Bible Reading
Acts 6:1-7 “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. Therefore, brothers, pick out from among you seven men of good repute, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we will appoint to this duty. But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.” And what they said pleased the whole gathering, and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolaus, a proselyte of Antioch. These they set before the apostles, and they prayed and laid their hands on them. And the word of God continued to increase, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests became obedient to the faith.”
[34:24]1 Timothy 3:1-13 “The saying is trustworthy: If anyone aspires to the office of overseer, he desires a noble task. Therefore an overseer must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, sober-minded, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not a drunkard, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. He must manage his own household well, with all dignity keeping his children submissive, for if someone does not know how to manage his own household, how will he care for God's church? He must not be a recent convert, or he may become puffed up with conceit and fall into the condemnation of the devil. Moreover, he must be well thought of by outsiders, so that he may not fall into disgrace, into a snare of the devil. Deacons likewise must be dignified, not double-tongued, not addicted to much wine, not greedy for dishonest gain. They must hold the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience. And let them also be tested first; then let them serve as deacons if they prove themselves blameless. Their wives likewise must be dignified, not slanderers, but sober-minded, faithful in all things. Let deacons each be the husband of one wife, managing their children and their own households well. For those who serve well as deacons gain a good standing for themselves and also great confidence in the faith that is in Christ Jesus.”
[47:30]1 Corinthians 12:4-27 “Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone. To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. For to one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another the ability to distinguish between spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. All these are empowered by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as he wills. 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. If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. If the whole body were an eye, where would be the sense of hearing? If the whole body were an ear, where would be the sense of smell? But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose. If all were a single member, where would the body be? As it is, there are many parts, yet one body. The eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you,” nor again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.” On the contrary, the parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, and on those parts of the body that we think less honorable we bestow the greater honor, and our unpresentable parts are treated with greater modesty, which our more presentable parts do not require. But God has so composed the body, giving greater honor to the part that lacked it, that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together. Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it.”
[50:53]Observation questions
- What problem arose as the number of disciples increased, and which group was affected most directly? [39:10]
- What responsibilities did the apostles say they needed to remain devoted to, and what responsibility was given to the seven men?
- What three qualities were required of the men chosen for this ministry? [45:36]
- In 1 Corinthians 12, what picture does Paul use to explain how believers with different gifts belong and serve together? [51:03]
Interpretation questions
- Why was the neglect of the Hellenist widows more than a small organizational mistake? What does it show about the church’s responsibility toward vulnerable people? [41:52]
- Why did the apostles not try to solve the entire problem themselves? How did their decision protect both the ministry of mercy and the ministry of prayer and the Word? [43:00]
- Acts 6 requires good reputation, spiritual fullness, and wisdom before appointing people to serve. Why do character and mature faith matter even in practical ministries that may seem ordinary or behind the scenes? [45:53]
- How does the image of one body with many parts challenge the idea that ministry belongs mainly to pastors, leaders, or a small group of dependable people? [51:37]
Application questions
- Growth can reveal needs that were previously unnoticed. What needs among vulnerable people—within the church, in your neighborhood, or in your relationships—might be easy to miss? What would it look like to notice them with care rather than irritation? [38:07]
- The apostles recognized their limits instead of trying to carry every responsibility alone. Where are you tempted to carry more than God has asked you to carry, and where might you need to invite others into shared responsibility? [43:19]
- Character comes before service. If someone observed your life at home, work, online, and in church, what evidence would they see of a good reputation, dependence on the Spirit, and practical wisdom? [46:02]
- God gives gifts to each member of the body for the good of the whole. What gifts, experiences, or burdens has God given you that could bless others in a practical way? What is one next step toward using them? [54:03]
- Serving is not only a burden; it is also a means by which God blesses and grows His people. Can you think of a time when serving stretched you but also helped you grow? What might keep you from receiving that kind of growth now? [58:36]
- The church in Acts responded to a complaint by involving the whole gathering and appointing people who could understand the neglected group’s needs. How can this group and church listen better to people whose experiences or backgrounds differ from our own? [50:00]
- The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit work in perfect unity while carrying distinct roles in God’s saving mission. How can we pursue unity in the church without expecting everyone to serve in the same way or have the same role? [01:04:43]
