The Church, Right Teaching and Dealing with Complaints
Acts 6:1-8
Healthy Churches for Christ-Centred, Gospel-Hearing, Cross-Bearing Peoples.
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Published June 8th, 2018; Updated June 18th, 2018
Main point summary
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Main point summary
As a result of a church increasing in number and growing in Christlikeness, believers within the church will have direct insight as to the neglected sins of other brothers and sisters, but they will not become divided, rather, they shall seek out the direction of their godly elders, those who uphold their responsibility to the congregation in teaching and applying the Word of God, and thereby work out these issues together resulting not in calamity, but in greater congregational unity, cooperation, faithfulness, discipleship and good works to the nations.
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Acts 6:1-8
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Now in these days
At a certain time in the early church
k when the disciples were increasing in number,
WHEN Christ -followers were growing
ideaexplanation
a complaint by the Hellenists 1 arose against the Hebrews
THERE RESULTED IN 1) the Hellenists wanting to correct an error in the behaviour of the Hebrews
because their widows were being neglected in l the daily distribution.
FOR the Hebrews were neglecting the needs of their widows (not showing Christian hospitality, mercy, and care)
ground
temporal
And the twelve summoned the full number of the disciples
THE RESULT of this complaint was 2) the gathering of the apostles with all the disciples
and said,
AND 3) the apostles taught the disciples
“It is not right that we should give up preaching the word of God
MORE SPECIFICALLY, they taught them that, "The apostles should NOT stop preaching the gospel
to serve tables.
FOR THE PURPOSE OF serving tables
actionpurpose
m Therefore, brothers, 1 pick out from among you seven men n of good repute,
INSTEAD, disciples/congregations choose servants from among you with good reputations
o full of the Spirit
WHAT WE MEAN IS not just anyone with good reputations, but those who have the unction of the Holy Spirit
and of wisdom,
AND are wise
series
whom we will appoint to this duty.
WHEN YOU HAVE CHOSEN THEM, we will appoint them.
negativepositive
But p we will devote ourselves to prayer
NEVERTHELESS, we will continue to do the apostles work of praying
and to the ministry of the word.”
AND spreading the gospel."
concessive
actionresult
And what they said pleased the whole gathering,
ASTOUNDINGLY, 4) all were pleased and united in resolution
situationresponse
and they chose Stephen,
WHICH RESULTED IN (in their gospel-centred complaint, gathering, speaking, and resolution) 5) choosing Stephen
q a man full of faith
WHO WAS a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit (good repute)
and r of the Holy Spirit,
and s Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolaus, t a proselyte of Antioch.
AND in choosing these other men - one of which was converted at Antioch
These they set before the apostles,
CHOOSING THESE MEN RESULTED IN setting them before the twelve aposltes
and u they prayed
WITH THE RESULT that the apostles prayed over them
and v laid their hands on them.
AND put their hands on them/commissioned them
And w the word of God continued to increase,
WHICH RESULTED IN (having complained, gathered, hearing, resolving, and choosing/appointing) 6) the apostles continuing to do their task of proclaiming the gospel
and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem,
LEADING TO more converts and followers of Christ
progression
and a great many of the priests x became obedient to y the faith.
EVEN Jewish priests were being converted!
And Stephen, full of grace and z power, was doing great wonders and signs among the people.
AND A RESULT OF THE BROTHERS CHOOSING STEPHEN, who was already full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, 7) he did amazing things to help the church.
ALL OF IT IS PRECIPITATED BY GROWING IN CHRISTLIKENESS
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