We are saved to serve, healed to help, and blessed to be a blessing.
Sermon Title: CALLED TO SERVE
Sermon Text: ACTS 6:1-7
Sermon Series: WE ARE THE CHURCH
By: PTR. NIC SY
Sermon Notes:
ACTS 6:1-7 NIV
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.
2 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.
3 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 4 and will give our attention to prayer and the ministry of the word.”
5 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.
6 They presented these men to the apostles, who prayed and laid their hands on them.
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.
ACTS 2:44 NIV
44 All the believers were together and had everything in common.
ACTS 4:32 NIV
32 All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but they shared everything they had.
ACTS 6:1 NIV
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.
A church disunited will also find its message buried.
“We cannot proclaim the gospel of God’s love with any degree of integrity if we don’t exhibit it in our love for others. Nothing is so damaging to the cause of Christ as a church that is torn apart by jealousy, rivalry, slander, and malice, or that is preoccupied with its own selfish concerns.”
John Stott
PRIORITIES
ACTS 6:2 NIV
2 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.
The time we spend on the Word of God isn’t just my time or your time. It’s God’s time.
PARTICIPATION
ACTS 6:3-4 NIV
3 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 4 and will give our attention to prayer and the ministry of the word.”
ACTS 6:2 NIV
2 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 [diakoneó, verb] on tables.
ACTS 6:4 NIV
4 and will give our attention to prayer and the ministry [diakonia, noun] of the word.”
One person, no matter how gifted, can’t do ministry alone.
2 TIMOTHY 2:2 ESV
2 And what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.
God is not looking for people of ability. He is looking for people of availability.
PROVERBS 24:16 NIV
16 For though a righteous man falls seven times, he rises again, but the wicked are brought down by calamity.
We are saved to serve, healed to help, and blessed to be a blessing.
PROGRESS
ACTS 6:7 NIV
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.
Servers of the Word and servers of tables united in serving God.
“What I am is God’s gift to me; what I do with it is my gift to Him.”
Warren Wiersbe