Church Structures

When Christ Returns to fulfil His kingdom and Rule, there will be absolutely no conflict or tensions amoung His poeple - the church.

But for now, not even the apostles could lead a church that was perfect in every way and avoided any frustrations or challenges that needed to be overcome.

In Acts 6, we see a young, Spirit-filled church suddenly facing tension, complaints, and the real danger of distraction from their primary task.

Yet instead of being torn apart,

this challenge becomes the means by which God strengthens His church,

protects what matters most,

and makes the gospel advance even further.

Today, we’ll see how God’s design of church is

— keeping the ministry of the Word and prayer central,

while appointing Spirit-filled servants to meet real practical needs.

And so I hope, this passage will help us understand and enact,

God’s design and church structure here at GC, as well.

And hlep each of us have fair and biblical expectations of the church and ourselevs as well.

First then:

The Problem: Growth brings tension (v1)

Acts 6:1 NIVUK

In those days when the number of disciples was increasing, the Hellenistic Jews among them complained against the Hebraic Jews because their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food.

The early church in Jerusalem was experiencing what many churches long for: remarkable growth.

Acts repeatedly emphasises that “the number’ was increasing.

God was adding to their number daily those who were being saved (Acts 2:47), and multitudes were coming to faith in Christ.

But notice what Luke, shows us:

numerical growth brought new challenges.

Growth itself is a blessing

—but it also creates pressures and exposes weaknesses.

Specifically, the church had two cultural groups among its Jewish believers:

The Hebrews: those who spoke Aramaic, grew up in Palestine, and followed local customs.

The Hellenists: Greek-speaking Jews, often from outside Judea, whose culture had been shaped by the wider Greek world.

These groups had different languages,

traditions,

and likely different ways of expressing faith.

Both loved Christ, yet cultural differences still existed.

In this context, a complaint arose:

the widows among the Hellenists (The Greek Jews) were being overlooked in the daily distribution (likely food or money).

In a society without a welfare state,

genuine poverty was a serious problem,

with widows being especially vulnerable due to the norms of the day.

To be missed out of all the shared provisions we’ve been reading about would have felt like a serious injustice,

left some in severe need and famine,

and a real lack of love for the whole church family.

It’s worth noting,

that it’s very easy to overlook those who are different to us.

I realise diversity is loaded phrase these days

- but it’s interesting to see that even at this time,

it was cutlrual differences that ment some were overlooked.

The gospel brings people together across cultures,

languages, and backgrounds.

so, We must be intentional to listen and care for those who might otherwise be overlooked.

But also notice,

There is no sense of implied racisim,

or culturism here.

Just a realistic picture of how things sometimes work out but shouldn’t.

It will help us to look out for one another,

and make special effort to understand those from different cultures than our own.

And of course that works both way,

and requires patience, love and gentleness both ways.

Done rightly - we will see in our passage that there is no animosity or ‘ism’ going on.

And in-fact

- the response will show unified collaborative effort to move forward as one in Christ.

Another encouragement,

Perhaps in a backhanded sort of way,

is it’s reassuring to hear that even in the most spiritual and Spirit-filled community,

problems will arise:

This teaches us not to be naïve

or discouraged when difficulties come;

it is part of life in a fallen world.

BUt we must not stop at just being realistic!

This is a danger to the church that has now been recognised.

The neglect of the Hellenistic widows wasn’t just an administrative mistake;

it threatened:

Unity: dividing the church along cultural lines.

Witness: undermining their testimony of love and equality in Christ.

Mission: distracting leaders from prayer and preaching.

Indeed, the placement of this ‘internal church problem’ at this point in Acts seems striking.

As John Stott observes:

"The devil's next attack was more cunning. Having failed to destroy the church (in Acts) by force from outside, he tried to destroy it by discord from within."

So In Acts 6:1, we see that growth brings tension.

Even a Spirit-filled,

gospel-preaching church

can face real problems,

especially where cultural diversity and practical needs intersect.

Yet God uses such moments not to destroy His church,

but to strengthen and purify it—

if we respond with humility, and faithfulness to God’s Word.

SO that’s the problem.

And often when we face a problem in the church - the temptation is to fix it at all cost, without carefully first thinking about biblical pronciples.

But the Disciples are wise,

they care deeply about those suffering - but their response first must come to God’s word and will.

SO, what is the principle they default to?

The Principle: Keep the Word and prayer central (vv2–4)

Acts 6:2–4 NIVUK

So the Twelve gathered all the disciples together and said, ‘It would not be right for us to neglect the ministry of the word of God in order to wait on tables. Brothers and 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.’

When the complaint reached the apostles, notice what they did not do:

They didn’t ignore the complaint.

They didn’t rush to fix everything themselves.

They didn’t divide into factions.

Instead, they gathered the whole community (v2) and reminded them first of their priority.

The problem was real,

but so was the danger:

if the apostles tried to fix everything directly,

they would be drawn away from their primary calling.

“It would not be right…” they say,

– not that practical service is beneath them,

but that it would be wrong to neglect their God-given task.

Their calling was to

The ministry of the Word of God: preaching, teaching, discipling, evangelising and

Prayer: seeking God’s wisdom, power, and presence for the church.

Calvin writes:

"They do not despise the poor, but show that the ministry of the Word ought not to be neglected for anything else."

Even worthy causes must not distract them from preaching and prayer.

The church’s mission is both Word and deed—proclamation and service. But, the apostles show that:

The ministry of the Word and prayer is the irreplaceable centre.

Practical service must be organised in a way that supports rather than displaces that centre.

It’s not either/or, but both/and—with the right order.

The NT goes on to give Word ministry to qualified elders,

and service ministry to qualified deacons.

The qualifications are very similiar for both offices,

- godly, spriirt filled, of Good character.

But the order is maintained.

Think of word ministry as the roots of a tree:

If the roots (Word and prayer) are healthy, the tree bears fruit (love, service, generosity). If you cut back som eof those branches, the root will still drive the church faithfully and fruitfully.

But If you cut back the roots, cutting out preaching adn etaching and praryer) to tend only to the branches or siocal need and care, the whole tree will eventually wither and die.

The early church grew and thrived because the apostles kept the word at the heart of the church..

for today:

For pastors and elders:

we are to Protect time to study, pray, and preach.

We are to be careful not to neglect word ministry because we too busy caring for the practical needs of the church.

Perhaps that risks sounding unloving.

But the reality is the opposite.

If your pastors and elders here spent their time on social pastoral care at the expense of word ministry and prayer - the whole tree will wither and die.

The apostles were not being unloving when they said:

Acts 6:2–4 NIVUK

‘It would not be right for us to neglect the ministry of the word of God in order to wait on tables.

For some of us then,

we may need to review our expectations and understanding of what a church pastor or elder should be doing with their time.

You can love your elders (and therefore your fellow brothers and sisters) not by insting the pastors and elders are at every sickbed,

involved in every financial crisis,

leading the local food bank,

but by insisting we spend our time studying, preparing and praying God’s word.

You can help us

Resist the pressure to become primarily managers or administrators or care workers.

Remember: the church’s greatest need is not simply better programmes, or better social care,

but deeper knowledge, theology, doctrine of God and dependence on Him entirely through His word and our prayer.

For the whole church we must:

Value preaching and prayer as central, not optional.

Support leaders in this calling—free them from distractions where possible.

Recognise that practical service flows from the gospel, not instead of it.

Afterall,

Without prayer, ministry becomes human effort.

Without the Word, church becomes mere social activity.

Word and prayer keeps, the church centred on Christ, not on ourselves.

And so it would not be right to neglect the word to wait on tables.

Calvin again reminds us:

"Nothing is more foolish than to neglect the preaching of the Word under pretence of seeking peace or relieving the poor."

The apostles’ response shows us the essential principle:

the ministry of the Word and prayer must remain at the very heart of the church.

Practical service is vital—but it must never displace what makes the church truly the church.

So how does the church ensure practical care and love is not neglected either:

The Provision: Appoint Spirit-filled servants (vv3–6)

Acts 6:3–6 NIVUK

Brothers and 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.’ This proposal pleased the whole group. They chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit; also Philip, Procorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas from Antioch, a convert to Judaism. They presented these men to the apostles, who prayed and laid their hands on them.

Faced with a real need and the danger of distraction, the apostles proposed a practical, Spirit-led solution:

Notice first - the church leaders (here the apostles - today the elders) are still responsible for overseeing and ensuring the church family are cared for practically and fairly,

but while they oversee - they don’t actually do. In fact - they don’t even organise:

The congregation itself were asked to select seven men.

These men would be entrusted with overseeing the daily distribution.

The apostles would “turn this responsibility over to them” (v3), so they could remain focused on Word and prayer.

And again notice - while the congregation chose the 7 men,

the apostles then ‘signed them off’ as it were.

The apostles maintained their leadership and authority, by delegating crucial responsibility.

If you look at how we structure ourselves as a church this model has been somewhat followed,

although as the church has grown we’ve needed to adopt it more a more.

Of course when the church was smaller,

the elders could manage much more social care and involvement themselevs.

BUt now with nearly 150 adults and 120 children, it’s not possible.

So as elders, we ought not to neglect the word and prayer and so teams have been formed with delegated responsibility.

From administrative tasks and stewarding to the pastoral care team.

IN fact the staff team had a team focus day last week

to discuss how we might structure even further to both proetct word minsitry

and ensure practical care and pratcical tasks are not negelected.

And it was this passage that helped us think through how to organise ourselves biblically.

But what is most important for us to note form this passage if you’re not an elder, or on the staff team,

is to note that ‘serving tables’, helping those in need, welcoming visitors, serving coffee, does not mean you’re unimportant!

IN fact - we are constantly looking ‘not for capable people’ (although that’s obviously nessicery),

but for spirit-filled godly people to delegate responsibility to.

I can’t tell you how encouraging and helpful it is to know Bill Watson will month in month out bring the bread and grape juice and set-up the table for the Lord’s supper.

To know John Hutton and his team of stewards will have everything set up and put away every week.

To know the PCT are actively enagaged in peoples lives from a practical love and care perspective,

To see Sunday school and youth leaders teaching the word under the oversight of the elders,

to see a fresh cup of hot coffee being poured out for anyone who wants before and after every service.

And there are many many others seving in different ways and teams.

Those who lead those teams are effectively acting as deacons - and we need you to be godly, spirit-filled, and full of wisdom -

meaning making wise decisions,

being organised and disciplined,

ensuring fair distribution and fair treatment of all.

Becasue it is their, your,

service and work which enables Christ to be preached,

and our Father to be prayed to,

and our church to be Spirit-led and filled through God’s Word.

Just as the neglect of widows threatened to:

Undermine love and justice.

Discredit the church’s testimony.

Drain the apostles’ energy from their unique calling.

So could our church face similar problems without you.

And so by appointing Spirit-filled servants, the church could:

Address practical needs fairly and wisely.

Preserve unity across even cultural lines.

Free the apostles and in our case, elders, to focus on prayer and preaching.

Now does this mean an elder should never serve and a deacon should never preach!

Of course not.

Stephen and Philip both named here, later appear as powerful preachers and evangelists (Acts 7–8).

And the apostles are very much involved and caring for people.

The point is one of priority and responsibility and organisation.

And so to summarise

The apostles met the church’s need not by abandoning their calling, but by appointing spiritually mature, wise, trusted servants.

This both protected the church’s unity and ensured that no part of its mission—Word, prayer, or practical mercy—was neglected.

pause

And look at the results of this wisdom:

Acts 6:7 NIVUK

So the word of God spread. The number of disciples in Jerusalem increased rapidly, and a large number of priests became obedient to the faith.

The word of God spread — literally, “kept on growing”

The number of disciples increased greatly — the church didn’t just survive the problem,

as a result of wise oversight and delegation; it flourished.

And Many ‘priests’ became obedient to the faith — even those most resistant to the gospel at that time,

were drawn in - as they saw the word being priorities without any neglecting of mercy and practical love.

Being organised well as ordained here in this passage, appears God willing, to serve the extension and growth of the gospel!

SO for us today:

Good governance and delegation aren’t bureaucratic distractions; they protect and advance gospel ministry.

God honours churches that keep Word and prayer central while caring wisely for practical needs.

Let us continue to be a church that

Faces problems honestly,

Keeps Word and prayer central,

Appoints Spirit-filled servants to meet real needs

And so let us trust that:

The Word will keep growing Christ’s Kingdom,

OUr church family will deepen in love and unity,

And God may surprise us with fruit we never imagined, like th epreists in Acts 6.

PRAY