An Irreplaceable Gift (to the church)
Notes
Transcript
Multiplying the Ministry (Shock Absorbers)
Multiplying the Ministry (Shock Absorbers)
How many of you have ever been riding in your car and you realize that the ride just isn’t very smooth?
You didn’t know exactly what it was.... so you take it into the shop and they say.... Yep… you need some new shock absorbers.
If you are like me, 2 things immediately come to your mind.
Do I really need them? Are they really important?
Cost....are they that important that I need to get the best quality?
Shock absorbers might not be the most exciting part of the car… you don’t even see them in action.... but when they don’t work … you can feel it. Along with the tires and brakes they make up one of the most important safety systems on the vehicle.
The role of a shock absorber is to keep the car’s tires in permanent contact with the road… helping the vehicle to provide optimum grip and limiting the overall vehicle body movement while navigating the road.
Can a car function without shock absorbers? Yes… but not very smoothly… and not for very long.
The text we look at today is going to introduce God’s divine shock absorber system for His church. As we open our Bible’s to Acts 6, a new system of support and suspension will be initiated in the early church that will have an eternal impact on the lives of many.
(Comment about God’s sovereignty in the timing of the Sermon text/ series selection.)
Before we jump into chapter 6, let me give you a very brief overview of what has happened in chapters 1-5 so far.
Acts 2… the church is born…. discipleship is happening…. the gospel is extending throughout the city of Jerusalem…. and people are coming to Christ… all the believers are unified…. things are great!!!!
But then, a few chapters in… persecution happens….
The gospel is being proclaimed…. people are being healed…. but now the religious rulers are getting annoyed and in chapter 4, Peter and John are summoned before the Council….
The Council (Pharisees and Sadducees)… who made up the religious government in Jerusalem…. (they had also been delegated a fair amount of legal authority by the Romans as well)…. charge Peter and John to not speak about Jesus anymore.
Peter and John answer in Acts 4:19
Whether it is right for us to listen to you rather than God, you have to judge… for we can’t help but speak of what we have seen and heard. (paraphrase)
Once they are released they go to the other disciples and pray for boldness to be used by the Lord.. even when the people are raging against Christ… and HIs people!
In Acts 4:29-31 the apostles pray for boldness to continue speaking the Word of Christ to the people.... and when they finished praying we are told that the place they were in was shaken (kind of like an earthquake)… and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak the Word of God with boldness.
Often times throughout the history of the church.... when persecution comes… the church grows. Here is no different. When outsiders (religious rulers) brought persecution…. the church grew! We see that the church continued to grow and the end of Acts 4 tells us that they were unified… (one heart and soul) and the people were giving what they had to those who were in need…. sharing their resources for the building up (edification) of the church and the kingdom.
But then, chapter 5 tells us of an attempt by Satan to disrupt what God is doing by bringing an internal moral failure….. (surely this would stop this newly found “Jesus movement”!)
Ananias and Sapphira decide to get in on the “sharing with others” action… but do it with deceit in their hearts. They sell their land…. only give a portion of the earnings to the church…. but claim that they had given 100% of the earnings to the church….. so that they could look as holy and spiritual as others who had given all that they had.
They had sinned… and when confronted… they denied it! And they paid the price for it. Ananias and Sapphira paid the price with their lives….. and served as a warning to anyone who would attempt to worship the Lord with deceit in their hearts.
If you were to keep reading chapter 5, you will read that the Apostles were then arrested for continuing to preach in Jesus’ name. They were eventually charged not to speak about Jesus again… beaten and released. They rejoiced that they had been counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the name of Christ!
Then Acts 5:42 tells us what happened to the church…. In the face of difficulties and persecution….. the apostles were faithful to the proclaiming of the truth… the teaching of the Word… the Gospel… and verse 42 says that “every day, in the temple and from house to house, they did not cease teaching and preaching that the Christ is Jesus.”
That brings us to chapter 6… where another opportunity for growth will be presented.
Satan is trying to destroy the peace and unity in the early church. He is unhappy about the success of the early church, so in the beginning of chapter 6 we are told about a seed of murmuring and gossip that is sown among God’s people. Satan is attempting to disrupt the church and set believer against believer.
The road for the church is going to get bumpy and something will need to be done to smooth out the ride.
As seeds of discord are sown… and the delicate unity of the early church is threatened... God reveals His plan for one of the most Irreplaceable gifts given to His church. (this divine system of support and suspension engineered to help the church multiply!)
To do this, God uses conflict to help clarify a need of the church.
I. Conflicts Clarify Needs (1)
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.
Verse one tells us the time frame of the events recorded. “in these days when the disciples were increasing in number”.
These were the days immediately following the outward persecution by the religion elite.... and the inward deceit by Ananias and Sapphira.
Now, as we approach chapter 6, what we have probably been seeing are Satan’s attempts to quench the multiplication of disciples and the building of Christ’s Church through persecution and deception… and now he is attempting to slow the growth of the church through conflict. But, God will use that conflict to bring clarity.
Verse 1 tells us that a complaint had been raised by the Hellenists.
Hellenists (Greek speaking Jews. who had lived abroad for centuries and had returned home to Jerusalem. The spoke no Hebrew. Many of these Jews returned to Jerusalem so that they could send their last days in their “holy city”. As a result, there were an abundance of Greek speaking women who had outlived their husbands. These widows felt discriminated against by the Aramaic speaking Jews. The Pharisees looked down at the Hellenistic Jews in contempt… considering them 2nd class Israelites.
As the early church grew.... this cultural issue with all of its baggage and preconceived ideas was brought into the church.
The complaint was that the leaders of the church (Aramaic speaking Jews), were treating them the same way that the Pharisees treated the Hellenists.... with contempt… and were discriminating against them and not taking care of their physical needs.
In a way… these Hellenists were saying… “Hey guys! You say your different than the Pharisees.... but we are afraid that you are going to treat us just like the Pharisees do!”
From the immediate response in verse 2, we can understand that the apostles did not take the complaint lightly. It was a serious concern.
The apostles saw that the corporate witness of the church was at stake… and immediately called a members meeting to resolve the issue.
Keep in mind that this meeting of “all the disciples”.... by this time could have included over 5000 people! Remember the church was growing.... disciples were being multiplied! God was blessing!
Without knowing it.... those who vocalized this concern… were providentially generating an opportunity to address a deeper, more foundational need.... the need for individuals in the body to be identified and set apart to serve the physical needs of those in the church....
When conflicts/ concerns arise, deal with them immediately. (A lesson for leaders… and church members) - (Matt. 18 principle) (Elders - 1 Tim. 5:17-25)
If there had been no complaint.. then the apostles may not have known about the issues and the needs of the body. If they didn’t know… then they couldn’t address them.
When there are questions, conflicts or concerns … communicate those questions/ concerns with the leadership.
A conflict/ concern has been raised.... the unity of the church is at stake.... let’s look at the apostle’s quick and long lasting response.
II. Quick and Long-lasting Response (2-6)
The apostles quick and long-lasting response initiates a scope of work here in Acts 6… that will later (1 Tim. 3) be clarified and established as one of the official offices of the church (Deacons).
Verses 2 and 4 show us that as the apostles respond to this need.... first they make sure to prioritize the ministry of the Word.
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.
But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.”
The verb used in this text as well as others like 1 Timothy 3… is the verb… “to Deacon”..... “to serve”.
In the NT, the word “deacon” comes from a root word that communicates the idea of raising up dust in a hurry.... being busy at work.
There is a play on words here.. in verses 2 and 4 that was not lost on the original audience.
You could read verses 2 and 4 this way.
“… It is not right that we should give up preaching the word of God to deacon tables.” (2) — (being busy at work to serve food...)
“But (rather) we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the deaconing of the word”. (4) (being busy at work to serve the Word)
As important as serving the physical needs of the body is..... the apostles priority was to serve the Word of God (if you made a GIF about this word play it would look like the apostles… holding a serving platter with a big Bible setting on the plate as the main course).
What was being suggested by the Hellenists was that the apostles themselves should stop what they were doing so that they could distribute the food themselves… to make sure there were no hard feelings.
But, the apostles knew that this would actually take away from the ministry and the power of the apostolic church would have been greatly decreased.
If the apostles would hav done what was being suggested… it would have brought the principles of discipleship and delegation under well meaning, but deadly attack. And the forward momentum of the church would have come to a screeching halt!
By responding how they did in verses 2-4, the apostles were communicating that if they were to spend their time “waiting on tables”.... deaconing.... then they would have no time left for anything else.
The apostles want to make sure that the people know that while the ministry of the Word must be their priority… the physical needs of the body must also be addressed and cared for.
So, in verse 3, 5 and 6, they lay out a plan that would develop into a self-sustaining system of care for the local church body.... that is still in operation today.
What we see here in this passage is the apostles responding to a concern / conflict..... that would preserve the priority of the ministry of the Word while also providing for the physical needs of the body.
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.
So the apostles asked the body of believers to nominate 7 qualified men… to appoint to this duty.
As the conflict arose… the apostles didn’t assign blame.... but instead enlisted the people (the members) to be part of the solution.
What were the qualifications to be? You can summarize in two words: Impeccable character
Good repute: Respectable, known for both character and conduct
Full of the Spirit: Christians (indwelt by the Spirit), must be known for submitting to the Spirit’s leadership in their lives. Not thinking they have arrived, but constantly seeing the need to grow spiritually,
Full of Wisdom: Dependent on the Spirit to provide wisdom, known for practicing practical wisdom,
G. Campbell Morgan said: “A man full of the Spirit is one who is living a normal Christian life. Fullness of the Spirit is not a state of spiritual aristocracy, to which few can attain. Anything less than the fulness of the Spirit for the Christian man is disease of the spiritual life, a low ebb of vitality. Fulness of the Spirit is not (should not be) abnormal, but normal Christian life.”
These qualifications are expanded upon in 1 Tim. 3 (next week)
The apostles provided a framework through which the church could appoint Deacons. Specific, identified, qualified, and called people who would be able to lead the church body in serving the physical needs of the members.
In verses 5-6, the church body carries out what the leadership has prescribed.
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.
When needs arise we need to: respond quickly, keep our eternal goal in focus, be part of the solution.
We must be able to keep our attention (and focus) on our eternal ministry… without being distracted / derailed by the ever increasing temporal needs that are before us.
A balance is needed… and the apostles established the perfect balance.
Elders are not apostles. But, the elders have been charged to lead and shepherd the NT church. So, it falls to us to prioritize our focus on teaching/ preaching/ shepherding.
The Seven appointed that day in Acts 6 are not called deacons… but they are the ones who set the example for the office that Paul would later clarify in 1 Tim. 3. They were to protect the church by allowing the elders the freedom to focus on the ministry of the word while they focused on the physical needs of the body.
Elders and Deacons are not the same. They are two offices out lined in the NT with different roles and responsibilities. (We’ll look more into that next week).
Both (Elders and Deacons) are needed spiritual ministries.... both require spiritual, mature, qualified, Spirit-filled people!
The apostles have responded to the concerns of the body… and have established a support system for the church by appointing 7 qualified men to “deacon” the church body. Now, let’s see what kind of far-reaching effects this solution had on the ministry of the early church.
III. Far-reaching Effects (7)
Verse 7 continuing through the rest of the book of Acts and into other NT books show us the far reaching effects of the deacon ministry initiated by the apostles in Acts 6.
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.
Because the Seven were able to serve the needs of the body.... the apostles were able to focus their time… talents.... and gifts in the areas in which they had been called...... prayer.... preparation.... teaching the Word.... Shepherding the flock.... and making sure that the church maintained doctrinal purity… as they grew… and multiplied throughout the region.
The Word of God increased.... and the number of disciples were multiplied greatly!
That is exciting!!!!! As God’s plan was carried out.... unbelievers were drawn to Him.... as the Word of God was proclaimed.... disciples were made.... and multiplied!
When the church operates according to God’s design.... disciples are multiplied and Christ’s Great Commission is accomplished!
God has provided His church with an irreplaceable gift..... Deacons. The irreplaceable gift to the Church enables the ministry to go forth and multiply.
One author said: a church without deacons may lack health… but a church without biblical preaching cannot exist.
Deacons help the ministry to progress by serving the physical needs of the body… so that the pastors/ elders can focus on the ministry of the Word.
This principle is further emphasized in Ephesians 4:11-12…
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, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.
The pastor/elder/teachers are to be busy equipping the saints… so that they saints (spear headed by the Deacons) can do the work of the ministry! --- When this is done in a healthy church.... the ministry is enabled to multiply for God’s glory.
Application/ Conclusion:
Churches are full of problems..... because churches are full of people.
When problems arise, we are to follow the pattern laid out for us in Scripture and express our concerns to the appropriate people in the appropriate ways.... avoiding murmuring and gossip..... but then we also must be willing to be part of the solution.
The people… (members of the church) brought a complaint to the leadership.
The issue was addressed directly and quickly… and the membership were drafted to be part of the solution. — Serving the needs of the body.... so that the ministry of the local church could multiply!
In God’s infinite wisdom.... He has designed the church to be able to focus on the spiritual multiplication of disciples… without having to sacrifice the physical needs of the members.
Deacons are an irreplaceable gift to the church.
When deacons serve the body (physical needs of the members.... as well as many times serving as counselors.... pointing people to the Word of God… or the leadership for guidance)… then the body grows.... the testimony of Christ is proclaimed.... and disciples of Christ not only multiply in number… but also in depth and understanding.
The office and roles of Deacons has been misunderstood and abused over the years. (Next week we’ll address a few examples of that.)
One of our goals this month is to help clarify the office and role of Deacon… and then lead our church through the process of nominating and appointing deacons to serve our local church body… so that our ministry of disciple-making may multiply!
Deacons rightly understood and deployed are an irreplaceable gift to Christ’s Church. They are model servants who excel in being attentive and responsive to tangible needs in the life of the church. In what ways do they serve? By assisting the elders, guarding the ministry of the Word, organizing service, caring for the needy, preserving unity, mobilizing ministry, … and more. (Matt Smethurst)
Can a car function without shock absorbers? yes, but not very smoothly… and not for very long.
The church is the same way.... can the church exist without shock absorbers (Deacons).... yes.
But not very smoothly… and not for very long.
In order to be a healthy church that multiplies disciples..... we need those who are qualified and willing to serve as deacons!
Main Idea:
God has given the irreplaceable gift of deacons so that the church may be enabled to thrive and multiply as a vital part Christ’s Great Commission.
Response:
Let your concerns be known and be part of the solution.
Serve the needs of the body. (physical, emotional, mental, spiritual)
Enable the the ministry of the Word to be a priority!!! ..... As deacons lead in serving the needs of the body… the pastor-elders can focus on the ministry of the Word! (equipping the saints for more effective service and ministry!)
In the near future, the Elders are going to lead the church through the process of nominating and appointing deacons.
We would ask that as we go through this process together.... that you would be praying about the men in our church body who meet the qualifications laid out in Scripture..... that God would call out to serve the body..... as deacons.