Turning Your Problems into Opportunities Message 10

Upon this Rock

The first days of the church

Message 10

Turning Your Problems into Opportunities

Acts 6:1-7

Me:

Growing pains

a. I had these as a kid

i. My mother would massage my legs

b. A business can have growing pains (6 most damaging grow pains)

i. Too little time

ii. Constantly putting out fires

iii. Lack of direction

iv. Working in a bubble (That’s not my job)

v. Too few good managers

vi. Unproductive meetings

c. You could say that about a church

i. You could even say that about this first church

ii. They turned a problem into an opportunity

We:

Seeing things through God’s eyes.

a. The pessimist

i. They see a difficulty in every opportunity

ii. I confess I see a mountain of packages as long day

iii. I see problems in the church negatively

b. God see it differently

i. Every difficulty as an opportunity

ii. This is not some pop psychology

iii. We are going to see today those difficulties are just opportunities in reverse—if we see them through the eyes of God.

iv. And you’re going to find out that every difficulty that came to that early church was used of God as a springboard just to cause them to grow all the more for the Lord Jesus Christ.

v. Underline SPRINGBOARD

God:

Turning Your Problems into Opportunities

(I’ll give you 3) (springboards)

Where There Is Life, There Is Growth

Acts 6:1 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.

Quote: A church will glow and grow, or it will dry and die. It will evangelize, or it will fossilize.

iii. Growth is not easy

iv. Growth is not automatic

v. You have to plan for it, you have to pray for it, you have to work for it.

vi. But it is God that gives the increase

vii. God gave to this church and God will give it to ours.

Where There Is Growth, There Are Problems

Acts 6:1 NLT

1 But as the believers rapidly multiplied, there were rumblings of discontent. The Greek-speaking believers complained about the Hebrew-speaking believers, saying that their widows were being discriminated against in the daily distribution of food.

ii. Oh boy

iii. Another translation says there were “murmurings”

iv. Nothing worse than murmuring (complaining)

v. But you can sympathize with those being neglected

vi. Here’s a biblical principle

1. When God wants to multiply, the devil wants to divide.

2. Let me warn you about murmuring or complaining

3. Don’t do it

Philippians 2:14 NLT

14 Do everything without complaining and arguing,

vii. Remember it’s not your preference it’s your surrender

Where There Are Problems, There Are Solutions

i. I had rather be a part of a growing church with problems than a dead church that has none.

Acts 6:2–3 NLT

2 So the Twelve called a meeting of all the believers. They said, “We apostles should spend our time teaching the word of God, not running a food program. 3 And so, brothers, select seven men who are well respected and are full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will give them this responsibility.

iii. What a great solution

iv. Here’s the action we as Grace Church need to take

Action step:

Two basic ministries of the church.

The Scriptural Ministry of “Feeding the Word”

Acts 6:4 NLT

4 Then we apostles can spend our time in prayer and teaching the word.”

ii. The time it would take to wait on tables would cause me to neglect my study in the word.

iii. My main job as your pastor is to disciple you.

iv. I’m not just being snarky when I tell you are in charge.

1. Always know this also that I am there to help and offer advice

v. This is just not my ministry either

vi. God has gifted some in this room and listening online are called to be teachers and you are neglecting that calling

The Practical Ministry of “Serving Tables”

Acts 6:3 NLT

3 And so, brothers, select seven men who are well respected and are full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will give them this responsibility.

ii. Yes, this refers to the ministry of deacons

iii. But there is a principle here that applies to your Christian walk.

iv. We all can serve – find your area of service

v. It’s my job to help you discover what that is.

vi. Don’t sit and soak

Just Imagine:

Where There Is a God-Given Solution, There Is Even Greater Growth

a. Check out verse 7

Acts 6:7 NLT

7 So God’s message continued to spread. The number of believers greatly increased in Jerusalem, and many of the Jewish priests were converted, too.

b. Just imagine that when our problems arise…

i. Do we complain? Do we argue?

ii. Or we pray seek God’s guidance

iii. Find the solution – Take action

iv. Experience God

v. Experience the gospel – see people saved.