Untitled Sermon (4)

Internal conflict threatens the growth of the church (and continued work of Jesus through his Spirit, in the Apostles), so the Apostles prioritize their work and lead the church-at-large to select men to resolve the situation -

Internal conflict threatens the growth of the church (and continued work of Jesus through his Spirit, in the Apostles), so the Apostles prioritize their work and lead the church-at-large to select men to resolve the situation -

one of which was named Stephen, who is the next early church leader to encounter opposition from the Religious Rulers.

one of which was named Stephen, who is the next early church leader to encounter opposition from the Religious Rulers.

6:1

6:1

Now in those days, when the disciples were growing in number,

Now in those days, when the disciples were growing in number,

a complaint arose on the part of the Greek-speaking Jews against the native Hebraic Jews, because

a complaint arose on the part of the Greek-speaking Jews against the native Hebraic Jews, because

A complaint

their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food.

6:2

Greek: gongysmos (goan-goose-MOSE); DEF: “grumbling (murmuring) n. — a complaint uttered in a low and indistinct tone.” (LOGOS Bible Sense Lexicon)

7 and in the morning you shall see the glory of the Lord, because he has heard your grumbling against the Lord. For what are we, that you grumble against us?” 8 And Moses said, “When the Lord gives you in the evening meat to eat and in the morning bread to the full, because the Lord has heard your grumbling that you grumble against him—what are we? Your grumbling is not against us but against the Lord.” 9 Then Moses said to Aaron, “Say to the whole congregation of the people of Israel, ‘Come near before the Lord, for he has heard your grumbling.’ ”

So the twelve called the whole group of the disciples together and

“How long shall this wicked congregation grumble against me? I have heard the grumblings of the people of Israel, which they grumble against me. 28 Say to them, ‘As I live, declares the Lord, what you have said in my hearing I will do to you: 29 your dead bodies shall fall in this wilderness, and of all your number, listed in the census from twenty years old and upward, who have grumbled against me, 30 not one shall come into the land where I swore that I would make you dwell, except Caleb the son of Jephunneh and Joshua the son of Nun.”

said, “It is not right for us to neglect the word of God to wait on tables.

Also: ; ,

6:3

But carefully select from among you, brothers,

“after his brothers had gone up to the feast, then he also went up, not publicly but in private. 11 The Jews were looking for him at the feast, and saying, “Where is he?” 12 And there was much muttering about him among the people. While some said, “He is a good man,” others said, “No, he is leading the people astray.” 13 Yet for fear of the Jews no one spoke openly of him.”

“Do all things without grumbling or disputing, 15 that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world,”

seven men who are well-attested, full of the Spirit and of wisdom,

whom we may put in charge of this necessary task.

“Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins. 9 Show hospitality to one another without grumbling. 10 As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace:”

6:4

their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food.

6:2

But we will devote ourselves to prayer and

So the twelve called the whole group of the disciples together and

to the ministry of the word.”

said, “It is not right for us to neglect the word of God to wait on tables.

6:5

6:3

The proposal pleased the entire group,

so they chose

But carefully select from among you, brothers,

seven men who are well-attested, full of the Spirit and of wisdom,

Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, with

whom we may put in charge of this necessary task.

Philip,

6:4

Prochorus,

Nicanor,

But we will devote ourselves to prayer and

to the ministry of the word.”

Timon,

6:5

Parmenas, and

Nicolas, a Gentile convert to Judaism from Antioch.

The proposal pleased the entire group,

6:6

so they chose

Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, with

They stood these men before the apostles,

who prayed and placed their hands on them.

Philip,

6:7

Prochorus,

Nicanor,

The word of God continued to spread,

Timon,

the number of disciples in Jerusalem increased greatly, and

a large group of priests became obedient to the faith.

Parmenas, and

Nicolas, a Gentile convert to Judaism from Antioch.

MELODIC LINE OF ACTS:

6:6

Jesus continues to work through his Holy Spirit, in the life of his Apostles, and the Church, to glorify God through the increasing advance of the gospel.

They stood these men before the apostles,

WORKING TITLE:

Jesus Continues to Build His Church Despite Internal Conflict***

who prayed and placed their hands on them.

6:7

MAIN PURPOSE OF THIS PASSAGE:

The word of God continued to spread,

The church was growing in number (v. 1)…

the number of disciples in Jerusalem increased greatly, and

...and continued to grow (v.7) despite this problem of neglect (v. 1b-c), because the Apostles proposed a course of action (vv. 2-3), and the Church followed their instructions (vv. 5-6)

a large group of priests became obedient to the faith.

MELODIC LINE OF ACTS:

QUICK SUMMARY

The presenting problem…

Jesus continues to work through his Holy Spirit, in the life of his Apostles, and the Church, to glorify God through the increasing advance of the gospel.

…created this problem ( - the Apostles had to give up preaching)

WORKING TITLE:

Jesus Continues to Build His Church Despite Internal Conflict***

Those who noticed the problem, now have a role in addressing it…

…but the Apostles will actually do the “appointing” ()

general description (of the type of men who should be chosen) and..

MAIN PURPOSE OF THIS PASSAGE:

…a specific example that fits the criteria ( Stephen)

The church was growing in number (v. 1)…

The Apostles devoted themselves to two things: 1) prayer, and 2) the ministry of the word, and…

...and continued to grow (v.7) despite this problem of neglect (v. 1b-c), because the Apostles proposed a course of action (vv. 2-3), and the Church followed their instructions (vv. 5-6)

…in v. 6, had an opportunity to back up their intention to focus on prayer…

QUICK SUMMARY

…all while God was at work to honor their other intentional focus (the ministry of the word) with growth and fruitfulness, as seen in verse 7

The presenting problem…

…created this problem ( - the Apostles had to give up preaching)

INITIAL OUTLINE:

Those who noticed the problem, now have a role in addressing it…

1. In the midst of church growth, physical neglect led to spiritual neglect. (vv. 1-2)

…but the Apostles will actually do the “appointing” ()

2. The Apostles refuse to allow spiritual neglect to continue, and assign the solution to the men of the congregation. (vv.2-4)

3. The congregation follows the Apostles’ instruction and spiritual men are chosen to meet this physical need. (vv.5-6)

general description (of the type of men who should be chosen) and..

4. The physical neglect is addressed, and God continues to bless the church, spiritually. (v.7)

…a specific example that fits the criteria ( Stephen)

***: Increasing Opposition from Outside, and from within, yet Jesus Continued to Build His Church

The Apostles devoted themselves to two things: 1) prayer, and 2) the ministry of the word, and…

…in v. 6, had an opportunity to back up their intention to focus on prayer…

Now [in] these days when the disciples were increasing in number,

…all while God was at work to honor their other intentional focus (the ministry of the word) with growth and fruitfulness, as seen in verse 7

a complaint by the Hellenists arose [against] the Hebrews

INITIAL OUTLINE:

because their widows were being neglected [in] the daily distribution.

1. In the midst of church growth, physical neglect led to spiritual neglect. (vv. 1-2)

2 And the twelve summoned the full number of the disciples and

2. The Apostles refuse to allow spiritual neglect to continue, and assign the solution to the men of the congregation. (vv.2-4)

said, “It is not right that we should give up preaching the word of God to serve tables. 3 Therefore, brothers, pick out [from] among you seven men

of good repute,

3. The congregation follows the Apostles’ instruction and spiritual men are chosen to meet this physical need. (vv.5-6)

full of

4. The physical neglect is addressed, and God continues to bless the church, spiritually. (v.7)

***: Increasing Opposition from Outside, and from within, yet Jesus Continued to Build His Church

the Spirit and

of wisdom,

Now [in] these days when the disciples were increasing in number,

a complaint by the Hellenists arose [against] the Hebrews

whom we will appoint [to] this duty.

4 But we will devote ourselves to

because their widows were being neglected [in] the daily distribution.

2 And the twelve summoned the full number of the disciples and

prayer and

said, “It is not right that we should give up preaching the word of God to serve tables. 3 Therefore, brothers, pick out [from] among you seven men

to the ministry of the word.”

5 And what they said [pleased] the whole gathering, and

of good repute,

they chose Stephen,

full of

a man full of faith and

the Spirit and

of the Holy Spirit, and

of wisdom,

whom we will appoint [to] this duty.

Philip, and

Prochorus, and

4 But we will devote ourselves to

prayer and

Nicanor, and

to the ministry of the word.”

Timon, and

5 And what they said [pleased] the whole gathering, and

Parmenas, and

they chose Stephen,

Nicolaus,

a proselyte of Antioch.

a man full of faith and

of the Holy Spirit, and

6 These they set [before] the apostles, and

Philip, and

they

prayed and

Prochorus, and

laid their hands on them.

Nicanor, and

7 And

Timon, and

the word of God continued to increase, and

Parmenas, and

Nicolaus,

the number of the disciples multiplied greatly [in] Jerusalem, and

a proselyte of Antioch.

a great many of the priests became obedient to the faith.

6 These they set [before] the apostles, and

they

prayed and

laid their hands on them.

7 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.