Empowering Growth: Addressing Needs in the Early Church
Summary
### Summary
In today's sermon, we explored the growth and challenges faced by the early church as described in Acts 6:1-7. The church was experiencing rapid growth, which brought both blessings and problems. One significant issue was the neglect of Hellenist widows in the daily distribution of food, leading to complaints and grumbling within the community. This situation mirrors the grumbling of the Israelites in the wilderness, highlighting the human tendency to complain when needs are unmet.
The apostles recognized the importance of addressing this issue without neglecting their primary responsibility of preaching the Word. They proposed a solution: the congregation should select seven men of good reputation, full of the Spirit and wisdom, to oversee the distribution. This allowed the apostles to focus on prayer and ministry of the Word while ensuring the needs of the widows were met.
This passage underscores the importance of organization and delegation within the church. It also emphasizes that every member has a role to play in the body of Christ. The early church's response to this problem was not just practical but also deeply spiritual, ensuring that the community's needs were met while maintaining their commitment to spreading the gospel.
The sermon concluded with a call to action for our congregation. We were encouraged to evaluate our involvement in the church, whether through worship, small groups, or service. The growth of the church requires the active participation of its members, and each of us has been blessed to be a blessing to others. By stepping up and getting involved, we can help our church grow not just in numbers but in spiritual maturity.
### Key Takeaways
1. Growth Brings Challenges and Opportunities: The early church's rapid growth brought both blessings and problems. The neglect of the Hellenist widows highlighted the need for better organization and delegation. This teaches us that growth, whether personal or communal, often comes with challenges that require thoughtful solutions. [39:13]
2. The Importance of Addressing Complaints: The apostles took the complaints of the Hellenist widows seriously and addressed them promptly. This shows the importance of listening to and resolving issues within the community to maintain unity and peace. Ignoring complaints can lead to division and hinder the church's mission. [41:59]
3. Delegation and Empowerment: The apostles delegated the responsibility of food distribution to seven men of good reputation, full of the Spirit and wisdom. This allowed them to focus on their primary calling of preaching and prayer. Effective delegation empowers others and ensures that all needs within the community are met. [50:40]
4. Every Member Has a Role: The early church's solution involved the entire congregation in selecting the seven men, emphasizing that every member has a role to play. This collective involvement fosters a sense of ownership and responsibility within the church, encouraging spiritual growth and unity. [56:09]
5. Blessed to Be a Blessing: The principle of being blessed to be a blessing is evident in the early church's actions. By addressing the needs of the widows, they demonstrated God's love and care. This principle applies to us today; we are called to use our blessings to serve and uplift others, fulfilling God's purpose in our lives. [47:21]
### YouTube Chapters
[0:00] - Welcome
[36:03] - Marathon Misconceptions
[37:35] - Growth Brings Blessings and Problems
[39:13] - The Early Church's Growth
[40:33] - Addressing Complaints
[41:59] - Biblical Context of Grumbling
[43:17] - Hellenists vs. Hebrews
[44:43] - Importance of Widows
[46:02] - Old Testament References
[47:21] - Blessed to Be a Blessing
[48:51] - Jesus' Compassion for Widows
[50:40] - Apostles' Response
[51:51] - Delegation and Empowerment
[53:11] - Role of Disciples and Apostles
[54:40] - Selecting Leaders
[56:09] - Criteria for Selection
[57:34] - Importance of Prayer and Ministry
[58:59] - Preparing for Worship
[01:00:24] - Congregation's Response
[01:02:09] - First Deacons
[01:03:42] - Role of Antioch
[01:05:13] - Involvement and Growth
[01:06:41] - Church Mission and Vision
[01:08:11] - Steps to Spiritual Growth
[01:09:25] - Importance of Fellowship
[01:10:43] - Giving of Yourself
[01:11:54] - Evaluating Your Involvement
[01:13:46] - Match Me Up Survey
[01:15:09] - Taking the Survey
[01:16:42] - Growing Together
[01:18:29] - Conclusion and Prayer
Study Guide
### Bible Reading
- Acts 6:1-7
- Philippians 2:14
- James 5:9
### Observation Questions
1. What was the main issue that arose in the early church as described in Acts 6:1-7?
2. How did the apostles propose to solve the problem of the neglected Hellenist widows? [50:40]
3. What criteria were used to select the seven men to oversee the distribution of food? [56:09]
4. How did the early church respond to the apostles' proposal? [01:00:24]
### Interpretation Questions
1. Why do you think the apostles emphasized the importance of prayer and ministry of the Word over handling the distribution of food? [51:51]
2. How does the early church's approach to solving the problem reflect the principle of delegation and empowerment? [50:40]
3. What does the selection of seven men of good reputation, full of the Spirit and wisdom, tell us about the qualities valued in church leadership? [56:09]
4. How does the early church's response to the problem illustrate the importance of every member's role in the body of Christ? [01:00:24]
### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a time when you experienced rapid growth or change in your life. What challenges and opportunities did it bring, and how did you address them? [37:35]
2. How do you handle complaints or issues within your community or workplace? What steps can you take to ensure that you address them promptly and effectively? [41:59]
3. In what areas of your life could you benefit from better organization and delegation? How can you apply the principles from Acts 6:1-7 to these areas? [50:40]
4. Think about your current involvement in the church. Are there areas where you can step up and take on more responsibility? How can you use your gifts to serve others? [01:11:54]
5. How can you cultivate a spirit of unity and cooperation within your church or community, especially when addressing complaints or conflicts? [41:59]
6. Reflect on the principle of being "blessed to be a blessing." How can you use your resources and talents to serve and uplift others in your community? [47:21]
7. Evaluate your participation in church activities such as worship, small groups, or service. What steps can you take to become more actively involved and help your church grow in spiritual maturity? [01:11:54]
Devotional
Day 1: Growth Brings Challenges and Opportunities
The early church experienced rapid growth, which brought both blessings and challenges. One significant issue was the neglect of Hellenist widows in the daily distribution of food, leading to complaints within the community. This situation highlights the human tendency to grumble when needs are unmet, similar to the Israelites in the wilderness. The apostles recognized the importance of addressing this issue without neglecting their primary responsibility of preaching the Word. They proposed a solution: the congregation should select seven men of good reputation, full of the Spirit and wisdom, to oversee the distribution. This allowed the apostles to focus on prayer and ministry of the Word while ensuring the needs of the widows were met. This passage underscores the importance of organization and delegation within the church. It also emphasizes that every member has a role to play in the body of Christ. The early church's response to this problem was not just practical but also deeply spiritual, ensuring that the community's needs were met while maintaining their commitment to spreading the gospel. [39:13]
Acts 6:1-2 (ESV): "Now in these days when the disciples were increasing in number, a complaint by the Hellenists arose against the Hebrews because their widows were being neglected in the daily distribution. And the twelve summoned the full number of the disciples and said, 'It is not right that we should give up preaching the word of God to serve tables.'"
Reflection: Think about a recent challenge you faced due to growth or change in your life. How did you address it, and what can you learn from the early church's approach to handling growth-related challenges?
Day 2: The Importance of Addressing Complaints
The apostles took the complaints of the Hellenist widows seriously and addressed them promptly. This shows the importance of listening to and resolving issues within the community to maintain unity and peace. Ignoring complaints can lead to division and hinder the church's mission. By addressing the needs of the widows, the apostles demonstrated their commitment to justice and care within the community. This teaches us the value of being attentive to the concerns of others and taking action to resolve them. It also highlights the importance of maintaining open lines of communication within the church to ensure that everyone's needs are met and that unity is preserved. [41:59]
James 1:19-20 (ESV): "Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God."
Reflection: Reflect on a time when you felt your concerns were not heard. How can you ensure that you are more attentive to the needs and complaints of others in your community?
Day 3: Delegation and Empowerment
The apostles delegated the responsibility of food distribution to seven men of good reputation, full of the Spirit and wisdom. This allowed them to focus on their primary calling of preaching and prayer. Effective delegation empowers others and ensures that all needs within the community are met. By involving the congregation in selecting these men, the apostles fostered a sense of ownership and responsibility among the members. This collective involvement not only addressed the immediate issue but also strengthened the community by empowering individuals to take on leadership roles. Delegation is a powerful tool in any organization, as it allows leaders to focus on their core responsibilities while empowering others to contribute their gifts and talents. [50:40]
Exodus 18:21 (ESV): "Moreover, look for able men from all the people, men who fear God, who are trustworthy and hate a bribe, and place such men over the people as chiefs of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties, and of tens."
Reflection: Consider an area in your life where you are trying to do everything yourself. How can you delegate some of these responsibilities to others to empower them and ensure that all needs are met?
Day 4: Every Member Has a Role
The early church's solution involved the entire congregation in selecting the seven men, emphasizing that every member has a role to play. This collective involvement fosters a sense of ownership and responsibility within the church, encouraging spiritual growth and unity. When every member actively participates, the church becomes a vibrant and dynamic community where everyone's gifts and talents are utilized for the common good. This principle applies to us today; we are all called to contribute to the life of the church in various ways, whether through worship, small groups, or service. By stepping up and getting involved, we can help our church grow not just in numbers but in spiritual maturity. [56:09]
1 Corinthians 12:12-14 (ESV): "For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and all were made to drink of one Spirit. For the body does not consist of one member but of many."
Reflection: Reflect on your current involvement in your church. What is one new way you can contribute to the life of your church community this week?
Day 5: Blessed to Be a Blessing
The principle of being blessed to be a blessing is evident in the early church's actions. By addressing the needs of the widows, they demonstrated God's love and care. This principle applies to us today; we are called to use our blessings to serve and uplift others, fulfilling God's purpose in our lives. When we recognize that our blessings are not just for our benefit but are meant to be shared, we can make a significant impact on those around us. This mindset shifts our focus from self-centeredness to a life of service and generosity, reflecting the heart of Christ. By being a blessing to others, we fulfill our calling as followers of Jesus and contribute to the growth and health of our church community. [47:21]
2 Corinthians 9:8 (ESV): "And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work."
Reflection: Identify one specific blessing in your life. How can you use this blessing to serve and uplift someone in your community this week?
Quotes
### Quotes for Outreach
1. "Growth brings blessing, problems, and opportunities. This is what the early church is experiencing. They've gone through some opposition, they've gone through some persecution, and that has not stopped the church from growing." [37:35]
2. "Get together a group of people, and it's almost inevitable, right? At some point in time, you're going to end up with some grumbling and complaining. It will come up. You probably see it at work, right? You see it at work, you see it in other groups. I mean, it's like it's in our nature, and it is. It's actually part of our sinful nature, but this is not how God wants His people to be." [40:33]
3. "We're blessed to be a blessing, and it's important for us to recognize in what ways. And so, he's telling them, I want you to, I'm going to bless you, and you're going to be a blessing. And there's people right around you in concentric circles going out from there that you're going to be able to bless, and that's exactly what I want you to do." [47:21]
4. "The apostles know that the complaining needs to stop, and that the problem also needs to be resolved. The problem, the issue here for them, the difficulty is they can't personally address it, especially with how large the size of the church is now. If they do that, it's going to steal them away from their primary responsibility. The ministry that God called them to do, which helped the church grow in the first place." [51:51]
5. "When we tackle problems together, when we grow and we face the blessings and the problems and the opportunities that come with growth, if we let God provide and work through us godly wisdom to better organize and manage things, good will come from it." [01:16:42]
### Quotes for Members
1. "The church is growing, and now what do we have? We have a complaint. The same original Greek word used here shows up in the Old Testament, the Greek translation of the Old Testament, the Septuagint in Exodus chapter 16, and it's translated as grumbling. The grumbling going on by the Israelites in the wilderness against Moses and Aaron, complaining about not having enough meat. They don't have many meat to eat that they were used to." [40:33]
2. "The growth and the size of the church has demanded more involvement, which is a good thing. Not only is involvement required to help the church function as it should, it's actually pretty good for us personally. Be involved, and it helps us to grow spiritually." [01:05:13]
3. "Gather for worship. Gather to worship. As I just said, gather with God's people to engage in prayer, praise, and receiving of the preaching of God's Word, the teaching of it. And if you know the Lord, and if you've grown at all, I'm guaranteeing you that was involved. If you had it available to you, God knows how to make up the difference if it's not available to you. But if you've had it available to you, then you've, a lot of people have discovered, if you want to grow spiritually, you have to do this. And you have to make it more of a priority. You're not thriving as a believer if you're not gathering for worship." [01:08:11]
4. "The apostles know that the complaining needs to stop, and that the problem also needs to be resolved. The problem, the issue here for them, the difficulty is they can't personally address it, especially with how large the size of the church is now. If they do that, it's going to steal them away from their primary responsibility. The ministry that God called them to do, which helped the church grow in the first place. And this is a big enough issue, apparently, that the 12 decide to bring it up to the whole gathering of disciples. They called a church meeting. That sounds like what they did, the whole, like, okay, we're going to call the church together, and we're going to talk about this. We're going to make it clear, hey, we've got a problem. It needs to be resolved, and we can't do it ourselves." [51:51]
5. "And so the 12 decide to address the whole church with the issue at hand. How are they going to handle it? Well, the first thing they said was, hey, it's not appropriate, it's not right for us to neglect the preaching, because that's what it's going to take. To manage this issue, we're going to have to back off from preaching, and that's not what we want to do. And so they go on to say in verse 3, therefore, brothers, pick out from among you seven men of good repute, or good reputation, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we will appoint to this day. But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the Word." [54:40]
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