Serving at Tables and Serving the Word

It’s thrilling to read about a church doing well!

Luke, the author of Acts, lists good things happening in Jerusalem as the disciples live as citizens of the kingdom of God:

· The number of disciples was increasing.

· Apostles faithfully speak about Jesus in the temple courts w/ mixed responses:

Some people are healed and come to faith but the religious leaders felt threatened by the gospel. But nobody can silence the apostles or deny the power of the gospel.

Life in the church is wonderful but it’s not perfect – not yet. Jesus’ disciples are citizens of the kingdom of heaven, but like Christians of every generation, the early church struggled with temptation, sin, and wrongdoing. Can you relate?

Perhaps you’ve heard the slogan: “Christians aren’t perfect, just forgiven.” It’s the reality in the church in Jerusalem.

The church responded to poverty and injustice by providing food for widows. The need was real. The NT book of James wasn’t written yet, but the early Chr. knew the truth of it:

Religionthat God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress.

James 1:27a (NIV)

Even with the best intentions, things can go wrong.

TheHellenistic Jews among them complained against the Hebraic Jews because their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food.

Acts 6:1 (NIV)

Doing the right thing for the right reasons can still go wrong.

That’s what happened in the early church.

Jesus taught his disciples to absorb the wrongs done to them.

I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also.

Matthew 5:39 (NIV)

If you’re accidently overlooked in food distribution once or twice, it’s not right, but you can bear with it. You can forgive.

But when there is consistent, systematic favoritism and neglect when sharing food, it’s an injustice. It ought to be set straight.

It’s simply not right for Hebrew-speaking widows to be treated better than the Greek-speaking widows in the church. God’s word in James has something to say about this too:

Ifyou show special attention to the man wearing fine clothes and say, “Here’s a good seat for you,” but say to the poor man, “You stand there” or “Sit on the floor by my feet,” have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?

James 2:3–4 (NIV)

In the ordination form, deacons are charged to call this out:

Be prophetic critics of the waste, injustice, and selfishness in our society, and be sensitive counselors to the victims of such evils.

Ordination Form (2016)

It’s a challenging task. I think most of us can identify situations in our society where there is waste, injustice, or selfishness. What does it look like for Deacons to be prophetic critics of such evil?

It can be awkward and uncomfortable to call out waste, injustice, and selfishness. Not everyone will applaud you for it, especially if the scales are tipped in their favour. Attitude makes a difference. You can’t call for justice from a stance of pride or self-righteousness.

This is where deacons, elders, ministers, and the rest of us are called to imitate Jesus as citizens of his kingdom. Our goal is to live according to the standards of Jesus’ kingdom – esp. in church – but we also ought to pursue justice, kindness, and love our neighbours in our interactions outside the church.

It's not easy. It takes humility and personal integrity. It’s only possible as the HS transforms us to become more like Jesus. It’s why the early church looked for leaders who were “full of the Spirit and wisdom” (3). We are transformed from our sin-stained defaults to godly people by the work of God the HS making us more and more like Jesus.

The Gospel of John says that when Jesus came, he was full of grace and truth. John 1:14 says:

TheWord became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

John 1:14 (NIV)

Later in the gospel, John shows us what this looks like.

In John 4, Jesus receives a drink of water from a woman at the well outside Sychar in Samaria. Somehow Jesus is able to talk with this woman about the fact that she has been married 5X and is now living with a man who isn’t her husband. Jesus talks with her about it without causing shame.

Jesus does not say her behaviour is okay. He doesn’t say sin doesn’t matter. And the woman does not get defensive and stomp off. In fact, this woman is so excited about Jesus’ conversation with her in truth and grace that

leavingher water jar, the woman went back to the town and said to the people, “Come, see a man who told me everything I ever did. Could this be the Messiah?”

John 4:28–29 (NIV)

It’s a soul-searing experience when you become aware, before God that 1.) I am wrong. I sinned against God and neighbour. And: 2.) God loves me deeply and offers grace and forgiveness.

Sometimes God sends a trusted person to have a conversation with you: a friend, a mature Chr., a deacon, or elder. The hope is you walk away convicted of the truth about both what is wrong and of God’s loving forgiveness. Your job then, having been forgiven by God to do all in your power to set things straight.

Isn’t that what we want when it’s necessary to discipline our children? Sad but true: every once-in-awhile you need to address bad behaviour, sinful behaviour in kids. As a parent, I didn’t get it right every time.

But if instead of your child walking away thinking his/her parents or grandparents are mean and unfair, wouldn’t it be awesome if your child walked away convicted of both

their wrong-doing AND

love & forgiveness from Mom & Dad and God?

It’s the truth and grace of the gospel.

People are prone to disobedience and sin. I’ll speak for myself: I disobey God’s call to holiness.

Sin always leads to punishment. Ultimately, sin is punished with broken relationships and death. In the early church, you sense that overlooking the Hellenistic Jews in the daily distribution of food drove a wedge b/t people in the early church.

But the gospel, which the twelve refuse to stop preaching, also describes God’s love for the world. The gospel explains the truth about human sin and the grace of God’s forgiveness.

ForGod so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.

John 3:16–17 (NIV)

· Jesus died on the cross to bear the punishment for our sins.

· He rose from the grave 3 days later assuring us that we are raised to new life.

If that weren’t enough, Jesus offers new life in the power of the HS, so that our behaviour as Jesus’ disciples reflects Jesus’ grace and truth.

In the church and in society, Christians are called to live as citizens of the kingdom of heaven. When the Chr. in Jerusalem identified the injustice in the daily distribution of food, they made a plan to set things straight. The twelve concluded:

“Itwould not be right for us to neglect the ministry of the word of God in order to wait on tables. (rootword: deacon)

Acts 6:2b (NIV)

Brothersand 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 and will give our attention to prayer and the ministry of the word.” (root word: deacon)

Acts 6:3–4 (NIV)

The wording in Greek is elegant but the parallel words don’t come through in translation:

We shouldn’t leave God’s word to serve (verb: deacon) at tables.

Let’s appoint people to that business and we will pray and be servants (noun: deacons) of the Word.

The calling of elders and deacons share the same root. Serving food and being servants of the word are rooted in the life-giving generosity of God.

God’s creation provides food and clothing, powered by the sun God created and the rain he brings. As stewards of God’s creation, we’re entrusted with these resources to feed ourselves and to give to others and freely as we’ve received from God. Deacons are called to take the lead and facilitate that mindset and give freely from the resources they gather. They offer these gifts in the church and community in Jesus’ name and for the glory of God. Deacons speak the truth about waste and offer the grace of God’s generosity.

Elders and ministers are called to prayer and serving the Word. The gospel shows God’s love and generosity. Elders are called to deal with the truth about sin and the amazing grace of God’s forgiveness.

Deacons and elders are called to these roles b/c their lives show that they’ve experienced God’s truth and grace already. It’s something every believer is expected to know. Every member of the church of Jesus is called and anointed with the HS to imitate Jesus and bear witness to God’s truth and grace.

The church on earth is going to have its troubles. We are forgiven, but not yet without sin. Our goal is that life in the church and life in our neighbourhood is like life in the Kingdom of God, ruled by King Jesus who came with truth and grace.