SERIES: “LESSONS FROM THE EARLY CHURCH”
TEXT: ACTS 6:1-7
TITLE: “A CHURCH THAT SERVES”
OPEN: A. A number of years ago, a team of white-jacketed scientists marched with clipboards in hand into
the barnyard and sat down outside the chicken coop. They were there to observe the chickens.
They saw many things they expected to see – some chickens clucked, some crowed, all
scratched and pecked around in the dirt. But they saw some things they didn’t expect to see.
For example, in the barnyard there was a top chicken, and there was a bottom chicken, and all
other chickens were aligned in a great poultry hierarchy between the top chicken and the bottom
chicken. The top chicken could peck any other chicken he wanted to peck without fear of reprisal.
The bottom chicken could not peck any other chicken without fear of reprisal. So in the “pecking
order,” there were lower chickens, middle chickens, and upper chickens.
One of the dominant features of barnyard life was a constant “jockeying” for a higher pecking
order position. Occasionally, there were serious fights in which the chickens sometimes actually
got hurt.
Very interesting! So the team of scientists picked themselves up, dusted themselves off, and left
the barnyard. Then they walked out into the business world and sat down to observe humans.
They saw some things they expected to see. Some humans were tall, some were short, some
were outgoing, and other quiet. But they saw something they didn’t expect to see. In the business
“coops” of the world, there were top humans and bottom humans. And all the other humans were
aligned in a human “pecking order” in between.
And one of the dominant features of life in the business world was “jockeying” for a higher
position in the “pecking order.” Constant squabbles and posturing and faking went on as humans
tried to carve out a higher pecking order position. Occasionally, there were serious fights that
broke out in which humans sometimes actually got hurt. Perhaps not physically but emotionally.
Life in the corporate world was little better than life in the chicken coop.
1. It makes me want to ask: “Is life in the church better than life in the chicken coop?
2. Jesus said in Mk. 10:42-45 – “You know that those who are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles
lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead,
whoever want to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first
must be slave of all. For even the Son of man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to
give his life as a ransom for many.”
B. In our text this evening, we see that a decisions was reached in the Jerusalem church
1. It was a decision to serve the needs of those who had needs
2. Acts 6:1-7 – “In those days when the number of disciples was 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 responsibility over to them 4and 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.”
C. Let’s look at some of the New Testament principles used by a church that seeks to serve
I. DISSENSION IS DETRIMENTAL
A. So far in Acts, we’ve seen great blessings granted to the first church and have seen several obstacles that
have been overcome
1. Selection of Matthias to fill Judas’ place
2. Two separate appearances before the Sanhedrin
3. The attempt of Ananias and Sapphira to pretend to be something they weren’t
B. Yet, the church is now faced with the most detrimental problem it can face
--Dissension
1. Basically, all arguments can be condensed to: “Is, too!” “Is not!” Is, too!” “Is not!”
2. An old monastery near Bebenhausen, Germany displays two pairs of deer antlers interlocked. They
were found in that position many years ago. The two bucks had been fighting when their horns got
stuck together, and they couldn’t break free. They died locked together in the struggle for their turf.
C. There are important scriptural guidelines concerning dissension in the church:
1. Rom. 13:12-14 – “The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of
darkness and put on the armor of light. [Paul then lists some deeds of darkness] Let us behave
decently, as in the daytime, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery,
not in dissension and jealousy. Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not
think about how to gratify the desires of the sinful nature.
--dissension and jealousy are listed as ways to “gratify the desires of the sinful nature”
2. Phi. 2:4-6a – “Do everything without complaining or arguing, so that you may become blameless and
pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars
in the universe as you hold out the word of life.”
D. The specific problem
1. The dissension was caused because one group thought the widows of another group were receiving
preferential treatment
2. Two groups:
1. Grecian Jews
--Jews of the Dispersion
b. Hebraic Jews
--those Jews who lived in Palestine
3. Main point concerned the distribution of food to the widows
a. In Acts 2 and Acts 4, we see the early church active in providing for the needs of those who lacked
necessary things – such as food
b. Part of this caring for the needs for others was providing a daily distribution of food to widows
E. A man was walking his dog on the beach. Another fellow came along came along who happened to
be an acquaintance of the first man. The second man said, “I see you’ve got yourself a dog. What kind
of dog is it? I don’t think I’ve ever seen a dog quite like that.”
The first man wanting to show off a little bit said, “Oh, this is a very special dog. I spent a lot of
money for him.” The second man said, “I don’t see anything special about this dog.”
The first man picked up a stick and said, “Go get it, boy!” The dog took off into the waves, walked
across the top of the water all the way to the stick, walked all the way back ON TOP OF THE WATER
and brought the stick to his master.
The first man turns to the second and says, “Did you notice anything unusual?” Second man says,
“Yes. I see your dog doesn’t know how to swim!”
1. Sometimes, people just always have a negative outlook on things
--They’re just looking for something to complain about
2. Notice that in our passage this evening that it wasn’t necessarily the widows who were complaining
about the food distribution
--Acts 6:1 – “In those days when the number of disciples was increasing, the Grecian Jews among
them complained against the Hebraic Jews because their widows were being overlooked in the daily
distribution of food.”
3. Some people think they’ve got all the answers to problems that might not even exist
--Someone said, “Too bad all the people who really know how to run this country are busy driving
taxicabs and cutting hair!”
4. However, leaders need to decide two things:
a. Is the problem legitimate or imagined?
b. Is the problem accurate or exaggerated?
c. Sometimes legitimate problems can be exaggerated when related to leadership but it doesn’t mean
the problem doesn’t need to be dealt with.
II. ORGANIZATION IS ESSENTIAL
A. Find a need and fill it
1. Widows were an important part of the New Testament Church
a. James 1:27 – “Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after
orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.”
b. 1 Tim. 5:3 – “Give proper recognition to those widows who are really in need.”
2. There are a lot of people that have legitimate needs that the church can meet:
a. Physical needs: food, clothing, shelter
b. Emotional needs – those who have been abandoned, ridiculed, abused, rejected, and battered by a
heartless world
c. Spiritual needs – Everyone needs Jesus
--“all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God”
d. Mt. 25:40 – Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers
of mine, you did it for me.”
B. It’s been said: “If you fail to plan, you plan to fail.”
1. The early church leaders took a good, hard look at the need and developed a plan to meet the need
2. The plans we adopt to meet peoples needs must meet two pre-requisites:
a. Our plans must be scriptural
--It has to fall within biblical guidelines. Biblical guidelines are determined according to two
things:
1). “Thus saith the Lord”
--a specific command from God
2). Apostolic precedent
a). things we see clearly practiced in the scriptures
b). Examples: Meeting on the first day of the week for worship, to share the Lord’s Supper,
hear the Word of God proclaimed, to take up an offering.
c). Things have to have their foundation in scripture
b. Our plans must be practical
1). What we do has to take care of the need
2). Offering help nobody needs is useless
--We don’t honor God or help people when our plan isn’t practical
III. AUTHORIZATION IS REQUIRED
--Leadership must give approval and provide help in doing what needs to be done
A. The administration of the ministry to widows was originally handled by the apostles
--Acts 4:34-35 – “
1. However, the work of preaching and teaching the word o God had become so enormous that they
could not effectively administrate this program very well
2. Very wisely, the apostles recognized that they couldn’t meet the needs of the needy and that others
need to be delegated to do the job
3. Delegation was nothing new to leadership
a. Exodus Chapt. 18 – Moses’ father-in-law, Jethro, is in for a visit. On the second day of his visit,
Jethro observes that Moses is serving as judge over all the people’s problems. Jethro asks Moses
why he’s handling the situation this way. Moses says that the people epect me to direct them
according to God’s will as related in His decrees and law. Jethro says that Moses needs to teach
all of the people God’s decrees and laws and show them how live and what duties they are to
perform
b. Ex. 18:21-23 – [Jethro gives Moses good advice concerning this issue] “But select capable men
from all the people—men who fear God, trustworthy men who hate dishonest gain—and appoint
them as officials over thousands, hundreds, fifties and tens. Have them serve as judges for the
people at all times, but have them bring every difficult case to you; the simple cases they can
decide themselves. That will make your load lighter, because they will share it with you. If you
do this and God so commands, you will be able to stand the strain, and all these people will go
home satisfied.”
c. Vss. 24-26 continues: “Moses listened to his father-in-law and did everything he said. He chose
capable men from all Israel and made them leaders of the people, officials over thousands,
hundreds, fifties and tens. They served as judges for the people at all times. The difficult cases
they brought to Moses, but the simple ones they decided themselves.”
B. The selection process
1. The apostles provided the qualifications
--vs. 3 – “…choose seven men from among you who are known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom.”
a. “from among you”
--must be Christians and must be part of the fellowship of the local church
b. “known”
--It must be evident that their Christian walk is consistent; that it is known without a doubt both
inside and outside of the church that these are men with a good reputation
c. “full of the Spirit”
1). The fruits of the Spirit are evident in their lives
--Gal. 5:22-23a – “ But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness,
faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.”
2). It means that the work of the Spirit is evident in their lives; that they have a definite spiritual
outlook in all aspects of their lives
d. “full of wisdom”
--able to discern how the job needs to done
e. The apostles provided the qualifications
2. But the church chose the men
a. Told: “Choose seven men from among you”
b. Here sets a scriptural precedent for congregational election of some of its church leaders
3. The apostles confirmed and ordained these men to be over this ministry of the church
C. Were these men “deacons”?
--some of the commentators debate this topic
1.. Although the actual word translated specifically as “deacon” later in the New Testament is not used
in this passage, there are forms of that word that are used here to describe the ministry provided.
--In common Greek, the word translated as “deacon” meant “someone who serves [as in serving
food to tables]”
2. These men performed in the Jerusalem congregation in that same capacity – the sering of food to
widows
--In the first century church, deacons were men who were put in charge of a specific congregational
ministry
3. Compare the qualifications for a deacon listed in 1 Tim. 3:8-10 – [after listing qualification for
elders, Paul says] “Deacons, likewise, are to be men worthy of respect, sincere, not indulging in
much wine, and not pursuing dishonest gain. They must keep hold of the deep truths of the faith
with a clear conscience. They must first be tested; and then if there is nothing against them, let
them serve as deacons.”
IV. GROWTH IS PROBABLE
A. Notice what our passage says about the growth of the Jerusalem church in vs. 7 – “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.”
1. When a church organizes to meet needs, growth is probable
2. Why do I say probable?
a. Because we can plan our work and work our plan but our efforts mean nothing unless God brings
growth
b. 1 Cor. 3:6-7 – “I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God made it grow. So neither he who
plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow.”
c. Our efforts are useless unless God is our partner in the growth process
--However, when we’re faithful and obedient, God will bless what we do
4. Never assume that growth is limited to human vision or effort
--Eph. 3:20 – reminds us that God “is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine,
according to his power that is at work within us, 21to him be glory in the church and in Christ
Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.”
B. Why did the word of God spread?
--two important scriptural principles:
1. The apostles were able to do what Christ had set up for them to do
--a ministry of preaching, teaching, and prayer
2. More Christians became involved in ministry
a. One of the worst things that can happen to a church is to somehow communicate to the people in
the pews that all they have to do is come to church, sit and stand at the right time, and then go
home and about their regular business
--I call those folks “pew potatoes”
b. The scriptural principle here is that every Christian is a minister
1). I’ll spend one whole sermon on this subject on a Sunday morning is just a few weeks
2). We have to remember that we are not saved to sit. We’re saved to serve
3). 1 Pet. 4:10 – “Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully
administering God.s grace in its various forms..”
C. The effects of the spread of the word of God
1. The phrase translated “grew rapidly” here in the NIV literally refers to a vast number of people
--the KJV translates this word “multiplied”
2. Notice the growth of the church in Acts
a. Acts 2:41 – “Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added
to their number that day.”
--so from a number of about 500 believers, 3,000 more were added in one day
b. Acts 2:47b – “…And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.”
c. Acts 4:4 – “But many who heard the message believed, and the number of men grew to about five
thousand.”
d. Acts 5:14 – “Nevertheless, more and more men and women believed in the Lord and were added
to their number.”
e. But when the church organized for folks to work according to their giftedness and more people
became involved in ministry there was an explosion in growth
--instead of adding to the church, we see the number of converts multiplying
3. The most impressive thing we seen in the growth of the church is that vs. 7 ends: “…and a large
number of priests became obedient to the faith.”
a. These men who had been skeptics of Christianity at the least and enemies of Christianity at the
most were now becoming Christians
b. How do you reach out to those who stand against the Gospel?
--You put the gospel into effect in your personal life and the life of the church
c. God has designed that method to be the most effective and it is.
CLOSE: A. A Sunday school teacher is teaching a group of 3rd graders. She’s having a difficult time
getting them to pay attention. That Sunday’s lesson is about Lot and the destruction of Sodom
and Gomorrah.
Exasperated, the teacher said to the class, “Did you know that Lot’s wife turned into a pillar of
salt because she didn’t obey God?”
One of the young boys in the class replied, “That’s nothing. My mom turned into a telephone
pole because she didn’t obey the traffic signal!”
B. Elisabeth Elliot: “Throughout the Bible, when God asked a man to do something, methods,
means, materials, and specific directions were always provided. The man one thing to do:
OBEY.”
--Obedience is important. When we say, Jesus Christ is our Lord,” we are saying that He’s in
charge and that we’ll obey Him
1. Jesus calls His church to obedience
--to meet the needs of those who have needs
2. Jesus calls those who don’t know Him to obedience
--That’s the only way to meet the need in your heart
C. A missionary translator was working to find a word for “obedience in the native language of
the people he was serving. It was a virtue that was seldom practiced among the people in whose
language he was working to translate the New Testament.
As he returned to his hut from the village one day, he whistled for his dog. The dog came
running at full speed. An old native, seeing the dog, said in his native tongue, “Your dog is all
ear.”
--The missionary knew then he had the phrase to translate “obedience”: “all ear”
D. Are you “all ear” to what Christ wants from you tonight?
