Staffed by Servants
Notes
Transcript
Handout
Introduction
Offices: Two
Opportunities: Many
Key: Servant’s heart
Ministry (6:1-7)
Ministry (6:1-7)
Explanation
Apostles Had Difficulty (vv. 1-2; Acts 5:41-42)
Answer Was Deacons (vv. 3-7; Mark 1:35-39)
Ministry (6:1-7)
Apostles Had Difficulty (vv. 1-2; Acts 5:41-42)
1 And in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplied, there arose a murmuring of the Grecians against the Hebrews, because their widows were neglected in the daily ministration.
2 Then the twelve called the multitude of the disciples unto them, and said, It is not reason that we should leave the word of God, and serve tables.
The problem was evidence of God working.
The church had grown so much that the apostles could not keep up with the work of the ministry.
Problems happen when God’s work is done!
It is encouraging to trace the growth of the church: 3,000 believed (2:41); then believers were added daily (2:47); then the church grew to 5,000 men (4:4); then this number multiplied (6:1); and then the number multiplied again greatly (6:7).
What was the secret of this amazing growth? Read 5:41–42 for the answer: the leaders were willing to pay any price to serve Christ, and the people lived their faith daily.
41 And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name.
42 And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ.
Ministry (6:1-7)
Apostles Had Difficulty (vv. 1-2)
Answer Was Deacons (vv. 3-7; Mark 1:35-39)
3 Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business.
4 But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word.
5 And the saying pleased the whole multitude: and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Ghost, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolas a proselyte of Antioch:
6 Whom they set before the apostles: and when they had prayed, they laid their hands on them.
7 And the word of God increased; and the number of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem greatly; and a great company of the priests were obedient to the faith.
The problem was solved by putting priorities first: prayer and the Word.
Jesus used this pattern of ministry in Mark 1:35-39.
Through this God answered.
35 And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, he went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed.
36 And Simon and they that were with him followed after him.
37 And when they had found him, they said unto him, All men seek for thee.
38 And he said unto them, Let us go into the next towns, that I may preach there also: for therefore came I forth.
39 And he preached in their synagogues throughout all Galilee, and cast out devils.
Illustration
Servant’s heart
What can I do for YOU?
Apostles serving God… deacons served God by helping the Apostles serve God.
Application
You are the church! You are the members that make up the body. You are the servants that do the serving. Without you there would be no body and without you serving there would be no service.
Martyr (6:8-7:60)
Martyr (6:8-7:60)
Explanation
Service of Stephen (vv. 6:8-10)
Seizing of Stephen (vv. 6:11-7:1)
Sermon of Stephen (vv. 7:2-50)
Stoning of Stephen (vv. 51-60)
Martyr (6:8-7:60)
Service of Stephen (vv. 6:8-10)
8 And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and miracles among the people.
9 Then there arose certain of the synagogue, which is called the synagogue of the Libertines, and Cyrenians, and Alexandrians, and of them of Cilicia and of Asia, disputing with Stephen.
10 And they were not able to resist the wisdom and the spirit by which he spake.
Martyr (6:8-7:60)
Service of Stephen (vv. 6:8-10)
Seizing of Stephen (vv. 6:11-7:1)
11 Then they suborned men, which said, We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses, and against God.
12 And they stirred up the people, and the elders, and the scribes, and came upon him, and caught him, and brought him to the council,
13 And set up false witnesses, which said, This man ceaseth not to speak blasphemous words against this holy place, and the law:
14 For we have heard him say, that this Jesus of Nazareth shall destroy this place, and shall change the customs which Moses delivered us.
15 And all that sat in the council, looking stedfastly on him, saw his face as it had been the face of an angel.
1 Then said the high priest, Are these things so?
Martyr (6:8-7:60)
Service of Stephen (vv. 6:8-10)
Seizing of Stephen (vv. 6:11-7:1)
Sermon of Stephen (vv. 7:2-50)
Stephen gives God’s answer here.
Stephen goes right back to preaching the Gospel!
He pointed out Israel’s rejection of Christ even in the face of danger at the hands of the Jewish leaders.
Abrahamic covenant… Israel rejecting Jospeh… Israel rejecting Moses… Israel rejecting the prophets… now Israel rejected the Gospel message preached by Stephen.
Martyr (6:8-7:60)
Service of Stephen (vv. 6:8-10)
Seizing of Stephen (vv. 6:11-7:1)
Sermon of Stephen (vv. 7:2-50)
Stoning of Stephen (vv. 51-60)
51 Ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers did, so do ye.
52 Which of the prophets have not your fathers persecuted? and they have slain them which shewed before of the coming of the Just One; of whom ye have been now the betrayers and murderers:
53 Who have received the law by the disposition of angels, and have not kept it.
54 When they heard these things, they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed on him with their teeth.
55 But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up stedfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God,
56 And said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God.
57 Then they cried out with a loud voice, and stopped their ears, and ran upon him with one accord,
58 And cast him out of the city, and stoned him: and the witnesses laid down their clothes at a young man’s feet, whose name was Saul.
59 And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.
60 And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep.
Illustration
Martyr Deer
Stephen didn’t want to die. He wanted to serve God and to lead others to know Christ!
Application
Sacrificial service is the example God gives us in the life and the death of Stephen. Follow that example today. Preach the Gospel to everyone you see, even in the face of the worst difficulty or danger… even if you think you can’t possibly make the time… God has already made an appointment for you to serve Him.
Missionary (8:1-31)
Missionary (8:1-31)
Explanation
Persecuted Christians by Saul (vv. 8:1-4; Acts 26:10-11)
Preaching of Christ by Philip (vv. 8:5-8)
Personal Contact of Philip (vv. 8:26-31; Acts 1:8)
Missionary (8:1-31)
Persecuted Christians by Saul (vv. 8:1-4; Acts 26:10-11)
1 And Saul was consenting unto his death. And at that time there was a great persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judaea and Samaria, except the apostles.
2 And devout men carried Stephen to his burial, and made great lamentation over him.
3 As for Saul, he made havock of the church, entering into every house, and haling men and women committed them to prison.
4 Therefore they that were scattered abroad went every where preaching the word.
10 Which thing I also did in Jerusalem: and many of the saints did I shut up in prison, having received authority from the chief priests; and when they were put to death, I gave my voice against them.
11 And I punished them oft in every synagogue, and compelled them to blaspheme; and being exceedingly mad against them, I persecuted them even unto strange cities.
Missionary (8:1-31)
Persecuted Christians by Saul (vv. 8:1-4; Acts 26:10-11)
Preaching of Christ by Philip (vv. 8:5-8)
5 Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and preached Christ unto them.
6 And the people with one accord gave heed unto those things which Philip spake, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did.
7 For unclean spirits, crying with loud voice, came out of many that were possessed with them: and many taken with palsies, and that were lame, were healed.
8 And there was great joy in that city.
Missionary (8:1-31)
Persecuted Christians by Saul (vv. 8:1-4; Acts 26:10-11)
Preaching of Christ by Philip (vv. 8:5-8)
Personal Contact of Philip (vv. 8:26-31; Acts 1:8)
26 And the angel of the Lord spake unto Philip, saying, Arise, and go toward the south unto the way that goeth down from Jerusalem unto Gaza, which is desert.
27 And he arose and went: and, behold, a man of Ethiopia, an eunuch of great authority under Candace queen of the Ethiopians, who had the charge of all her treasure, and had come to Jerusalem for to worship,
28 Was returning, and sitting in his chariot read Esaias the prophet.
29 Then the Spirit said unto Philip, Go near, and join thyself to this chariot.
30 And Philip ran thither to him, and heard him read the prophet Esaias, and said, Understandest thou what thou readest?
31 And he said, How can I, except some man should guide me? And he desired Philip that he would come up and sit with him.
8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.
Illustration
When he was the pastor of the Methodist church in Scarborough, William Sangster had an eccentric member who tried to be a zealous Christian. Unfortunately, the man was mentally deficient and usually did the wrong thing. While working as a barber the man lathered up a customer for a shave, came at him with the poised razor, and asked, "Are you prepared to meet your God?" The frightened man fled with the lather on his face!
Application
A 1980 Gallup poll indicated that out of all evangelical, American believers, "only two percent had introduced another person to Christ."
Convinced God exists:
2005: 79%
2017: 64%
14 How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?