How to Solve Problems without Making More

Sunday June 4th, 2023

Introductory information

After focusing on the persecution that the early church was beginning to face, the story shifts back to an internal matter in the church

The early church in Jerusalem was a mix of different Jewish groups who had gathered in Jerusalem for Pentecost

The clearest division was between the Jews who lived in the historical land of Israel and all the rest who lived throughout the Mediterranean (Hellenistic)

READ

Question to consider as we read:

What is the best way to solve a problem?

Acts 6:1–7 CSB

1 In those days, as the disciples were increasing in number, there arose a complaint by the Hellenistic Jews against the Hebraic Jews that their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution. 2 The Twelve summoned the whole company of the disciples and said, “It would not be right for us to give up preaching the word of God to wait on tables. 3 Brothers and sisters, select from among you seven men of good reputation, full of the Spirit and wisdom, whom we can appoint to this duty. 4 But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.” 5 This proposal pleased the whole company. So they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit, and Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolaus, a convert from Antioch. 6 They had them stand before the apostles, who prayed and laid their hands on them. 7 So the word of God spread, the disciples in Jerusalem increased greatly in number, and a large group of priests became obedient to the faith.

EXAMINE

What are some key points in this passage?

#1 | There is a complaint in the church

There was a group of widows that were not receiving proper care

Acts 6:1 “…there arose a complaint by the Hellenistic Jews against the Hebraic Jews that their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution.”

The Hellenistic Jews would have been the Jews who didn’t go back to their homelands after getting saved at Pentecost in Acts 2

These two groups of Jews had language differences, as well as minor social and cultural differences. (1)

#2 | Their complaint was given the proper attention

The Apostles recognized the complaint was valid and urgent (2)

Acts 6:2 “The Twelve summoned the whole company of the disciples...”

They treated the need as an equally important ministry of the church

Acts 6:3 “...select from among you seven men of good reputation, full of the Spirit and wisdom...”

The qualifications they looked for were similar to those of teachers and elders

They didn’t just carelessly give the job to whoever wasn’t busy

They chose people who were fit for the job

Acts 6:5 “...they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit, and Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolaus, a convert from Antioch.”

All of these men had Greek names and were probably all Hellenist Jews (3)

They would have understood the language and needs of the people they were serving

The would have approached the need with passion and sensitivity

#3 | They solved the problem without creating more

The Apostles didn’t try to do it all

Acts 6:2,4 “...It would not be right for us to give up preaching the word of God… we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.”

The Apostles recognized their limits and their calling

They made room for others to serve

At the same time, they didn’t let their personal passions and callings become a distraction

They could have dismissed the problem, because they had “bigger things” to worry about - but they didn’t

They honored the other roles of ministry in the church (4)

Acts 6:6 “They had them stand before the apostles, who prayed and laid their hands on them.”

They didn’t treat this ministry like a lesser role than their own

They prayed over them like they would over another apostle

As a result, the church continued to flourish and even more people came to faith in Jesus

APPLY

[Pose the following questions for group discussion, offering the suggested answers below only if the group has nothing to say or drifts too far off topic]

What are the “big ideas” you see in this passage?

We have to discipline ourselves to slow down and hear the issues that other people raise

There are multiple ministries that God has called people to, and all of them deserve attention and respect

No one is so gifted that they can do it all - limits are an important part of God’s design that we must receive and operate inside of

How can you apply these ideas in your life? What may be your next steps?

I need to slow down and pay attention to complaints from others - especially if I feel myself inclined to dismiss them

I need to respect my personal limits, and not allow myself to do everything that I can do, just because I might make it work

REFLECT

Prayer Point

Ask the Lord to give us a sensitivity to the needs of His people and the wisdom to address those needs with honor for one another

Devotional Question

How might you be neglecting the needs of others? How might you be furthering that problem by taking on too much?

FOOTNOTES

“Hellenists” and “Hebraic” The main distinction between the two groups was probably linguistic: the Hellenists were Jews whose habitual language was Greek and who attended Greek-speaking synagogues; the Hebrews spoke Aramaic (or Mishnaic Hebrew) and attended synagogues where the service was conducted in Hebrew. Many of the Hellenists had affinities with the lands of the Jewish dispersion around the Mediterranean shores, whereas the Hebrews were Palestinian Jews; there were doubtless several minor social and cultural differences between the two groups. F. F. Bruce, The Book of the Acts, The New International Commentary on the New Testament (Grand Rapids, MI: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1988), 120.

As widows are often overlooked... God has a peculiar concern for them (Pss. 68:5; 146:9; Pr. 15:25), and kindness to them was commended as one of the marks of true religion (Jb. 29:13; Is. 1:17). The oppression and injury of widows, on the other hand, would incur dire punishment (Ps. 94:6; Mal. 3:5). J. D. Douglas and R. V. G. Tasker, “Widow,” ed. D. R. W. Wood et al., New Bible Dictionary (Leicester, England; Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1996), 1239.

Significantly all seven men had Greek names, implying they were Hellenists. Nicolas, the last one named, was not even a Jew but was a convert to Judaism and then to Christianity. The early church evidently felt the problem of the unintentional neglect of Grecian Jewish widows would be best solved by the Hellenistic Jews; certainly they would not neglect the Aramaic-speaking widows.Stanley D. Toussaint, “Acts,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, ed. J. F. Walvoord and R. B. Zuck, vol. 2 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985), 367.

Though the Christian community selected the Seven, they were commissioned by the apostles. This was done by prayer and the laying on of hands. The practice of laying hands on others was a gesture signifying commissioning and granting of authority. Stanley D. Toussaint, “Acts,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, ed. J. F. Walvoord and R. B. Zuck, vol. 2 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985), 367.