“A Flourishing Church” - Acts 6:1-7
Introduction: How does a church flourish?
1. By handling complaints wisely (v.1)
“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” (Acts 6:1).
“Flattery is saying to someone’s face what you wouldn’t say behind their back; gossip is saying behind someone’s back what you wouldn’t say to their face.”
“You shall not hate your brother in your heart, but you shall reason frankly with your neighbor, lest you incur sin against him. You shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge against the sons of your own people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself” (Leviticus 19:17-18).
2. By protecting word ministry—without neglecting mercy ministry (vv. 2-4)
“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” (vv.2-4).
3. By mobilizing disciples for various ministries (vv. 3-6)
“Therefore, brothers [congregation], pick out from among you seven men of good repute, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we [apostles] will appoint to this duty…. And what they said pleased the whole gathering, and they [congregation] 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 [apostles] prayed and laid their hands on them” (Acts 6:3-6).
“Therefore, brothers, pick out from among you seven men of good repute, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we [apostles] will appoint to this duty” (Acts 6:3).
“They [congregation] 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.” (Acts 6:5)
Conclusion: A Flourishing Church
“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” (Acts 6:7).
