THE EARLY CHURCH (9)
Notes
Transcript
GROWTH NEEDS WORKERS
GROWTH NEEDS WORKERS
Pray
recap of chapter 5
Acts 5:42 “Every day in the temple, and in various homes, they continued teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Messiah.”
Growth in the early church was exploding
No special program just “Jesus is the Messiah”
Charles H. Spurgeon “a bee line to the cross”
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. 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. 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. But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.” 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. They had them stand before the apostles, who prayed and laid their hands on them.
Organization of the Church
People were being overlooked daily.
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.
The Twelve summoned the whole church.
What is the role of the people of the church?
“It would not be right”
We can’t stop preaching the word of GOD.
Is waiting tables important? YES!!
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. But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.”
“men of good reputation”
“full of the Spirit and Wisdom”
Deacon’s means servant
who appoint the duty?
Deacons, likewise, should be worthy of respect, not hypocritical, not drinking a lot of wine, not greedy for money, holding the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience. They must also be tested first; if they prove blameless, then they can serve as deacons. Wives, likewise, should be worthy of respect, not slanderers, self-controlled, faithful in everything. Deacons are to be husbands of one wife, managing their children and their own households competently. For those who have served well as deacons acquire a good standing for themselves and great boldness in the faith that is in Christ Jesus.
The question Deacon should ask is how am I serving the people of GOD.
“we devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word”
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. They had them stand before the apostles, who prayed and laid their hands on them.
Stephen is a name that is very important for the next week.
Laid hands on them. Why?
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.
Because the work of the church was taken care of the word of GOD spread.
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. All things were created through him, and apart from him not one thing was created that has been created. In him was life, and that life was the light of men. That light shines in the darkness, and yet the darkness did not overcome it.
The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world.
He was in the world, and the world was created through him, and yet the world did not recognize him. He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. But to all who did receive him, he gave them the right to be children of God, to those who believe in his name, who were born, not of natural descent, or of the will of the flesh, or of the will of man, but of God.
The Word became flesh and dwelt among us. We observed his glory, the glory as the one and only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.
the numbers increased greatly
Even priests became obedient to the faith.
This is what happens when the church works.
Gifts have been given to you by GOD and yet we don’t always us them.
