Sermon Tone Analysis

The Critical Nature of Handling Church Business

The book of Acts is the historical account of how the Holy Spirit of God empowered the first century church to unify together for preaching the gospel to every creature.

Whether it is stories of prayer meetings or Peter & John partnering together when they go to the Temple or the church in Antioch working hand-in-hand with God’s Spirit to send forth Paul and Barnabas, the account is clear: God has empowered His people and His church to work together in unity for the preaching of the message of Jesus.

Because this is the case, we mustn’t overlook the significance of passages like Acts chapter 6.

In this passage, we see that the church encountered a problem.

We see that priorities are made clear.

We see that the Holy Ghost had already been at work in the lives of particular individuals.

We see the problem resolved, and we see the word of God increasing and disciples multiplying.

This should give us great hope because we know that believers are indwelt by the Holy Spirit.

The church is indwelt by the Holy Spirit.

All that is necessary to overcome problems that impede the gospel from going forth, has been provided in the God’s Spirit.

If the church is not fulfilling her mission, it is not because of the Lord.

He has provided all that was needed.

It is not because of the problem.

Problems have been around between people for a long time.

If the church is not fulfilling her mission, it is because we have not recognized or effectively addressed hindrances to the mission.

Proposition: It is imperative that Christians recognize the critical nature of handling church business!

(1) There was an understanding of the priority of prayer and the ministry of the word (v. 2)

(2) There was an understanding of the task of serving tables (v. 2)

(3) There was an apparent conviction about the Spirit-controlled life.

(v. 3)

(4) There was an apparent understanding of church’s unified work & authority (v. 5)

(5) There was an apparent understanding of selecting those who were outside of their own social and cultural bounds (v. 5)

Conclusion:

Some of you when you see this passage, you think that either:

(1) I could never be as good as these men

(2) I am and will continue to be what the passages require