Sermon Central
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Experiencing Reconciliation (Lesson 3)
Contributed by Elmer Towns on Jan 31, 2003 (message contributor)
Summary: Series: What Happens When the Church Prays?
A. EXPECT OFFENSES
1. Aggressively ministering. What were the Christians doing? “Daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ” (Acts 5:42).
2. Oblivious to problems. Some Christians can be so busy – and diligent – serving Christ that they are unaware that they cause problems.
3. Discrimination. What was the problem in the early church? “There arose a murmuring of the Grecians against the Hebrews” (Acts 6:1).
4. No offenses. What was Jesus’ standard? “It is impossible that no offenses should come” (Luke 17:1). “You cannot help offending some of the people, some of the time” (Luke 17:1, ELT).
YOU CANNOT HELP OFFENDING WHEN . . .
Doing good, i.e., you accidentally goof.
Offering help, i.e., not wanted.
Helping one, i.e., overlook another.
Sharing Jesus, i.e., refuse your words.
5. Christians never have problems. What wrong assumptions do outsiders have about Christians?
6. The answer: It’s not the problems you cannot help, it’s the way you solve problems that influences outsiders.
B. IDENTIFY AND DEFINE YOUR PROBLEM(S)
1. Small problems. There was a perceived neglect in care of widows.
WHY PEOPLE WON’T OVERLOOK YOUR SLIPS
People have prejudice against you.
People care for those overlooked.
People are related to the problem.
2. The issue: A small problem can quickly become a big problem.
3. Ethnic overtones. “The Grecians against the widows” (v.1)
WHY ETHNIC PROBLEMS
People cannot forget past offenses.
Those hurt expect discrimination.
People cannot get over their hurts.
They have baggage in their mind and heart.
C. WHAT ARE THE PRIORITIES?
1. Talking to God. What is the first priority as a Christian? “We will give ourselves continually to prayer” (Acts 6:4). We must talk to God about people, before we talk to people about God.
WHY PRAYING PEOPLE HAVE RELATIONSHIP PROBLEMS
Not listening to God when they pray.
Not applying the Word as they pray.
Not learning from previous problems.
Don’t have God’s agenda in prayer.
2. Learning from God. What was their second priority? “It is not reason that we should leave the Word of God, and serve tables” (Acts 6:2). “We will give ourselves . . . to the ministry of the Word” (Acts 6:4).
3. The church will never get anywhere being problem-focused, it must always remain Jesus-focused.
D. FIND PEOPLE WHO CAN DEAL WITH THE PROBLEM
1. People of good reputation, “honest report.”
2. People yielded to the Lord, “full of the Holy Ghost.”
3. Smart people, “full of wisdom.”
4. People who will apply God’s principles, “full of faith” (Acts 6:5).
E. GAIN A BROAD CONSENSUS TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM
1. Bend over backwards. The Greeks complained, so the Hebrews appointed seven men with Greek names to solve the problem.
2. Appeal to the church. “Brethren, you look and find seven men”(Acts 6:3, ELT).
Let the minority have their say.
Let the majority have their way.
3. Wisdom in the multitude. “The saying pleased the whole multitude” (Acts 6:5).
4. Allow leadership to lead. “You find seven men (the church), we will appoint them over this business” (the apostles)” (Acts 6:3).
F. COMMIT EVERYTHING TO GOD IN PRAYER
1. They had prayed in the past (Acts 1:14; 2:41; 3:1; 4:31; 6:4).
2. They prayed over the seven men. “When they had prayed, and laid their hands on them” (Acts 6:6).
3. They prayed for their ministry. “We will give ourselves continually to prayer” (Acts 6:4).
G. NOW MAKE YOUR MAIN JOB, YOUR MAIN JOB
1. They returned to super-aggressive evangelism. “The temple and house to house” (Acts 5:42).
2. They experienced multiplying growth. “The Word of God increased and the number of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem greatly” (Acts 6:7).
3. They experienced supernatural barrier-breaking growth. “A great company of the priests were obedient to the faith” (Acts 6:7).
Who? Those who lied about Jesus.
Motive? Hard hearts.
How many? Great company.
What? Obedient to the faith.
Why: the enemy saw the church do right with money and discrimination.
If you have never really accepted Jesus as your personal Savior, would you do it right now? Do not delay or put it off. If you would like to receive Christ by faith, pray this simple prayer in your heart:
Dear Lord, I acknowledge that I am a sinner. I believe Jesus died for my sins on the cross, and rose again the third day. I repent of my sins. By faith I receive the Lord Jesus as my Savior. You promised to save me, and I believe You, because You are God and cannot lie. I believe right now that the Lord Jesus is my personal Savior, and that all my sins are forgiven through His precious blood. I thank You, dear Lord, for saving me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
If you prayed that prayer, God heard you and saved you. I personally want to welcome you to the family of God. Please contact me at eltowns@liberty.edu and tell us about your salvation experience so that we can rejoice with you.