Sermon Tone Analysis

! SERVING THE MISSION OF THE CHURCH

!! Acts 6:1-7

 

 

*Introduction*

This morning we, as a church, are blessed with installing publically those whom God chose months back to serve Him and His church through the Deacon Ministry of Cragfont Baptist Church.

*[joke about 8 month trial run!]*

As your pastor, I praise God for each one of these men……for their hearts – because I see the love for God and for his church with each one; …..for their character and courage – because it is never easy to step out of the safety zone and be charged to serve….and that is exactly what each of these men have done!

Believe me…there has been no safety zone for them this year!

So, this morning I want us to look at Acts 6, the first 7 verses…..as our passage of emphasis as we install (prayerfully, worshipfully, and joyously – even if a little late) these men to the diaconate- /DEACONATE/ of Cragfont Baptist Church.

*Read Text – Acts 6:1-7*

*Background*

Notice in v.1 that Luke introduces this passage by saying, “Now in these days when the disciples were increasing in number….”

We don’t know the exact timing of this new challenge to the young church in Jerusalem, but most scholars believe it has been about 5 years since Pentecost (the birth of the church!)

The church in Jerusalem had grown rapidly over those years:

·       Acts 2.41 after Peter’s sermon at Pentecost says, "So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls."

(Acts 2:41, ESV)

·       Acts 4.4 after Peter’s sermon at Solomon’s Portico, "But many of those who had heard the word believed, and the number of the men came to about five thousand."

(Acts 4:4, ESV)

·       And in Acts 5.14 after Peter dealt with the sins of Ananias and Sapphira, Luke writes, "And more than ever believers were added to the Lord, multitudes of both men and women," (Acts 5:14, ESV)

But now, as we come to Acts 6 the Apostles are confronted with a new problem……the church that “had believed together and had all things in common…..some of the same ones who had sold their possessions and belongings to distribute the proceeds to all as they had need”(my paraphrase of Acts 2.44-45)….

…..this same church was experiencing division…..bordering on disunity.

*The Problem*

The church is still totally Jewish….the

gospel has not gone out as yet to the Gentiles.

According to v.1, the church of Jerusalem consisted of Hebrews and Hellenists (or Greek-speaking Jews) and a “complaint” arose between these two groups.

The GK word ‘complaint’ is ____________ (/gongysmos/) and it means ‘grumbling or private talking’.

In other words, there was complaining and growing dissension in the Body.

*Why?  *To understand the problem and keep from seeing one that’s not there, we need to understand the Jewish culture in the Diaspora…the dispersion.

Jews that lived outside of Jerusalem or Palestine in Greek cities would often return to Jerusalem in their elder years to die so that they would be buried in Jerusalem.

This left many Greek widows in the church with no family to support them.

Some have said that the Hebrew speaking Jewish Christians were discriminating against the Greek speaking Jewish Christians…..but this is most likely not the case.

That’s why I make the point that these are not Gentile Believers….but

Jewish ones!

The Old Testament has many clear and specific regulations on caring for the helpless…the widows, orphans and aliens.

It is much more likely that there was NO ethnic or cultural discrimination, *but the church was simply overwhelmed by the growth of the needy Hellenistic Christians - *and perhaps the language differences presented some barrier!

*The Solution*

The mighty church in Jerusalem had come to a point of decision.

There was dissension and disunity growing in the Body…..but the Apostles tackled the problem in a missional way!

The Apostles framed their response in a way that recognized the importance of the care of the Body and the preaching of the gospel!

In other words, the mission of the church was protected, and even enhanced, by the response of the leadership!  *So, what is the mission of the church in **Jerusalem**?  *If we look to Acts as our reference of the earliest church, we find a bifurcated or two-pronged mission:

·       From Acts 1:8 – We find the gospel mission!

Jesus commissioned the Apostles to go in the power of the Holy Spirit and be witnesses for him – locally, regionally and around the world!

·       From Acts 2:42 – we find the other purpose of the church….to

build-up or edify the saints!

The Body Life of the church consisted of (1) Discipleship as they devoted themselves to the apostles teaching… (2) to fellowship or /koinonia/ which denotes closeness  and family (3) to the breaking of bread – meaning celebrating the Lord’s Supper together (4) and to prayer.

The Apostles recognized that if one of these missions or purposes of the church is harmed or neglected…then the overall witness of the gospel is harmed!

What we don’t See:   And so we find the Apostles tackling the problem with the Hellenists, not as a “non-spiritual” problem, but in terms of mission and spiritual giftedness!  *We do NOT* see the Apostles making light of the problem because it isn’t “spiritual”……*we see them answering or resolving the problem in terms of mission:*

*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.

The Gk word translated “give up” or “neglect” literally means to “*leave behind or depart from*.”

The Apostolic leadership didn’t dismiss the concern of the Hellenists because it wasn’t part of spreading the gospel or because it was dealing with what we would consider “Benevolence”….NO, they recognized that if either of the missions of the church is harmed…then both are harmed!

*Qualifications*

So, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, the 12 Apostles summoned the whole church and gave instruction to them to choose /from among you/ seven (7) men who:

1.    Have a *good reputation* – [Note – NIV mistranslates this as “known to be”….but the GK is __________ /martyroumenous/ meaning “to commend or speak well of”]

2.    To be men *full of the Spirit* – meaning they live their lives by walking in the Spirit; in walking in obedience to God.

In other words, they have a good reputation because people see the Spirit of God at work in and through them!

3.

And they are men of *wisdom* – The ability to know and act wisely…in other words  - they make decisions that are informed by God’s Word – since this is the seat of all wisdom.

Acts 6:4

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

The Mission goes forward….the

Apostles can *devote or persist* in the ministry of the Word and to Prayer!

*Our Deacon Ministry – A Challenge*

And so, We come this morning, just as the first church gathered together in Jerusalem 2 thousand years ago, *to ordain those who have been called out from among our church to serve*.

Just as the earliest church recognized the two-fold mission of the church….to

evangelize the lost and to edify the Believer….so

too we hold to this mission – *To Make Disciples (fully-devoted followers) of Jesus Christ.

*

The Deacon Ministry of Cragfont Baptist Church is crucial to the mission of the church!

Of course, the word deacon, from the Gk /diakonos,/ means “*servant*” or “*to serve.*”

But every leadership and ministry position in the church is *one of service:  First, to Christ and second, to His Bride, the church!**  *

*It is out of love that we serve!

*1 Corinthians 13:1-3 makes it clear that no matter our gifts or talents or faith or generosity, without love there is nothing!

We have this given to us as an example by our Lord when he washed the Disciples’ feet in the Upper Room.

John 13:1 says, " Now before the Feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that his hour had come to depart out of this world to the Father, */having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end./*"

(John 13:1, ESV).

This, my brothers, is my challenge to you.

To love the Lord Jesus Christ with all of your heart and to love His church….*even to the end*!

This morning, before our church and with the witness of the Holy Spirit, I challenge each of our deacons to be found as approved workmen before the Lord!

I will read a list of responsibilities for our Deacons followed by a challenge to the Body of Christ at Cragfont.

*Deacon Responsibilities:*

*1.    *Our Deacons will *lead by example – *showing themselves to be men of the Scriptures and of Prayer.

Meeting the scriptural requirements of 1 Timothy 3:8-13, these men will live transparent lives before the people of the church – walking in obedience to the commands of Scripture and exhibiting the fruit of the Spirit,

     (Gal.

5:22-23).

*2.

*Our Deacons will *love by example* – showing themselves to be fully devoted followers of Christ Jesus, they will live, both within the church community and outside the church, in a ways that makes known the love of Christ as displayed in their lives.

Just as our Lord said, "For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”"

(Mark 10:45, ESV) so your love for the people of Cragfont must be reflected in your service.

*3.

*Our Deacons will demonstrate *service by example* -   As the name defines the ministry, deacons are first servants.

Serving the Lord through their diligent and prayerful ministry to the needs of the church family and the pastor.

Knowing that our Lord desires us to reflect unity of the Spirit (Eph.

4:3-6), our Deacons will strive to maintain unity in the church.

As the chief servants of the church, our Deacons will look to serve the pastor and try to guard his time and reputation.

*4.    *Our Deacons will *show Christian stewardship* *by example* – recognizing that all the world belongs to God (Ps.

24:1, Deut.

10.14) and all we have comes from God (Deut.

8.18) and we long to be found “servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God” and look to “receiving our commendation from God.” (1 Cor.

4:1, 5b)  Our Deacons will demonstrate godly stewardship of their time (with faithful attendance), talents (serving and ministering), and money (through tithing and financial support).

*The Church’s Responsibility to Our Deacons:*

*1.    *The church pledges to love the men appointed as Deacons and to pray diligently for each man and his family.

*2.

*The church pledges to fully support the ministry of each Deacon through prayer, encouragement and acceptance of his ministry.

*Have the Deacons to be ordained to come forward and sit in the front.*

*Invitation – Gospel:* 

Eph 2:1-5

*By Grace Through Faith*