Right People in the Right Jobs = Right Results
Acts 6:1-7

1.     INTRO: “I love Jesus, I just hate the church.”

Ø    Why do people say things like that?

Ø    Today we’re looking at an account of an ugly division that began in the original church in Jerusalem, who was tasked to solve the problem, how the decision was made and the solution applied and the results of doing it right.

Ø    Why do you care about this?

·        We have to get this right if we want to give people a reason to stop saying “I love Jesus, I just hate the church.”  And who would benefit more than those in a church like that?

·       Our peace in joy in Jesus increases as the disconnect between kingdom life and the rest of life is eliminated, leaving abundant life.

2.     Scripture, Acts 6:1-7

3.     The Problem

A.    It was caused by growth

Ø    The apostles had been very successful doing it the way they had been up to that point, but now there was more than they could do the old way.

Ø    Things had to change to preserve unity and function.  Their recent successes were not justification to continue doing it the same way.  Henry Ward Beecher said success is “a last-year’s nest from which the birds have flown.”

B.    It was serious

Ø    Social justice issues were important.  We’ve already seen them caring for one another in a way that produced growth.  Jesus said that is how they would know us.

Ø    The occasion was an inequity based on a language sub-culture.  This is a dreaded “-ism” issue.  Ethnic

Ø    Serious problems don’t define a church.  How we deal with our problems will define us.

4.     Delegating the Problem

Ø    “It does not seem right that we, as apostles, leave the ministry of the Word for the food ministry.”

Ø    They could not do both.  Things had gotten too busy.

Ø    The apostles had a clear sense of what their main role was.

Ø    Leaders don’t do everything.  They do what they do best and what others can’t.

Ø    As a matter of fact, that is to a degree what everyone should do.

Ø    D.L. Moody used to say that it was better to put ten men to work than to try to do the work of ten men. Certainly it is better for you, for the workers you enlist, and for the church as a whole.

5.     Solving the Problem

A.    The Process

Ø    The answer is not politicking, whining & carping, or division by the people.  It isn’t domination, intimidation or vilification by the leaders.

Ø    The 7 were chosen by the body and confirmed by the apostles.

Ø    It appears to me that these future leaders were ordained to their ministry.

B.    The Character

Ø    Those leading the food ministry needed to have a good reputation, be Spirit-filled, and to have wisdom.

Ø    Being filled with the Spirit is strongly related to being submitted to the Spirit’s control.  It’s nearly impossible for me to imagine being filled with the Spirit while acting sinfully.  It evokes a Spirit initiative, but it anticipates human compliance.

Ø    They were wise.  Smart & wise are not the same thing.  Smart is what I know.  Wisdom is using knowledge to fruitful effect.

Ø    The were “known” for this already.  The root word is the same as “witness.”  Their lives already tell the tale.

Ø    Leadership is earned by reputation.  A week of excellence does not yet indicate a trend.  These 7 don’t earn their stripes at the expense of those they lead, they had to already have the reputation for being wise and filled with the Spirit.

Ø    Without the prior reputation suspicion and false accusation might overshadow the facts of their wise management, but with a reputation they will get the benefit of the doubt.

C.    The Ones Chosen

Ø    All 7 appear to be Greek speaking Jews.  Since the large majority were Aramaic, wasn’t this overkill?

Ø    Spanish spoken at church in Alto Parana even if 80% are Guarani speakers.  Why?  It is the status language.  I went to km.10 and they switched to Spanish just for me.  Spanish speakers were not going to be overlooked.  It was not a division among equals.

Ø    I read that something similar is going on here.  If you couldn’t speak Aramaic, then you just didn’t rate full Jewish status in the eyes of those that could.  With an Aramaic majority and Aramaic apostles in a culture that catered to Aramaic speakers this was not overkill.

Ø    Would this have been true in every church in every place in the 1st century?  (probably not)

Ø    Would this apply to how we should handle correcting church problems that have racism or some other “-ism” as part of its roots?  (Possibly – like staffing for congregational reflection)

Ø    Is a church solution never/sometimes/always fitting for a government solution?  These are wisdom and policy issues that we will not divide over.

6.     After the Problem

Ø    Getting it right lead to people hearing the word, and a rapid rise in those becoming true followers, and now even many leaders among the Jews.

Ø    Even among the best churches ugly divisions can surface, but healthy churches can put them to bed quickly in the Spirit.

7.     Invite:

Ø    If you are a leader and intimidated…

Ø    If you are a follower and disgruntled…

Ø    All of us need to discover our place, and build a rep for faithful service.