The Aging Process
As my family and I prepare for Jonny’s graduation party (which you are all invited to, Saturday 1-4pm), I’ve taken some time to look back at pictures. It is amazing to see how much our children grow through the years. Sometimes, we don’t notice much growth taking place, but then at other times, we see rapid growth. Have you noticed that in your own children? The contrast of pictures that are only a year apart can be quite drastic. Changes take place. It is part of the aging process.
And what we find out, just as it was in the early church, growth spurts led to great challenges. The aging process at times, leads to aches and pains. And that’s what we discovered on Sunday in Acts 6:1-7. Rapid growth in the early church led to unexpected challenges in the church. And this became an occasion for unity and service in the church.
As we reflect upon Acts 6:1-7, consider 4 things we can learn from the early church:
#1 – Expect Challenges in the Church (Acts 6:1)
In Acts 6:1, we learn that the challenge they faced due to their rapid growth was due to a complaint among church members, because some of their own were being neglected and overlooked with respect to their physical needs.
Whether big or small, whether a church is declining or growing rapidly, the church will be met with challenges. This in part, is due to living in a fallen world. It is due to the reality that we bring our sinful desires into a church. And it can also be due to the reality that Satan ‘prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour' (1 Peter 5:8). The enemy attempts to attack the church from the outside through persecution. He also tries to destroy the church from within through moral corruption, division, and distractions.
We can expect challenges in our church. But we should view those challenges as an opportunity and occasion for unity, service, and growth.
What have been some of your greatest challenges? Are there people that you know who are being neglected or overlooked? How can you be part of God’s solution?
#2 – Promote the Priorities of the Church (Acts 6:2-4)
In Acts 6:2-4, the church leaders brought a proposal to the entire church body. And this pleased the whole gathering. They recognized that the leaders were to focus on the ministry of the Word and prayer. So they recommended that other servant leaders be raised up to help care for the physical and practical needs in the church. These individuals became the first ‘deacons’ in the church.
In our church, we have deacons. They joyfully assist me and the elders in their service of the church. They care for the practical needs in our church. And in doing so, they are promoting and protecting the unity of the church, and the priority of leaders to minister the Word of God to you.
I am so thankful for our deacons! They are a joy to work with and they love our church body! They have freed me up in so many ways so that I can focus on teaching, preaching, prayer, and leadership.
When you see them, thank them for their service! And ask them how you can join them in their ministries.
Every believer in a local church is called to serve.
Where is God calling YOU to serve?
Are you prioritizing the Word of God? Do your actions reveal that the preaching and teaching of God’s Word is a priority in your life?
#3 – Empower Servant Leaders in the Church (Acts 6:5-6)
In Acts 6:5-6, we further see the solution to this growing pain. Part of the solution to challenges in our church, is not merely to have the right programs or plans, but people! Godly servants of Jesus, from within the local church body, who seek to help one another. And that should be ALL of us.
Ministry and service in the church is not reserved only for those in leadership. It takes each one of us, using the gifts that God has given to us, to build up the church in maturity and unity.
Every follower of Jesus has been given a vital role in the church, not only to live out the Christian life, but to help others do the same.
How can you live out the Christian life, in your home, in the church, and in the world?
And who is God calling YOU to help live out the Christian life? Think of 3 people you could invest in.
#4 – Trust God to Grow His Church (Acts 6:7)
We need to trust God. He is the One who grows His Church. And He was pleased to bring about further growth in the early church.
The early growth spurt led to a problem. But the leaders didn’t dwell on it. They proposed a solution. And the church was pleased. The leaders would prioritize the ministry of the Word. Godly servants were empowered to care for practical needs in the church. And those needs were met. Unity was evident as the church worked together to serve one another, whether spiritually or physically.
And this led to God’s Word spreading like a wildfire. More and more people became followers of Jesus because of the service and unity in the local church.
The work done in the church and for the church has an impact on those outside the church.
The way we love each other and care for each other, God may use this to grow His church.
So I leave you with my concluding questions I asked on Sunday:
For this week: Read Acts 6:8-15
And what we find out, just as it was in the early church, growth spurts led to great challenges. The aging process at times, leads to aches and pains. And that’s what we discovered on Sunday in Acts 6:1-7. Rapid growth in the early church led to unexpected challenges in the church. And this became an occasion for unity and service in the church.
As we reflect upon Acts 6:1-7, consider 4 things we can learn from the early church:
#1 – Expect Challenges in the Church (Acts 6:1)
In Acts 6:1, we learn that the challenge they faced due to their rapid growth was due to a complaint among church members, because some of their own were being neglected and overlooked with respect to their physical needs.
Whether big or small, whether a church is declining or growing rapidly, the church will be met with challenges. This in part, is due to living in a fallen world. It is due to the reality that we bring our sinful desires into a church. And it can also be due to the reality that Satan ‘prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour' (1 Peter 5:8). The enemy attempts to attack the church from the outside through persecution. He also tries to destroy the church from within through moral corruption, division, and distractions.
We can expect challenges in our church. But we should view those challenges as an opportunity and occasion for unity, service, and growth.
What have been some of your greatest challenges? Are there people that you know who are being neglected or overlooked? How can you be part of God’s solution?
#2 – Promote the Priorities of the Church (Acts 6:2-4)
In Acts 6:2-4, the church leaders brought a proposal to the entire church body. And this pleased the whole gathering. They recognized that the leaders were to focus on the ministry of the Word and prayer. So they recommended that other servant leaders be raised up to help care for the physical and practical needs in the church. These individuals became the first ‘deacons’ in the church.
In our church, we have deacons. They joyfully assist me and the elders in their service of the church. They care for the practical needs in our church. And in doing so, they are promoting and protecting the unity of the church, and the priority of leaders to minister the Word of God to you.
I am so thankful for our deacons! They are a joy to work with and they love our church body! They have freed me up in so many ways so that I can focus on teaching, preaching, prayer, and leadership.
When you see them, thank them for their service! And ask them how you can join them in their ministries.
Every believer in a local church is called to serve.
Where is God calling YOU to serve?
Are you prioritizing the Word of God? Do your actions reveal that the preaching and teaching of God’s Word is a priority in your life?
#3 – Empower Servant Leaders in the Church (Acts 6:5-6)
In Acts 6:5-6, we further see the solution to this growing pain. Part of the solution to challenges in our church, is not merely to have the right programs or plans, but people! Godly servants of Jesus, from within the local church body, who seek to help one another. And that should be ALL of us.
Ministry and service in the church is not reserved only for those in leadership. It takes each one of us, using the gifts that God has given to us, to build up the church in maturity and unity.
Every follower of Jesus has been given a vital role in the church, not only to live out the Christian life, but to help others do the same.
How can you live out the Christian life, in your home, in the church, and in the world?
And who is God calling YOU to help live out the Christian life? Think of 3 people you could invest in.
#4 – Trust God to Grow His Church (Acts 6:7)
We need to trust God. He is the One who grows His Church. And He was pleased to bring about further growth in the early church.
The early growth spurt led to a problem. But the leaders didn’t dwell on it. They proposed a solution. And the church was pleased. The leaders would prioritize the ministry of the Word. Godly servants were empowered to care for practical needs in the church. And those needs were met. Unity was evident as the church worked together to serve one another, whether spiritually or physically.
And this led to God’s Word spreading like a wildfire. More and more people became followers of Jesus because of the service and unity in the local church.
The work done in the church and for the church has an impact on those outside the church.
The way we love each other and care for each other, God may use this to grow His church.
So I leave you with my concluding questions I asked on Sunday:
- What if EVERY Christian in our church was engaged in serving and sharing the gospel?
- What might the Lord do, in our midst and in our communities, if YOU were actively involved and mobilized to serve?
For this week: Read Acts 6:8-15
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