Maud church of Christ

by Jim Bradshaw

Sunday Morning, February 10, 2013

Acts 6:1-7

Joh 4:35 NKJV Do you not say, 'There are still four months and

then comes the harvest'? Behold, I say to you, lift up your eyes

and look at the fields, for they are already white for harvest!

A Growing Church Faces Problems

1. Most Problems Come from Within

2. Many Complain that the church is not doing enough for the

young, old, young married, singles, widows, etc.

3. Problems often come when church is growing:

a) “Now in those days, when the number of the disciples was

multiplying, there arose a complaint,” (Acts 6:1).

b) Personal experience.

4. In Acts 6 the Hellenistic widows were being neglected

a) “A murmuring” KJV (6:1)

b) We murmur – singing, preaching, attendance, elders, etc.

A Growing Church Has Priorities

1. Leaders must lead!

a) Act 6:2-3 NKJV Then the twelve summoned the multitude of

the disciples and said, "It is not desirable that we should leave

the word of God and serve tables. (3) Therefore, brethren,

seek out from among you seven men of good reputation, full of

the Holy Spirit and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this

business;

b) The Apostles took action, but let the disciples handle the task.

2. Was the work to take care of the Hellenistic widows not important?

a) “It is not desirable…” Acts 6:2

b) Act 6:4 NKJV but we will give ourselves continually to prayer

and to the ministry of the word."

Eph 2:19-22 NKJV Now, therefore, you are no longer

strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints

and members of the household of God, (20) having been

built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus

Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone, (21) in whom

the whole building, being fitted together, grows into a holy

temple in the Lord, (22) in whom you also are being built

together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.

Read John 21:15-17

1Pe 5:1-3 NKJV The elders who are among you I exhort, I

who am a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of

Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that will be

revealed: (2) Shepherd the flock of God which is among

you, serving as overseers, not by compulsion but

willingly, not for dishonest gain but eagerly; (3) nor as

being lords over those entrusted to you, but being

examples to the flock;

Read Acts 20:17, 27-28

2Ti 4:1-5 NKJV I charge you therefore before God and the

Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead

at His appearing and His kingdom: (2) Preach the word!

Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke,

exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching. (3) For the

time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine,

but according to their own desires, because they have

itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; (4)

and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be

turned aside to fables. (5) But you be watchful in all

things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist,

fulfill your ministry.

A Growing Church Needs Everyone Involved

Act 6:3 NKJV Therefore, brethren, seek out from among you seven

men of good reputation, full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom, whom we

may appoint over this business;

Notice the leaders (Apostles) set the standard and the number of men

Remember the advice given by Jethro to

Moses in Exodus 18:13-24

Act 6:5 NKJV And the saying pleased the whole multitude. And

they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit, and

Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas, a

proselyte from Antioch,

A Growing Church WILL Increase the Word of God

Act 6:4 NKJV but we will give ourselves continually to prayer and

to the ministry of the word."

Elders – Prayer – Ministry of the Word -- Shepherds

Preachers – preach the Word

Deacons – minister to the needs of the flock –

benevolence, sick, youth, old, widows, worship, etc.

Members MUST be involved

A Growing Church WILL Increase the Word of God

Act 6:7 NKJV Then the word of God spread, and the number of

the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of

the priests were obedient to the faith.

1. We should never leave the word of God to do it our way.

2. There is nothing more important than proclaiming the Gospel.

3. Only in the Truth, can the church increase, John 17:17-21.

4. We might just be surprised, what happens when we do things

God’s way.