Growing Through Difficulty
Notes
Transcript
Growing up is hard
As families grow tensions grow between siblings
E.g. Jeremy & I fighting & throwing stuff out of rooms
Teenagers dealing with changes & finding place in family & life can be tense
Growing older brings its own challenges
Every stage of life has difficulties
Though hard, growing is necessary
If we’re not growing, something is wrong
Growing area of study: emerging or delayed adulthood
Adolescence is lasting longer as young people delay taking on responsibility of adulthood
Growth in any aspect of life can be difficult and it’s important how we deal with facing those challenges
Growth requires change - changes in what we do, what we look like, who we are
Early church is growing phenomenally & its bringing issues
God has protected through each step
Now we meet a challenge from within the church that has potential to destroy
The way it is handled teaches a great deal
A Growing Problem
A Growing Problem
Acts 6:1–2 “1 Now in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplying, there arose a complaint against the Hebrews by the Hellenists, because their widows were neglected in the daily distribution. 2 Then the twelve summoned the multitude of the disciples and said, “It is not desirable that we should leave the word of God and serve tables.”
Threat of Division (Acts 6:1)
Threat of Division (Acts 6:1)
Diversity Increasing
Diversity Increasing
Jesus began church with a diverse group of men
Grew in diversity through Jesus’ ministry
Included rich & poor, men & women of very different backgrounds
Jesus was there to guide & teach
Church is still growing in diversity but Jesus isn’t there to lead it like He was
Diversity is wonderful thing because Gospel is reaching many people
Beauty of church is uniting different people in one heart
Diversity in church is not just beautiful but also necessary
Church isn’t a club for people just like us
Potential to Divide
Potential to Divide
Unity in diversity isn’t easy
Problem arises between Hebrew & Grecians / Hellenists
Hebrews = Jews predominantly lived in Israel, speak Aramaic
Hellenists = Jews of the dispersion who’ve settled in Jerusalem, speak Greek & influenced by gentile cultures they come from
Have many commonalities but also many differences
May be that as church is growing so rapidly 2 groups are beginning to form
Problem is as church looks after the widows the Hellenist widows apparently are being neglected
You can see the potential for disaster here
Perhaps first thought this is a race issue
Bias/prejudice is being expressed?
Certainly fertile ground for work of Satan
Saying, devil in the details
Here we might understand this as the devil can be at work in the details
Satan has tried through persecution & sin to distract & destroy the church
Here there is opportunity to divide & destroy
Division in churches is disastrous
Sometimes division happens over doctrine (perhaps necessary at times)
Usually, division happens over smaller issues, details or mistakes
Inward division has become 1 of Satan’s most effective tools to interfere with God’s mission
Increasing Distraction (Acts 6:2)
Increasing Distraction (Acts 6:2)
Practical Ministry is Important
Practical Ministry is Important
Issue here isn’t doctrine but practical
Don’t misunderstand Apostles words – not dismissing need for practical ministry
That is clear from what happens
James, who will soon Pastor church says,
James 2:26 “26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.”
Part of how we show our faith, serving each other
Apostles aren’t saying the problem was irrelevant or that it shouldn’t be an issue
Church is about personal interactions
It’s a place we expect to feel loved, appreciated, supported & cared for
Hellenists concerns are legitimate
Pastoring Needs Focus
Pastoring Needs Focus
Problem is how does a church meet the many & varied needs of its people
Problem didn’t arise because Apostles deliberately neglected anyone
Issue wasn’t about race etc.
This wasn’t intentional but organisational
Church isn’t meant to be a business but that doesn’t mean structure & organisation aren’t needed
Apostles didn’t realise the problem
Godly leaders with good hearts & working hard to serve people make mistakes
Great love & humility here move this forward
12 were humble to recognise issue & acknowledge problem
Church recognised heart of Apostles & didn’t assume worst of them
Sometimes leaders forget things/people
Sometimes things slip through the cracks, get delayed
E.g. Problems of Multitasking
It’s illegal to drive & use phone because distracted
Studies show that just 2.5% of us can multitask effectively
Same in leading a church
No-one can do everything well
Impossible to deal with all of the practical things well & study of God’s word well – both suffer
Gives Opportunity for Growth
Gives Opportunity for Growth
Acts 6:3–6 “3 Therefore, brethren, seek out from among you seven men of good reputation, full of the Holy Spirit 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 the Holy Spirit, and Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas, a proselyte from Antioch, 6 whom they set before the apostles; and when they had prayed, they laid hands on them.”
Deepening Discipleship (Acts 6:3, 5-6)
Deepening Discipleship (Acts 6:3, 5-6)
Serving Each Other
Serving Each Other
So what is the answer
Hellenists could have done what many do
Go start our own church where we can get what we want
Problem is too many want a church that will have someone else deal with the issues
That church has better music, Sunday school, youth activities, functions
Few consider being the answer to those issues
Grace & humility of this church see them work together to make church stronger
Love between people allowed them to serve each other for benefit of all
The Plan
Apostle acknowledge the problem & inability to properly fix it
Church looks among themselves for people that can handle problem
Find 7 men (probably already recognised as leaders among Hellenists)
Their job isn’t to lead church but to serve church – servant leaders
· Were these the first Deacons?
Deacons are servants of the church & helps to Pastors (1 Tim. 3:8-13)
I think they were but text doesn’t make it certain
Certainly they carried out function
Office of Deacon isn’t commanded but function of deacon (servant) is
This is what our mission is about – making disciples
Loving one another in a spirit of service
Chose the men from among them
Church was developing servant leaders
Church chose these men because they recognised they had qualities
Part of our job is to be developing leaders in our church
E.g. AKX program at WBBC – I served in nursery, as usher, help count offering, etc.
E.g. See it happening here with young – need more of it & more intentional in it. If you are in ministry be encouraging others & younger to get involved
Take these young people under our wing to disciple them to serve God & His people
There are many ways I see this servant heart at work here
Leadership is Important
Leadership is Important
Qualifications for serving were high
They weren’t looking for people with proven track record of logistics, admin or leadership
Of 1st importance were men who were spiritual
We’re not just trying to give people something to do (in any ministry)
We’re serving to help people be more like Christ
Devoted to God’s Word (Acts 6:4)
Devoted to God’s Word (Acts 6:4)
Priorities of Pastors
Priorities of Pastors
Why did they need these people?
Why couldn’t we just expect Apostles to work harder?
Though important, Apostles weren’t called to spend all their time dealing with money issues, admin & feeding the needy
Call of Apostles & call to Pastor is a call to feed & lead people to God
Yes, it does include practical care but not at the expense of spiritual
Without the Word of God the practical ministry is empty
E.g. David Platt tells story of church in Something Needs to Change
Trekking through Himalayas deeply moved by physical need of people
Asked guide how to help
Guide had provided medic stations, resources, etc.
Biggest help was planting churches – people began taking care of each other
Being a pastor means caring for the needs of people & ministering in those needs
Primary role is to study & teach God’s Word & pray
Sometimes my work doesn’t look much like work – sit in my chair reading, thinking, praying
God hasn’t called or gifted me to cook meals for the needy
Called me to pray & preach God’s word
Purpose of Their Priorities (Eph. 4:11-16)
Purpose of Their Priorities (Eph. 4:11-16)
Why is this the way?
No-one can do everything (I know)
Pastors serve people best when they equip them with the Word of God
We pray over the Word of God as we preach it so that it can equip you to build up each other
God is a multiplier not an adder
As Pastors equip God’s people there are more people to minister God’s grace
Every part of church structure is about service
Results in a Growing Testimony
Results in a Growing Testimony
Acts 6:7 “7 Then the word of God spread, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests were obedient to the faith.”
Disciples were Multiplied
Disciples were Multiplied
People were Saved
People were Saved
As people multiplied their service it multiplied their effectiveness
This didn’t just help those in the church
It enabled the gospel to reach more people
God raises up Pastors who equip the church who serve one another & people get saved
Gospel was Spread
Gospel was Spread
From Acts 6 we start to see the Gospel advance beyond Jerusalem & Jews
Christianity is set to explode into the world
Begins with Hellenists, then Samaritans, through Philip to Ethiopia, from Paul to world
Didn’t just help them reach beyond Jerusalem
Also helped testimony to Jews
Many priest believe
When a church works together to serve one another for the good of the Gospel it is a powerful thing
Faith was Deepened
Faith was Deepened
Church was Served
Church was Served
This isn’t just about how Gospel spread
Incident that started it all is taken care of
People are pleased
By serving together we are able to meet each other’s needs & proclaim Gospel
Leaders could do what they were called to do, needs were met
Disaster was Avoided
Disaster was Avoided
Thanks to work of grace in lives of people what could have been a disaster was opposite
Difficulty doesn’t have to stop growth or ruin relationships
With grace & humility it can make us all stronger & more effective witnesses
Conclusion
Conclusion
What happened here is the effect of the Gospel
Rather than think the worst of each other the church chose to show grace and serve one another
Pastors can’t do the work of the ministry alone
Our neighbourhood will be filled with doctrine of Jesus because we all serve for the glory of God and for the sake of the Gospel
As we are served by the ministry of the Word of God & serve each other God will grow this church
I believe our church needs deacons again so I’m calling our church to look for 2-3 men with good reputation, full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom who can lead us in service
This is a search for servants who will help us all serve each other better
Next week we’ll examine the qualifications and expectations from 1 Tim. 3:8-13.
Let’s start the process by seeking God’s guidance together
Pray for grace and humility towards one another
Pray for the wisdom to recognise the men in our church that are qualified & capable
Pray for courage & willingness to stand up and minister God’s grace to His people
Pray that this growth in our church will lead to stronger faith, powerful ministry & deeper fellowship in our church
Pray that this will result in the spread of the Gospel and the salvation of souls