Chosen to Serve
Notes
Transcript
Sermon Tone Analysis
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Context
Number of believers is greatly increasing
Jerusalem and Judea are greatly affected
Hellenistic Jews and Hebraic Jews are making Christ their Lord
Peter and John arrested again and told to quit, they refused
Signs and wonders are confirming the Apostles teaching of Jesus Christ
Gamaliel urges caution in dealing with the apostles
God’s Word
God’s Word
Gamaliel advises against further action
Care for those with felt needs causes division
Wisdom shows up in decision made to appoint deacons
Qualifications and selection process
God’s Word
God’s Word
In those days when the number of disciples was increasing, the Hellenistic Jews among them complained against the Hebraic Jews because their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food. So the Twelve gathered all the disciples together and said, “It would not be right for us to neglect the ministry of the word of God in order to wait on tables. Brothers and sisters, choose seven men from among you who are known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will turn this responsibility over to them and will give our attention to prayer and the ministry of the word.”
This proposal pleased the whole group. They chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit; also Philip, Procorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas from Antioch, a convert to Judaism. They presented these men to the apostles, who prayed and laid their hands on them.
So the word of God spread. The number of disciples in Jerusalem increased rapidly, and a large number of priests became obedient to the faith.
Enemy Strategy
Enemy Strategy
Persecution by the Jerusalem Council - Failed
Persecution by the Jerusalem Council - Failed
Persecution by the Jerusalem Council - Failed
Corruption and deceit by Ananias and Sapphira - Failed
Complaints and Murmuring - Going to Fail
The Issues
The Issues
Widows must be cared for by God’s command; to Malachi 3:5
Two different cultures present - Hellenistic and Hebraic
Administration needed to be effective
Keep the Main Thing the Main Thing
Expanding Gospel, expanding opportunities
Expanding Gospel, expanding opportunities
God’s Plan
God’s Plan
All are called to serve, it is part of loving one another and extending God’s love and mercy.
Here is where the gifts that the Holy Spirit has given you really come into play.
There are priorities in ministry, but equal value, different functions so no one is above the others.
Many forms of ministry and leadership. lists some of them. and 1 Corinthians as well.
Ministries
Ministries
Ministry of the Word
Ministry of the Word - Preaching , teaching, discipling/training, developing leaders
Ministry of Tables (Service) - Greeters, Hospitality, Events, Technology, Finances, Graphics, Greeters, Music
Equal value, different function
All believers in full-time Christian service
Qualifications
Qualifications
Full of the Holy Spirit and Wisdom
Developing Godly character continuously
Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.
Philippians
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.
Galatians 5:
Watch out for the following:
Watch out for the following:
For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good,
2 Timothy 3
Discovery
Discovery
Is Jesus Christ my Lord and Savior?
Am I growing in my relationship with God?
Can I share my experiences in a positive way?
What fulfills me as I help others?
Have I found examples in God’s Word to imitate?