How Should the Church Solve Problems?

In our study through the Book of Acts we are now at chapter 6. We need to be reminded that the title we have given this series is “When the Church was Young and Bold.” We also need to be reminded that we have decided that perhaps the proper name for this particular book of the bible should be “The Acts of the Risen Lord Jesus, through His people, by the power of the Holy Spirit, to accomplish the plan of the Father.” And so, when we get to we need to realize that this is more than a chapter on helping people. It is more than a chapter on how to pick leaders. It is more than a chapter on organizational structures of the church. Let’s read verses 1-7:

Acts 6:

Acts 6:1–7 ESV

1 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. 2 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. 3 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. 4 But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.” 5 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. 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.

Satan is attacking the church.

Persecution of the church - Satan wants us to be passive - we are afraid

Impurity in the church - Satan wants us to be powerless - we are not genuine

Division in the church - Satan wants us to be petty - we are not loving and forgiving ()

How should the church respond? How should we respond? How should the leaders respond?

How should you respond?

is another glimpse into how the church can have spiritual victory over the attacks and schemes of Satan.

When God’s people do God’s work God’s way, we will see God work through God’s people in good ways.

(1) The problems of the church

The leadership of the church is different than leadership in the home, leadership in the workplace, leadership in society

If you’re a parent, you’re called to be a leader. If you’re a husband you’re called to be a spiritual leader. If you are the wife you share the leadership of your home with your husband. You need to lead by example and love. It is a shared leadership with your spouse

In the workplace, you can become a leader in a variety of ways. You can start your own business, you can be hired, you can be promoted from within. You can leader through power (I have the power to fire you, give you a raise, promote you).

(1) The problems of the church

How Satan works to defeat the church:

Persecution

Ananias and Sapphira - personal sin

The widows - complaints

Satan will use problems to try and create PROBLEMS

Every church will have problems, every marriage will have problems, every believer will have problems. What are you going to do?

Many people give up (it can’t be fixed), many people try to live with it (it’s not a big deal), others pretend it doesn’t exist (there is no problem).

Identify the problem, make the appropriate people aware of the problem, discuss ways to deal with the problem, decide on a way to resolve the problem.

Notice that the apostles discussed the need with the entire church (full number)

Notice that they asked the church to pick the men based on biblical qualifications

Notice that they chose but the apostles appointed

Notice that they chose the appropriate number of people (7)

Notice that they created the structure and approved the workers but did not manage the minstry

(2) The leadership of the church

The leadership of the church is different than leadership in the home, leadership in the workplace, leadership in society

You don’t have to spiritual to be a parent, or a spouse, or a boss. But should you be? The bible says “yes”.

Marriage - If you’re a husband you’re called to be a spiritual leader. You’re life priorities should be to spiritually nurture your wife. We often think that financially providing is more important than spiritually nurturing. Ask yourself this question: the quality of my spiritual relationship

Marriage - If you’re a husband you’re called to be a spiritual leader. You’re life priorities should be to spiritually nurture your wife. We often think that financially providing is more important than spiritually nurturing. Ask yourself this question: the quality of my spiritual relationship

Parenting - we are called to be spiritual leaders of our children. We are called to lead by example and love. But again, we choose things over time, entertainment over

Workplace - In the workplace, you can become a leader in a variety of ways. You can start your own business, you can be hired, you can be promoted from within. You can lead through power (I have the power to fire you, give you a raise, promote you). In believing bosses are told to lead with goodness and to stop threatening.

Church - leadership in the church has always and is always to be about godly character and spiritual qualifications first.

(3) The needs of the church

(3) The needs of the church

Acts 6:4 ESV

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

We will

Galatians 6:10 ESV

So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.

Galatians 5:16 ESV

16 But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.

Learning to step forward. Overcoming the “let someone else do it” mentality.

Grass roots ministry. Taking on a task that no one else is doing.