The early church in Acts 6 faced a complaint that widows were being neglected in the daily distribution of food. The apostles addressed this by having the disciples select seven men to oversee this ministry, so that the apostles could focus on prayer and preaching. As a result, the word of God continued to spread and the number of disciples greatly increased in Jerusalem.

1. Acts 6:1-7
Maud church of Christ
by Jim Bradshaw
Sunday Morning, February 10, 2013

2. 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!

3. A Growing Church Faces Problems
1. Most Problems Come from Within
2. 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.

4. 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.
2. Was the work to take care of the Hellenistic widows not important?
a) “It is not desirable…” Acts 6:2
b) Act 6:4 NKJV but we will give ourselves continually to prayer
and to the ministry of the word."

5. 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.
Read John 21:15-17

6. 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;
Read Acts 20:17, 27-28

7. 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.

8. 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
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,
Remember the advice given by Jethro to
Moses in Exodus 18:13-24

9. 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

10. 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.