Deacons in the Early Church
In those days when the number of disciples was increasing, the Grecian 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, 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. (Acts 6:1-7)
A. What a healthy church needs
1) Good communication
2) Good leadership
B. Lessons from the church in Jerusalem
1) Know what is and is not expected of us
2) Be proactive, creative, and collaborative
Summary
Following in Jesus' footsteps and participating in his work are key to becoming his disciple. His work is to long for and to advance the kingdom of God and his reign, and there are many different ways in which we can participate. The church can only function effectively if each person takes on his or her responsibility and share in God's work. With Christ as the head, the Church comprises many different denominations in different parts of the world. In some ways, the early church that started in Jerusalem was like our church in that it started as one small community. The members of the early church found ways to work effectively and to expand their ministry by creatively and proactively sharing responsibility. What are some next steps for our church?
For Discussion
1) What is or isn't expected of Your Church at this time?
2) How can we improve our communication?