Tag: Acts 6

Full

On By BrianIn Book of Acts1 Comment

When the members of the early church were given the task of choosing seven men to make sure the church’s widows were fed, the apostles gave some important criteria (Acts 6:1-7).  These men must be of good repute, and they must be full.  They must be full of:

  • The Spirit: To be full of the Spirit is to be empowered and enabled by the Spirit to accomplish the ministry (Acts 4:31).  A person filled with the Spirit will follow the leading of the Spirit and show forth the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:16-26).
  • Wisdom: Undoubtedly practical wisdom would be required to take care of the details of feeding so many people.  Beyond that, they needed Biblical wisdom to discern right from wrong, and in the fear of the Lord (which is the beginning of wisdom) choose what is right.  As they were entrusted with much money to buy much food, they had to be trustworthy.
  • Faith: This was not a criteria but an observation about Stephen.  He was full of faith.  To be full of faith is to have a firm faith in Jesus for salvation.  A full faith will trust God in trials and persecutions.

It must be recognized that these seven men came from the membership of the church.  The only way leaders could be chosen is if the members were growing in these areas, which means we all should be growing in these areas.  Looked at another way, leaders are to be an example to the church so that all of the church might follow their example, and so we too should follow their example and seek to grow in these areas.

Are you living in the power and leading of the Spirit, showing his fruit in your life?

Are you discerning between right and wrong and choosing to do what is right?

Are you growing in your faith in God for salvation, and trusting him in your trials?

Are you being filled?

Are you full?

Six Clear Commitments for the Church

On By BrianIn Book of Acts, Church Life

In Acts 6:1-7, we see six clear commitments of the early church.  These same commitments should be true of our churches today as well:

  • Unity – The occasion behind this passage is a real threat to unity.  Diverse backgrounds, neglect, and complaining all threaten the church.  The apostles deal decisively with the problems to preserve unity in the church.  So should we.
  • Caring Fellowship – The early church was daily feeding widows in need.  Acts 2 tells us they gave to anyone in the church who was in need.  Plus they met regularly in homes.  They cared about each other in tangible ways, and so should we.
  • Prayer and the Word – The apostles wouldn’t neglect prayer and the Word.  Indeed throughout Acts, we see prayer and the Word continually.  These were central to the early church, and they should be central in our churches today.
  • Diverse Roles – If the church was going to commit to caring fellowship and the Word and prayer, it became clear that diverse roles were necessary.  Some needed to focus on caring for people’s physical needs, while others focused on people’s spiritual needs.  Diverse roles are just as important today.
  • Active Membership – The full number of the disciples assembled for essentially a business meeting to deal with the issue at hand.  They were involved in choosing the seven.  These same disciples were devoted to the ministries of the church (Acts 2:41-42).  We need an active membership today.
  • Qualified Leadership – The apostles gave clear guidelines for choosing the seven.  This was not a popular vote.  Each leader had to have a good reputation, and be full of the Spirit and full of wisdom.  We need leaders like that today as well.

As the early church lived out these six commitments, the gospel continued to spread.  May God help our churches to live out these six clear commitments, and may the Lord cause the gospel to spread through us today!