GROWing Pain Act 6:1-7

The church was growing as the text says the disciples were in creasing in number. God is growing his church!

It reminds me of a pregnant woman. The baby developing over time. As the baby is developing, it’s getting bigger. One of the things that happens as the baby grows it moves around in moms stomach. Mommy can feel the baby kick, punch, clap. This is a good problem to have. One of the primary ways that the baby grows is from proper nourishment. As mom is nourished the baby is nourished. She eats healthy so that the baby can be healthy. She’s a mom of three children including the one in her stomach. Mom is focused So much on the baby in her stomach, she’s “very busy” caring for this child that her other children are being neglected. They were not getting the food that that mom was eating. The good problem is that the baby in moms stomach is growing. The bad problem is that the other children are being neglected.

*****The solution to the problem is for mom to get help caring for and feeding the other children. She can’t do it by herself!*****

As we look at our text this morning we will see:

The problem vs. 1

It is important understand first who causes the good problem for the “baby called the church” to grow. God is the one who is going the church! But we are responsible to feed the baby.  

The disciples here experienced a complaint within the church. They have had their fair share of complaints from those outside the church. The complaint came from the Hellenists “Greek speaking Jews.” They were complaining against the Hebrews because their widows were being neglected in the daily distribution (diakonias) of food.

The first solution the problem is to understand that widows matter! Everyone matter. All lives matter! No matter ones racial background, socio-economic difference. Everyone needs to eat physically. There is a social mandate for the church to feed people! The church as it grows is called to meet the physical need of those who are in need. Yes, the church must focus on the Spiritually need as well. All lives need Jesus!

Everyone has a role to play. To neglect your role will result in an unhealthy baby and ultimately will hinder our gospel impact.

The 12 disciples call the full number disciples together vs. 2a.

The priority vs. 2b “It is not right that we should give up preaching the word of God to serve tables.” The priority for the disciples was the preaching of the word of God. This does not mean that serving hungry widows is not important! As we’ve seen this is very important! It's not what God called the disciples to do! Their role is to preach the Word of God. God told them multiple times in the context to go stand in temple and speak about the LIFE. That is the life, death, burial, and resurrection of Christ.

The disciples said that they would not leave the ministry of the word because it’s the priority given to them by God. They will not do it to serve tables. This word (serve) “Diakoneo” in the original means to serve money tables” (a.t.), i.e., to have charge of the alms and other pecuniary matters.

to serve money tables” (a.t.), i.e., to have charge of the alms and other pecuniary matters.

Zodhiates, S. (2000). The complete word study dictionary: New Testament (electronic ed.). Chattanooga, TN: AMG Publishers.

It is where we get the word deacon from. It means servant. God has called deacons to serve the physical needs of those in the church.

Everyone has a role to play. To neglect your role will result in an unhealthy baby and ultimately will hinder our gospel impact.

The priority for the 12 disciples was the preaching of God’s word.

this leads to our third point.

The plan vs. 3-7

The church (Disciples) were to “pick men.” vs3

These were not just to be any men but men of good reputation, full of Holy Spirit and wisdom. These men were to fulfill this duty to serve the widows.

There must be a pipeline to pick from.

The 12 Disciples were to “pray and preach” vs.4

This reminds me of a Dr. who’s duty is to understand what is going on with the patient and to give the patient what he or she needs to get well. Instead the dr. comes in without reading the chart or xray of what is going on with the patient. He then tries to treat the patient without understanding the problem in order to provide the proper prescription. The preacher prescription is the word of God and prayer.

As he feeds the patient and people the word of God the patient, the people will be satisfied vs. 5,7. , and the problem fixed.

westminster caticism quote on the WOG and qutoe from Eric Gieger design to lead on pipeline.