Heritage Addition church of Christby Jim BradshawSunday Evening, June 14, 2015

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 Within2. 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.

A Growing Church Has Priorities

2. Was the work to take care of the Hellenistic widows not important?a) “It is not desirable…” Acts 6:2b) 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.

Joh 21:15-17 NKJV So when they had eaten breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me more than these?" He said to Him, "Yes, Lord; You know that I love You." He said to him, "Feed My lambs." (16) He said to him again a second time, "Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?" He said to Him, "Yes, Lord; You know that I love You." He said to him, "Tend My sheep." (17) He said to him the third time, "Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?" Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, "Do you love Me?" And he said to Him, "Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You." Jesus said to him, "Feed My sheep.

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;

Act 20:17 NKJV From Miletus he sent to Ephesus and called for the elders of the church.

Act 20:27-29 NKJV For I have not shunned to declare to you the whole counsel of God. (28) Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood. (29) For I know this, that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock.

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.