The Choosing of the Seven

HOOK

DO NOT FORGET TO UNMUTE

It’s the 12th day of October— Another beautiful Tu—

Last week right here at “The Message”, we looked into the things and conversations that happened when the apostles were persecuted— arrested and investigated at the Sanhedrin— and from that history of Christianity, these is what we learned from the apostles:

I WILL GO AND TELL THE PEOPLE ALL ABOUT MY NEW LIFE

I WILL OBEY GOD RATHER THAN HUMAN BEINGS

THE PURPOSE OF GOD IS UNSTOPPABLE

I WILL NEVER STOP TEACHING AND PROCLAIMING ABOUT JESUS

After Gamaliel [Paul’s teacher] persuaded the Sanhedrin to let the apostles alone saying, “if there purpose is of human origin, it will fail. But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men; you will only find yourselves fighting against God.” [Acts 5:38-39]— So, they let them go with a stern warning not to teach in the name of Jesus

Let’s see what happened after— how the Christian church grew— Open your Bible to ACTS 6:1-7, once you get there, type, “let’s begin with chapter 6”

When reading in advance, whenever you’re studying God’s Word— look for words that defines that CHARACTER of God, COMMANDS to obey, PROMISES to claim, good EXAMPLES to follow and bad examples to avoid, ENCOURAGEMENTS & CHALLENGES to keep you going, reasons to be THANK GOD for, PRAYERS to pray

READ ACTS 6:1-7

BOOK

Acts 6:1–7 NIV

1 In those days when the number of disciples was increasing, the Hellenistic 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 and sisters, 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.

WHAT: The choosing of the seven

WHEN: Early days of the Christian church when the number of disciples was increasing

WHERE: Jerusalem where the church started

WHO: 12 apostles, Hellenistic Jews [Ethnic Jews who practiced Judaism and largely adopted Greek language and culture], Hebraic Jews [Jews who have not widely adopted Greek language or culture], the church

WHY: Delegation of ministry tasks so that the apostles can focus on prayer and the ministry of the Word

LOOK

THE HELLENISTIC JEWS AMONG THEM COMPLAINED AGAINST THE HEBRAIC JEWS

Because their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food

So, the 12 apostles gathered the church and said..

IT WOULD NOT BE RIGHT FOR US TO NEGLECT THE MINISTRY OF THE WORD OF GOD

They explained to the church that doing food ministry is not their priority role [not their primary ministry]— Their duty is found in Acts 1:8, Ephesians 4:11-12

CHOOSE SEVEN MEN FROM AMONG YOU WHO ARE KNOWN TO BE FULL OF THE SPIRIT AND WISDOM

To protect the holiness of the community and to safeguard the distribution of goods, the community must choose people who have shown themselves godly and wise— 1 Timothy 3:8-13

WILL GIVE OUR ATTENTION TO PRAYER AND THE MINISTRY OF THE WORD

The primary ministry of Pastors is to pray and to preach

THEY CHOSE STEPHEN, PHILIP, PROCORUS, NICANOR, TIMON, PARMENAS AND NICOLAS

These are the people they chose to do ministry [Deacons]

THE APOSTLES PRAYED AND LAID THEIR HANDS ON THEM

Laying of hands is the practice to bestow blessings and authority — 1 Timothy 4:14, 2 Timothy 1:6

We just did this yesterday [SHOW PHOTO]

SO THE WORD OF GOD SPREAD. THE NUMBER OF DISCIPLES INCREASED RAPIDLY

If you let the Pastors focus on praying and preaching if will yield to rapid increase of the church

TOOK

THE PRIMARY MINISTRY OF PASTORS IS TO PRAY AND PREACH

THE CHURCH MUST CHOOSE QUALIFIED PEOPLE TO DO THE MINISTRIES

SING

Agape Worship— Battle Belongs