Acts 6 (2)

Balancing the Needs: Word and Deed in Our Service

Bible Passage: ‘ Acts 6:1-15

Summary: In Acts 6:1-15, the early church faces a challenge as the Hellenistic Jewish widows are being neglected in the daily distribution of food. The apostles respond by appointing seven deacons to handle the physical needs, ensuring that they can continue to focus on prayer and the ministry of the word, highlighting the importance of balancing spiritual and practical service.

Application: This passage guides Christians today in recognizing the importance of meeting both spiritual and physical needs within the community. It encourages us to delegate responsibilities and ensure that we are supporting one another effectively in our church communities, reminding us that both types of service are crucial in reflecting Christ's love.

Teaching: The sermon teaches that church leadership is responsible for both spiritual nourishment and the practical needs of the congregation. It illustrates the importance of communal responsibilities and the power of effective service through the empowerment of others, allowing leaders to focus on their primary missions.

How this passage could point to Christ: In this narrative, the focus on the apostles' commitment to prayer and the ministry of the word reflects a Christ-centered approach to leadership. It foreshadows the establishment of a deaconate role which serves the church, resembling Christ's servant leadership—calling believers to follow His example in both community care and spiritual growth.

Big Idea: The ultimate call is to embody Christ’s dual ministry of word and deed, ensuring that the church operates effectively in service to both spiritual and physical needs.

Recommended Study: As you prepare this sermon, consider diving into the historical and cultural context of Hellenistic Jews in the early church using your Logos library. This will enrich your understanding of the tensions addressed in Acts 6 and the significance of the apostles’ responses. You might also examine the qualifications and roles of deacons in both the early church and contemporary settings to draw parallels and application for your audience.

1. Conflict and Commitment

Acts 6:1–4 ESV

Now in these days when the disciples were increasing in number, a complaint by the Hellenists arose against the Hebrews because their widows were being neglected in the daily distribution. And the twelve summoned the full number of the disciples and said, “It is not right that we should give up preaching the word of God to serve tables. Therefore, brothers, pick out from among you seven men of good repute, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we will appoint to this duty. But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.”

You could explore the initial conflict in this passage where the Hellenistic widows are neglected in the daily distribution, illustrating how community needs can sometimes be overlooked. Highlight the apostles’ wise response to prioritize their primary commitment to prayer and the ministry of the word. This echoes Christ’s model of leadership focused on spiritual teaching while recognizing the importance of practical needs, encouraging the church today to maintain this balance by involving others in ministry tasks and not neglecting any part of Christ’s work.

2. Collaboration and Commissioning

Acts 6:5–7 ESV

And what they said pleased the whole gathering, and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolaus, a proselyte of Antioch. These they set before the apostles, and they prayed and laid their hands on them. And the word of God continued to increase, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests became obedient to the faith.

Perhaps, in this part of the passage, you can emphasize the solution the apostles present by appointing seven deacons. This decision, well-received by the congregation, shows the power of delegation and the equipping of individuals for service roles. It reflects Christ’s empowering of His disciples to continue His work. This calls us to identify and affirm the gifting of those around us, ensuring effective ministry of both word and deed, thus fostering growth in the community as a whole—spiritually and numerically.

3. Courage and Conviction

Acts 6:8–15 ESV

And Stephen, full of grace and power, was doing great wonders and signs among the people. Then some of those who belonged to the synagogue of the Freedmen (as it was called), and of the Cyrenians, and of the Alexandrians, and of those from Cilicia and Asia, rose up and disputed with Stephen. But they could not withstand the wisdom and the Spirit with which he was speaking. Then they secretly instigated men who said, “We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses and God.” And they stirred up the people and the elders and the scribes, and they came upon him and seized him and brought him before the council, and they set up false witnesses who said, “This man never ceases to speak words against this holy place and the law, for we have heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place and will change the customs that Moses delivered to us.” And gazing at him, all who sat in the council saw that his face was like the face of an angel.

Maybe you could focus on Stephen’s role as one of the appointed deacons, moving beyond administrative duties to performing great wonders and signs. His faith and wisdom, rooted in Christ, led to opposition and false accusations. His example challenges us to consider the cost of true service and living out the dual ministry of word and deed with integrity, as Jesus did, even amid adversity. It’s a powerful reminder that our service reflects Christ and can impact the world profoundly, confronting and transforming society.

QUESTIONS?!

What can we learn from Stephen’s bravery and service as a deacon in the church?

In what ways can we ensure that we are meeting both spiritual and physical needs in our church community today?

What steps did the apostles take to address the complaints of neglect among the Hellenistic widows?

The emphasis in Stephen’s life is on fullness: he was full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom (Acts 6:3, 10), full of faith (Acts 6:5), and full of power (Acts 6:8). In Scripture, to be “full of” means “to be controlled by.” This man was controlled by the Spirit, faith, wisdom, and power. He was a God-controlled man yielded to the Holy Spirit, a man who sought to lead people to Christ.

Warren W. Wiersbe

Baker Encyclopedia of the Bible Stephen

Stephen. Important figure and first martyr of the apostolic church.