Growing Pains

Today's NT reading is Acts 6. The last verse of Acts 5 brought down the curtain on act 1 in this book. Our present chapter opens a new thought from Dr. Luke's pen. He moves on to show how the gospel will spread to Greek speaking Jews and then eventually to pagan gentiles. Stephen becomes Luke's point man at this stage in the story. Here we find the transition from Jerusalem to Judea to Samaria, and eventually to the entire known world.
Now in this chapter, we see a congregation at work trying to solve a simple problem. We could learn much from this chapter if we make the observations we need to make. First we see,

I. Need For Servants 6:1-2
The chapter begins, "In those days..." What days? Days when the church was on the move. The church was exploding with growth. First it was 3000, then 5000, and by now it is estimated to be 20,000-25,000 strong. The explosive growth left little time to organize. There was a great need for more servants. The apostles could no longer handle carrying the load by themselves. They needed organization. They needed help. Solution: Chose seven men. "You serve the tables, and we'll serve the Word!" Now when the church was smaller, the apostles could do both. But as the church grew, they couldn't do it all. God has called men into ministry to serve up the Word of God. The greatest time a pastor can feed his flock is from the pulpit. Three sermons a week from that pulpit requires, on average, 30 hours of preparation. That leaves little time to 'serve the tables'. What the 21st century church needs, just like the first century church, is more servants. Will you serve? Will you step up and say, "Here I am. What can I do to help?"

II. Qualifications of Servants 6:3-4
This text is often used to show the selection of the first deacons, though the text never calls these men deacons. Whether or not these men were the first deacons, we can debate later. What we can learn is the qualifications will apply to all servants. Note 4 characteristics:

1. "From among you." The church's most valuable resources are right under her nose. In fact, I believe that God has resourced the church with everything and everyone it needs. The problem is people's refusal to step up 'to the plate' and serve where God has called them to serve.
2. 'Of good report.' They must be people of integrity, above reproach.
3. 'Full of the Spirit.' Must be fully yielded to the Holy Spirit and His control in every area of their lives.
4. Possess 'wisdom'. Need biblical knowledge and then the practical wisdom to apply Biblical truth to everyday situations in life.

III. Opposition of Servants 6:8-7:60
God fearing servants will face opposition. We see this in tomorrow's reading in ch.7.