THE CHURCH AND MINISTRY
Acts 6:1-8
INTRODUCTION:
A. The Church – what is it all about?
1. Many answers could be given
2. But if we look at it from strictly a biblical perspective – what is it all about?
a. Well, the first and obvious answer would be to bring glory to God – but that is sort of ambiguous
b. More specifically, we bring glory to God as we live for Him by serving/ministering to others: both physically and spiritually
B. The key is found in service/ministry
1. Now let me say up front – you cannot be saved by performing service or ministry, that comes only through Jesus Christ, For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: [9] Not of works, lest any man should boast. Eph. 2:8-9
2. However the world, as well as those in the church, see our faith by our works, i.e. ministry or service! (Jam 2:14-26)
3. Now I want to set before you a theory: if God is glorified by our life of service/ministry it is safe to assume that everyone in the church should be involved in service/ministry.
C. God has set the church, His body, in place to minister to the world around her and has sovereignly placed members in the body for the purpose of ministry.
1. Each of us has a place
2. When you joined this church, or any other church, you commit yourself to ministry in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ in association with that body.
D. And this brings us to our scripture passage for this morning Acts 6:1-8
1. This passage is used, more often than not, is association with the duties of a deacon.
a. This is because of the verb that is translated “serve” in verse one is the Greek word (dee-ak-on-eh-o) diakoneō
b. The noun form of the word is “diakonos” from which we get the English word Deacon.
2. But in context it might just as easily be use to help us understand the idea of ministry or service as it pertains to the church as a whole.
3. In it I believe we can find a pattern for ministry.
4. In order to minister effectively we must first see
a. A Ministry Need, then
b. Devise a Ministry Plan, have
c. Church Involvement, thereby
d. See God’s Blessings
E. The church is to be a ministering spirit within our community. May God give us instruction and guidance as we seek to be that ministering spirit in our communities.
PRAY
As we begin this morning we need to see that ministries should never be started just for the sake of starting them, that is a program. Ministries should start because there is
I. A MINISTRY NEED, Acts 6:1 And in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplied, there arose a murmuring of the Grecians against the Hebrews, because their widows were neglected in the daily ministration.
A. Often times ministry opportunities will present themselves as problems
1. Here we see a problem that came from the inability of the body to meet the needs of a group of widows.
2. Because of lack of structure and planning some widows, the Grecians, were not being ministered too
a. The word “ministration” in the KJV is a translation of the Greek word (dee-ak-on-nee-ah) diakonia
b. Service – they were being neglected in the daily service
3. In this case it was the distribution of food.
B. But as is often the case this “problem” became an opportunity to minister.
1. There was a need to see that all the widows were ministered too in a equal and efficient manner.
2. When things present themselves as problems, in the family, in the church, in the community it would be wise if those who are in the place of leadership look at the possibility to minister.
3. Let me give you an example
a. As we were growing we found that the Team Kid ministry was not meeting the needs of our kids – we were having some problems
- As the leadership prayed and sought God’s will the idea for implementing AWANA presented itself
b. Or how about this possibility, with the increase of personal and family problems within and without the church we are seeing more and more problems
- Is there a need ? Yes What is that need? Godly counseling.
- What might be done to meet this need?
C. We need to be on the outlook for needs/problems within and without the church
1. Sometimes they will be very obvious
2. Sometimes they will be less obvious
3. But God has put His Church here in Mascoutah for that very reason – Ministry!
Once a ministry need is seen, the next step should be to
II. DEVISE A MINISTRY PLAN, Acts 6:2-4 Then the twelve called the multitude of the disciples unto them, and said, It is not reason that we should leave the word of God, and serve tables. [3] Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business. [4] But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word.
A. Note the first and last verse of this section: it is not the responsibility for the pastor to do everything!
1. He has his place of ministry within the body of Christ, his priorities are
a. Prayer
b. Ministry of the word: preaching and teaching
2. If you expect the pastor to do all the ministering, it will not get done and God will not be glorified.
B. So with the ministry opportunity at hand, the leadership setout to devise a plan of action
1. First the ministry is framed, to wait on tables or to hand out the food
a. It is important to get a good idea as to the type and extent of the ministry function
b. It needs to be: definable (who or what is the ministry geared to), have a means to evaluate its success or failure (what are the goals or desired end), and have a means by which to make adjustments based on the ministry evaluation.
2. Secondly it needs to contain requirements for those who will be involved
a. In the case before us they wanted men who were of
1) Honest report – they had an honorable reputation
2) Full of the Holy Ghost – spiritual
3) Had wisdom – sound judgment
b. Of course the requirements should be set according to the ministry function that is being considered: these requirements were necessary because of the nature of the problem or ministry opportunity.
c. Please note that while the planning may have been in the hands of the leadership – it was not the leadership that was going to carry out the plan.
This is where we come to the next step
III. CHURCH INVOLVMENT, Acts 6:5-6 And the saying pleased the whole multitude: and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Ghost, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolas a proselyte of Antioch: [6] Whom they set before the apostles: and when they had prayed, they laid their hands on them.
A. Here we see three aspects of the church’s involvement
1. It was brought before the church for her consideration - the saying pleased the whole multitude
a. This was the first church wide business meeting recorded in history.
b. In agreeing to the ministry plan they concurred with the need, the necessity and plan of action.
2. Secondly they sought out a group of people who met the criteria, set forth by the leaders, to fulfill the duties of the ministry
a. Here they chose 7 men to attend to the ministry of the widows
b. Actually I believe they chose 7 men to be the leaders of this ministry and it probably involved many more people in its actual accomplishment
3. Thirdly the church set them a part for the ministry.
a. They set them to the task at hand
b. Prayer and encouragement was given for the ministry
B. This is where it comes to the church
1. The church confirms to the leadership that the ministry is valid in their sight
2. It then, from its congregation, picks and/or affirms those who will perform the ministry
3. It empowers them through prayer, budgeting, and encouragement to do the ministry.
C. The ministry is then established and carried out
1. No doubt, in the apostles day, this ministry to the widows was large and probably grew larger every day – but since it was God ordained and church fueled it moved forward
2. This is not to say that it was without problems, but those committed to it worked through them and continued to minister to those who needed it
As a result of this course of action the church was privileged to
IV. SEE GOD’S BLESSINGS, Acts 6:7-8 And the word of God increased; and the number of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem greatly; and a great company of the priests were obedient to the faith. [8] And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and miracles among the people.
A. The Blessings
1. First the Word - With the apostles freed from other tasks they were able to pray and study God’s word and it was working in power
2. The number of disciples grew – the church was benefiting from the word and the ministry of the seven
a) It was interesting to me to see the additional phrase, and a great company of the priests were obedient to the faith.
b) Could it be that they were seeing something in the ministry of the widows that led them to see the way it was really meant to be?
3. And leaders emerged from the ministering group – Stephen & Philip
B. Wouldn’t these be great to see in our own congregation?
1. The ministry of the word growing – this could be seen in the number of those coming to hear it – more coming to church
2. More people coming to know Christ, even through the individual ministries
3. Seeing People called into the ministry, Sunday School Teachers, AWANA leaders, etc. out of the body at large.
C. What a time we can be having, seeing God do wondrous things in our midst!
CONCLUSION: As I close
A. Roy L. Laurin writes in his commentary on Acts concerning this portion of scripture, We do no want to serve as teachers and workers in the Sunday School, so we are constantly faced with a personal shortage. We do not want to serve in VBS and so our mission to boys and girls is limited. We do not want to serve in visitation, so our outreach into the community is limited. We do not want to serve in witnessing, and so we watch other religions out gain Christians in the conquest of the world. We do not want to serve – period, and so the greatest, most necessary work in the world languishes and we become spiritually opulent, obese and flabby.”
B. Now I know that none of us want this to be true of FBCM, so let me encourage you to get involved in the ministries of Christ’s church.
1. No more sitting on the side line watching others serve, reaping from their service alone.
2. If each of us adds our burning heart to the flame – it will grow brighter and brighter.
3. We can be the light to our lost and dying communities
4. We need to be whole heartedly involved in the Church and Ministry!
C. Are You? Where will you serve?
