Title: How to find the right ministry for you
Text: Acts 6:1-7
Review of last week
Last week we began a new sermon series “Discovering your shape.” (How God shapes us for ministry) We saw from scripture that we are both saved for service and shaped for service.(Eph. 2:11)
“We are God’s workmanship created in Christ Jesus to do good works which God prepared in advance for us to do.” (Ephesians 2:11)
We also saw how God has given all believers 5 things that shape us for service; Spiritual gifts, heart (passion), abilities, personality and experiences.
Today we want to begin looking at how you find the right ministry for you. How do you know you are doing what God has shaped you to do? And how does God move you when it’s time to do a different ministry?
We will find most of our answers by looking at the life of a New Testament believer named Philip.
Philip is first heard of in Acts 6 where we will read that he is one of 7 men chosen by the church to help launch a brand new ministry. How did Philip and the church know that he was the right person for this ministry? And if it was the right ministry for Philip in Acts 6 why do we then see him in Acts 8 being used by God in a number of completely different ministries? How did God lead Philip from one ministry into two other completely different ministries?
We’re going to cover the Acts 6 part today and the Acts 8 part next week.
Read Acts 6:1-7.
Title: How to find the right ministry for you.
“In those days when the number of disciples were increasing, the Grecian Jews among them complained against the Hebraic Jews because their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food. So the Twelve gathered all the disciples together and said, “It would not be right for us to neglect the ministry of the word of God in order to wait on tables. Brothers, choose seven men from among you who are known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will turn this ministry over to them and will give our attention to prayer and the ministry of the word. This proposal pleased the whole group. They chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit; also Philip,…
They presented these men to the apostles, who prayed and laid their hands on them. So the word of God spread. The number of disciples in Jerusalem increased rapidly, and a large number of priests became obedient to the faith.”
Finding the right ministry for you starts by first defining ministry.
One of the best definitions of ministry is this;” ministry is finding a need and meeting it.”
Is working in the nursery considered a ministry? Yes! Because it is meeting a need.Is cleaning the church considered a ministry? Yes!
The more the church grows the more needs you end up having to meet.
In Acts 6:1
“In those days when the number of disciples were increasing, the Grecian Jews among them complained against the Hebraic Jews because their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food.
If ministry is finding a need and meeting it then what defines a need? A need is a legitimate complaint. Wherever you find a legitimate complaint you find an unmet need.
What are some of the legitimate complaints you hear from those our community and even in our church?
“There is nothing for the kids to do?”
“How can I find some real friendships?”
“How can I get close to God?
‘”How can I make a difference with my life?”
“How can I change my life?”
In Acts 6 the big complaint was that there was a huge need for someone in the church to oversee the bread ministry. There was too much favoritism going on and only certain people were getting the bread.
Are you saying then that the right ministry for me is meeting any need I see?
At one time I would have said yes but I now know better.I now know better because of how the Apostles responded to this ministry need.
They said (v3) “It would not be right for us to neglect the ministry of the word of God in order to wait on tables. We’re are already doing the ministry God has called us to do so we can’t take this ministry on
Just because there is a need it does not mean it’s the right ministry for me and you.
The Apostles said "But here is what you should do"
(v3) “Brothers, choose seven men from among you who are known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will turn this ministry over to them and will give our attention to prayer and the ministry of the word. This proposal pleased the whole group. They chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit; also Philip…
How did the Apostles know this was not the right ministry for them but that it was the right ministry for Philip, Stephen and the other 5 men?
I think the answer lies with how the Holy Spirit distributes spiritual gifts.
I think the Apostles didn’t have the spiritual gifts to take over this new ministry but Philip did.
The Bible says that the Holy Spirit has given every believer certain spiritual gifts in order to build up the Body of Christ. There are at least 20 different spiritual gifts mentioned in the New Testament. They are primarily mention in Romans 12, 1 Cor. 12:, Ephesians 4, 1 Peter 4.
And no believer has every spiritual gift.
What spiritual gift was essential in order to oversee this new ministry and operate it successfully?
“Brothers, choose seven men from among you who are known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom.”
The spiritual gift of wisdom.
Definition of the spiritual gift of wisdom = having wise management in the forming of the best plans and selecting the best means.
Philip was chosen to oversee the bread ministry because he had the right spiritual gift along with a godly character.
The right ministry for you is when the right need comes up that matches your spiritual gifts.
If you want scriptural proof that you can have more than one spiritual gift notice that we are told that Steven who was also chosen to oversee this ministry also had the gift of faith.
But I don’t know what my spiritual gifts are?
“Now about spiritual gifts, brothers, I do not want you to be ignorant.” (1 Cor. 12:1)
You could do your own personal Bible study on the passages that teach on spiritual gifts or you could join about 20 of us who going through a study of the spiritual gifts when we meet during the week.
Now want could happen when every believer discovers and uses their spiritual gifts?
The answer is that great things can happen when every believer discovers and uses their spiritual gift.
“So the word of God spread. The number of disciples in Jerusalem increased rapidly, and a large number of priests became obedient to the faith.” (Acts 6:7)
1.God is glorified – The word of God spread
2.Church growth
There are other benefits
A. Church Unity
B. The common good
c. Maturity – using your gift
Altar call
That you will commit to finding out what your spiritual gifts are and to using them to build up the body of Christ.
