A guide at Blarney Castle in Ireland was explaining to some visitors that his job was not always as pleasant as it seemed. He told them about a group of disgruntled tourists he had taken to the castle earlier in the week.
"These people were complaining about everything," he said. "They didn’t like the weather, the food, their hotel accommodations, the prices, everything. Then to top it off, when we arrived at the castle, we found that the area around the Blarney Stone was roped off. Workmen were making some kind of repairs." "This is the last straw!" exclaimed one lady who seemed to be the chief faultfinder in the group. "I’ve come all this way, and now I can’t even kiss the Blarney Stone."
"Well, you know," the guide said, "according to legend, if you kiss someone who has kissed the stone, it’s the same as kissing the stone itself." "And I suppose you’ve kissed the stone," said the exasperated lady. "Better than that." replied the guide. "I’ve sat on it."
When people complain we often want to tell them they can kiss the ole blarney stone. We want to grumble and complain about them grumbling and complaining about us. We want to pin the blame on them and make them hold it. We want to wallow in our own self pity about how bad they have treated or how bad the situation is. But God has a better way of dealing with conflict. He wants us to focusing on the C.A.U.S.E. of the Conflict.
Turn with me today’s text where we will find the church steeped once again in conflict. Acts 6:1-7
Conflict is a very real part of life whether it is in the home, workplace, school or church. And when it rears it’s ugly head we have second thoughts about the people or church that is involved, we can feel threatened and angry. It can destroy families, homes and churches. But conflict doesn’t have to be bad. When dealt with in the right manner it can lead to growth.
The Story
The church was growing, 3,000 to 5,000 to 20,000
Complaining started – the word translated “complaint” is an unpleasant word. used in the Greek translation of the Old Testament for the murmuring that the Jews did against Moses in the wilderness. A low grumbling growl. I wonder how many churches have been destroyed by a spirit of murmuring? God may be working in marvelous ways, souls are being saved, and then someone gets it into their heads that they are not being appreciated. A spirit of complaining develops as someone goes around the church complaining to anyone who will listen. Little unkind things are said, innuendos and implications are made that reflect negatively on character and integrity of “them”. Suddenly the people begin to wonder why the work of God does not make more progress, why there seems to be so little evidence of power and why more people are not being saved.
I don’t think it was a deliberate neglect – language barrier, cultural barierr…
The disciples response to the conflict gave us an example of how we can deal with the CAUSE of conflicts in our lives.
The Lesson: the C.A.U.S.E of Conflict
C – Clearly accept responsibility
- could have over-reacted to the problem, they could have ignored it hoping it would go away, could have beat themselves up over it – instead they decided to address the CAUSE of the conflict
A - Address the problem to the appropriate people, in the appropriate place, at the appropriate time
Wrong way
• address the problem with friends,
• knee jerk reaction
• without thought
Right way
• Not swept under the rug openly, didn’t deny it – admit there is a problem
• With the right people, at the right time and in the right place
o The apostles – spiritually mature
o Both parties involved in the conflict
o
• Shows respect
• Shows you see the issue as important – both ministry of word and ministry of the “tables” disbursement of daily needs or money.
U – Use godly wisdom
Church sign “jesus only” storm came blew off jes left “us only”
Keep the focus on God – teaching, preaching and prayer
S – Seek a solution that can “please” the whole group, including God
Please not ourselves but the whole group
Usually involves compromise and servanthood (willing waiters)
God will give us the strength and aid to move toward resolution
E – Empower the plan
Choose the right people – involved those who were “victims” – integrity and wisdom, full of HS-
• spiritually mature people
Delegated the plan to them
Gave them godly authority to fulfill the plan – laying on of hands
Notice: Then the church grew – when conflict is removed growth happens.
People were reached that hadn’t been reached before - priests
You won’t find a church that is without conflict so don’t look for one – what you want is a church that deals with the CAUSE of conflict through ministry
The guys who make up the popular Christian singing group 4Him have had their share of spats.
"Put a bunch of people together on a packed tour bus, and you’ve got a situation that’s ripe for conflict," says group member Marty Magehee. To resolve those conflicts, 4Him meets regularly Member Mark Harris says "Our love for one another grows stronger because we deal with our conflicts more openly and in a way the Bible commands us to."
When we don’t deal with conflict it festers and grows becomes painful, deep wound when we deal with the
CAUSE of conflict love grows
ook for the person to blame or complain too. We grumble and complain. but God has a better way to deal with complaints and conflict in the church, home, workplace or school. By finding the cause of the problem …world wants us to find who to blame but wants us to find solution.
Estimated size of church at this time 25000+
. An unhappy disagreement among some of the church-members, which might have been of ill consequence, but was prudently accommodated and taken up in time (v. 1): When the number of the disciples (for so Christians were at first called, learners of Christ) was multiplied to many thousands in Jerusalem, there arose a murmuring.
—Matthew Henry Unabridged
Hitherto they were all with one accord. This had been often taken notice of to their honour; but now that they were multiplied, they began to murmur; as in the old world, when men began to multiply, they corrupted themselves. Thou hast multiplied the nation, and not increased their joy, Isa. 9:3. When Abraham and Lot increased their families, there was a strife between their herdsmen; so it was here: There arose a murmuring, not an open falling out, but a secret heart-burning. —Matthew Henry Unabridged
When it was openly discussed – a resolution was found
(1.) The complainants were the Grecians, or Hellenists, against the Hebrews-the Jews that were scattered in Greece, and other parts, who ordinarily spoke the Greek tongue, and read the Old Testament in the Greek version, and not the original Hebrew, many of whom being at Jerusalem at the feast embraced the faith of Christ, and were added to the church, and so continued there. These complained against the Hebrews, the native Jews, that used the original Hebrew of the Old Testament. Some of each of these became Christians, and, it seems, their joint-embracing of the faith of Christ did not prevail, as it ought to have done, to extinguish the little jealousies they had one of another before their conversion, but they retained somewhat of that old leaven; not understanding, or not remembering, that in Christ Jesus there is neither Greek nor Jew, no distinction of Hebrew and Hellenist, but all are alike welcome to Christ, and should be, for his sake, dear to one another.
—Matthew Henry Unabridged
you won’t find a church that is without conflict so don’t look for one – what you want is a church that resolves conflict with the ministry of God by becoming willing waiters
jim kaine The church God’s Imperfect People
Perhaps this complaint was groundless and unjust, and there was no cause for it; but those who, upon any account, lie under disadvantages (as the Grecian Jews did, in comparison with those that were Hebrews of the Hebrews) are apt to be jealous that they are slighted when really they are not so; and it is the common fault of poor people that, instead of being thankful for what is given them, they are querulous and clamorous, and apt to find fault that more is not given them, or that more is given to others than to them; and there are envy and covetousness, those roots of bitterness, to be found among the poor as well as among the rich, notwithstanding the humbling providences they are under, and should accommodate themselves to. —Matthew Henry Unabridged
They kept the focus on God with preaching and prayer
Sermon by Jim Kane The Church: God’s Imperfect People.
We have mixed feelings about the church. Why is that?
Well for one reason, the spiritual nature of the church. The church is not a for profit organization. It is the called of God, the ecclesia. The church deals more than just with a financial statements, business matters, and programming issues. It deals with matters of the heart and soul.
And those matters of the heart and soul are all about attitude, about priorities, about thoughts and behaviors. Matters that go to the very core of our humanity. Matters that cannot be redesigned by engineering departments or discussed with human resources.
Another reason that we have mixed feelings about the church has to do with conflict. It seems that when conflict rears its head, we begin to have second thoughts about the church. Why is that?
Perhaps we expect the church to be conflict free. Maybe we assume that once we are saved, then everything is all right and that there is no more conflict. That’s the ideal but not the real.
Or maybe we feel that conflict is "sinful" and that to admit to conflict is to admit that we are not perfect. Not all conflict is wrong. Some conflict is present because of the reality of good and evil in this world. Which very much involves the church.
The matter was treated with respect --- empowered themselves/others to “fix” the conflict
First of all as we read in verse 2, the conflict was acknowledged and addressed in an acceptable setting. The issue was not swept under the rug. "So the twelve called a meeting of all the believers."
The disciples acknowledged that there was a problem and, this is important, dealt with it in an appropriate setting. I sometimes wonder if part of the challenge of conflict resolution, not just in the church but everywhere, has to do with how and where we deal with the conflict.
Sometimes we seek to solve a conflict at an inappropriate time or place. We get rushed into making a hasty decision or we don’t take time to prepare for a proper way of creating a plan of resolution.
From the text we don’t know how much time passed from the rumblings of verse 1 to the posted meeting notice of verse 2. But, we do know that there was not a knee-jerk reaction to the issue. The conflict was dealt with in an appropriate manner. And it was dealt with in an appropriate manner because a critically important attitude was present. Respect.
The twelve respected those who were upset. They did not label them troublemakers. They did not dismiss their concerns. They respected their need and they understood there was an issue that needed to be addressed. The twelve also respected the entire assembly of believers and valued their input. They had enough wisdom to know this particular issue needed to be brought to a larger group of people for a decision.
Now, not every issue though can be brought and should be brought to a large group. Some issues are best dealt with in a smaller setting. Not every need or issue is going to be completely resolved to the satisfaction of all involved. But the respect held by the leaders toward the people made the resolution of the situation much easier.
This respect benefited the leaders as well. For as we read in the rest of verse 2 and on through verse 4, the Twelve laid out a suggested plan of resolution that, as indicated in the response of the people in verse 5, "this idea pleased the whole group," made it possible to come up with a suitable solution to the problem.
The conflict that arose from the issue in this passage could have been serious if it had not been resolved in the way that it was. It could have created serious division in the church and the work of the church would have greatly suffered. The Holy Spirit and the trust and respect of those involved created the environment in which a potentially damaging conflict was properly and Biblically resolved.
Now, how was it resolved?
1. The twelve acknowledged the problem. They did not live in denial. They admitted that there was a problem. The conflict that arose from the issue in this passage could have been serious if it had not been resolved in the way that it was. It could have created serious division in the church and the work of the church would have greatly suffered. The Holy Spirit and the trust and respect of those involved created the environment in which a potentially damaging conflict was properly and Biblically resolved.
Now, how was it resolved?
1. The twelve acknowledged the problem. They did not live in denial. They admitted that there was a problem.
Now the text makes it clear that the Greek-speaking believers were discontented and they communicated that discontentment to whom they needed to and the Twelve heard them. The disciples communicated their concerns, regarding their priorities, to whom they need to tell and the Christian community heard them. Then it was possible for the entire group of believers to successfully resolve the conflict because open, respectful, and clear communication was used.
Why then isn’t more conflict resolved this way? Let’s turn to James 4 for some very important reasons.
James chapter 4 opens with a very matter of fact statements about the source of quarrels and fights or conflict among believers. What is said is true in any such situation. But James is writing to professed followers of Jesus Christ, the church.
What does James say? In a nutshell, he tells the believers that the reasons they have conflict is that when they don’t get their way, they get angry and then do things to get their way. Furthermore, they fail to ask God for what they are after but they still don’t get it because they ask for it for all the wrong reasons.
So why do some conflicts never get resolved in the right way? Because, we don’t want them to. We’re mad and we’re angry and we want it our way or no way. Now, I am not speaking of situations in which we need to stand up for what is morally right. I am speaking of situations in which we want our way but don’t get it
But, if God directs us to resolve a situation with someone else and we know it beyond a shadow of a doubt, then God will give us the strength and aid to move toward resolving the situation. After all He is not pleased by conflict in the church, either.END
It is not reason, ouk areston estin-it is not fit, or commendable, that we should neglect the business of feeding souls with the bread of life, to attend the business of relieving the bodies of the poor. —Matthew Henry Unabridged
Our case study begins with grumbling in the ranks of the believers. This is the history behind the dissention. When the early church began, it needed funding to accommodate its growth. Due to its rapid growth the Apostles were having problems managing its finances, personnel, and overall focus. The rapid influx of new believers put a strain on the Apostles and certain groups of people were not receiving adequate ministry. Before I go into specifics, I want to back up and describe how the early Church evolved.
Despite adequate funding for the new church, distribution issues arose and some of the membership complained about not getting fair treatment. This problem was related the Church’s rapid growth, its lack of formal organization, and dissention within the ranks. Now there were two basic groups of people within the Church: Hellenistic Jews who spoke Greek and were converted to the faith, and Palestinian Jews who spoke Hebrew. Obviously, the Palestinian Jews were from the area and were converted to Christianity while they resided in their homeland. The Hellenistic Jews were born out of Palestine and many came to the region for Passover and Pentecost. After their conversion, they decided to stay in the area. Some of the older Hellenistic Jews relocated to Palestine to live out the remainder of their days. I guess they wanted to retire there like sunny Florida. The Greek-speaking Hellenistic Jews were in the minority.
The church on the corner is not the church it should be, but it is the church that will one day be all God has called it to be.
One morning, as his mom drove him to school, it was apparent that they would be late. So mom asked him to write a note, which she would sign when they arrived.
At school, Marc handed his mom a pen and the note, which read: "Marc is late this morning due to car trouble. The trou¬ble is, Marc doesn’t have his own car, and his mom drives too slowly."
Laura Z. Sowers
Oh, the problems we endure…
And if you think that is bad…
How about this?
ILL Service: hot coffee
A diner was agitated that the waiter had brought him no spoon with his coffee. "This coffee," he said loud enough for most of the other patrons to hear, "is going to be pretty hot to stir with my fingers."
The waiter embarrassed, made a hasty retreat to the kitchen and returned shortly with another cup of coffee.
Beaming, he said, "This one isn’t so hot, sir."
Well, that may not have been what the diner was looking for, but I think the following statement is true…
Thoughtful service will get our attention.
When someone really does show us care and attention, we really appreciate it, don’t we?
We enjoy being served well.
When the apostles became aware of the conflict, they understood immediately that this was beyond them.
They already had “more on their plate” than was possible.
They also knew that they had a responsibility to keep to their God-given priorities – the ministry of the Word and to prayer.
But they certainly did not wash their hands of the situation.
After, what I am sure was careful consideration, they offered a solution.
The solution centered on people that would serve.
Through the coordination of both the apostles and the church body in general, seven men were chosen that were given the responsibility to solve the issue.
Problems abounded with this tension among the widows.
There would be financial problems.
There would be problems about the distribution of goods.
There would be administrative problems.
Nevertheless, it was their task to serve the church in this way
“So the Word of God spread.” Why? Why did the Word of God spread? Because they preached better? Because they finally sang the songs I like? Why did the word of God spread?
Because people did what they were wired up to do. Gods plan was executed because spectators became players – because people got out of stands, onto the field, found their position.
They took the abilities God gave them, and used them for eternal purposes. ‘the number of disciples increased rapidly.’ Lost people came to faith because believers stepped up and got in the game. Souls went to heaven, because believers served food! God is amazing.
Think of how we’d miss out if believers didn’t use their gifts here. What would happen if we all assumed our abilities couldn’t help the kingdom?
The complaint concerned the welfare of the widows. In this case there seems to be a real problem but this is not always so when complaining begins. The word translated “complaint” (gongysmos) is an unpleasant word, used in the Greek translation of the Old Testament for the murmuring that the Jews did against Moses in the wilderness (Ex. 16:7, Num. 14:27). Regardless of the cause murmuring is always wrong. These Greek-speaking Christians began to complain, but they did not complain to those in authority, those responsible, they simply complained among themselves. When you complain to other people who are perhaps involved but who are not in a position to do anything about it; that is murmuring.
I wonder how many churches have been destroyed by a spirit of murmuring? God may be working in marvelous ways, souls are being saved, and then someone gets it into their heads that they are not be appreciated. A spirit of complaining develops as someone goes around the church complaining to anyone who will listen. Little unkind things are said, reflection on others. Suddenly the people begin to wonder why the work of God does not make more progress, why there seems to be so little evidence of power and why more people are not being saved. It is all because a root of bitterness has sprung up.
They could have Over-reacted to the Problem. Sometimes the temptation is to overreact by yielding to criticism, even before we check out its merits, and perhaps do more harm than good. Illustration. A farmer was plowing his corn one hot day when he heard a scratching sound. He saw a mouse gnawing at a stalk of corn. He thought of all the long hours he had spent clearing the land. planting it, cultivating it, and now this mouse was trying to destroy it. In the heat of anger, the farmer picked up a stick and went after the mouse. He beat, slashed, chased, and sweated until he finally deliver a lethal blow to the mouse. He felt a deep sense of satisfaction until he looked around and realized he had destroyed nearly an acre of corn to kill one little mouse. If not well thought out sometimes the solution can be more deadly than the problem. (4) What they did was faced the Problem.
Every problem that arises in the church gives us the opportunity to do three things. (1) Examine the effectiveness of our ministry. (2) Exercise faith (in the Lord and in each other). (3) Express Love in the way that we work out the problem.
beneath their dignity. It is entirely a question of calling.
When we think of their recommendation, we are reminded of an Old Testament incident. When Moses was snowed under with work and trying to do it all, his father in law said to him, "This strain will kill you - I advise you to select some able men to help you." (Exodus 18:12)
For this important job the apostles laid out specific qualifications. No job is too small not to require good men. Verse three tells they were to be, “from among you seven men of good reputation, full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business;” (v.12). These men were chosen from with the church, "men of good reputation." They were to be men of character. Let me assure you that regardless of what you hear in the political arena character does matter. They were to be men of spiritual standing - "filled with the Holy Spirit" and men of intelligence - "full of wisdom." In spite of what seems to be the case in some churches they were elected to settle a quarrel not start one!!!
People who study church growth tell us that in order to have a maximally healthy church 60% of the people must be involved in some sort of ministry. If the widows are being neglected it is time to wait tables. If the School needs more teachers, it is time to step up. We are not only to be careful not to complain, but we must also be willing to serve. Fred Craddock helps us to understand the nature of service. “To give my life for Christ appears glorious. To pour myself out for others…to pay the ultimate price of martyrdom – I’ll do it. I’m ready Lord, to go out in a blaze of glory. We think giving our all to the Lord is like taking a $1,000 bill and laying it on the table. ‘Here’s my life, Lord, I’m giving it all.’ But in reality for most of us it is he sends us to the bank and has us cash in the $1,000 for quarters. We go through life putting 25 cents here and 50 cents there. Listen to the neighbor kid’s troubles instead of saying, ‘Get lost.’ Go to the committee meeting. Give a cup of water to a shaky old man in a nursing home. Usually giving our life to Christ isn’t glorious. It’s done in all those little acts of love, 25 cents at a time. It would be easy to go out in a flash of glory, it’s harder to live the Christian life little by little over the long haul. (quoted by David Holwick. Sermon entitled “Willing Waiters”.)
The text says “then,” that is when there was a restored sense of unity and involvement by everyone in the ministry "Then the word of God spread, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly.” The two words “spread” and “multiplied” are both imperfect tense indicating that both the spread of the gospel and the growth of the church were continuous.
When dissension is checked within, the work of God goes on in great power and blessing. There is something here that ought to speak to every one of our hearts! Are you praying for revival to occur in our church? Have you ever gone to the Lord in prayer and asked, “Lord, please revive our church and let it begin in me; if there is anything in me that hinders a revival please reveal to me?”
How do you handle people-problems?
A. Typical responses:
1) Ignore it and hope it goes away.
2) Find someone to blame.
3) Try to solve it yourself, even if you have to neglect
something else.
B. The early church had it’s own people-problems.
1) They handled it in a unique and challenging way.
2) We need to learn from them.
The apostles’ fear. 6:2
1) Petty problems would overwhelm their time.
2) Preach and prayer would suffer.
3) Problem goes all the way back to Moses. Exodus 18:17-23
B. By doing something good, they might neglect something better.
1) Human needs and spiritual needs are both important,
but leaders must key in on the spiritual.
2) What then is to be done about the human needs?
C. The apostles’ decision. 6:3
1) They faced the problem head-on.
2) Apostles made a proposal.
a) They took the initiative.
b) However, the whole church made the ultimate decision. 6:5
IV. Novel innovation.
A. Instead of passing blame, they delegated responsibility. 6:3
Was it effective? I would say so!
2. As a result of the church working out its problems, the Word of God spread.
3. As a result of the church working out its problems, the number of disciples increased rapidly.
4. As a result of the church working out its problems, a large number of priests became obedient to the faith (by-the-way, this is the FIRST mentioning of priests being saved in the early church
The complaint is about the welfare of the widows
- who God has promised to protect
- who the church had taken responsibility for if not able to support themselves, or had no living relatives
don’t think it was a deliberate• neglect. = administrative oversight. Things just get too busy!
- = specific to the Grecian Jewish widows
- so there’s a cultural aspect to it. It’s not a division of language as many of them spoke Hebrew and Greek (cf Paul)
- = their background culture.
- The Jews from the Diaspora in Gk culture weren’t getting as god a deal as the Hebrew Jews
But the issue is more than just cultural tension and division. It always is, in our churches. It threatens to do what Satan had strategised (and always aims to do)
= distract from the preaching of the word and prayer
- because without it people don’t hear about Jesus
- watch for stuff that happens when Jesus is being spoken about!
Note: it’s not a distraction for all. Rather SPECIFICALLY those who have been called to this task
The solution
There’s no hint that this work was below the apostles. It was an issue of ‘calling’
- had no liberty to be distracted from what God had called them to
- the consequences would be too far reaching!
The apostles have the idea- but they don’t impose it on the ‘church’- they gather them all together and say ‘you choose these people’
- 7 of them!
- = interesting! = very Biblical number
also very interesting that where before (v2) the apostles have said ‘we mustn’t neglect the ministry of the word’
- they now say (and add) “we will give ourselves to the ministry of the word AND prayer” (v4)
What is most interesting, though, is who they chose. Look at them
- what links them?
- They’ve all got Greek names!
- One of them wasn’t born a Jew. He was a convert (proselyte) to Judaism… and then became a follower of Jesus
- The rest of them, I reckon, were from Jews of the Gk Diaspora
- I.e. people with a heart for these needy widows
It’s very much like the building of Nehemiah’s wall around Jerusalem.
- Each person built the bit near their house. The bit in which they had a heart, home, vested interest.
And so with us- if you have heart from something, someone… are linked because it’s near your ‘house’ (i.e. your kids are in COGS)
- don’t wait for someone else to serve the table, build the wall
- you do it!
- Illustr: those who come to me and say ‘someone in the church ought to do THIS”. “You do it!”
Anyway- they laid hands on them and commissioned them
- note: not for a trivial task… or a less spiritual task
- FOR A DIFFERENT TASK. For a spiritual task
Here’s
The principle
1) God calls all people to MINISTRY
- that’s the word used here (daikonia). Both for the MINISTRY of the word, and the MINISTRY of tables
- one is not more spiritual than the other. All require people filled with the Spirit
- the other translation of ‘diakonia’ is service. And that’s what these things are
- service to God and others
- ministry to God and others
- and all are called to minister and serve
- it’s wrong, actually, to say of Pastors that they are ‘in ministry’ or ‘going into ministry’, or in ‘full time ministry
- all are in full time ministry. Ministry = generic term and needs descriptive adjective added to it ‘ministry of word, tables etc’ (food!)
- whether you minister in social work, caring, tables etc
and the service doesn’t stop• there: our service, ministry (and worship) includes our homes, family and other jobs, too!
- Illustr: LT meeting on Weds, looking towards TTT
Recognising our workplace as service, and how many of us have chosen our jobs specifically as we feel we can serve God better in that way. (loads in teaching, caring)
A guide at Blarney Castle in Ireland was explaining to some visitors that his job was not always as pleasant as it seemed. He told them about a group of disgruntled tourists he had taken to the castle earlier in the week.
"These people were complaining about everything," he said. "They didn’t like the weather, the food, their hotel accommodations, the prices, everything. Then to top it off, when we arrived at the castle, we found that the area around the Blarney Stone was roped off. Workmen were making some kind of repairs." "This is the last straw!" exclaimed one lady who seemed to be the chief faultfinder in the group. "I’ve come all this way, and now I can’t even kiss the Blarney Stone."
"Well, you know," the guide said, "according to legend, if you kiss someone who has kissed the stone, it’s the same as kissing the stone itself." "And I suppose you’ve kissed the stone," said the exasperated lady. "Better than that." replied the guide. "I’ve sat on it."
When people complain we often want to tell just exactly where they can kiss it but God has a better way to resolve it.
A husband and wife, prior to marriage, decided that he’d make all the major decisions and she the minor ones. After 20 years of marriage, he was asked how this arrangement had worked. "Great! in all these years I’ve never had to make a major decision."
Source Unknown.
At a fundraising dinner for a school that serves learning-disabled children, the father of one of the students delivered a speech that would never be forgotten by all who attended. After extolling the school and its dedicated staff, he offered a question: "When not interfered with by outside influences, everything nature does is done with perfection. Yet my son, Shay, cannot learn things as other children do. He cannot understand things as other children do. Where is the natural order of things in my son?"
The audience was stilled by the query.
The father continued. "I believe, that when a child like Shay, physically and mentally handicapped comes into the world, an opportunity to realize true human nature presents itself, and it comes in the way other people treat that child."
Then he told the following story:
Shay and his father had walked past a park where some boys Shay knew were playing baseball. Shay asked, "Do you think they’ll let me play?” Shay’s father knew that most of the boys would not want someone like Shay on their team, but the father also understood that if his son were allowed to play, it would give him a much-needed sense of belonging and some confidence to be accepted by others in spite of his handicaps.
Shay’s father approached one of the boys on the field and asked (not expecting much) if Shay could play. The boy looked around for guidance and said, "We’re losing by six runs and the game is in the eighth inning. I guess he can be on our team and we’ll try to put him in to bat in the ninth inning."
Shay struggled over to the team’s bench and, with a broad smile, put on a team shirt. His Father watched with a small tear in his eye and warmth in his heart. The boys saw the father’s joy at his son being accepted. In the bottom of the eighth inning, Shay’s team scored a few runs but was still behind by three. In the top of the ninth inning, Shay put on a glove and played in the right field. Even though no hits came his way, he was obviously ecstatic just to be in the game and on the field, grinning from ear to ear as his father waved to him from the stands. In the bottom of the ninth inning, Shay’s team scored again. Now, with two outs and the bases loaded, the potential winning run was on base and Shay was scheduled to be next at bat.
At this juncture, do they let Shay bat and give away their chance to win the game? Surprisingly, Shay was given the bat. Everyone knew that a hit was all but impossible because Shay didn’t even know how to hold the bat properly, much less connect with the ball.
However, as Shay stepped up to the plate, the pitcher, recognizing that the other team was putting winning aside for this moment in Shay’s life, moved in a few steps to lob the ball in softly so Shay could at least make contact. The first pitch came and Shay swung clumsily and missed. The pitcher again took a few steps forward to toss the ball softly towards Shay. As the pitch came in, Shay swung at the ball and hit a slow ground ball right back to the pitcher.
The game would now be over. The pitcher picked up the soft grounder and could have easily thrown the ball to the first baseman. Shay would have been out and that would have been the end of the game.
Instead, the pitcher threw the ball right over the first baseman’s head, out of reach of all teammates. Everyone from the stands and both teams started yelling, "Shay, run to first! Run to first!" Never in his life had Shay ever run that far, but he made it to first base. He scampered down the baseline, wide-eyed and startled.
Everyone yelled, "Run to second, run to second!" Catching his breath, Shay awkwardly ran towards second, gleaming and struggling to make it to the base. By the time Shay rounded towards second base, the right fielder had the ball ... the smallest guy on their team who now had his first chance to be the hero for his team. He could have thrown the ball to the second baseman for the tag, but he understood the pitcher’s intentions so he too, intentionally threw the ball high and far over the third-baseman’s head. Shay ran toward third base deliriously as the runners ahead of him circled the bases toward home.
All were screaming, "Shay, Shay, Shay, all the Way Shay"
Shay reached third base because the opposing shortstop ran to help him by turning him in the direction of third base, and shouted, "Run to third! Shay, run to third!"
As Shay rounded third, the boys from both teams, and the spectators, were on their feet screaming, "Shay, run home! Run home!" Shay ran to home, stepped on the plate, and was cheered as the hero who hit the grand slam and won the game for his team.
"That day,” said the father softly with tears now rolling down his face, "the boys from both teams helped bring a piece of true love and humanity into this world".
Shay didn’t make it to another summer. He died that winter, having never forgotten being the hero and making his father so happy, and coming home and seeing his Mother tearfully embrace her little hero of the day!
On average, we can interact with about 40 people, when we move far beyond that number, certain people begin to get left out.
In other words, we are naturally limited in our ability to meet the needs of people.
In order to meet the needs of more people, more people must be involved in meeting needs!
Trust the Spiritual Contribution of others.
¡§They presented these men to the apostles, who prayed and laid their hands on them.¡¨ Acts 6:6
4. Re-establish your Priorities.
¡§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
ULTIMATELY, THE KINGDOM OF GOD REQUIRES
TWO PRIORITIES FROM HIS PEOPLE:
1) Growing in our understanding of God¡K
¡Kthrough His Word.
¡§¡Kand will give our attention to ¡K the ministry of the word.¡¨ Acts 6:4
According to John MacArthur “To organize a program and then expect the Holy Spirit to get involved in it is to put the “cart before the horse.” We dare not try to force the Spirit to fit our mold. Organization is never an end in itself, but only a means to facilitate what the Lord is doing in His Church.”
Craig Bloomberg – Commentary on Acts “God is the ultimate leader of any Christian group. Earthly leaders represent Him as agents on this earth. (pray for you pastor and leaders of the church.) If they are to do so adequately, they must be attuned (on the same wavelength as) to Him.”
Solution realized
1) Appoint qualified servants
2) Apply responsibility to them. (6.3 charge this task (Nasb), responsibility (NIV)
II. Qualifications to serve (As Laymen)
A) The Qualities
1) Reputable -- Honest (NRSV “of good standing”)
2) Spiritual -- Full of The Spirit
a) Not just Pastors and professional ministers need to be Godly
3) Practical -- Wisdom
B) Those qualified
A) Stephen, and Phillip the notables B) Others 6.5 “They may illustrate the general principle that much of the work is carried on by the unknown, unsung individuals who faithfully carry out the tasks entrusted to them.” (John Phillips)
III. Responsibility to serve. (To whom much is given much is required) (Luke 12.48)
A) To serve the Lord Jesus
B) To serve the Church
C) To serve each other
The Church must really listen to Complaints! V1
II. The Church must respond to Crisis v2
A. Excuses are not appropriate – an answer is what is needed –
ILL>>> -- Bill Hybels, Leadership
Conflict that goes underground poisons the soil and hurts everyone eventually.
B. Elect men for the job --“We cannot take care of this ourselves”… FIRST, WE SEE THAT BECAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM IT IMPOSED DIVINE ACTION. Verse 2, . . .the twelve called the multitude of disciple unto them . . .
A. Sometimes it take trouble and difficulty to make us realize that something has to be done. This problem had no doubt been in the church for awhile. I sure that many had said, "We’re going to have to do something about this someday." but, it was not until the problem exploded that they were forced to do something.
I like the statement:
"DO SOMETHING IN LIFE: LEAD, FOLLOW, OR GET OUT OF THE WAY."
B. Sometimes we need to just call ourselves together and review the basics. If we are not careful we can get caught up in doing so many things that we forget the basics.
WE SEE THAT THIS TROUBLE EVEN INFLUENCED THE RELIGIOUS PEOPLE TO GET SAVED. Verse 7 . . .a great number of the priest were obedient to the faith.
The secret of every discord in Christian homes and communities and churches is that we seek our own way and our own glory.
-- Alan Redpath, Leadership, Vol. 3, no. 2.
