Sermons on Acts 6:3
The various sermons below interpret Acts 6:3 by focusing on the role of deacons as servants within the church, emphasizing the linguistic connection between the Greek term for "serve" and the English word "deacon." They collectively highlight the importance of humility, service, and the selection of individuals who are full of the Spirit and wisdom. The analogy of "deaconing tables" is frequently used to illustrate the deacon's role as one of active service, akin to waiting tables, which underscores the humility and dedication required. Additionally, the sermons emphasize the deacon's role in supporting the pastor and serving the congregation, with a focus on maintaining unity and preventing division within the church. The character of Stephen is also highlighted as an example of faithfulness and boldness, demonstrating how being full of faith and the Holy Spirit can lead to impactful service and witness.
While the sermons share common themes, they also present unique nuances in their interpretations. One sermon emphasizes the deacon's role as a peacemaker, focusing on their responsibility to maintain unity and declare God's truths. Another sermon highlights the theme of servant leadership, suggesting that deacons are crucial for church growth and health. The theme of faithfulness is explored through Stephen's life, illustrating how it leads to boldness in proclaiming the gospel. In contrast, another sermon presents the idea that serving is a fundamental duty of all believers, not just deacons, reflecting the servitude of Christ. This perspective emphasizes that serving is about joyful obedience rather than oppression.
Acts 6:3 Interpretation:
Qualifications and Responsibilities of Deacons in Service (Underwood Baptist Church) interprets Acts 6:3 by emphasizing the linguistic connection between the Greek word for "serve" and the English word "deacon," highlighting that the role of a deacon is fundamentally about service. The sermon uses the analogy of "deaconing tables" to illustrate that deacons are called to serve in a manner similar to waiting tables, emphasizing humility and service as core aspects of the role.
The Essential Role of Deacons in Church Growth (Chris McCombs) offers a unique interpretation by discussing the Greek term for "deacon" and its implications. The sermon suggests that the role of deacons is to support the pastor and serve the congregation, emphasizing that deacons are chosen from among the congregation and ordained by the pastor. The sermon also highlights the importance of deacons being of good reputation, filled with the Spirit, and possessing wisdom.
Commissioning Deacons: Servants of Unity and Love (Star Baptist Church) interprets Acts 6:3 by emphasizing the role of deacons as peacemakers and servants. The sermon highlights the importance of selecting men of good repute, full of the Spirit and wisdom, to serve the church and maintain unity. The analogy of deacons as "kicking up dust" illustrates their active role in serving and leading by example.
Faithfulness: The Bold Witness of Stephen (Parkway Place Church) interprets Acts 6:3 by focusing on the character of Stephen, one of the seven chosen men. The sermon emphasizes Stephen's qualities of being full of faith and the Holy Spirit, and how these attributes enabled him to perform great wonders and signs. The sermon uses Stephen's life as an example of faithfulness and boldness in witnessing for Christ.
Steadfast Obedience: Embracing Servitude in the Church (Risen Church) interprets Acts 6:3 by emphasizing the importance of selecting individuals who are full of the Spirit and wisdom to serve in the church. The sermon highlights that the apostles recognized the need to maintain their primary focus on preaching and prayer, thus appointing others to handle practical needs. This division of labor is seen as a way to protect the unity and mission of the church. The sermon uses the analogy of a waiter to describe the role of those chosen to serve, emphasizing that serving tables is not inferior to preaching but is a different calling that supports the overall mission of the church.
Celebrating Deacon Ordination: A Call to Serve (Chris McCombs) interprets Acts 6:3 by emphasizing the qualities required for deacons, such as being of good reputation, spiritually mature, and possessing godly wisdom. The sermon uses the analogy of extending authority through the laying on of hands, likening it to a transfer of responsibility and trust from the congregation to the deacons. The pastor also distinguishes between the roles of pastors and deacons, highlighting that pastors are to lead and preach, while deacons are to serve and manage practical matters within the church.
Acts 6:3 Theological Themes:
Qualifications and Responsibilities of Deacons in Service (Underwood Baptist Church) presents the theme of unity within the church, emphasizing that the appointment of deacons was a response to internal conflict and a means to maintain harmony. The sermon suggests that deacons play a crucial role in preventing division and promoting unity within the church.
The Essential Role of Deacons in Church Growth (Chris McCombs) introduces the theme of servant leadership, emphasizing that deacons are called to serve the congregation and support the pastor. The sermon highlights the importance of deacons in facilitating church growth and maintaining the health of the church community.
Commissioning Deacons: Servants of Unity and Love (Star Baptist Church) presents the theme of deacons as peacemakers, emphasizing their role in maintaining unity within the church by bravely declaring God's truths. The sermon also highlights the importance of deacons knowing both the written Word and the living Word, Jesus, to effectively serve and lead.
Faithfulness: The Bold Witness of Stephen (Parkway Place Church) introduces the theme of faithfulness producing fruit, as seen in Stephen's life. The sermon discusses how faithfulness leads to boldness in proclaiming the gospel and how it sets believers apart, making them look more like Jesus.
Steadfast Obedience: Embracing Servitude in the Church (Risen Church) presents the theme that serving within the church is a fundamental duty of all believers, not just those in leadership positions. The sermon emphasizes that every believer is called to serve, reflecting the servitude of Christ. This theme is expanded by highlighting that serving is not about oppression but about obedience and joyfully participating in God's mission.
Celebrating Deacon Ordination: A Call to Serve (Chris McCombs) presents the theme of accountability within the church, emphasizing that both pastors and deacons are accountable to the congregation and to God. The sermon also introduces the idea that authority in the church is not about power but about responsibility and service, aligning with the biblical model of servant leadership.
Acts 6:3 Historical and Contextual Insights:
Qualifications and Responsibilities of Deacons in Service (Underwood Baptist Church) provides historical context by explaining the cultural practice of distributing food to widows in the early church. The sermon highlights the conflict between Hellenistic and Hebraic Jews over food distribution, which led to the appointment of deacons to address these needs and maintain unity.
The Essential Role of Deacons in Church Growth (Chris McCombs) discusses the historical context of the early church's growth and the challenges faced by the apostles in managing the needs of a rapidly expanding congregation. The sermon explains that the appointment of deacons was a practical solution to address these challenges and ensure the effective functioning of the church.
Commissioning Deacons: Servants of Unity and Love (Star Baptist Church) provides historical context by explaining the cultural tension between Hellenistic and Hebraic Jews in the early church, which led to the need for deacons to address the neglect of Greek-speaking widows.
Steadfast Obedience: Embracing Servitude in the Church (Risen Church) provides historical context by explaining the cultural dynamics between the Hellenists and Hebrews in the early church. The sermon notes that the Hellenists were Greek-speaking believers, while the Hebrews were Hebrew-speaking, and this cultural difference led to tensions that needed to be addressed through wise and Spirit-filled leadership.
Celebrating Deacon Ordination: A Call to Serve (Chris McCombs) provides historical context by explaining the early church's need for deacons due to the rapid growth of the Christian community and the practical issues that arose, such as the distribution of food to widows. The sermon highlights the cultural tensions between Hellenistic and Hebraic Jews, which necessitated the appointment of deacons to ensure fair treatment and unity within the church.
Acts 6:3 Cross-References in the Bible:
Qualifications and Responsibilities of Deacons in Service (Underwood Baptist Church) references 1 Timothy 3 to discuss the qualifications of deacons, drawing parallels between the qualifications listed in Timothy and the criteria for selecting deacons in Acts 6:3. The sermon uses this cross-reference to emphasize the importance of character and reputation in the selection of deacons.
The Essential Role of Deacons in Church Growth (Chris McCombs) also references 1 Timothy 3, highlighting the qualifications for deacons and drawing a distinction between the roles of pastors and deacons. The sermon uses this cross-reference to emphasize the importance of deacons in supporting the pastor and serving the congregation.
Commissioning Deacons: Servants of Unity and Love (Star Baptist Church) references Matthew 5:9, where Jesus speaks about peacemakers being called sons of God, to support the role of deacons as peacemakers. The sermon also references Romans 14:19 and Hebrews 12:14 to emphasize the active pursuit of peace and unity within the church.
Faithfulness: The Bold Witness of Stephen (Parkway Place Church) references John 15:5 to illustrate the concept of abiding in Christ and bearing fruit. The sermon also references Micah 6:8 to highlight the requirement of faithfulness in a believer's life.
Steadfast Obedience: Embracing Servitude in the Church (Risen Church) references Mark 9 and Mark 10 to support the interpretation of Acts 6:3. In Mark 9, Jesus teaches that to be first, one must be last and a servant of all, which aligns with the call to serve in Acts 6:3. Mark 10 further emphasizes that the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, reinforcing the idea that serving is a Christ-like attribute.
Celebrating Deacon Ordination: A Call to Serve (Chris McCombs) references 1 Timothy 3:8-13 to expand on the qualifications for deacons, such as being worthy of respect, not hypocritical, and managing their households well. The sermon uses this passage to reinforce the standards set in Acts 6:3 and to provide a broader biblical framework for understanding the role and responsibilities of deacons.
Acts 6:3 Christian References outside the Bible:
The Essential Role of Deacons in Church Growth (Chris McCombs) references a Deacon Ministry Handbook commissioned by the Southern Baptist Convention, which provides an in-depth analysis of the Greek language and the qualifications for deacons. The sermon uses this reference to support its interpretation of the qualifications for deacons and to challenge traditional views on divorce and remarriage in relation to deacon qualifications.
Faithfulness: The Bold Witness of Stephen (Parkway Place Church) does not explicitly reference any non-biblical Christian authors or theologians in the discussion of Acts 6:3.
Steadfast Obedience: Embracing Servitude in the Church (Risen Church) does not explicitly reference any non-biblical Christian authors or theologians in its discussion of Acts 6:3.
Understanding the Dual Calling of Preaching (MLJTrust) references Charles Spurgeon to illustrate the importance of a genuine call to ministry, emphasizing that the Spirit's guidance should be evident to both the individual and the church. The sermon uses Spurgeon's anecdote to highlight the orderly nature of the Spirit's work and the need for discernment in recognizing a true calling.
Acts 6:3 Illustrations from Secular Sources:
The Essential Role of Deacons in Church Growth (Chris McCombs) uses the analogy of Maverick and Goose from the movie "Top Gun" to illustrate the need for deacons in the church. The sermon compares the partnership of Maverick and Goose to the relationship between pastors and deacons, emphasizing the importance of teamwork and support in achieving the church's mission.
Commissioning Deacons: Servants of Unity and Love (Star Baptist Church) uses the analogy of the Roadrunner and Wiley Coyote cartoon to illustrate the concept of deacons "kicking up dust" as they actively serve and move within the church. This analogy emphasizes the dynamic and proactive nature of a deacon's service.
Steadfast Obedience: Embracing Servitude in the Church (Risen Church) uses the analogy of a waiter to illustrate the role of those chosen to serve in Acts 6:3. The sermon describes how a waiter serves tables, emphasizing that this role is not inferior to preaching but is essential for the church's mission. This analogy helps to convey the idea that serving in practical ways is a vital part of church life and supports the overall mission of spreading the gospel.
Understanding the Dual Calling of Preaching (MLJTrust) uses the example of a French novelist, Anatole France, who would retreat to the 18th century for inspiration when feeling downcast. This analogy is used to encourage preachers to draw strength and perspective from historical revivals and great preachers of the past, rather than relying solely on contemporary experiences or personal feelings.