Acts 6 - Struggling for Unity (4)
Notes
Transcript
Good morning – Welcome Life church to my home! Today you are in my Kitchen.
We are starting a new series today called, Welcome Home!
still in Acts still focussed on the work of the HS.
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God has moved the church to their homes.
And this has brought up a lot of questions about how to be the church when we cannot gather in large groups.
As I have been reading through Acts I reminded, this idea of small gatherings is not new but, was the practice of the early church.
Honestly, making apprentices is impossible in large gatherings. Large gatherings are a party, a celebration.
It is the small gatherings of 12 or less that create an environment of discipleship.
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The American church is really good at the party but we have not been so good at the making disciples part.
And now we find ourselves in much the same situation as the early church we read about in the NT.
And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts,
how I did not shrink from declaring to you anything that was profitable, and teaching you in public and from house to house,
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I know we all want to get back to our large gatherings. I sure do.
But what if God is trying to teach us and move us into a renewed focus on discipleship?
What if we used these uncertain times to re-organize the church towards disciple making?
Never forsaking the gathering of all the saints - but learning a new skill - disciple making.
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A young group of people in Riceville have been doing this over the last month. It is beautiful to hear how God is meeting them in the home. Relationships are growing, faces are smiling, and the HS is still ministering.
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Today we are in Acts 6 -
Today we are in Acts 6 -
How is the church to handle internal conflict?
Not a malicious attack but conflict.
Conflict is not unusual to the Church and it was not unusual to the first church either.
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Acts 4 Describes an external threat.
Acts 5 described an internal threat.
And now Acts 6 describes an internal conflict.
In the first two cases the Holy Spirit dealt with the threats for the infant church.
In the first two cases the Holy Spirit dealt with the threats for the infant church.
But now, in Acts 6 the HS is calling the church to maturity by teaching it how to be a solution and how to work through conflict.
Turn with me to
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. 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. 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. But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.” 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. These they set before the apostles, and they prayed and laid their hands on them.
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.
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Conflict Yes - Malicious NO!
Hebrew speaking Disciples - Jews from Israel who spoke Hebrew as their first language. Majority of the early church.
Hellenists - Jewish disciples from outside of Israel who only spoke Greek. Came into the church in Acts 2. They were the minority of the first church in Jerusalem.
Conflict is often the result of language differences and differences in culture. Minority of the early church.
The Apostles had a rapidly growing church -
They had become the pastors, counselors, administrators, and ministered to both the physical and spiritual needs.
The work load had become too much and with the difference in language and culture, conflict was sure to arise.
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My Conflict in the Early Days of NCF -
Move the piano one inch at a time.
He threw the darn piano right out the window!
I really wish I had paid attention to Acts 6 in my early days here! It would have saved some hurt feelings and some of my own stress.
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So how is the Church to handle internal conflict?
So how is the Church to handle internal conflict?
Let me give you 5 steps according to Acts 6
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Submit to the HS’s Wisdom.
Submit to the HS’s Wisdom.
For to one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit,
We must always wait on the HS for His wisdom rather moving quickly in their own.
The Apostles are operating in the Spiritual gifts of wisdom and knowledge.
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Stay focussed on Primary calling.
Stay focussed on Primary calling.
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.
Do not get sidetracked by someone else’s ministry.
Craig Williams - Picking up trash - Only if it is in front of you - Don’t pick up other people’s blessing.
There is always a time when you have to do everything - but eventually you need to let go of those ministries that are not your primary calling.
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Call the Church to Pick Up the Burden of Ministry
Call the Church to Pick Up the Burden of Ministry
The Apostles put down the ministry of distribution so others more capable could pick it up.
For this to work, the people of the Church must be willing to step into ministry.
And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ,
When few do all the work, few things get done. When we all do the work, it all gets done with excellence.
Celebrate those who step up to pick up the ministry.
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State the PLAN and QUALIFICATIONS CLEARLY
State the PLAN and QUALIFICATIONS CLEARLY
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.
We have to speak with High context - State clearly what you want!
We must also set the standards high for all ministry.
Good reputation - At work, in town, more important than how people view you on Sundays.
Full of the HS. Every ministry no matter how small will take the power of the HS.
Practical wisdom - When things get challenging Practical wisdom is more important that a degree in Theology. (Fix a car, plumbing, administrate over finances, etc)
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Never Lose Focus of the MISSION of GOD in Times of Conflict
Never Lose Focus of the MISSION of GOD in Times of Conflict
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.
But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
Feeding the widows was not the main mission.
It was a means to accomplish the main mission.
When we exchange the mission of God for our own mission we lose the Good News for decent news.
The Mission of God is to make Disciples for Jesus.
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As we move through these unsure times internal conflict is going to arise.
We must not allow the conflict to divide us but use it as an opportunity to grow the church in effective ministry.
Submit to the Wisdom of the HS
Stay focussed on God’s call for our personal lives.
Spread the burden of ministry to the whole church.
Make known the plan and qualifications
Never lose focus on the mission of God - Make Disciples!
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Callie -
Thank you pastor!
With that said I want to share with you the church the burden of ministry and make known to you the plan and qualifications.
God desires for us to use this season not to argue or fight but rather to make Disciples!
The Elders and Deacons have come up with a plan and they need you to pick it up.
We would like those who feel safe and comfortable to start meeting next month in groups of 10 or less on Sundays for our worship time. The worship and sermon will continue to be on Youtube and osagelife.online.church.
We are asking each home to follow the plan of the Riceville group.
Worship together through song and teaching
Eat together
Laugh and play games/ fellowship
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To make this happen we are looking for Seven homes that will host up to 10 people.
The host family plus however many more to equal 10.
Each host will have a few responsibilities.
Open your home to believers and unbelievers - Use this time to disciple and evangelize.
Invite one neighbor that is not a member of Life church
Have an internet connection and the ability to show the worship and sermon.
Be wiling to pray over people and to answer any questions the teaching may bring up.
Finally, be willing to stay in contact with the pastor and elders.
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The qualifications for hosting.
Have a good reputation amongst the church and the wider community
Be a person(s) full of the HS
Be known for wisdom and hospitality
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If you would like to nominate someone to be a host or if you would like to nominate yourself please let us know by contacting Pastor Steven at 641 426-8254 or Todd at 870 219-4461
We would like to have at least four new hosts by Thursday so, we can let people know where they can go to fellowship and make disciples.
Now Aaron is going to lead us in our blessing -
Aaron will lead the blessing - and then say Shake hands and be friendly.