Practice What You Preach

Practice What You Preach Pastor Greg Stansel Acts 6:1-7 January 16, 2022 Snap shot: Gospel proclamation goes hand-in-hand with Gospel application. I. Get your priorities straight (6:1,2) II. Play your part (6:2–6) III. The Word of God will continue to increase (6:7) Connect How have you seen the priorities of the Christian church get mixed up? Study Point 1: Get your priorities straight (6:1,2) READ 1 Corinthians 13; 15:1–4 1) What does Paul prioritize in these verses? Why do you think he prioritizes what he does? 2) How can neglecting love hinder our proclamation of the gospel? How can neglecting love hinder our application of the Gospel? How did you see that happening in Acts 6? How can you ensure that your priorities for the Gospel are kept straight? How can the group help one another (give real practical examples and commit to keeping them)? Point 2: Play your part (6:2–6) READ 1 Corinthians 12 (For further study – Ephesians 4:1–16) 3) What does Paul say about parts of the church? What does Paul say about the unity of the church? Are there any parts that are not that important or roles too small? Discuss the importance of each person in the church playing their “part”. 4) What part are you playing in the church? How are you supporting others in the roles they are playing? How are you encouraging others to play a part in the church’s ministry? If you are not, how can your group help encourage others to become involved? Point 3: The Word of God will continue to increase (6:7) READ Matthew 16:13–26 5) To what “rock” does Jesus refer when He says He will build His church? How does Jesus secure the increase of the Word? What radical way does Jesus grow His church? 6) How is church growth significantly different than how the world would grow a business or community? Discuss ways you can participate in Jesus building His church individually and as a group. Pray the passage Lord God, we come before you full of worship and love that you neglect no one. Thank you for revealing your Son Jesus to us so that we could become children of God. We ask for forgiveness in how we have neglected others in our lives. How we have shown favoritism and partiality instead of mercy, love, and grace. Grant us clean hearts and renew a right spirit within us so that we reflect your love and grace to the church and world around us. Would you empower the deacons of Hauser Community Church to faithfully fulfill their ministry? Give them a desire to be servants like you Lord. Would you empower the elders of Hauser Community Church to faithfully prioritize prayer and the ministry of the Word, for faith comes by hearing and hearing through the word of Christ. Finally, Lord, we ask that the word of God would continue to increase in our hearts and communities so that the number of disciples increases greatly and many become obedient to the faith. In Jesus name we pray these things, Amen. Memorize & Meditate “But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word” (Acts 6:4). Preparing for next week Read: Acts 6:8-15 Ask: questions of the text. Pray: through text, for pastor as he prepares, for your heart to hear, for the congregation to hear, for all of us to be obedient.