Acts 6_1-7 God Corp

Acts 6:1-7

God Corp.

Secular: Moving day…

Let’s take it from the truck pulling up in front of your future resident…

All your life’s possessions are neatly sandwiched in the back of a truck…

If you have ever moved as a family you well know how much fun your kids can be…

I would always encouraged the children to carry what they could and allow myself and some of the ‘fearless volunteer’ more the larger items (dressers.. etc). In veritably the children would try to help with big stuff (Rebekah hanging of the edge of a 200# dresser)… then they would disappear completely… it was always quite a struggle…

It would have been nice to assign a task to them… know they would stick-to and complete the task :).

Then I could have carried on with my task…

Biblical: NIB Acts 6:1 In those days when the number of disciples was increasing, the Grecian Jews among them complained against the Hebraic Jews because their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food. 2 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. 3 Brothers, 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 4 and will give our attention to prayer and the ministry of the word." 5 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. 6 They presented these men to the apostles, who prayed and laid their hands on them. 7 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.

Personal: Have you been so overwhelmed in your job… whether it is a disaster at home, a project at work, or some other mess that you have been distracted from your primary goal or role…

The expectation is that we will complete certain goals and we need to deal with the distractions effectively…

(primary goal in a family… 1st a healthy marriage… then 2nd good parenting!!) Sometimes we need helping getting things organized… in order to function properly!!

Bridge: Christians often become very unchristian when they get organized…

1)     One extreme is that they become a bureaucratic, cold, numbers driven formal structured organization… with no room for the Spirit of God to move.

2)     The other extreme is that the church rejects the ideas of structure (some even membership)… but this underestimates the strength of the flesh… its ability to interfere with God’s mission… and this is inconsistent with God’s nature - NIB 1 Corinthians 14:33 For God is not a God of disorder but of peace. As in all the congregations of the saints… All creation points toward an orderly God…

3)       Do we want: Stagnant… over controlled… highly structured… place of faith

4)      Do we want: a loose… always morphing… never consistent… in effective… simple gathering

5)      Our do we desire to be highly effective, well-organized… Spiritually Sensitivity…

6)      God calls us a body, a family, a priesthood… all of these are flexible in their ability to function but a structured a body has parts that serve particular functions, a family has God-ordained roles and people, the priesthood is functional group organized but focused on God…

7)      We are looking at the balanced, effective and powerful church… God Corp.

Body:

The Reason: Acts 6:1,2,4

In those days when the number of disciples was increasing, the Grecian Jews among them complained against the Hebraic Jews because their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food. 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… and we will give our attention to prayer and the ministry of the word."

• When the church is effective it grows
• When we are touching the World
• When we have Purity in our beliefs
• When we experience the Power of God
• When we meet Persecution
• When we are truly productive
•  
• In those days the number of disciples will be increasing

What will our response be?

• Hiring Staff helps… calling a 2nd pastor…etc.
• But it was from amongst the concerned groups
• Just as we are hearing from the congregation that we need to get our small groups program running…
• We need hosts
• We need facilitators (leaders)
• We need the people interested to sign up
• The need is identified… it is time to respond!!
• The church is required to care for its own…
• Spiritually
• Emotionally
• Physically
• It is a corporate responsibility…
• We have a role to play…
• The leadership (the 12) set apart others for specific ministry!!
• Can not compromise our attention to prayer and the ministry of the word.
• THE REASON

The church was impacting the World and Growing… a growing church must mobilize its people… to assist in the care of the Body!!… to continue and complete its mission!!

The Requirements: Acts 6:3

3 Brothers, 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

• Before the idea of deacon was even formed…
• They recognized the need for focused care
• People who could knew the situation
• People who knew the need
• People willing to act
• But it shows that we should have a ‘pool of individuals’ ready to take on ministry responsibilities
• Amongst you… church members (believers)
• “Who are known” Good reputation… of good character
• Full of the Spirit… live lives yielded to God
• Wisdom… is knowledge + the fear of the Lord… Understanding enhanced by their relationship to God.
• The church was impacting the World and Growing… a growing church must mobilize its people… they needed the “right people” to minister to… and care for… the Body!!… so it can continue to function and complete its mission!!
• THE REQUIREMENTS

The Roster

Acts 6:5-6

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. 6 They presented these men to the apostles, who prayed and laid their hands on them.

• The church was in harmony
• Largely Jewish converts appointed a group of Hellenists
• Stephen… will suffer for the Gospel (Acts 8:1)
• Philip… the evangelist… Ethiopian Eunuch
• People of character… recognized by church
• People of character recognized and commissioned by leadership
• Part of the team!!
• Worthy of the responsibility!!
• Enabled the ministry of the church
• Practically
• Freed up the Spiritual resources!!
• The church was impacting the World and Growing… a growing church must mobilize its people… they needed the “right people” to minister to… and care for… the Body!!… so it can continue to function and complete its mission!!

The Results

Acts 6:7

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.

• Well organized
• Communication Good
• Right people… using their gifts in the right spot
• Well cared for…
• When our physical, emotional and spiritual needs are met
• Well loved…
• When we function as ONE BODY… a family
• Well taught…
• When we continue to grow in our faith
• Well led…
• When we have vision, and passion for the mission of Christ
• Then… the word of God WILL spread
• The numbers of believers in our area… our Jerusalem… will grow….
• The rank and file opposition will come to faith as well (the priests of this society)
• Worshippers of Idols (Money, toys, nature)
• Humanists…
• Other faiths…
• A unified, well taught church will be a powerful witness to the lost world.

Conclusion:

The Reason – When you grow it is harder to care comprehensively

The Requirements – We need godly people to stand in the gap

The Roster – those affirmed in the faith and dedication

The Results – Well organized, well cared for, well loved, well taught, well led… the Word of God will Spread