry setting, they realized that they were the problem and there was a need for change. As I read this text and as I studied for the message, I was reminded of Moses and when Jethro, his father-in-law, brought his grandchildren to see their father. As he approached Moses, he saw something that made him shake his head. All the people of Israel were coming to Moses for the answer to his problems, as the new church was going to the apostles. The words of Jethro ring true for the apostles, and they realize this.

Exodus 18:17 NASB 2020

17 Moses’ father-in-law then said to him, “The thing that you are doing is not good.

It was not good for Moses to handle all the problems of Israel. It was not good for the apostles to be trying to take care of all the needs of the new church. There does come a time when there is the necessity of change. As Baptist, we do not like change. We do not like change in translations. We do not like change in music. We do not like change in teachers, in leaders, in what we do. We like the status quo, because that’s what we are comfortable with. It is what we know. However, ministry, not the message, but ministry must adapt and change with the situation and time at hand. The apostles realized this. If they kept the status quo, they were going to fail. The church was going to implode.

As the apostles studied the situation, they realized that their priorities were off. They were spending more time addressing physical needs than they were the spiritual needs of the church. In doing so, they causing spiritual atrophy.

Acts 6:2 NASB 2020

2 So the twelve summoned the congregation of the disciples and said, “It is not desirable for us to neglect the word of God in order to serve tables.

If the church was going to grow spiritually, there had to be a change. They needed to change their priorities and train others to take care of the physical needs of the church, so that they could focus on the spiritual needs.

2. Problems give churches an opportunity exhibit faith

This growth and show of faith is not only in God, but also in each other. The apostles had to let go and trust others to further the ministry of the church. We find that the church, went within themselves and chose seven men for the task taking care of the physical needs of the church.

Acts 6:3 NASB 2020

3 Instead, brothers and sisters, select from among you seven men of good reputation, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we may put in charge of this task.

The church was not afraid of changing their structure. They were willing to let go and let God. They were willing to trust one another in service to the Lord. What we see in a lot of churches today, is a lack of trust and a desire to keep control. We find pastors that are dogmatic and are dictators. We find deacons that are not willing to let go of power and follow the leadership of the pastor. When you find that a pastor has a vision for the church, but that vision doesn’t align with the preconceived ideas of the deacons, the church comes to standstill and the church declines rather than grows. Just as the church was willing to change its structure and trust God to move through this change, the church must be willing to do the same today. The church (the people of God) have to be willing to allow others to be used of God to grow the church. This is exactly what the apostles and the body did then. We must be willing to trust God to move through others beyond ourselves. It is a tragic thing when churches impede ministry, because they refuse to change their structure out of pride, fear, or refusal to change, because that is not how it has always been.

3. Problems give churches the opportunity to exhort one another

Acts 6:5 NASB 2020

5 The announcement found approval with the whole congregation; and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, and Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas, a proselyte from Antioch.

As we look at these names, we find that church was wise in their selection. They did not just stick with the majority Jews, which is what one might think they would have chosen. Let us go and choose those we are comfortable with. This not what happened. They broke with comfort and the ones they knew the most and chose six Hellenist and one Gentile proselyte. They chose from among themselves those who were being neglected to minister and grow the church. This was a great show of love and release of power and influence. It was truly following the teachings of Jesus.

Romans 12:10 NASB 2020

10 Be devoted to one another in brotherly love; give preference to one another in honor,

Philippians 2:1–4 NASB 2020

1 Therefore if there is any encouragement in Christ, if any consolation of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and compassion, 2 make my joy complete by being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose. 3 Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility consider one another as more important than yourselves; 4 do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others.

When we begin to look beyond personal preference and comfort and begin to look at the church from the eyes of Jesus, we realize that others are more important than we are. We must let go so that they can grow. We are called to disciple. Part of discipling is not only teaching but this also includes following.

Servants of the church

Acts 6:3–4 NASB 2020

3 Instead, brothers and sisters, select from among you seven men of good reputation, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we may put in charge of this task. 4 But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.”

The issue at hand was a priority issue. The apostles were trying to do too much. They needed to restructure and reprioritize. To do this, they needed help. The apostles, realizing this, tells the congregation to go and choose seven men among themselves, to take care of the physical needs of the church. While the word deacon is not mentioned within this text, it is believed these by most scholars and theologians, that these are the first deacons. The word used within (v.1) for the word, “serving” or “ministration” (KJV), was diakanos (noun), and the word, “serve” (v.2), diakoneo (verb). We find that the word, deacon, is mentioned in Philippians 1:1 and the qualifications of the deacon is found in 1 Timothy 3, the overall meaning is “servant.”

1. Deacons, the physical servant of the church

Deacons are not the supervisor of the pastor or the dictator of the church. This is the not the Biblical role of the deacon, nor should it ever be. The role of the deacon is to serve the church in the area of physical needs.

As we look within our text, the apostles let the congregation know, we cannot continue to do it all. We must rearrange our priorities.

Acts 6:2 NASB 2020

2 So the twelve summoned the congregation of the disciples and said, “It is not desirable for us to neglect the word of God in order to serve tables.

They in turn, tell the congregation to go among themselves and choose seven men that they may put in charge of this task.

2. Pastors, the spiritual overseer of the church

The apostles then, and the pastors of the church today, must be committed to prayer and the study of God’s word. That doesn’t mean that we cannot nor should be neglect the congregation. We should be involved with the congregation and check on them. However, the primary responsibility of the pastor is the spiritual health and vitality of the church. As they devote themselves to the spiritual condition of the church, the deacons are to devote themselves to the physical needs and ministry of the church. Let us never come to the point where we are not willing to self examine and adjust as needed. Let us remember that the pastor cannot do it all nor should he be expected too. The deacons are more than just men holding an office. They are there to serve the church and must be faithful in doing so. Tdhe pastor and deacons both, must be faithful and in unity with each other and the congregation for the church to grow.

Is God In Control

Acts 6:5 NASB 2020

5 The announcement found approval with the whole congregation; and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, and Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas, a proselyte from Antioch.

We read within our text, they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit.

1. Who is in control

When the Scripture states that Stephen, a man full of, is stating that that which he was full of was what was controlling him. So, as we read our text, we find that Stephen’s life and ministry were controlled by three sources, all of which find their foundational source in God.

a. He was controlled by his faith in God

b. He was controlled by the Spirit of God

c. He was controlled by the wisdom given by God

As Stephen allowed his faith in God, the Spirit of God that indwelt him, and the wisdom he had received from God, to control him, we find the results. Results that will still take place today in the life of the believer and the church.

2. The results of allowing God to be in control

a. The church was unified - ‘…found approval with the whole congregation...’

b. The church multiplied - ‘...continued to increase greatly...’

c. The church was magnified (Acts 6:8)

Conclusion

As we face troubled seasons within the church, much like we are today, let us not look at these times of struggles as a time to implode, or fight one another, but to embrace each other. Allow our faith to grow in God and begin to trust one another. Let us realize that we do not have all the answers. Let us realize that change is not always a bad thing, especially if that change is done the right way. Let us be unified. Let us be faithful. Let us be encouragers. Let us be obedient to the call of the Lord and follow the examples and precedents that we find within the Scriptures as a guides for where to go from here.

All of this begins with a new life in Christ. Do you know Jesus? Do you know Jesus as Lord and Savior? Do you know?