Acts 6:1-7

Text

Acts 6:1–7 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.” 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.

Introduction

When you join a new church, looks great

After a while, realise its messy

Inevitably, things don’t always go smoothly

We are sinners still, not fully saved

See it here: even faithful believers who set example

One thing we can say: devil always behind it

He has already tried to stop the church’s growth and spread of gospel:

Persecution:

Peter and John jailed by Sanhedrin

But they came back, church prayed for boldness, “...they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak the word of God with boldness”

the gospel advanced

Corruption

Ananias & Sapphira

But “...great fear came upon the whole church and upon all who heard of these things.”

“… more than ever believers were added to the Lord, multitudes of both men and women,”

the gospel advanced

Distraction

this one is much more clever and potentially more effective

it appears on the outside to be spiritual

it comes in the form of a complaint that seems legitimate

The Dilemma

Luke begins ch6 “Now in these days...”

Luke begins ch6 “Now in these days...”

What days is he referring to?

“...every day, in the temple and from house to house, they did not cease teaching and preaching that the Christ is Jesus.”

The result?

“...the disciples were increasing in number...”

See the simplicity

Genuine church growth - not seeker sensitive - proclaim the good news

So it seems everything is going great… church is growing ...

but...

We are introduced to a dilema that shows that even this church is messy

A season of growth is threatened by growing complaint among the people

Sort of like Israel in the Wilderness

“… a complaint by the Hellenists arose against the Hebrews because their widows were being neglected in the daily distribution.”

Seven Chosen to Serve

The church has taken it upon themselves to take care of the poor and the widows

6 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.

Religion that is pure and undefiled before God the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.”

But there was a growing suspicion among Hellenist Jews that the Hebrew Jews were receiving more

Hellenist Jews vs Hebrew Jews

Hebrew Jews regarded Hellenist Jews as 2nd class, impure

Long rivalry between them

This stems from the Tower of Babel - the effect of that is still far reaching even today

But then came Pentecost

Acts 6:1 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.

All who believed received the same Spirit

They were made 1 in Christ - tower of Babel was reversed

How was the seen in the Church?

“And all who believed were together and had all things in common.”

“Now the full number of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one said that any of the things that belonged to him was his own, but they had everything in common.”

Acts 2:44 ESV

And all who believed were together and had all things in common.

“There was not a needy person among them...”

proceeds were “laid it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to each as any had need.”

In the early days distributing was easy

Acts 4:32 ESV

Now the full number of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one said that any of the things that belonged to him was his own, but they had everything in common.

Now there are 20,000 Christians - how do you track?

James 1:27 ESV

Religion that is pure and undefiled before God the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.

Acts 4:33 ESV

And with great power the apostles were giving their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all.

Acts 4:34 ESV

There was not a needy person among them, for as many as were owners of lands or houses sold them and brought the proceeds of what was sold

Easy to slip up or give unequal portions

Acts 4:35 ESV

and laid it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to each as any had need.

Maybe thats exactly what happened

An innocent oversight - but - old rivalries reemerge

Its because I’m a Hellenist

Even though the Spirit has made us all 1 in Christ and reversed Babel...

… the old self still takes over now and then

we are suspicious of each other

assume the worst of each other

that guy looks down on me because I am not as wealthy as he is

or as educated as he is

I’m not the same skin colour as he is

Grumblings occur

This grumbling between Hellenist and Hebrew threatens their unity

BUT

That’s not the greatest threat

Its not the biggest dilemma the church is in danger of facing

The most dangerous threat that Satan is subtly introducing, is the distraction of the Apostles

To distract them from their most primary and most pressing task - the preaching and teaching of the gospel

This is the biggest threat to pastors today

There is such a massive demand on a pastor’s time

He is wanted everywhere

visits

bible studies

funerals & weddings

counselling

holiday club

childrens and youth ministry

staff problems

member problems

everybody’s ideas & preferences & complaints

Its exhausting

training

If a pastor tries to do all this - preaching will be flat

church might be involved in a lot of things, pastor might be very popular with a lot of people

church might even grow because of all the things

but if the pastor has been so tied up with all the other stuff...

…that he has no time for devoting himself to the Word,

… then even if there’s numerical growth, there will be no spiritual growth

because the teaching and preaching of the gospel will have been throttled

This is what the devil wants

Its what he wanted to do here with the early church

Its what he wants to do in every church

The Solution

The apostles act wisely and swiftly

The apostles act wisely and swiftly

They don’t let the issue simmer and boil over

They call a meeting

“...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.”

Acts 6:2 ESV

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.

For some, first response is “who do you think you are?”

Is this pride?

This is not a pride issue - its a priority issue

“It is not right that we should give up preaching the word of God to serve tables.”

The apostles say this because they do in fact know who they are - and what they have been called to do

Their priority is to preach the Word of God

Acts 5:11 ESV

And great fear came upon the whole church and upon all who heard of these things.

Acts 5:14 ESV

And more than ever believers were added to the Lord, multitudes of both men and women,

Acts 5

Acts 4:

Acts 4:31 ESV

And when they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak the word of God with boldness.

church is messy

inevitably tghings don’’t go smoothly - no matter how faithful

devil behind it

And they realise - with the wisdom of the Spirit - that nothing must be allowed to distract them or keep them from fulfilling their main calling

The main thing is to keep the main thing the main thing

persecution - jailing Peter and John - but the gospel advanced

This is not pride - its wisdom

.... then they shouldn’t do it

corruption - Ananias and Sapphira - but the gospel advanced

Pride would see a man try to do everything himself

Pride makes a man think he CAN do it all himself

Pride makes a man WANT to do it all hemself so that everyone will love him

Humility and wisdom makes a man know when to say no

Is this lazyness?

distraction - clever and subtle - something that appears spiritual on the outside

Is it because the apostles just don’t want to get their hands dirty?

You would only think the apostles are lazy - or your pastor for that matter...

.... if you think that preaching is easy

For starters, they still had the wounds from their beating

“...every day, in the temple and from house to house, they did not cease teaching and preaching that the Christ is Jesus.”

42 And every day, in the temple and from house to house, they did not cease teaching and preaching that the Christ is Jesus.

“But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.”

If you think that a pastor simply looks at the passage and knows what to preach from it, you’re mistaken

Its very hard work

So its not pride or laziness that causes the apostles to say it isn’t right for them to give up preaching the Word to serve tables....

.... it is wisdom and commitment to their priority as men called to preach the gospe

All good and well - we can understand

But what about the widows?

The wisdom given by the Spirit to the apostles is amazing

“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.”

Simple, and brilliant

Let us continue the work to which we have been called - you select 7 men and call them to this duty

We call these men Deacons - ministers - men called to serve the members of the church and minister to their physical needs

What kind of men must they be?

Men of good repute

They must have a good reputation among the believers

Men of virtue and honesty

Men who don’t have any gripes against other believers and nobody has anything against them

Men who will act impartially and treat everyone fairly

Men who are full of the Spirit and of wisdom

When we say full of the Spirit - not in quantity

The Spirit is not a liquid - He is a person

He must be controlled and totally given over to and in submission to the Holy Spirit

He must be totally in tune with the will and wisdom of the Holy Spirit

And how will you know the will and wisdom of the Holy Spirit unless you are diving into the Word and regularly meeting with Him in prayer?

The church is happy with this suggestion, they select 7 men to be given the task of meeting the widows needs

Look at the men who are chosen

Look at the names

Stephen, Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, Nicolaus

What do you notice about those names?

All Greek names

All Hellenistic Jews

This was wise - there can be no further complaint

“These they set before the apostles, and they prayed and laid their hands on them.”

The members voted, the members elected the men, and they presented them to the apostles, and the apostles laid their hands on them and prayed for them

Acts 6:6 ESV

These they set before the apostles, and they prayed and laid their hands on them.

Acts 6:3 ESV

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.

in those days.... 5:42 - they didnt stop proclaiming

when the number of the disciples was increasing

No creativity - growth occurs because of proclamation of the gospel

everything great - but - a distraction - messiness

a season of growth and excitement

undermined by a growing complaint and mumbling

like Israel in the wilderness

as they were increasing the Heleenist complained

the church took upon themselves to help widows

a growing suspicion

Hellenist vs Hebrew Jews

Hebrew Jews regarded Hellenist Jews as 2nd class

Acts 6:4 ESV

But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.”

The Effect

Long rivalry and residual effect of Babel

Acts 5:42 ESV

And every day, in the temple and from house to house, they did not cease teaching and preaching that the Christ is Jesus.

Then Pentecost

“And the word of God continued to increase...”

Once again Luke emphasizes the spreading of the Word of God - a theme we see regularly throughout Acts

That phrase “the Word” is now mentioned for the 3rd time in this passage

“…It is not right that we should give up preaching the word of God...”

“…we will devote ourselves to prayer and the ministry of the word.”

“And the word of God continued to increase...”

What is meant by “the word”?

Can it merely be taken to mean “the Bible”?

Yes and no

“So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls.”

What had just taken place before that? Peter had been preaching the gospel.

“But many of those who had heard the word believed, and the number of the men came to about five thousand.”

Peter had just preached a sermon - he preached the gospel

The word Luke is referring to is most certainly the Scriptures, but by that he includes the preaching of the Scriptures

More specifically, the preaching of the Gospel...

.... And expounding the scriptures to preach Jesus Christ crucifed and risen for the forgiveness of sin

So the effect of the wisdom of the Holy Spirit in the apostles decision to not busy themselves with all the practicalities of ministry....

… but instead to appoint suitably qualified men for that task so that they themselves can continue to devote themselves to prayer and the ministry of teaching and preaching the gospel...

is that the Word of God - the preaching of the glory of Jesus in the gospel - continued to increase

And the effects of that???

“...and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem...”

See how Luke emphasizes that the disciples - not the number of those making professions - the number of DISCIPLES (there is a difference)

.... GREATLY multiplied

The GoSPEL CONTINUES TO ADVANCE

Satan has thrown everything at it

He has treid everything to stop the gospel from spreading and the church from growing,

He tries persecution

corruption

distraction

but the gospel continues to advance

and the number of the disciples multiplies greatly

What is the lesson for us?

As we grow as a church, things often don’t get easier or more organised - they get messier and distractions grow

We must keep our priorities in mind

The main thing is to keep the main thing the main thing

We must not try to weigh down the pastors and teachers with more ministry to do

(we will have a new pastor in a while - )

Rather, the ministry needs to be shared among all

This will allow the preaching of the word and the gospel to continue to increase...

and the church to continue to grow.

Of course, pastors must always have compassion for those who are in need, and good pastors will

but it is critical to the health of the whole church and the spread of the gospel that the pastor should not be weighed down ....

....and the priority of preaching and teaching the gospel should not be jeopardized

It has become a growing tradition in churches that the pastor needs to serve my needs - almost like a spiritual waiter

Where there is a need, call the pastor

Where there is a problem, call the pastor

The pastor needs to serve my needs and see my problems as the most important

- and please don’t get me wrong - they certainly are important and I promise, your pastor has compassion on you

But remember two things:

(1) Your pastor and elders laid hands on and prayed for a group of men who you called to be Deacons, specifically to care for you.

(2) We must not treat the church building only as a place where we come to be served, but as a place where we all come to serve

By the grace of God, many here do

But there are also many who are yet to serve, and some who feel they have served enough in the past and its their turn to sit back and receive

To those of you who are members and not yet serving in some way, your brothers and sisters are burning out.

There is never a shortage of work to be done

People have needs

There are ministry opportunities,

But many of those who had heard the word believed, and the number of the men came to about five thousand.

and the advance of the gospel must continue on

P.S.

“… and a great many of the priests became obedient to the faith.”

… and a great many of the priests became obedient to the faith.”

As the gospel advance and the disciples muliplied, - not just some - but a GREAT MANY of the PRIESTS were saved

The same men who had sentenced Jesus to crucifixion

The same men who confronted Peter and John in the temple

The same men who had them beaten

Some of those men heard the gospel and believed it and repented of their sins

Acts 6:7 ESV

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.

If you think you cannot be saved...

Acts 4:4 ESV

But many of those who had heard the word believed, and the number of the men came to about five thousand.

Acts 4:29 ESV

And now, Lord, look upon their threats and grant to your servants to continue to speak your word with all boldness,

Acts 2:41 ESV

So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls.

Acts 6:7 ESV

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.

They have become one in Jesus Christ - Bable reversed

… then you don’t know yet how great God’s mercy and grace is

Ch2:44 - All believers were together and had everything in common

4:32 All belivers one in heart and mind

4:33 distributed to all who had need

Now there are up to 20000 Christians

How many widows would there be? How do you keep track of who has what? Excel?

Innocent oversight - but itcauses old suspicions to resurface

its becuase im hellenist

but the most ominous threat - the distraction of the apostles

the preaching & teaching of gospel

demands on pastors time and effects of it

preaching will become flat, and even if there is growth in number because of various things being done,, theres no spriritual growth because the teaching o f teh gepso; has dried up

this is what the devil wants

INTERDEPENDENT SOLUTION

nt right for us to wait tables

Who think you are?

They know who they are

work for you but boss is Jesus

not a pride issue

not lazt

5:42 day after day

beaten almost to death

devote to prayer and word - verse 4

hard work

why should a pastor display a false humility by waiting on tables when the harder work and the work he is called to is prayer and preaching?

but what about the widows?

solution: verse 3

men of good repute - full of the Spirit

controlled by the sSpirit

the men chosen - all hellenistic Jews

e

The highest thought you can have about the love of God, mercy of God, grace of God...

Take that highest degree of love, mercy and grace that you can think of, and multiply it by a billion, and it still isn’t high enough

Wise - will avoid further complaints

verse 7 and the word of God spread

the word of God --- 3rd time

does he mean “the Bible”?

Yes and no

2:41 they believed the message

4:4 they believed the message - Peters serrmon

4:29

the Word = the bible expaounded to glorify Jesus and the gospel

increasing - book ends

the outcome is

Impediments to growth, caused by growth, can be come occasions for growth when priorities are protected and ministry is shared

we must always have compassion

never in a way that jeopardises the priority of minisyrt of the word

so other chritians need to serve where other needs

many do

those who are yet to - you brothers ae burning out

thr advance of the gospel

ps

priests were saved

repented

persecutors

you cant too