In chapter 6 we find the disciples doing the early work of putting structure to this early movement. it was a daunting important task, and they used great wisdom in these early decisions.
As the believers grew in numbers, the old way of doing church no longer seemed to be working. At first, the Disciple modeled what they saw Jesus doing, in that they acted as servants and handled every task for the believers. They are growing everyday now, and are likely between 10 and 15,000 in number. The disciples make a daring brilliant decision about leadership. They decide the most important thing for them to do, is the thing they are uniquely gifted and situated to do - namely parsing the Word of God and teaching. They recruit good Spirit filled people to handle some of the other tasks for them. Note that this is not because the tasks are not important, just the opposite! It is because the work is ALL important and can't afford to fall between the cracks of over worked people!
The first deacons are called our and consecrated for service. Among these is the missionary Phillip and the churches first martyr Stephen. Chapter 6 ends with Stephen standing before his accusers looking like an angel in the face of false accusations.
About Me
- Pastor Bill
- I am a committed follower of Jesus Christ, a happy husband, father and grandfather!
4 comments:
Synagogue of the Freedmen..Latter Day Saints...there are so many false teachings out there leading our brothers and sisters to hell.
It's scary to see how fast some of these organizations multiply. The sad part is that some of them have good people believing bad doctrine.
I won't get into the Oprah "religion" or the Tom Cruise "religion," but I would like to share something that scared me this weekend.
My youngest son came to me asking about a fraternity that he thought I still belonged to.
He researched it on line, and had some questions. He said he thought it was a pretty cool organization.
I told him that I no longer belonged to it, and he was shocked. He asked me why, and I told him because even though many of its rituals are straight out of the bible, their basic teaching was that good works on earth would result in the reward of going to heaven.
I can't even imagine the number of good people that have been misled by this organization. And by misled, I mean led straight to Hell.
Thankfully his questions allowed me to remind him that the only way to heaven is by acepting Jesus as our Lord and Saviour.
We won't get to Heaven based on our works. We will be rewarded according to our works, but first we must be saved.
Thank God some of my other family members that belonged to this fraternity accepted Jesus before they died.
And thank God He puts people in our path to warn us - if we open our eyes.
Mark,
First off - I miss you!
Second, my father belonged to the organization I think you are talking about, and at the ned, he warned me to stay away from it.
I wonder often why we make this faith walk so hard, and then I realize we fight against a wicked sly hateful enemy that will confuse and hurt the saints any way he can.
This is another reason why we need to be diligent in study and keep every doctrine in the light of the Word of God and not simply the traditions that we hear and see.
Stay in the Word friend.
Bill
This really seems simlar to what is happening up North with all you guys - all the little churches of worship seem that they might be better off joining as one, instead of worrying about so many different buildings. Although it's an incredible change, it may be what is necessary to keep sharing the faith the strongest. They understand that the faith must be shared, and put that the highest. That seems to be what is happening with you guys also - keep it up, the Spirit is on your side!
I, too, understand what you are talking about MW. Unless a religious group talks specifically about the salvation through the one savior Jesus Christ, they are definitely missing something. Many people live their whole lives trying to do nice things, when they have never met and accepted the Lord. It's sad. Nice people do exist without faith in Christ, but they will always be something missing. Also, it's clear that faith without deeds is dead, but the converse is also VERY true.
No Jesus, no salvation. Know Jesus, Know Salvation.
How about that?
TTYS,
Marshall
What an odd place to divide these chapters about Stephen. I've really come to like Stephen's story - this year it happened to fall on the day we were celebrating our Laypersons of the Year, and it really spoke well to celebrating all kinds of ministries, and talking about what witness/martyr really means.
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