Being An Acts 6 Servant

Years ago, when I worked in the restaurant business, there were occasions when we would take a children’s high chair and turn it upside down in order to put an infant in a carrier, in the upside down high chair. It was ingenious, so we all thought.

One night, as I was taking an order from a customer, out of the corner of my eye, at another table, I saw one of the upside down children’s high chair, began to topple, and I reached over, grabbed it and prevented the fall.

---hold on to that thought for a few minutes----

Today, we are taking a break from the 7 Feasts, but will conclude next Sunday.

As a reminder, on the 24th, It’ll be your chance to share with us what you have gleaned in this study of the 7 Feasts of Israel.

Lisa, will you come up here for a minute?

Roman and Rhenae will you join us?

---Introduce to the church Roman as a new deacon for Cross Point Church----

Today’s message is titled:

Being an Acts 6 Servant

Give them the gifts

Ask them to be seated in from row.

Today’s sermon, is especially for you!

So, the next time you are asked:

“have you ever felt like the pastor’s sermon was preaching to you” you can confidently answer “yes”!

Church, as I present today’s message please know that when I say “Roman” or “Roman and Rhenae”, I’m addressing you as well.

So I may not say it, but this is letting YOU know, I am addressing us all. Fair enough?

Today’s message is found in Acts chapter 6.

Please turn there and stand with me as we honor God while reading His word.

BODY

Read Acts 6 from my bible.

Church, I want you to know that after counseling with Dan about 3 months ago, Lisa and I approached Roman and Rhenae, asking them to pray about, and have a genuine discussion about him becoming a deacon @ CPC.

I gave them some info to look over, and encouraged them to get with me, regarding any questions or concerns they may have.

I also encouraged them to include their children in @ least one discussion regarding this matter.

Lastly, I requested they take all the time they needed, as it was not a “light” decision, and assured them, that whatever their decision was, all would be good!

Fast forward a couple of months.

Last week, I mentioned a revelation that came to me during my most recent Tres Dias weekend.

I intentionally did not reveal that revelation (see what I did there?)

Let’s visit that for just one moment.

Most of you do not know, but I fast during nearly every Tres Dias weekend I serve.

I do this for different reasons.

During this weekend, I was questioning my motivation for such fasting.

Was my intent right?

Was my heart right?

What was I expecting to gain as a result of my fasting?

During a intensely reflective moment in the weekend, God put this on my heart:

Cross Pointe Church does not have the leadership in place for growth!

There is an entirely different type of conversation that we won’t have today, but know this: I understood what God said, and gained peace by what He put on my heart!

Remember, this happened a couple of months after approaching Roman about becoming a deacon!

At this point, we had not yet gotten a response from Roman.

A few days later, I approached Roman about this matter, and he said he was ready to accept the role as deacon @ CPC.

After that, I believe we met on two additional occasions to solidify his response. On one of those occasions, I made sure Rhenae was there!

We had a really good visit, along with Dan and Joy. Mexican food may have been involved???

Exposition-

Together, I’d like us to take a closer look @ Acts 6, as I comment on several of these verses.

The heading or pericope in NKJV, of this portion of the chapter reads:

Seven chosen to serve

Acts 6:1 “Now in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplying, there arose a complaint against the Hebrews by the Hellenists, because their widows were neglected in the daily distribution.”

Ever heard in complaint in the church? I mean, I know you haven’t at CPC, I mean in any other churches?

The best I can tell, this is the first recording of an issue inside the church.

The two factions in the church were:

The Hebrews-natives of Israel who spoke the Hebrew, or Aramaic language, and

The Hellenist who were Jews, but natives of the Greco-Roman world and spoke Greek.

The church was experiencing in growing pangs, and as a result, some things were being overlooked.