Introduction

Good morning, dear friends! It warms my heart to see each and every one of you here today, brimming with eagerness and anticipation for the Word of God. There’s a certain kind of joy that fills our hearts when we gather together in His name, isn’t there? It’s like a family reunion, a gathering of brothers and sisters, united under the banner of Christ's love.

Today, we turn our hearts and minds to the book of Acts, specifically Acts 6:1-7. Here, we find a powerful illustration of collaboration, community, and carrying the Gospel. We will be focusing on three main points today: Collaboration as a Christian Calling, Community Contribution through Collaboration, and Carrying the Gospel through Collaboration.

But before we begin, let us reflect on a profound thought from a man who was no stranger to the power of collaboration, the renowned preacher Charles Spurgeon. He once said, "Satan always hates Christian fellowship; it is his policy to keep Christians apart. Anything which can divide saints from one another he delights in. He attaches far more importance to godly intercourse than we do. Since union is strength, he does his best to promote separation."

Now, let us read the Scripture passage together:

"In those days when the number of disciples was increasing, the Hellenistic 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 and sisters, choose seven men from among you who are known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will turn this responsibility 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, Procorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas from Antioch, a convert to Judaism. 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." (Acts 6:1-7)

Let us bow our heads in prayer:

Dear Heavenly Father, we thank You for this gathering of your children. We thank You for Your Word that guides us, nourishes us, and illuminates our path. As we delve into the richness of Your scripture today, we ask that You open our hearts and minds to understand and receive what You have for us. Help us to grasp the importance of collaboration in our Christian walk and inspire us to contribute to our community, carrying the Gospel everywhere we go. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.

Let’s get started!

Collaboration as a Christian Calling

In the early church, as we see in Acts 6, there was a need that arose within the community. The Hellenistic Jews felt that their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food. This was a serious issue that needed to be addressed. The apostles, recognizing the importance of this need, also understood that they couldn't neglect their primary calling - the ministry of the Word of God and prayer. So, they proposed a solution. They asked the community to choose seven men, full of the Spirit and wisdom, to take on this responsibility.

Working together: This is a clear example of the early church working together to meet the needs of the community. It wasn't just the apostles' responsibility to ensure that the widows were taken care of. It was a shared responsibility, a collaborative effort. This is a key aspect of our Christian calling. We are called to work together, to collaborate, to meet the needs of our community.

The apostles could have tried to do it all themselves: They could have tried to preach the Word, pray, and also distribute food to the widows. But they recognized that this wasn't the best solution. They understood the importance of collaboration. They knew that by working together, they could more effectively meet the needs of the community.

This is a lesson for us today: We often try to do it all ourselves. We try to meet all the needs, solve all the problems, and do all the work. But this isn't what we're called to do. We're called to work together, to collaborate, to share the load.

The early church: The apostles didn't just tell the community what to do. They involved them in the decision-making process. They asked them to choose the seven men who would take on this responsibility. This wasn't a top-down decision. It was a collaborative decision. The community was involved in the process. They had a say in the matter. This is another key aspect of our Christian calling. We are called to involve others in our work. We are called to collaborate, not just dictate. We are called to work together, not just tell others what to do.

Who they chose: The apostles didn't just choose any seven men to take on this responsibility. They asked the community to choose men who were full of the Spirit and wisdom. These were men who were known for their spiritual maturity and wise decision-making. They were men who could be trusted with this important task. We are called to collaborate with others who are full of the Spirit and wisdom. We are called to work together with those who are spiritually mature and wise. We are called to trust others with important tasks, not just do everything ourselves.

They didn't just hand over this responsibility and then forget about it: They prayed and laid their hands on the seven men. They commissioned them for this task. They gave them their blessing. They supported them in their new role. We are called to support those we collaborate with. We are called to pray for them, to bless them, to encourage them. We are called to work together, not just delegate and disappear.

Community Contribution through Collaboration

The early Christian community, as depicted in Acts 6:1-7, offers us a vivid picture of what it means to contribute to the community through collaboration ... View this full PRO sermon free with PRO