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Unveiling Acts 6: Lessons for Today’s Church Challenges

Holding hands in prayer for solutions to church challenges

Have you ever wondered how the early church handled its explosive growth? Or how they dealt with conflicts that arose as more and more people joined their ranks? As a pastor, I find the account in Acts chapter 6 both fascinating and incredibly relevant for churches today. Let’s dive into this passage and see what lessons we can glean for our church challenges.

The Challenge of Rapid Growth

“Now, in those days when the number of the disciples was multiplying, there arose a complaint against the Hebrews by the Hellenists, because their widows were neglected in the daily distribution” (Acts 6:1).

Imagine this scene: The church is experiencing phenomenal growth. People are coming to Christ “in the bucketful,” as I like to say. But with this growth comes growing pains. The church was a diverse mix of native Hebrew speakers and Greek-speaking believers from outside Palestine. This language barrier became the first major obstacle the church had to overcome.

As the church expanded, a problem arose in the distribution of food to widows. The Greek-speaking widows felt they were being overlooked in favor of the Hebrew-speaking widows. This issue led to grumbling and tension between the two groups.

Man with hand on his head complaining about church challenges.

The Enemy’s Tactics

Now, let me tell you something important: Throughout the centuries, Satan has had two major methods by which he creates church challenges to hinder the work of God. In this passage, we see both at play:

  1. Inward dissension
  2. Outward persecution

The enemy loves to stir the pot and create friction within the church. Why? Because he knows that “United we stand, divided we fall.”

The Power of Unity

This is why the Bible emphasizes unity so strongly. Ephesians 4:3 tells us to “endeavor to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.” We have to work at it, folks. It doesn’t just happen automatically.

Psalm 133:1-2 paints a beautiful picture of unity: “Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity! It is like the precious oil upon the head, running down on the beard, the beard of Aaron, running down on the edge of his garments.”

Unity is like oil pouring out on the head anointing us for service

When we stand together in harmony, it’s like that anointing oil flowing from top to bottom. The adversary can’t hinder a unified church!

A Problem-Solving Approach

So, how did the apostles handle this challenge? They gave us a great model for problem-solving in the church:

  1. They examined their ministry and made necessary changes.
  2. They exercised faith in God and one another.
  3. They expressed love through their actions.

The apostles realized they couldn’t do everything themselves. They wanted to focus on prayer and sharing the Word of God. So they proposed a solution: choose seven men full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom to handle food distribution.

Here’s what’s remarkable. All seven men chosen had Greek names, meaning they likely were from the group that raised the complaint in the first place. This election shows the grace of God at work by breaking down barriers and fostering unity.

Applying These Lessons Today

As we face our own church challenges today, let’s ask ourselves three important questions:

  1. Do we want to grow?
  2. Are we willing to pay the price for growth?
  3. Are we willing to change to maintain growth?

Growth requires unity, and unity requires effort. We must be willing to face church challenges by examining our ministries, making necessary changes, and trusting one another. Most importantly, we need to express love in practical ways.

Remember, love is a universal language. When love is at work in the church, God is at work. As 1 John 4:8 reminds us, “God is love.”

So, let’s commit to fostering unity in our churches. Let’s be willing to serve one another, even in seemingly mundane tasks. After all, Stephen, one of these seven “table servers,” became the first Christian martyr and performed great miracles.

We’ll see God multiply our efforts as we focus on unity and love. The Word will spread, disciples will multiply, and even the most unlikely people will come to faith. That’s the power of a unified church!

Next Steps:

  1. Pray for unity in your church.
  2. Look for ways to serve others, especially those different from you.
  3. Be willing to change and adapt for the sake of church growth.
  4. Foster an atmosphere of love and acceptance for newcomers.

Let’s dream big and believe God for great things in our churches. But remember, it starts with us. We must be willing to love, serve, and maintain unity. Are you ready for the challenge?

Want to learn more about the importance of unity in the church? Check out this sermon from Pastor Campbell: Together as One: Why the Church Should Embrace Unity in a Divisive World

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