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MAY 15, 2022
STUDY NOTES
ACTS 6:2-7
BIBLE TEACHER: CLIFTON JONES
GOD’S SERVANTS
INTRODUCTION
The early church in Jerusalem had a problem within their ministry, Act 6:1 And in those days, when the
number of the disciples was multiplied, there arose a murmuring of the Grecians against the Hebrews,
because their widows were neglected in the daily ministration.
It was a good problem because it was a numerical growth problem as-a result of ministry
There was no intentional neglect of ministry, the need was a more established organized ministry
Which would involve more Christians serving God through designated ministry
There was not enough time for church leadership to fulfill the church’s daily ministry
It was time for church members to be involved in the daily ministry of the church
According to scripture, every Christian is gifted to serve God (1 Corinthians 12; 1 Peter 4:10)
All who are saved are to be involved in ministry, all-of the saved are to be servants of God
Act 6:2 Then the twelve called the multitude of the disciples unto them, and said, It is not reason
that we should leave the word of God, and serve tables.
The 12, the Apostles who were leading the church and ministering to the needs of the widows
Called the multitude of the disciples unto them, the multitude refers to the church congregation
The congregation was made up of “disciples” those who were saved and following Jesus
All “disciples” are to be involved in daily service for Christ if the church is going to grow
The Apostles called the church together to share their present problem of ministry
The answer to the problem was not the Apostles neglecting their ministry
“It is not reason that we should leave the word of God”
It would not be right for the Apostles to “leave the Word of God”
Referring to their study of God’s Word and then teaching the Word of God to others
That would be a mistake, they would be neglecting their calling from God (verse 4)
Ministry is not neglecting one work of God in-order to meet the needs in another work of God
The Apostles could not neglect the ministry of the Word of God to “serve tables”
“Serving tables” was a ministry of serving those in need of material goods
It involved collecting the money and items donated by the church and ministering to the needy
The Apostles were not separating themselves from the membership of the Church
They were not elevating themselves above the Church membership
The Apostles were not telling the Church that one ministry was more important than another
There is nothing here that indicates church leadership is more important than church membership
The point is the importance of every ministry, no ministry is to be overlooked or neglected
Every member of the church is to be involved in daily ministry for the Lord
The Church must have Spirit-filled leadership and Spirit-filled membership to fulfill its ministry
Act 6:3 Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy
Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business.
Wherefore, brethren, the brethren are the answer to the need within the ministry of the church
More brethren within the church must become involved in ministering to those in need
The Apostles specified the number of servants to be selected and presented their qualifications
“Men of honest report,” men with a good reputation, loved and respected by others
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Men of personal integrity and unblemished character, men who are honest and can be trusted
“Full of the Holy Ghost,” not only a Good Man, but also a Godly Man and a Gifted Man
Leadership of the Spirit is that which must be their normal lifestyle, not that which is occasional
The life of these men must be a daily demonstration of the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23)
They must be men who are able to apply Spiritual Truth to the daily walk of life
That is known as “wisdom,” not worldly wisdom, but spiritual wisdom, that which is of God
There is a special wisdom that can only come from God, and it comes through the Holy Spirit
God’s wisdom comes through the Spirit and works with the power of the Spirit (1 Cor 2:1-7; 13)
James tells us why men who are going to minister must be filled with the “Wisdom of God,”
Jas 3:17 But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be
intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.
Godly wisdom comes through our knowledge of Jesus Christ, Eph 1:17 That the God of our Lord
Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the
knowledge of him:
Revelation in the knowledge of Him comes from the study of God’s Word
To be filled with the Spirit and God’s wisdom is to consider life from the viewpoint of God
It means you will hear with the ears of God, see with the eyes of God, think with the mind of God
You will feel with the heart of God and speak the Word of God, doing what God wants done
These men must be able to handle the problems of life by applying the truths of God
Wisdom begins with God, believes that God is the answer, understands and accepts God’s answer
These seven selected qualified men would be given a position in church leadership
Whom we may appoint over this business, they were to be put in a position of responsibility
Their responsibility was to “serve tables,” a ministry of the church, Rom 12:13 Distributing to the
necessity of saints; given to hospitality.
Ministry that all Christians are to be involved in but there must be designated church leaders
These seven are often referred to as the first “deacons” identified in scripture
But they are not specifically called “deacons” in this passage
But it seems to be certain that the office of the deacon grew out of this occasion
The similarity of the deacon’s ministry can certainly be seen (1 Timothy 3:8-13)
For the local church to fulfill its ministry there must be designated leadership
Act 6:4 But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word.
The meaning of “but we will give ourselves,” is we will devote ourselves, a steadfast effort
“Continually” is the difference between the Apostles and the seven men selected
All should pray, all should study the Word, all should share the Word with others
All should minister to others through the Word and prayer, we are all “God’s Servants”
“Continually” identifies a calling of God for a designated area of ministry
Which is not the calling of all, see the spiritual gifts (1 Corinthians 12:27-31)
The Apostles would devote themselves wholeheartedly to “prayer,” for their ministry
Prayer is the number one preparation for any-and all ministry, for all “God’s Servants”
There is nothing more important than prayer for “the ministry of the Word”
The word “ministry” in verse 4 is the same word translated “ministration” in verse 1
Both ministries are of God, the “ministry of the Word” and the ministry of “serving tables”
God has called men to perform both ministries
God called the Apostles for the “ministry of the Word,” and the 7 were called to “serve tables”
One ministry is not superior over the other, both are important to the ministry of the church
They are both ways of serving God and ministering to His people
Both require the same qualifications, spiritual maturity, both require being filled with the Spirit
Today the “ministry” is too often limited to the profession of the preacher
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Today when people speak of the “ministry” they are talking about the job of the “preacher”
When a man is called to preach, we say that he has been “called into the ministry”
Preachers who have accepted a church as pastor have “entered the ministry” and are ordained
We must understand that all Christians have been “called into the ministry”
To pastor a church is not the only ministry of the church, all Christians are to “enter the ministry”
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