Acts 6:1-15, A living Church 4

Acts 6:1-15, A living Church 4

  Satan attacks a living church. 1) External attack: The council persecuted the apostles (chs.3-5). They imprisoned apostles and threatened them not to preach in the name of Jesus. 2) Internal attack: Church member Ananias and Sapphira incident (Ch.5)- Infection of evil through lies and hypocrisy. Because of the work of God, they died, and the church was greatly afraid. Even though the apostles were persecuted, they were happy and continued to teach and preach. 3) Relief issue (Ch. 6) - Conflict arose due to complaining. Today, we will solve this problem and listen to a sermon.

1. A relief problem arose in the church (1). Hellenistic(foreign born) Jews complained that the widows were being left out of relief efforts. Problems occur at under construction and are growing pains.

2. Solution (2-6)
 1) The apostles gather the disciples. 2) It is acknowledged that the Greeks were negligent in daily almsgiving. 3) They divide work. In other words, the apostles are dedicated to preaching and praying. Deacons full of the Holy Spirit, wisdom, and praise are selected and entrusted with providing relief.

3. In the end, the church spreads the word and the number of believers increases. Stephen preaches the word with wisdom and the Holy Spirit. Even when his opponents perjured and slandered him, he had the shining face of an angel.

 Dear saints, we too can complain or hear complaints. Let us focus on the Word and prayer, which are the essence of the church, and solve problems well by being filled with the Holy Spirit. So let us pray that the Word will continue to flourish and grow. No matter what perjury or slander, I pray that you will glorify God with the face of an angel like Stephen.  Amen.