Introduction: Acts 6 gives us details of the growth of the early church and the challenges it faced. The apostles were faced with the task of spreading the gospel while also caring for the needs of the growing community, which is in no way an easy task. This chapter teaches the importance of delegating responsibilities so the needs of the church can be met, and the power of prayer and the Holy Spirit in overcoming challenges that the new church faced.
I. The Problem of Discrimination (Acts 6:1)
The Hellenistic Jews complained that their widows were being neglected in the daily distribution of food. This shows the importance of fairness and equality in the church community.
James 2:1-4 relates to this verse as it warns against showing partiality within the church, a lesson that many a great preacher had to learn early on in their ministry.
II. The Solution: Appointing of Seven Men (Acts 6:2-4)
The apostles decided to appoint seven men to handle the distribution of food, while they focused on prayer and ministry. This teaches the importance of delegating responsibilities of church work to many people, instead of one pastor, and it teaches teamwork within the church. The Bible tells us in 1 Corinthians 12:12-27 about the different parts of the body of Christ working together for the common good of the people.
III. The Qualifications of the Seven (Acts 6:5-6)
The seven men chosen were full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom. This shows that character and spiritual maturity are important qualifications for leadership in the church. A church should not lay hands on anyone just because they have been a member for a long time, or because they are part of one of he “big families” of the church. They should be deemed qualified by God’s Word and the people of the church. We can find the qualifications for deacons in the New Testament church in 1 Timothy 3:8-13, these qualifications are much like the qualifications of the seven men chosen in the first church.
IV. The Result: The Word of God Spread (Acts 6:7)
With the seven men handling the distribution of food, the apostles were able to focus on spreading the gospel, and the number of disciples increased. These verses teach the effectiveness of delegating different jobs to people in church, and the power of the gospel to change lives. Jesus gave the marching orders for believers in Matthew 28:19-20, it is called the Great Commission, which calls on all believers to spread the gospel to all nations, this will take team work and people who are ready to step up to the challenges of church work.
Conclusion: Acts 6 teaches us the importance of dealing with problems within the church community, delegating responsibilities to members of body, and the power of prayer and the Holy Spirit. By working together and focusing on our strengths, we can overcome challenges presented in church, and spread the gospel effectively. The growth of the early church in this chapter is an inspiration for us as believers to continue the work of spreading the gospel today.
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