WEBVTT 00:00:00.500 --> 00:00:04.799 Today's scripture reading comes from Acts 6, verse 1-7. 00:00:05.200 --> 00:00:08.320 Please follow along on the screen, your bulletin, or your Bible. 00:00:08.980 --> 00:00:12.339 Now in these days, when the disciples were increasing in number, 00:00:12.740 --> 00:00:15.759 a complaint by the Hellenists arose against the Hebrews 00:00:15.759 --> 00:00:19.140 because their widows were being neglected in the daily distribution. 00:00:20.019 --> 00:00:23.179 And the twelve summoned the full number of the disciples and said, 00:00:23.580 --> 00:00:27.320 It is not right that we should give up preaching the word of God to serve tables. 00:00:27.320 --> 00:00:31.600 Therefore, brothers, pick out from among you seven men of good rapture, 00:00:31.960 --> 00:00:35.320 full of the Spirit and of wisdom, who we will appoint to this duty. 00:00:35.980 --> 00:00:39.700 But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word. 00:00:40.340 --> 00:00:42.439 And what they said pleased the whole gathering, 00:00:42.659 --> 00:00:46.100 and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, 00:00:46.700 --> 00:00:52.560 and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicholas, 00:00:52.859 --> 00:00:54.219 apostolite from Antioch. 00:00:54.219 --> 00:00:58.320 These they set before the apostles, and they prayed and laid their hands on them. 00:00:58.820 --> 00:01:01.479 And the word of God continued to increase, 00:01:01.640 --> 00:01:04.799 and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, 00:01:05.180 --> 00:01:08.120 and a great many of the priests became obedient to the faith. 00:01:08.480 --> 00:01:09.760 This is the word of God. 00:01:09.760 --> 00:01:21.300 All right. 00:01:21.359 --> 00:01:22.140 Good morning, everyone. 00:01:22.460 --> 00:01:25.780 If you don't know me, my name is Niels, part of the staff team. 00:01:26.219 --> 00:01:27.800 It's a privilege to bring God's word. 00:01:28.800 --> 00:01:30.320 I should have done this during the break. 00:01:30.700 --> 00:01:31.020 Sorry. 00:01:31.019 --> 00:01:41.780 But, yeah, let's keep this passage open as we're going to look at it together in your Bibles or your bulletins. 00:01:41.879 --> 00:01:42.619 It's a short passage. 00:01:43.439 --> 00:01:45.099 Lots of things God wants to say to us. 00:01:45.799 --> 00:01:47.079 Why don't we pray together? 00:01:47.079 --> 00:01:50.879 The psalmist says, 00:01:51.000 --> 00:01:53.480 The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul. 00:01:54.219 --> 00:01:57.539 The testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple. 00:01:58.239 --> 00:02:01.039 The priests of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart. 00:02:01.259 --> 00:02:04.840 The commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes. 00:02:05.079 --> 00:02:07.200 Father, we pray that all these things would happen. 00:02:07.439 --> 00:02:08.879 You would enlighten our eyes. 00:02:08.979 --> 00:02:10.000 You would make us wise. 00:02:10.419 --> 00:02:14.919 You would rejoice our hearts as you speak to us through your powerful words. 00:02:14.919 --> 00:02:19.919 Thank you that is living and active and increasing among us. 00:02:20.199 --> 00:02:21.759 So, yeah, would you do a deep work today? 00:02:21.859 --> 00:02:22.479 Help me to speak. 00:02:22.839 --> 00:02:23.819 Help all of us to listen. 00:02:24.139 --> 00:02:25.019 In Jesus' name. 00:02:25.419 --> 00:02:25.659 Amen. 00:02:27.939 --> 00:02:28.539 All right. 00:02:29.619 --> 00:02:32.819 Yeah, this is our last sermon in this series in Acts. 00:02:33.479 --> 00:02:37.939 Now, in a few weeks, as you probably know, we'll be moving to Wong Chuk Hang, to Viva Place. 00:02:38.039 --> 00:02:39.199 I guess I don't need to tell. 00:02:39.619 --> 00:02:41.119 Maybe if you're new, you didn't know that. 00:02:41.279 --> 00:02:44.899 Most of us will know it, and I don't need to rehearse why we're moving, right? 00:02:44.939 --> 00:02:45.879 It's more accessible. 00:02:46.539 --> 00:02:51.839 It is, yeah, hopefully a great place to invite people to because it will be more accessible. 00:02:52.539 --> 00:02:58.579 Although, I guess for some of you here, actually, you might still not want to invite people here, right? 00:02:58.579 --> 00:03:02.819 Because maybe it's not just the distance and the parking. 00:03:02.819 --> 00:03:05.900 You know, the church should be something great, right? 00:03:05.979 --> 00:03:08.439 The church should be a bit of heaven on earth. 00:03:09.039 --> 00:03:15.280 It should be, you know, a little microcosm of what God is doing in building something beautiful. 00:03:15.620 --> 00:03:20.400 Except that, you know, maybe there's things you struggle with and people you struggle with. 00:03:20.400 --> 00:03:24.200 And you're not sure if you really want to invite people to that, right? 00:03:24.280 --> 00:03:28.400 You ask the average person on the street, hey, you want to come to church? 00:03:29.099 --> 00:03:31.000 And then people think of conflicts. 00:03:31.379 --> 00:03:36.280 And they think of churches splitting over the color of the carpet or something like that. 00:03:36.360 --> 00:03:40.300 Or, you know, stories where the church is no different or even worse from the world. 00:03:40.300 --> 00:03:42.160 But that happens, right? 00:03:42.240 --> 00:03:48.500 And you think of that and then, well, do, you know, church, I come, right? 00:03:48.520 --> 00:03:52.400 Because I think I need to, you know, I think I should and this place is convenient. 00:03:53.420 --> 00:03:55.780 How excited are we about church? 00:03:55.900 --> 00:03:58.360 How excited are we about what God is doing? 00:03:58.580 --> 00:04:00.960 Maybe you're here and you're visiting for the first time. 00:04:01.680 --> 00:04:02.900 You're not a Christian. 00:04:03.100 --> 00:04:04.320 You're looking into things. 00:04:05.160 --> 00:04:07.280 Well, yeah, you're looking for something. 00:04:07.400 --> 00:04:08.939 But you're not sure if you will find it here. 00:04:08.939 --> 00:04:13.359 Because, yeah, church doesn't always have a big rep, a good rep. 00:04:14.439 --> 00:04:17.160 Well, today hopefully will be good. 00:04:17.240 --> 00:04:19.279 I hope the book of Acts will have been good. 00:04:19.579 --> 00:04:22.740 Because, well, we are seeing what God is doing. 00:04:22.920 --> 00:04:24.819 And hopefully it will give us confidence. 00:04:24.959 --> 00:04:27.819 Confidence in what God is doing in the church. 00:04:28.060 --> 00:04:31.600 In what's something that can't be stopped. 00:04:31.740 --> 00:04:34.300 Something that's wonderful that God is building. 00:04:34.600 --> 00:04:36.779 And that's what we're going to see today. 00:04:36.779 --> 00:04:38.639 That will hopefully address our doubts. 00:04:38.639 --> 00:04:40.860 And, yeah, give us joy. 00:04:41.639 --> 00:04:43.360 Now, today, like I said, is the final sermon. 00:04:43.939 --> 00:04:47.459 In this series, 6 verse 7 is like a bit of a summary. 00:04:47.860 --> 00:04:50.339 And it rounds off this whole section. 00:04:50.519 --> 00:04:55.459 And if you've been here for the past few weeks, we've always had kind of problems that were resolved. 00:04:55.620 --> 00:04:55.759 Right? 00:04:55.759 --> 00:04:59.480 There was hypocrisy and false faith in the church. 00:04:59.480 --> 00:05:00.659 And that was dealt with. 00:05:00.659 --> 00:05:03.180 And there was persecution and death threats. 00:05:03.319 --> 00:05:04.300 But that was dealt with. 00:05:04.839 --> 00:05:06.899 And today, a new problem. 00:05:07.180 --> 00:05:08.319 Maybe an unexpected one. 00:05:08.759 --> 00:05:10.599 But nevertheless, real. 00:05:10.600 --> 00:05:16.100 And so, basically, my three points will be, I don't know, the problem, the solution, the result. 00:05:16.660 --> 00:05:17.560 Easy to follow. 00:05:18.379 --> 00:05:22.980 And, yeah, as we look at that resolution and what's behind it, it should give us confidence. 00:05:22.980 --> 00:05:23.820 In the church. 00:05:24.200 --> 00:05:24.840 In the gospel. 00:05:25.220 --> 00:05:27.820 And ultimately, of course, not just in things. 00:05:27.900 --> 00:05:28.020 Right? 00:05:28.019 --> 00:05:29.859 In the Lord of the church. 00:05:29.859 --> 00:05:31.639 In Jesus who is at work. 00:05:31.779 --> 00:05:33.219 And that will get behind it. 00:05:33.899 --> 00:05:35.680 So, what was the problem here? 00:05:36.519 --> 00:05:37.199 The problem? 00:05:37.659 --> 00:05:40.519 I guess we can see a division and conflict. 00:05:41.399 --> 00:05:43.419 Just like previous weeks, a problem. 00:05:43.680 --> 00:05:45.120 Although it's a good problem to have. 00:05:45.199 --> 00:05:45.299 Right? 00:05:45.379 --> 00:05:46.979 What's the good problem to have? 00:05:47.120 --> 00:05:48.639 Well, 6 verse 1. 00:05:48.899 --> 00:05:52.959 Now, in these days, when the disciples were increasing in number. 00:05:53.719 --> 00:05:56.359 This has to do with the church growing and growing. 00:05:56.360 --> 00:05:59.480 And more and more people coming to faith. 00:05:59.920 --> 00:06:01.100 That's a wonderful thing. 00:06:01.220 --> 00:06:02.520 But it has some consequences. 00:06:03.420 --> 00:06:07.139 A complaint by the Hellenists arose against the Hebrews. 00:06:07.560 --> 00:06:11.900 Because their widows were being neglected in the daily distribution. 00:06:13.480 --> 00:06:15.259 There were widows being overlooked. 00:06:16.000 --> 00:06:16.480 Hellenists. 00:06:16.699 --> 00:06:17.180 What is that? 00:06:17.259 --> 00:06:19.139 That's Greek-speaking Jews. 00:06:19.699 --> 00:06:21.620 At this time, the church was just Jews. 00:06:22.220 --> 00:06:24.319 Basically, they hadn't gone to the Gentiles yet. 00:06:24.860 --> 00:06:27.300 But, of course, there were Jews who lived in Jerusalem. 00:06:28.000 --> 00:06:31.099 But there were also Jews that lived all over the world. 00:06:31.659 --> 00:06:35.399 600 years earlier, you know, when Jerusalem was destroyed. 00:06:35.959 --> 00:06:37.019 You know, they went everywhere. 00:06:37.300 --> 00:06:39.019 Many of them lived all over the world. 00:06:39.500 --> 00:06:41.519 Well, all over the Mediterranean. 00:06:42.300 --> 00:06:43.980 They spoke Greek, the world language. 00:06:44.539 --> 00:06:46.339 But, in a way, Jerusalem was special. 00:06:46.459 --> 00:06:47.379 It was a holy city. 00:06:47.759 --> 00:06:49.319 And so, they liked to retire there. 00:06:49.319 --> 00:06:53.579 But that means you had a church with a lot of people who are, yeah, not the locals. 00:06:54.540 --> 00:06:56.339 And they were being overlooked. 00:06:56.819 --> 00:06:58.980 I guess they had some system to take care of the poor. 00:06:59.219 --> 00:07:00.439 We saw that in other chapters. 00:07:00.680 --> 00:07:01.579 People would give money. 00:07:01.879 --> 00:07:02.899 They would sell a field. 00:07:03.019 --> 00:07:04.620 And that would go to the poor. 00:07:05.459 --> 00:07:08.159 But, yeah, the Greek-speaking widows missed out. 00:07:08.839 --> 00:07:10.639 I guess the locals, they have the language. 00:07:10.800 --> 00:07:12.039 They have the connections, right? 00:07:12.579 --> 00:07:14.100 Living as an expert in Hong Kong. 00:07:14.100 --> 00:07:19.120 Some people, they could get much better deals than me, basically, because they speak Cantonese. 00:07:19.220 --> 00:07:19.660 And I don't. 00:07:20.500 --> 00:07:21.439 This one is a bit high. 00:07:23.860 --> 00:07:25.080 They know their way around. 00:07:25.200 --> 00:07:26.620 And that was probably the thing here. 00:07:27.460 --> 00:07:31.260 But, of course, it wasn't just that there were some hungry widows, right? 00:07:31.300 --> 00:07:32.620 What was at stake here? 00:07:32.939 --> 00:07:35.900 Well, the unity of the church, right? 00:07:35.960 --> 00:07:38.840 There was a complaint from the Hellenists against the Hebrews. 00:07:38.839 --> 00:07:44.479 It was, okay, these two groups that, you know, the church was really one heart and one soul. 00:07:44.579 --> 00:07:48.359 But now we had one group that had something against another group. 00:07:48.959 --> 00:07:50.639 And it's quite a strong word, right? 00:07:50.659 --> 00:07:51.779 It says a complaint. 00:07:52.359 --> 00:07:55.919 Now, a complaint, you know, it's not just a letter in writing. 00:07:56.059 --> 00:07:57.399 The word is grumbling. 00:07:58.599 --> 00:08:04.279 Now, if you have read the Bible a lot and you know the word grumbling is a very bad word, right? 00:08:04.279 --> 00:08:09.059 You think of the Israelites in the desert and what happened to them, grumbling. 00:08:09.679 --> 00:08:11.579 But, yeah, there was grumbling in the church, right? 00:08:11.639 --> 00:08:17.659 So, this conflict and just people's hearts, yeah, this could derail the church. 00:08:18.000 --> 00:08:20.199 So, a real problem of division and grumbling. 00:08:22.259 --> 00:08:25.759 Now, before we go on to the solution, a few things we should learn, right? 00:08:26.359 --> 00:08:27.739 Just to pause. 00:08:28.399 --> 00:08:30.500 First of all, I think it's encouraging maybe. 00:08:30.719 --> 00:08:32.879 No church is perfect, right? 00:08:32.879 --> 00:08:33.980 No church is perfect. 00:08:34.579 --> 00:08:38.839 And so often I meet Christians and they just think, oh, we should be like a church in Acts. 00:08:39.100 --> 00:08:42.159 We should have the Holy Spirit like they do and preach like they do. 00:08:42.199 --> 00:08:45.720 And then we'll be so perfect and we'll have so many miracles and everything. 00:08:46.120 --> 00:08:49.459 And, well, that church wasn't perfect either, right? 00:08:49.860 --> 00:08:53.519 I mean, there was, the widows went hungry and there was conflict and grumbling. 00:08:54.100 --> 00:08:55.860 You know, this church was not perfect. 00:08:55.959 --> 00:08:57.019 No church is perfect. 00:08:57.019 --> 00:09:02.959 And so, if our church is not perfect, it doesn't mean that, you know, there's something wrong in a way, right? 00:09:03.000 --> 00:09:03.879 That's good to know. 00:09:03.879 --> 00:09:06.639 Maybe you've experienced problems in church. 00:09:06.820 --> 00:09:07.820 In a way, it's normal. 00:09:08.460 --> 00:09:10.580 We're still sinful human beings. 00:09:10.700 --> 00:09:12.259 We're not fully perfect yet. 00:09:12.320 --> 00:09:15.419 And if you have imperfect people, you'll have an imperfect church. 00:09:15.419 --> 00:09:19.279 Don't expect perfection because you're just going to be disappointed. 00:09:19.279 --> 00:09:24.819 And also, I think when I see this, you know, not everything is malicious. 00:09:26.240 --> 00:09:34.399 There's no indication here that, okay, this was racism or something, that the locals discriminated against immigrants or something like that. 00:09:34.399 --> 00:09:36.500 And there's nothing about that in the text. 00:09:36.959 --> 00:09:38.539 It's just a practical problem. 00:09:38.539 --> 00:09:41.559 Too many people and some people get overlooked. 00:09:42.759 --> 00:09:46.019 And maybe your experience of church hasn't always been good. 00:09:46.100 --> 00:09:48.139 But it's easy to take that personal, right? 00:09:48.299 --> 00:09:52.919 Maybe 10 years ago, you were at Watermark and everyone greeted you and you know everyone. 00:09:52.919 --> 00:09:55.159 And now it's very different. 00:09:55.860 --> 00:09:59.120 That's not because, you know, people are against you. 00:09:59.240 --> 00:10:00.339 It's just our church has grown. 00:10:00.459 --> 00:10:01.419 There's a lot of new people. 00:10:01.860 --> 00:10:02.579 It happens. 00:10:02.959 --> 00:10:04.139 Don't take it personal. 00:10:04.679 --> 00:10:06.740 We're moving to Viva in Wong Chuk Hang. 00:10:06.740 --> 00:10:08.379 For some people, that's really great. 00:10:08.879 --> 00:10:14.659 You know, maybe you're someone and it affects you negatively because of where you live or your ministry. 00:10:15.919 --> 00:10:18.379 That's not necessarily something personal. 00:10:18.700 --> 00:10:23.460 It's just you move a whole church and, you know, there's pros and cons. 00:10:23.600 --> 00:10:25.700 And, you know, some people win, some people lose. 00:10:25.799 --> 00:10:26.500 That happens. 00:10:27.480 --> 00:10:28.700 We can't please everyone. 00:10:29.320 --> 00:10:34.039 At the same time, this passage warns us that small issues can have big consequences, right? 00:10:34.039 --> 00:10:39.019 And it was just, you know, okay, some widows were overlooked in the food distribution. 00:10:39.860 --> 00:10:42.059 And yet there was grumbling and division. 00:10:42.860 --> 00:10:43.039 All right? 00:10:43.079 --> 00:10:47.059 Sometimes it's the circumstances, but our hearts, they respond negatively. 00:10:47.599 --> 00:10:50.659 And it can have a, it can potentially have a big impact. 00:10:50.839 --> 00:10:52.439 And I guess that's what Satan wanted, right? 00:10:52.480 --> 00:10:53.959 He wanted to destroy the church. 00:10:54.539 --> 00:10:56.000 You know, persecution didn't work. 00:10:56.439 --> 00:10:57.740 Well, let's try conflicts. 00:10:57.740 --> 00:10:58.579 Let's try division. 00:11:00.339 --> 00:11:01.599 That's what he's trying. 00:11:01.600 --> 00:11:04.860 But thankfully, it's a positive passage. 00:11:04.980 --> 00:11:05.740 That did not happen. 00:11:05.879 --> 00:11:06.920 So what was the solution? 00:11:07.379 --> 00:11:08.360 What did they do? 00:11:08.940 --> 00:11:12.220 Well, what we see here, I guess, is new structures, right? 00:11:12.920 --> 00:11:14.480 That's just practically what's happening. 00:11:14.920 --> 00:11:16.019 How would you solve this? 00:11:16.480 --> 00:11:19.980 In a way, the apostles could just spend more time on food distribution, right? 00:11:20.019 --> 00:11:20.980 They were involved in that. 00:11:21.420 --> 00:11:23.320 Chapter 5, people, they sell a field. 00:11:23.420 --> 00:11:24.659 They give the money to the apostles. 00:11:25.040 --> 00:11:26.300 They take care of it. 00:11:26.299 --> 00:11:29.459 But they will now need to do that a lot more. 00:11:30.199 --> 00:11:32.379 But that would cause a problem, right? 00:11:32.439 --> 00:11:42.059 Verse 2, and the 12 summoned the full number of the disciples and said, it's not right that we should give up preaching the word of God to serve tables. 00:11:42.819 --> 00:11:42.939 Right? 00:11:43.159 --> 00:11:45.519 The apostles, they had the message of Jesus. 00:11:45.519 --> 00:11:50.059 They were commissioned by Jesus to teach and preach. 00:11:50.279 --> 00:11:52.340 And it's the gospel that drew people. 00:11:52.519 --> 00:11:53.240 That was needed. 00:11:53.860 --> 00:11:57.960 And so if we're going to spend all our time on food, that's going to be a problem. 00:11:58.360 --> 00:12:01.319 Maybe that was Satan's real plan, just to distract the apostles. 00:12:02.460 --> 00:12:04.340 And yet it was important, right? 00:12:04.360 --> 00:12:06.159 We couldn't have this problem going on. 00:12:06.240 --> 00:12:08.519 And so, well, let's delegate, right? 00:12:08.559 --> 00:12:12.500 Let's get some new group of people who can take care of this. 00:12:12.500 --> 00:12:14.220 So they involved the community. 00:12:15.299 --> 00:12:25.360 Verse 3, therefore, brothers, pick out from among you seven men of good repute, full of the spirit and of wisdom, whom we will appoint to this duty. 00:12:26.500 --> 00:12:27.840 They involved the community. 00:12:28.039 --> 00:12:30.419 Why don't you pick some people to take care of this? 00:12:30.500 --> 00:12:31.700 We'll appoint them officially. 00:12:32.440 --> 00:12:33.320 And then it's sorted. 00:12:33.480 --> 00:12:36.360 And we can focus on preaching and on prayer. 00:12:37.139 --> 00:12:38.419 And that's what they did. 00:12:38.419 --> 00:12:40.340 This pleased the congregation. 00:12:40.340 --> 00:12:48.259 And they chose Stephen, a man full of the Holy Spirit, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, et cetera. 00:12:48.879 --> 00:12:53.560 And when you read that in those names, you'll notice it doesn't sound like an Old Testament list, right? 00:12:53.600 --> 00:12:55.639 No one with ya or el or something. 00:12:55.759 --> 00:12:56.600 These were all Greeks. 00:12:56.800 --> 00:13:01.820 They kind of, hey, of course, they chose people from the community that was missing out. 00:13:02.280 --> 00:13:03.440 And that sorted it out. 00:13:03.600 --> 00:13:04.040 And, yeah. 00:13:04.560 --> 00:13:06.620 And it seems like that pleased people. 00:13:06.620 --> 00:13:10.120 And we don't know exactly what they did, but, yeah, the problem was solved. 00:13:11.919 --> 00:13:14.440 Now, what should we learn from that? 00:13:14.600 --> 00:13:18.560 Again, we want to go to the results because that's actually the big thing. 00:13:18.620 --> 00:13:24.519 But at the same time, you know, we see here some things from the early church we can learn, we can look at. 00:13:25.560 --> 00:13:27.440 Of course, delegation is a good thing, right? 00:13:27.440 --> 00:13:29.960 I don't know if you're too busy at work. 00:13:30.020 --> 00:13:30.880 Maybe you should delegate. 00:13:31.120 --> 00:13:33.960 I'm not very good at delegating, but it's a good thing. 00:13:34.460 --> 00:13:40.680 But biblically especially, what we see here is an early version of elders and deacons. 00:13:41.240 --> 00:13:43.040 You may wonder, how are churches organized? 00:13:43.340 --> 00:13:44.960 What kind of leadership do they have? 00:13:45.400 --> 00:13:48.520 Well, the New Testament talks about elders and deacons. 00:13:48.640 --> 00:13:49.660 But what do they do? 00:13:50.400 --> 00:13:52.760 Well, this is kind of like a prototype. 00:13:53.400 --> 00:13:55.820 You have the apostles, the 12, and the 7. 00:13:55.820 --> 00:13:59.760 And the 12, they focus on the word, shepherding. 00:14:00.420 --> 00:14:03.120 And then the 7, they take care of practical matters. 00:14:03.460 --> 00:14:06.600 They, you know, they get stuff delegated to them that they didn't execute. 00:14:07.780 --> 00:14:13.960 The reason people think that, the word for deacon, kind of, the Greek word behind it shows up a few times. 00:14:14.480 --> 00:14:24.280 So if you look at the passage, the daily diakonia, and later, it's not right that we should give a preaching the word of God to diakoning tables, right? 00:14:24.279 --> 00:14:30.519 So the word for deacon, which means service, serving, that lies behind here. 00:14:31.179 --> 00:14:32.360 And it makes sense, right? 00:14:32.759 --> 00:14:36.959 We as elders, we try to focus on the word, but there's so much that needs to be done. 00:14:37.299 --> 00:14:38.220 So we appoint people. 00:14:38.319 --> 00:14:40.839 We have Graham and Vicky, who look after missionaries. 00:14:41.379 --> 00:14:42.039 That's great. 00:14:42.039 --> 00:14:49.839 We have Sherman, who is the deacon of prayer, and is trying to get the prayer team and really kicked it up hugely compared to what it was. 00:14:49.980 --> 00:14:55.199 Because of someone who, you know, we don't have the time, but she can really be dedicated to that. 00:14:55.659 --> 00:14:57.579 Sam Lowe, helping with the men's ministry. 00:14:57.980 --> 00:14:58.959 It's great to have deacons. 00:14:59.059 --> 00:14:59.599 We need more. 00:14:59.600 --> 00:15:02.300 So that's how a church works. 00:15:02.399 --> 00:15:03.779 You want to know elders and deacons. 00:15:03.899 --> 00:15:08.580 Well, elders, they focus kind of on the spiritual leadership, the ministry of the word. 00:15:09.200 --> 00:15:12.720 And then deacons, they assist the elders in practical matters. 00:15:13.800 --> 00:15:17.800 Although that can sound a bit like, okay, there's the important stuff and the non-important stuff. 00:15:18.879 --> 00:15:20.399 That's not the case here, though, right? 00:15:20.540 --> 00:15:22.100 I mean, all ministry is important. 00:15:23.019 --> 00:15:25.580 You know, it sounds like, okay, we don't want to serve tables. 00:15:25.660 --> 00:15:26.600 We are too good for that. 00:15:26.600 --> 00:15:29.200 No, it's just a matter of not enough capacity. 00:15:29.980 --> 00:15:33.320 I mean, look what kind of people they get for the food distribution. 00:15:33.940 --> 00:15:40.300 Men of good repute, full of the Holy Spirit and of wisdom, right? 00:15:40.580 --> 00:15:42.740 They need really qualified people for this. 00:15:42.899 --> 00:15:45.420 It's not just, you know, oh, anyone can do this. 00:15:45.500 --> 00:15:46.700 They think this is important. 00:15:47.480 --> 00:15:50.920 You know, Stephen and Philip, they're huge characters in Acts. 00:15:51.440 --> 00:15:55.320 Stephen gives the longest speech of the whole book, longer than Peter or Paul. 00:15:55.320 --> 00:15:58.660 You know, Philip is the first to take the gospel to the Samaritans. 00:15:59.180 --> 00:16:02.600 You know, there's more about them than any apostle except Peter and Paul. 00:16:03.160 --> 00:16:04.540 No, they're good guys. 00:16:05.420 --> 00:16:10.060 And also, it's not like the elders think of themselves as something else than servants. 00:16:10.700 --> 00:16:12.580 I mean, what do they call their job? 00:16:13.400 --> 00:16:19.760 In verse 4, they say that we will devote ourselves to prayer and the ministry of the word. 00:16:19.840 --> 00:16:23.240 It's again the same word, diakonia, serving, right? 00:16:23.240 --> 00:16:26.620 But all church leaders serve. 00:16:27.039 --> 00:16:28.539 Some serve with the word. 00:16:28.659 --> 00:16:30.000 Some serve, well, with food. 00:16:30.360 --> 00:16:33.320 But we all serve because, of course, Jesus is the servant. 00:16:34.060 --> 00:16:35.139 He came to serve, right? 00:16:36.480 --> 00:16:37.440 And they, yeah. 00:16:37.519 --> 00:16:39.340 So, you know, I don't know what you're doing in church. 00:16:39.340 --> 00:16:40.960 If you feel like, oh, it's not important. 00:16:41.580 --> 00:16:43.039 All ministry is important. 00:16:43.039 --> 00:16:50.559 Everything that makes the church run, that keeps us together, it's all important. 00:16:50.980 --> 00:16:53.919 Although, at the same time, of course, clearly some things are more important. 00:16:54.439 --> 00:16:55.839 Next week, we'll talk about scripture. 00:16:56.500 --> 00:17:01.279 But, yeah, the apostles, okay, we really can't neglect the preaching of the word, right? 00:17:01.279 --> 00:17:03.779 How did the church start back in chapter 2? 00:17:04.059 --> 00:17:06.879 They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching, right? 00:17:07.180 --> 00:17:08.899 They needed the gospel at the heart. 00:17:09.000 --> 00:17:10.299 They needed Jesus at the heart. 00:17:10.740 --> 00:17:14.220 And that would come through these people who spent 12 years with him. 00:17:14.359 --> 00:17:17.839 So, you know, teaching the word needs to happen. 00:17:17.920 --> 00:17:19.339 That can't be neglected. 00:17:19.779 --> 00:17:25.500 And so, yeah, if you're a CG leader, lots of things you can do for your CG. 00:17:25.660 --> 00:17:27.920 Make sure you keep leading Bible studies. 00:17:28.859 --> 00:17:30.779 For us as elders, don't neglect this. 00:17:31.279 --> 00:17:32.000 Useful points. 00:17:32.259 --> 00:17:35.859 But, again, what is the, they're interesting. 00:17:36.000 --> 00:17:37.200 But what is the big thing? 00:17:37.339 --> 00:17:41.740 Well, what do you want to, what would you expect the result to be? 00:17:41.859 --> 00:17:43.019 So, we've had this problem. 00:17:43.500 --> 00:17:44.519 There is a resolution. 00:17:45.440 --> 00:17:46.579 But what is the result? 00:17:47.039 --> 00:17:50.119 You know, is it that, and the Hellenist widows now had enough food? 00:17:50.559 --> 00:17:51.339 That's a great thing. 00:17:52.220 --> 00:17:54.180 The people stopped grumbling and were happy. 00:17:54.859 --> 00:17:56.399 That would be a good thing, right? 00:17:56.559 --> 00:17:58.559 The Hebrews and Hellenists got along again. 00:17:58.720 --> 00:17:59.259 That'd be great. 00:17:59.259 --> 00:18:01.680 The church was again of one heart and soul. 00:18:02.700 --> 00:18:03.700 Now, what does Luke say? 00:18:04.079 --> 00:18:05.740 Hey, this is what happened. 00:18:05.819 --> 00:18:06.920 And this is so important. 00:18:07.599 --> 00:18:08.640 6 verse 7. 00:18:09.039 --> 00:18:11.879 And the word of God continued to increase. 00:18:12.480 --> 00:18:15.680 And the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem. 00:18:16.599 --> 00:18:19.339 Had a result is unhindered growth. 00:18:19.819 --> 00:18:21.460 It's the gospel going out. 00:18:21.460 --> 00:18:25.559 It's the gospel growing in the city and in the world. 00:18:26.279 --> 00:18:26.539 Right? 00:18:27.019 --> 00:18:29.160 And so, I mean, that's the point. 00:18:29.240 --> 00:18:31.740 We can learn about leadership and those kind of things. 00:18:31.819 --> 00:18:35.019 But the big thing is, here was another obstacle to the gospel. 00:18:35.680 --> 00:18:36.720 And it's been overcome. 00:18:37.019 --> 00:18:38.620 And the gospel keeps going out. 00:18:38.619 --> 00:18:40.679 And people keep being saved. 00:18:40.859 --> 00:18:42.339 And people keep growing. 00:18:42.899 --> 00:18:44.839 And God keeps being at work. 00:18:44.959 --> 00:18:45.559 That's the thing. 00:18:45.679 --> 00:18:46.979 It's about the growth of the gospel. 00:18:47.179 --> 00:18:49.179 And, you know, it's such a significant phrase. 00:18:49.839 --> 00:18:53.879 If you were here last year, I preached once on that. 00:18:54.059 --> 00:18:56.459 But, yeah, increasing and multiplying. 00:18:57.380 --> 00:18:59.940 That is an Old Testament allusion. 00:19:00.460 --> 00:19:01.940 I know it's because of Greek. 00:19:02.079 --> 00:19:03.779 And so, you may not have picked it up. 00:19:03.880 --> 00:19:08.980 But the very first chapter of the Bible, God commissions Adam and Eve and says, 00:19:09.420 --> 00:19:11.799 Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth. 00:19:12.539 --> 00:19:14.480 And that is, well, it's the same word. 00:19:14.539 --> 00:19:17.039 It says that the word of God increased and multiplied. 00:19:17.960 --> 00:19:22.500 And this is about God's plan to fill the earth with his glory, with his image. 00:19:23.000 --> 00:19:25.440 That, of course, failed because humanity sinned. 00:19:25.440 --> 00:19:27.539 But now God is at work. 00:19:27.740 --> 00:19:31.380 And, again, his plan is going out across the world. 00:19:32.360 --> 00:19:34.140 And the gospel is growing. 00:19:34.460 --> 00:19:35.200 It's now happening. 00:19:36.320 --> 00:19:37.820 It's what Acts is all about. 00:19:38.480 --> 00:19:41.380 I mean, 6 verse 7 is one statement. 00:19:41.640 --> 00:19:44.279 But you get basically the same thing in 1224. 00:19:45.059 --> 00:19:45.220 Right? 00:19:45.380 --> 00:19:47.539 The word of God increased and multiplied. 00:19:49.259 --> 00:19:53.140 1920, the word of the Lord, the word of God, continued to increase. 00:19:53.140 --> 00:19:56.900 The book of Acts is divided into four sections. 00:19:57.000 --> 00:20:01.600 And every section ends with the word of God increasing and multiplying. 00:20:02.340 --> 00:20:02.460 Right? 00:20:03.200 --> 00:20:05.020 So, basically, that's what the book is about. 00:20:05.160 --> 00:20:06.420 That's what the summaries are about. 00:20:06.880 --> 00:20:10.120 The book ends with Paul preaching without hindrance. 00:20:10.119 --> 00:20:16.319 And so, in a way, what we see today is not just the result of this one problem. 00:20:16.679 --> 00:20:20.659 All the past weeks where we've seen problems being overcome. 00:20:21.079 --> 00:20:24.119 It's all about how the gospel keeps going out. 00:20:24.259 --> 00:20:25.959 Nothing can stop it. 00:20:26.839 --> 00:20:29.039 Hypocrites, they're dealt with. 00:20:29.719 --> 00:20:31.359 Persecution, it stops. 00:20:31.559 --> 00:20:33.539 And now division, it's overcome. 00:20:33.539 --> 00:20:37.619 And it kind of also shows that it's all God's doing. 00:20:37.759 --> 00:20:37.879 Right? 00:20:38.220 --> 00:20:40.659 I mean, who overcame the hypocrisy? 00:20:41.279 --> 00:20:43.399 Who made people fall down dead? 00:20:43.519 --> 00:20:44.279 That wasn't Peter. 00:20:44.399 --> 00:20:46.139 That was God. 00:20:47.000 --> 00:20:50.899 Who stopped the apostles from being killed by the council? 00:20:51.440 --> 00:20:56.720 Well, it was this crazy speech by one of the council members that clearly could only come from God. 00:20:57.539 --> 00:21:02.079 And even here, I mean, it might look, hey, those apostles, they're pretty wise. 00:21:02.180 --> 00:21:03.079 That's how they solved it. 00:21:03.559 --> 00:21:04.900 I hope you see the connection. 00:21:05.039 --> 00:21:07.120 Now, this is God working through it. 00:21:07.220 --> 00:21:11.900 God making sure, through a different means in this case, that the gospel keeps going. 00:21:12.600 --> 00:21:12.839 Right? 00:21:12.860 --> 00:21:14.339 This is about God. 00:21:14.400 --> 00:21:16.400 This is about, yeah, the word increasing. 00:21:16.400 --> 00:21:18.360 It's not about the church increasing, ultimately. 00:21:19.000 --> 00:21:20.120 What is behind there? 00:21:20.180 --> 00:21:21.180 It's God at work. 00:21:21.180 --> 00:21:27.000 Through the word increasing, multiplying the living and active word of God. 00:21:27.140 --> 00:21:28.820 Jesus, he guides his church. 00:21:28.940 --> 00:21:29.980 He protects his church. 00:21:30.360 --> 00:21:32.680 He makes sure it keeps growing. 00:21:33.240 --> 00:21:37.799 He's powerfully at work by his spirit through his word, just using different means. 00:21:37.860 --> 00:21:38.759 And that's so encouraging. 00:21:39.080 --> 00:21:39.180 Right? 00:21:39.900 --> 00:21:41.160 I mean, what do we want? 00:21:41.160 --> 00:21:42.840 We want the church to grow. 00:21:43.000 --> 00:21:44.640 We want, of course, the gospel to go out. 00:21:45.299 --> 00:21:47.940 Well, we see that God, that Jesus is committed to that. 00:21:48.360 --> 00:21:48.519 Right? 00:21:48.580 --> 00:21:50.400 Of course, he died for the church. 00:21:50.400 --> 00:21:54.900 No wonder he's going to keep going with it by now making the gospel go out. 00:21:56.060 --> 00:21:57.880 Well, so how should that affect us? 00:21:59.080 --> 00:22:02.780 Again, we've said it many times the past few weeks, but again, confidence. 00:22:03.120 --> 00:22:03.259 Right? 00:22:04.080 --> 00:22:09.140 When Luke wrote Acts, Luke and Acts, he said, I want you to have certainty. 00:22:09.340 --> 00:22:12.580 I want you to have confidence in this gospel. 00:22:12.720 --> 00:22:13.920 This is the real deal. 00:22:14.040 --> 00:22:15.140 This is what God is doing. 00:22:15.500 --> 00:22:17.500 This is something you can give your life to. 00:22:18.540 --> 00:22:19.480 Jesus is gone. 00:22:19.600 --> 00:22:19.780 True. 00:22:19.779 --> 00:22:19.819 True. 00:22:20.220 --> 00:22:21.119 Jesus isn't here. 00:22:21.639 --> 00:22:24.859 But he's poured out the spirit and he is at work. 00:22:26.119 --> 00:22:28.639 The word of God is increasing and multiplying. 00:22:29.740 --> 00:22:32.819 And that means this is something you can invest in. 00:22:33.279 --> 00:22:34.599 Something you can commit to. 00:22:34.599 --> 00:22:39.199 I mean, I'm a pretty cynical person sometimes. 00:22:39.839 --> 00:22:41.379 Or I call it realistic. 00:22:41.379 --> 00:22:41.679 Right? 00:22:41.679 --> 00:22:46.939 Someone has an idea and I see, okay, well, this problem, this problem, this problem. 00:22:46.939 --> 00:22:48.679 And I think it's not going to work. 00:22:49.019 --> 00:22:49.219 Right? 00:22:49.240 --> 00:22:50.000 It's never going to work. 00:22:50.399 --> 00:22:52.039 And that doesn't motivate me. 00:22:52.039 --> 00:22:52.199 Right? 00:22:52.219 --> 00:22:53.259 If I say, shall we do this? 00:22:53.279 --> 00:22:54.480 And I'm kind of, no. 00:22:55.099 --> 00:22:55.379 Right? 00:22:55.380 --> 00:22:56.920 That's what I'm like. 00:22:56.920 --> 00:22:58.380 Because I don't want to waste my time. 00:22:58.780 --> 00:22:58.920 Right? 00:22:58.920 --> 00:23:01.520 I don't want to waste effort on something that I think is not going to work. 00:23:03.160 --> 00:23:04.840 Well, if we think the church is not going to work. 00:23:04.900 --> 00:23:07.040 If what we're doing here is kind of fun. 00:23:07.039 --> 00:23:09.799 But it's actually, we're not really sure. 00:23:09.859 --> 00:23:10.799 It's not going anywhere. 00:23:10.920 --> 00:23:17.059 Why would we give our time and our effort and our money and everything to the church? 00:23:18.500 --> 00:23:24.500 But if this passage is true, if what we've seen in Acts, then church is not a waste of time. 00:23:24.619 --> 00:23:24.680 Right? 00:23:24.740 --> 00:23:26.839 The gospel is not at all a waste of effort. 00:23:26.940 --> 00:23:29.279 The word will increase and multiply. 00:23:29.559 --> 00:23:31.099 Nothing will stop it. 00:23:31.220 --> 00:23:32.539 God's plan will be fulfilled. 00:23:32.639 --> 00:23:34.159 The church will grow. 00:23:34.319 --> 00:23:35.379 People will be saved. 00:23:35.380 --> 00:23:37.420 But it's something you can invest in. 00:23:37.500 --> 00:23:37.600 Right? 00:23:38.000 --> 00:23:39.060 Something you can work for. 00:23:40.080 --> 00:23:40.700 Maybe, yeah. 00:23:40.800 --> 00:23:41.920 You want to serve. 00:23:42.220 --> 00:23:43.620 Thinking about kids ministry. 00:23:44.220 --> 00:23:46.180 I mean, Claire said it's a long-term thing. 00:23:46.340 --> 00:23:47.140 But, yeah. 00:23:47.140 --> 00:23:48.220 Maybe you don't see much fruit. 00:23:48.300 --> 00:23:49.760 But you know the word is powerful. 00:23:49.900 --> 00:23:50.060 Right? 00:23:50.420 --> 00:23:53.280 If you're teaching these kids, it's going to be fruit. 00:23:53.800 --> 00:23:54.860 So, this is something, yeah. 00:23:54.860 --> 00:23:56.040 You can spend your time on. 00:23:56.080 --> 00:23:57.480 Because it's going to work. 00:23:57.720 --> 00:23:57.860 You know? 00:23:58.380 --> 00:23:59.460 Serving in your CG. 00:23:59.820 --> 00:24:00.520 Maybe, yeah. 00:24:00.620 --> 00:24:01.960 Inviting someone to church. 00:24:02.560 --> 00:24:03.860 It can seem like a big step. 00:24:03.859 --> 00:24:06.579 But if you know this really is what God is doing. 00:24:06.719 --> 00:24:07.659 And this will happen. 00:24:08.740 --> 00:24:09.919 This will be exciting. 00:24:10.719 --> 00:24:12.519 Well, you can be involved. 00:24:12.659 --> 00:24:12.779 Right? 00:24:12.839 --> 00:24:13.419 You can see. 00:24:14.359 --> 00:24:14.759 Yeah. 00:24:14.879 --> 00:24:15.500 You can see it. 00:24:15.539 --> 00:24:16.279 And you can be involved. 00:24:16.879 --> 00:24:18.399 Of course, God is wiser than us. 00:24:19.199 --> 00:24:21.879 It's not like every church ever has survived. 00:24:22.199 --> 00:24:23.479 It's the big C church. 00:24:23.559 --> 00:24:23.699 Right? 00:24:23.740 --> 00:24:26.019 The worldwide church that is unstoppable. 00:24:26.719 --> 00:24:28.299 We are just one local expression. 00:24:28.879 --> 00:24:30.439 Of course, we can't presume. 00:24:30.440 --> 00:24:31.799 But in general. 00:24:31.940 --> 00:24:32.100 Right? 00:24:32.160 --> 00:24:34.940 We know God is at work through the gospel. 00:24:35.559 --> 00:24:37.799 We know the word of God is powerful. 00:24:37.960 --> 00:24:39.019 The spirit is powerful. 00:24:39.460 --> 00:24:40.519 We have those here. 00:24:41.100 --> 00:24:42.539 Why wouldn't we be involved? 00:24:42.660 --> 00:24:42.779 Right? 00:24:43.140 --> 00:24:45.820 I hope that's what this passage will make you do. 00:24:45.960 --> 00:24:48.480 That the past nine weeks going through Acts. 00:24:48.539 --> 00:24:49.460 And seeing the church. 00:24:49.820 --> 00:24:51.799 And seeing what God is doing will make us do. 00:24:52.480 --> 00:24:53.559 Being involved. 00:24:53.720 --> 00:24:53.880 Right? 00:24:53.880 --> 00:24:55.520 Giving our lives. 00:24:55.920 --> 00:24:56.180 Yeah. 00:24:56.380 --> 00:24:57.280 To the gospel. 00:24:57.540 --> 00:24:58.300 To the church. 00:24:59.220 --> 00:24:59.960 Maybe you're here. 00:25:00.040 --> 00:25:00.740 You're not a Christian. 00:25:01.180 --> 00:25:02.920 I don't know what you're looking for. 00:25:03.340 --> 00:25:04.920 Maybe you're looking for something that works. 00:25:04.940 --> 00:25:07.160 Because so much in the world doesn't work. 00:25:07.240 --> 00:25:07.840 Doesn't last. 00:25:08.500 --> 00:25:09.920 Well, if this passage is true. 00:25:09.980 --> 00:25:11.100 You've come to the right place. 00:25:11.820 --> 00:25:13.620 God is doing something that will last. 00:25:13.780 --> 00:25:14.080 Something. 00:25:14.520 --> 00:25:16.220 God is doing something that will happen. 00:25:16.820 --> 00:25:18.420 Jesus says, I'll build my church. 00:25:18.560 --> 00:25:20.140 And nothing will overcome it. 00:25:20.140 --> 00:25:20.259 Right? 00:25:21.020 --> 00:25:24.220 So, let me encourage you to keep coming. 00:25:24.480 --> 00:25:25.680 And see what God is doing. 00:25:25.980 --> 00:25:27.880 And then let it lead you to Jesus. 00:25:28.520 --> 00:25:31.620 Again, Jesus is the one doing it. 00:25:31.700 --> 00:25:33.220 He died for the church. 00:25:33.680 --> 00:25:35.320 He paid for all its sins on the cross. 00:25:35.820 --> 00:25:37.000 And he's now not going to stop. 00:25:37.100 --> 00:25:38.960 He is going to bring his people home. 00:25:39.020 --> 00:25:40.580 He's going to build his family. 00:25:40.740 --> 00:25:41.460 Build his community. 00:25:42.380 --> 00:25:45.100 And he is inviting you to come and be forgiven. 00:25:45.220 --> 00:25:46.020 And be part of that. 00:25:46.660 --> 00:25:48.340 Why don't you take that great opportunity? 00:25:49.080 --> 00:25:49.560 Right? 00:25:49.559 --> 00:25:52.000 We just need God to be at work. 00:25:53.000 --> 00:25:54.359 So, yeah. 00:25:54.500 --> 00:25:56.139 So, why don't we pray? 00:25:56.299 --> 00:25:57.740 I mean, when I read this, I want to pray. 00:25:57.819 --> 00:25:58.299 Yes, Lord. 00:25:58.759 --> 00:25:59.919 Come and do this. 00:26:00.000 --> 00:26:02.299 Make our church what you want it to be. 00:26:02.559 --> 00:26:03.639 Work in our hearts. 00:26:04.159 --> 00:26:06.519 Let the gospel keep increasing in our lives. 00:26:06.679 --> 00:26:07.480 In our church. 00:26:07.839 --> 00:26:08.720 And around us. 00:26:09.179 --> 00:26:10.200 So, why don't I pray? 00:26:10.579 --> 00:26:12.659 And then we're going to continue praying as we sing. 00:26:14.159 --> 00:26:14.759 Let's pray. 00:26:14.759 --> 00:26:14.819 Let's pray. 00:26:19.559 --> 00:26:23.379 Our Father, thank you that the gospel is unstoppable. 00:26:23.579 --> 00:26:24.619 Because you are unstoppable. 00:26:24.940 --> 00:26:25.039 You. 00:26:26.419 --> 00:26:28.460 You're committed to your plans. 00:26:28.619 --> 00:26:30.279 You will save your people. 00:26:30.480 --> 00:26:33.399 And so, you will build your church for your powerful word and spirit. 00:26:34.000 --> 00:26:34.960 Give us confidence. 00:26:34.960 --> 00:26:35.740 Lord. 00:26:35.819 --> 00:26:37.400 When we have our doubts. 00:26:37.400 --> 00:26:40.440 Where we are distracted by so many things. 00:26:40.559 --> 00:26:41.740 This is something that lasts. 00:26:41.819 --> 00:26:42.620 Something that works. 00:26:43.319 --> 00:26:45.500 Something that gives lasting joy. 00:26:46.299 --> 00:26:46.400 Lord. 00:26:46.440 --> 00:26:47.460 Help us to be involved. 00:26:47.819 --> 00:26:48.440 And, yeah. 00:26:48.600 --> 00:26:49.740 To call. 00:26:49.840 --> 00:26:51.400 How you call each one of us. 00:26:51.519 --> 00:26:53.460 To be involved in what you are doing. 00:26:54.299 --> 00:26:56.500 Help us to reflect on these things. 00:26:56.640 --> 00:26:56.759 Lord. 00:26:56.819 --> 00:26:57.079 As we. 00:26:57.420 --> 00:26:58.259 Maybe with the summer. 00:26:58.500 --> 00:26:59.440 Things are quieter. 00:27:00.220 --> 00:27:02.080 Just to come before you with what we've heard. 00:27:02.880 --> 00:27:03.200 And, yeah. 00:27:03.279 --> 00:27:04.360 And let you change us. 00:27:05.059 --> 00:27:06.480 In Jesus name we pray. 00:27:06.980 --> 00:27:07.299 Amen.