Last week, we saw that persecution did not stop the church from growing, in fact, it incited the flames of growth to make it grow more.
When churches grow, they need more leadership, specifically more people who will demonstrate leadership in serving the community. I believe God chooses leaders and then real leaders choose to serve the Lord.
2 Chronicles 16:9 reads this way about leadership
For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to give strong support to those whose heart is blameless toward him.
Leaders always just, “do” whether they have a title or not. God will always support them. The early church had some struggles; they chose those who were already doing the work!
Acts 6:1,2
Now in these days when the disciples were increasing in number, a complaint by the Hellenists arose against the Hebrews because their widows were being neglected in the daily distribution. 2 And the twelve summoned the full number of the disciples and said, “It is not right that we should give up preaching the word of God to serve tables.
Hellenists were Jewish/Christians who embraced Greek dress and culture. They remained strong believers; they simply lived according to a different cultural way. However, the native Jewish Christian culture was biased against the Hellenists. People often find ways to belittle others if they can; it’s human nature, and Christians especially need to overcome this.
The church was taking care of the widows’ needs, making sure they had all the necessities to keep them safe. These women were what was called “widows indeed.” This meant they had no family to care for them, so it was left to the church. God’s system has always been that if someone has a need, first the family should be responsible for caring for their own, and then, if there is no one, the church steps in.
The pastor/apostle’s responsibility was to lead, and in order to do that, they had to have the freedom to study, teach the Word, and hear from the Lord in prayer.
Acts 6:3,4
Therefore, brothers, pick out from among you seven men of good repute, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we will appoint to this duty. 4 But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.
OK, in the early church, to hold any leadership role—whether it be overseeing funeral dinners, church maintenance, cleaning, or teaching—individuals had to be people of good reputation both inside and outside the church. They needed proof in their lives that the Holy Spirit was moving powerfully within them, and they had to be guided by God’s wisdom. This means they must know how to manage their family, relationships, finances, and their work/business life.
The choice was a no-brainer; these people were already doing the Father’s business this way. Here is who they chose!
Acts 6:5,6
And what they said pleased the whole gathering, and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolaus, a proselyte of Antioch. 6 These they set before the apostles, and they prayed and laid their hands on them.
It was the Hellenists who were complaining about other Hellenists being neglected, and so it was all Hellenists in a Greek, gentile who had converted to Judaism and was now a Christian.
They brought them before the leadership, prayed for them and anointed them for the service work they were already doing!
Acts 6:7
And the word of God continued to increase, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests became obedient to the faith.
Because the leadership was able to serve and stay focused on their roles, and others were recognized for the work they were doing, this allowed everyone to function in their gifts, and the church grew!
We need everyone to function in their gifts. They are all needed to cause the church to grow. Being in prayer, studying the word, being filled with the Spirit and allowing your gifts to shine will cause you to be blessed and the Gospel to impact the lives of others.
We see later that there were women called into this ministry in the early church
Romans 16:1,2 (NLT)
I commend to you our sister Phoebe, who is a deacon in the church in Cenchrea (sen-shre-a). 2 Welcome her in the Lord as one who is worthy of honor among God’s people. Help her in whatever she needs, for she has been helpful to many, and especially to me.
The same Greek word, translated “Deacon” here is the word used in 1 Timothy 3:8
While Phoebe is the only one directly called “diakonos,” other women clearly served in leadership or ministry capacities similar to deacons:
- Priscilla (Acts 18:26) – taught Apollos, showing theological instruction ability. 4 out of the six times she and her husband Aquila are mentioned she is mentioned first signifying her importance to the Body of Christ over his.
- The “widows” (1 Timothy 5:9–10) – described with qualifications resembling ministry service.
- Mary, Tryphena, Tryphosa, and Persis (Romans 16:6,12) – commended for “hard work in the Lord.
- When mentioned in Paul’s writing and because of Paul’s position, makes them someone of importance, for either good or bad
- Church History: By the 3rd–4th centuries, historical writings (e.g., The Teachings of the Apostles) mention female deacons who assisted in baptisms, care for women, and other ministries.
These chosen deacons did not just care for the work of the church and its people but were about the expansion of the Kingdom.
Acts 6:8
And Stephen, full of grace and power, was doing great wonders and signs among the people.
These table waiters, widow ministers, and caretakers moved in great signs and wonders. It wasn’t just the apostles, but those who accepted the call to leadership because of their hearts for the Lord, who were called to move in the gifts of the Spirit with power. This is what they were already doing and why they were chosen to serve the widows.
Acts 6: 9,10
Then some of those who belonged to the synagogue of the Freedmen (as it was called), and of the Cyrenians, and of the Alexandrians, and of those from Cilicia and Asia, rose up and disputed with Stephen. 10 But they could not withstand the wisdom and the Spirit with which he was speaking.
Some Sadducees didn’t like the idea of this Hellenist Jew teaching about the resurrected Jesus and moving in power to cast out demons, heal the sick and whatever else God was using in Him as well as he was able through the Holy Spirit to out “wise” their wisdom
Acts 6:11-15
Then they secretly instigated men who said, “We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses and God.” 12 And they stirred up the people and the elders and the scribes, and they came upon him and seized him and brought him before the council, 13 and they set up false witnesses who said, “This man never ceases to speak words against this holy place and the law, 14 for we have heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place and will change the customs that Moses delivered to us.”
The devil is a liar! He always was, even from the beginning (John 8:44). However, all his lies did was turn Stephen into a firebrand that helps set the world on fire.
There will always be people who falsely accuse men and women of God. That is why the names “devil” and “Satan” mean accuser or slanderer.
When accused, we don’t need to fight back, we love back, pray back, act righteously back, and we stand our ground!
Acts 6:15
And gazing at him, all who sat in the council saw that his face was like the face of an angel.
God knew what was about to happen so he filled Stephen with the Holy Spirit so greatly that he was like Moses coming down from the mountain. It was a physical sign that God was with him, they just still refused to recognize it but as we will see next week. The wisdom of the Lord and God’s faithfulness even in death changed the world.
So what do we get from this today?
- Every act of service, greeting, teaching, cleaning, serving meals, worship, stacking chairs, whatever you do is sacred and a blessing to the Lord and His people.
- Leadership in the church isn’t about power and prestige but service.
- People moving in their gifts to serve expand the impact of the church.
- Effective ministry requires focus… each person must stay focused on their calling
- There is always a need to balance spiritual power and practical wisdom