Serving God

When you ask someone what they think about the church, be prepared for any response. What they say may inspire feelings of anger, sadness, joy, or hope, depending on what they have experienced in their dealings with believers. This four-week series for adults explores four congregational values that should define our relationships with those inside and outside the church. When we fulfill our biblical call to the four c’s—commission, community, commandment, collaboration—we can be the church that glorifies Jesus.

Commission- We are all called to make an impact in other around us. Its more than just yelling or telling someone that they are a sinner and will burn in hell. Making an impact is show that person love and what it looks like to follow Christ. You can know all the book knowledge about what the bible say but if you do not show love to other than whats is the point. Impact

Community- We are all part of a great body of believes and we cant do this without every part. God make no distinction in colour of skin or where you live. Why should we. We are all part of the community body growing together. Doing life together. Being there for one another. We should be unity in all fronts and stop fight over the little things. Grow

Commandment- To love God over anyone else with all your heart and soul and mind. This is what we should be doing. Jesus cuts through the noise of the law of Moses to focus us in on these two truths: Love God and Love others. Grow

The last C is Collaboration. We will be answering this question today what does it look like for a church to collaborate together and where do we fit into this.

If you have your bible go head and turn to Acts 6:1-7. If you do not have your bible you can follow along on the screen in a few moments.

Before we do. Think for a moment.

In your mind,

What does it look like to serve someone?

every Sunday morning I try to remember to say our mission statement for Open Door.

As a family we want to impact Sherwood Park for Christ, Grow in Christ, Serve the community and the world.

With Covid and all the serve part has be a little be laking the past few years. So what does it mean to serve someone. How can you and I make a difference.

Let’s take a look at the problem the early church faced and how they decided to resolve this problem and serve others around them.

Acts 6:1–7 CSB

1 In those days, as the disciples were increasing in number, there arose a complaint by the Hellenistic Jews against the Hebraic Jews that their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution. 2 The Twelve summoned the whole company of the disciples and said, “It would not be right for us to give up preaching the word of God to wait on tables. 3 Brothers and sisters, select from among you seven men of good reputation, full of the Spirit and wisdom, whom we can appoint to this duty. 4 But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.” 5 This proposal pleased the whole company. So they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit, and Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolaus, a convert from Antioch. 6 They had them stand before the apostles, who prayed and laid their hands on them. 7 So the word of God spread, the disciples in Jerusalem increased greatly in number, and a large group of priests became obedient to the faith.

Two people groups

The Hellenistic Jews and The Hebraic Jews.

The Hellenistic were a group of Greek-speaking Jews. They primary spoke Greek. The hebraic Jew were the ones that mostly spoke Aramaic. So this two group had a problem. The first group widows were being over looked this was most like unintentionally but it was still happening. We do not know for sure but this most likely was just the tip of the iceberg of dealing with other problems between the two groups.

The apostles knew that they could not do it all by themselves.

Apostles asked for help

They asked the people to appoint 7 men to help with this problem. They did not try to to do it all alone. They went out and got help. They knew what God had called them to do and nothing was going to stop them.

Seven men where appointed

This seven men help spread the news. By giving over some of the thing to them. The Apostles were free to move and talk more. Because of this more people came to know who Christ was.

Some of these seven have other parts to the there stories that we read later on in Acts. This men help with the word of God to spread.

You might be asking the question what does this mean for me? or what does this mean for the church?

We are to help the church reach out

We are all given gifts to utilize and encourage within the body of Christ, but God does not intend for the Christian community to be closed off.

Matthew 5:13–16 CSB

13 “You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt should lose its taste, how can it be made salty? It’s no longer good for anything but to be thrown out and trampled under people’s feet. 14 “You are the light of the world. A city situated on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 No one lights a lamp and puts it under a basket, but rather on a lampstand, and it gives light for all who are in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.

We need to stop trying to do it all alone and ask for help

This is way we have deacon or deacon families in the church. I cannot do this all alone. It does take a team to make this happen. To keep the church moving forward. For Gary and Janice doing kids stuff this morning. To M for leading worship. We all have a part to play in the church.

You have to be willing to partner with other. Its not just doing things here at church on Sunday morning.