Acts (15)

Introduction: How many of you have ever been on an obstacle course? (Pic)

Transition: Last week, we learned that Jesus builds His church through opposition. From today’s text we are going to discover that Jesus builds His church through obstacles.

Read: Acts 6:1-7

Follow along with me as we highlight a brief summary of this passage. Then we will make a couple applications.

In the same days that the apostles were receiving opposition and rejoicing and continuing to teach that Jesus was the Christ in the temple and from house to house, and the followers of Jesus were increasing in number.

Complaints from Greek speaking Jewish Christians arose against the Hebrew speaking Jewish Christians. Why? Because the greek speaking widows were being neglected in food distribution. This could have been a mere oversight or possibly a display of favoritism. We are not told those details, but the apostles summoned the multitude of the followers of Jesus, the church, and laid out their reasoning.

It wasn’t right for them to neglect or leave behind the preaching of the word and prayer. However, it was right for this obstacle to be resolved.

The solution? The congregation should look for and carefully select 7 qualified men to serve the task of distribution. They must have proven character and be full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom.

The multitude of gathered church were pleased by this plan, and they selected the 7 men listed in verse 5. Just like the proceeds of the people’s money gifts, these men were set before the apostles. The apostles prayed and laid their hands on them. Which means they affirmed together these 7 men and prayed for them and set them apart to accomplish this task.

We are not told how these 7 men went about resolving this obstacle, but we are told that the word of continued to increase, and the number of disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem. Even many religious leaders of the Jews were becoming obedient to the faith.

Transition: With that summary I want to focus our attention on 2 key applications about Jesus building His church through obstacles .

1. Obstacles are inevitable. 6:1

As disciples increase so too will obstacles.

For those who have been born again, we will continue maturing into the likeness of Jesus. Which means, we will continue to face obstacles that are meant to conform us to look more and more like Jesus. This is the nature of sanctification. When we

When the church is healthy, we are going to have growing pains.

Questions: What obstacles are you faced with personally? What obstacles are we faced with congregational? How might we complain about those is a way that is healthy and happy?

2. Obstacles provide opportunity. 6:2-4

For what?

for the clarification of responsibilities.

Apostles= Prayer and teaching. The early church were characterized by the primacy of God’s word being taught and by helping urgent needs. 4:33-35

Summoned= They took the initiative to deal with the complaint. It was a true complaint. A real obstacle that needed addressed. It was a problem of neglect, but they were not going to neglect the word and prayer in order address the problem themselves. Remember the example of Moses and Jethro in Exodus 18:21

Exodus 18:21 ESV

Moreover, look for able men from all the people, men who fear God, who are trustworthy and hate a bribe, and place such men over the people as chiefs of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties, and of tens.

for the development of qualified for leaders.

Pick Out= The congregations role in raising up leaders. This is a reminded of how we desire to recognize, train, and affirm leaders among us… Often time this passage is referenced when we consider the office of deacons and elders. As with the rest of the book of Acts, we do not find anything prescriptive here.… but we absolutely see the precedent being set for the office of deacons and elders which will become more solidified as the church expands.

Good repute= favorable witness, approved character, authenticated, proven testimony

Full of the Spirit and wisdom= completely empowered supernaturally by the Holy Spirit and able to apply truth to everyday situations.

delegation of duties.

(vs 3b) Appointment= assign a duty, put in charge over, affirm a responsibility

laid hands on. A affirmation of authority. Like Moses and Joshua in Numbers 27:18; 23

Numbers 27:18 ESV

So the Lord said to Moses, “Take Joshua the son of Nun, a man in whom is the Spirit, and lay your hand on him.

Numbers 27:23 ESV

and he laid his hands on him and commissioned him as the Lord directed through Moses.

Application Questions: Am I fulfilling my responsibility as member of Christ’s body? What obstacles are we facing that might help us fulfill our commitments? Are you seeking to grow in qualifications for leadership? How have you witnessed obstacles becoming opportunities in your own life?

Conclusion: Jesus builds His church through opposition and through obstacles. 6:7

The result of the apostles staying in their role, and the body of Christ rising to the occasion was the increase of God’s word and God’s people. Two times in this passage we are told that the number of disciples were increasing. It is right and good to desire the increase of God’s people. To desire that the empty chair beside you might be filled with a soul who would know Christ and become a healthy member of His church. And we should ask, How was this the case? In verse 7 the increase of the number of disciples was directly connected to the increase of the word of God. Illustration?? This is a basic principle of creation. God speaks.. and life is brought forth. As God keeps speaking… like continues to generate. Think of it like this. The more seed that is put into the ground, the more potential there is for germination. Or, the more effort you put into conditioning and practice for a race shows up in the increased speed in which you run the race. When God’s word increases in our lives so too will the people.

Let us be focused and reminded... The word of God is enough to accomplish the work of God through His people, and through opposition. Why is this important to keep in mind? Because it keeps us grounded on the real power that builds Jesus church. He uses us, He works through us to meet urgent needs and accomplish the good works He has prepared for us to do, we need to be filled with love and readiness to do His work… but we also always need to beware of the temptation to lean on our own strength or understanding. Our creativity does not build the church, God’s word does. God’s word makes us mindful and excited to get involved and serve creatively.