Unity in Service: Embracing Diversity in the Church

Devotional

Day 1: Empowerment through Delegation

The early church faced a significant challenge when the Hellenists raised concerns about their widows being neglected in the daily distribution of aid. Instead of trying to solve the problem themselves, the apostles wisely chose to empower others within the congregation. They recognized their primary calling to preach and pray, and thus appointed seven men of good repute, full of the Spirit and wisdom, to address the issue. This decision not only resolved the immediate conflict but also demonstrated the church's commitment to unity and service. By delegating responsibilities, the apostles allowed the church to function effectively as one body, utilizing the diverse gifts present within the community. This approach highlights the importance of recognizing and empowering others to serve, fostering unity and allowing the church to thrive. [24:45]

Acts 6:3-4 (ESV): "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."

Reflection: Think of a responsibility you are currently holding onto that could be shared with someone else. How can you empower someone in your community to take on this role, allowing them to use their gifts for the benefit of the church?

Day 2: Unity through Inclusion

In the early church, the apostles demonstrated a profound commitment to inclusion and respect for minority groups by appointing Greek-speaking men to serve the Hellenist widows. This decision was not merely a practical solution but a deliberate act to honor and include the minority group within the church. By doing so, the church fostered unity and prevented division, showing that every member, regardless of background, was valued and respected. This act of inclusion was a powerful testament to the church's dedication to unity and its recognition of the diverse gifts and perspectives within the body of Christ. It serves as a reminder that true unity is achieved through intentional inclusion and respect for all members of the community. [25:45]

1 Corinthians 12:24-25 (ESV): "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."

Reflection: Consider someone in your church or community who may feel overlooked or marginalized. How can you intentionally include and honor them in a way that promotes unity and reflects the love of Christ?

Day 3: The Spiritual Nature of Service

The early church's response to the needs of the Hellenist widows was not just a practical solution but a spiritual exercise. Those chosen to serve were filled with the Holy Spirit, emphasizing that meeting physical needs is deeply connected to spiritual life. This interconnectedness highlights the spiritual nature of service, where acts of love and care are expressions of one's faith and relationship with God. Serving others is not merely about addressing physical needs but is a reflection of the spiritual life within the church. It is a reminder that every act of service is an opportunity to demonstrate the love and presence of God in the world. [33:45]

James 2:15-17 (ESV): "If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them, 'Go in peace, be warmed and filled,' without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead."

Reflection: Reflect on a recent act of service you performed. How did it connect to your spiritual life, and how can you ensure that your future acts of service are expressions of your faith and love for God?

Day 4: Leadership through Service

In God's kingdom, leadership is defined by service, not power or prestige. The early church exemplified this by appointing deacons who were not just administrators but servants who promoted unity through their love and service. This model challenges us to consider how we can serve one another in love, following the example of Jesus, who came not to be served but to serve. True leadership in the church is characterized by humility and a willingness to put others' needs before one's own. It is a call to lead by example, demonstrating the love and grace of God through acts of service and care for others. [36:01]

Mark 10:43-45 (ESV): "But it shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."

Reflection: Identify a way you can serve someone in your community this week, putting their needs before your own. How can this act of service reflect the leadership and love of Christ in your life?

Day 5: Confronting Division

The early church addressed potential division head-on, demonstrating the importance of confronting sin and division to preserve unity. By proactively addressing the concerns of the Hellenist widows, the apostles prevented division and maintained the health and unity of the church. This approach serves as a reminder that the church is not a place for personal gain or division but a family united in Christ. We are called to confront sin and division, to serve one another in love, and to build up the body of Christ. In doing so, we reveal the kingdom of heaven breaking through in our midst. [50:17]

Ephesians 4:2-3 (ESV): "With all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace."

Reflection: Think of a situation in your life where there is potential for division or conflict. How can you address it with humility and love, seeking to preserve unity and reflect the peace of Christ?

Sermon Summary

In the early church, as described in Acts 6, we witness a powerful example of how the kingdom of heaven breaks through human conflict and division. The church was growing, but with growth came challenges, particularly the complaint from the Hellenists that their widows were being neglected in the daily distribution of aid. This situation presented an opportunity for division, but the apostles responded with wisdom and grace. They recognized their primary calling to preach and pray, and instead of trying to solve every problem themselves, they empowered the congregation to select seven men of good repute, full of the Spirit and wisdom, to address the issue. This decision not only resolved the immediate conflict but also demonstrated the church's commitment to unity and service.

The apostles' approach highlights the importance of recognizing and utilizing the diverse gifts within the church body. By appointing Greek-speaking men to serve the Hellenist widows, the church showed honor and respect to the minority group, fostering unity and inclusion. This act of service was not just a practical solution but a spiritual exercise, as those chosen were filled with the Holy Spirit, emphasizing that meeting physical needs is deeply connected to spiritual life.

The role of deacons, as established in this passage, is crucial for maintaining the unity of the church. Deacons are not just administrators or problem-solvers; they are servants who promote unity through their love and service. Their appointment reflects the upside-down nature of God's kingdom, where leadership is defined by service, not power or prestige. This model challenges us to consider how we can serve one another in love, ensuring that no one is left behind or neglected.

As we reflect on this passage, we are reminded that the church is not a place for personal gain or division but a family united in Christ. We are called to confront sin and division, to serve one another in love, and to build up the body of Christ. In doing so, we reveal the kingdom of heaven breaking through in our midst.

Key Takeaways

1. speaking men to serve the Hellenist widows, the early church demonstrated a commitment to inclusion and respect for minority groups, promoting unity and preventing division. [25:45]
3. Spiritual Nature of Service: Meeting physical needs is a spiritual exercise, requiring those who serve to be filled with the Holy Spirit. This emphasizes the interconnectedness of physical and spiritual life in the church.

4. Leadership through Service: In God's kingdom, leadership is defined by service, not power or prestige. This challenges us to serve one another in love, following the example of Jesus, who came not to be served but to serve.

5. Confronting Division: The early church addressed potential division head-on, demonstrating the importance of confronting sin and division to preserve unity. This proactive approach is essential for maintaining the health and unity of the church.

** [25:45]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[21:06] - Generosity and Conflict
[22:17] - Choosing Servants
[24:45] - Apostles' Focus
[25:45] - Congregational Selection
[27:17] - Addressing Division
[28:35] - Confronting Sin
[29:50] - Avoiding Division
[30:36] - Seeds of Disunity
[31:30] - Unity vs. Division
[33:45] - Spiritual Exercise of Service
[34:57] - Kingdom Leadership
[36:01] - Jesus' Example
[37:40] - Love and Service
[39:54] - Deacons and Unity

Bible Study Guide

Observation Questions

What was the main issue that arose between the Hellenists and the Hebrews in Acts 6, and how did the apostles address it? [21:06]
How did the apostles ensure that the chosen men were suitable for the task of serving the Hellenist widows? [25:45]
What role did the Holy Spirit play in the selection and service of the seven men chosen to serve the widows? [33:45]
How did the early church demonstrate unity and inclusion through the appointment of the seven men? [25:45]

Interpretation Questions

Why did the apostles prioritize preaching and prayer over directly addressing the complaint of the Hellenists? How does this reflect their understanding of their roles? [24:45]
In what ways does the appointment of Greek-speaking men to serve the Hellenist widows illustrate the church's commitment to inclusion and unity? [25:45]
How does the concept of leadership through service, as demonstrated by the apostles and deacons, challenge conventional views of leadership? [36:01]
What does the sermon suggest about the relationship between meeting physical needs and spiritual life in the church? [33:45]

Application Questions

Reflect on a time when you felt neglected or overlooked in a community setting. How did you address it, and what can you learn from the apostles' approach to conflict resolution? [27:17]
Consider the diverse gifts within your church community. How can you contribute to fostering unity and inclusion by recognizing and utilizing these gifts? [24:45]
Leadership in the church is defined by service. How can you embody this principle in your daily interactions, both within and outside the church? [36:01]
The early church confronted division proactively. Are there any divisions or conflicts in your community that need addressing? How can you take steps to resolve them? [50:17]
Meeting physical needs is a spiritual exercise. Identify a practical way you can serve someone in need this week, and consider how this act of service connects to your spiritual life. [33:45]
Reflect on the role of deacons in promoting unity. How can you support or participate in similar roles within your church to ensure no one is left behind? [39:54]
Jesus served out of love, not obligation. How can you cultivate a heart of service motivated by love in your own life? [37:40]

Sermon Clips

"Now in those 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." [00:21:44] (33 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

"And so the church chooses these seven people. And people smarter than I am have pointed out that all seven of these names are probably Greek in origin. And so the congregation, even though it's primarily Hebrew, is deliberately choosing seven Greek men to serve this, to address this issue, to serve these widows, to make sure that these Greek-speaking widows are not neglected. And so they are showing the smaller population the greater honor in doing so." [00:26:01] (39 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

"The apostles laid their hands on them and, and consecrated them for their task. And they set about their work. And the church, confronted with this conflict, confronted with this opportunity for division, demonstrates their unity and continues to grow. And it's spreading like wildfire, not just among the common people, but even among the priests as well." [00:26:40] (24 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

"But the apostles were committed to not allowing that to happen. And so the first thing that we see, the first way that we see the kingdom is breaking through in the midst of this conflict, is that the issue was brought up. They complained. They said, they said, hey, something's going on here that isn't right. They didn't let it fester." [00:27:56] (22 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

"And so you see then these men who are chosen to be servants of the church in this way, chosen to be diakonos of the church. They were appointed, yes, to oversee a particular need, but the motivation behind their appointment was to preserve and to protect the unity of the church." [00:32:15] (23 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

"They tell the church in verse 3 to pick seven men with good reputations, so that people will trust them, filled with wisdom, so that they will know what to do, and filled with the Holy Spirit. And that last one is quite important, because the Holy Spirit is an empowering spirit. He is an equipping spirit. And so meeting these, and ultimately meeting these physical and financial needs that exist within the congregation, is a spiritual exercise." [00:33:45] (36 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

"But whoever would be... And whoever would be great among you must be your servant. And whoever would be first among you must be your slave, even as the son of man, that's Jesus, even as the son of man came not to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many." [00:36:21] (21 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

"And if you want to be a part of his people, of his bride, of his kingdom, you can become a part of it in this moment through repentance and faith. By believing that Jesus is the son of God who died to wash you clean of your sin, and turning away from your sin to place all of your faith, all of your trust, all of your hope in him and in him alone." [00:38:07] (25 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

"Deacons are also a way of understanding their faith. Deacons are also people who seek and destroy disunity. So if the deacon's role is primarily one of promoting and preserving the unity of the church through their service, then we all need to be paying more attention to those issues that threaten to divide us." [00:49:35] (18 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

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