May 8, 2008...4:53 am
Thursday, May 8th - Acts 6
Do you ever feel like church leaders are constantly asking you to serve in some way? Exactly! No apologies here — there is much to be done in taking care of a growing church. What I love about this chapter is that it introduces an absolute super-star in the church, but he is introduced in the obscurity of a very simple, practical act of service to the congregation.
INSIGHTS
Verse 1 says “In those days when the number of disciples was increasing.” Verse 7 tells us that “the word of God spread,” and that “the number of disciples in Jerusalem increased rapidly.” But this momentum was threatened by an emerging conflict in verses 2-6. Continued growth depended on meeting this need well, specifically by finding volunteers to help carry the load.
“The Grecian Jews” … “the Hebraic Jews.” These two groups of people had been at odds with each other for centuries. Just because we’re born again, we still have work to do to get over some of our long-standing prejudices. If we let them linger, they could divide the church, and halt kingdom growth.
“Brothers, choose seven men from among you who are known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom.” Wow, that’s a pretty high bar for some communion servers! It just goes to show how important our spiritual maturity is for whatever we’re called to do.
“Stephen, a man full fo faith and the Holy Spirit…a man full of God’s grace and power, [who] did great wonders and miraculous signs… they could not stand up against his wisdom or the Spirit by whom he spoke…his face was like the face of an angel.” Do I want to be like him, or what?!? Maybe I should start by helping fill communion cups?
CHALLENGES
1. Short accounts. Got an issue with someone? Make a plan to resolve the conflict. Letting it linger could really hurt the us all.
2. If someone asks me to serve, the answer is yes. Example: Justin Marshall asks for help with Children’s Ministries at EVBC. There should be a line 1,000-people-long outside his office when he asks for help! If we’re like Stephen, how could we say no?
3. What did Stephen do to garner so much antagonism? Like Jesus, it wasn’t his works of power that got him in trouble…it was his gospel. How’s your gospel? Is it as pure, thorough and intrinsically offensive as it should be? And, are you willing to cling to it in the face of adversity?
Tomorrow, it’s Stephen’s amazing sermon…don’t miss it!
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Bill Hartley
1 Comment
May 8, 2008 at 5:22 am
(from Ron Taylor)
Billy,
I am enjoying reading your blog at 4thseedwordpress.com!
VS 41 & 42 of chapter 5 hit me:
The apostles left the Sanhedrin, rejoicing because they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name. Day after day, in the temple courts and from house to house, they never stopped teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Christ!!!
How awesome is that!!! The only suffering I encounter is when people refer to me as a “Jesus Freak” and comments that “you are no longer any fun!” What they are really saying is that they don’t get/understood the answer which is the joy and freedom of knowing Jesus! We need to share His love and understand it’s not a matter of “closing the deal” by coming across as “self-righteous”, but rather sharing His love and let the Holy Spirit take over!
Be salty and bright baby!
Leave a Reply