Organizing the Early Chruch
Notes
Transcript
The Problem (vv 1-2)
The Problem (vv 1-2)
The church was experiencing rapid growth.
This is most likely around 5 years after pentecost.
A complaint arose from the Greek Jews about the distribution of food.
The mission to the gentiles had not yet started so most the chruch at this point were jews.
But not just jews from there in Israel but jews that had came home from other cites and spoke different languages.
There ancestors were part of the dispersion of the Jews back in 700 BC when the Assyrians invaded.
These widows were not being left out intentionally but it was an oversight.
During this time widows and orphans were thought of on the same level and were the object of charitable acts from other families.
During this time the members of the Church did not meet in big places of worship.
They met in homes and in small groups, this kept the Apostles busy going from each small home church to home church preaching and teaching the word.
The Apostles were the only eye witnesses to the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus.
Their only job was to preach that and lead people to him.
The Solution (vv 3-4)
The Solution (vv 3-4)
The 7 that were chosen were all hellenist.
The reason being that it was in their group that the system had broken down.
The Apostles had given a few requirements for these men:
Full of the Spirit
Full of the Spirit
They were to have manifested a special degree of allowing the Spirit to work in them.
They had to be willing to be used and controlled by the Spirit not by their own minds.
The Spirit will guide them to the things of God rather than the things of man.
Having Wisdom
Having Wisdom
They had to have a practical know how to properly manage the charitable funds.
This was the money of the members that had to be taken care of and had to go to the right people.
By choosing the 7 the Apostles were free to carry out their mission of going from house to house teaching all that Christ had told them and all that they had seen.
Selection and Installation (vv 5-7)
Selection and Installation (vv 5-7)
These men were selected to help serve the people.
The were given the blessing of the Apostles by the laying on of Hands which is a sign of the OT as that of approval.
They did not have any special powers or did not give them any spiritual authority but was simply a sign of approval and blessing.