Acts 6:1-7 The Third Attack  Division Greg Morscher Xenos Christian Fellowship July 31, 2005

Recap Creation of BOC (Acts 2-4) Oneness, met house to house, true sharing with one another (fellowship), spirit of love and community = LED BY THE HOLY SPIRIT Oneness, met house to house, true sharing with one another (fellowship), spirit of love and community = LED BY THE HOLY SPIRIT 1 st Attack  Persecution by Religious Authorities (Acts 4) 2 nd Attack  Hypocrisy Within (Acts 5)

3 rd Attack = Division Acts 6:1 Now at this time while the disciples were increasing in number, a complaint arose on the part of the Hellenistic Jews against the native Hebrews, because their widows were being overlooked in the daily serving of food. NOT WHAT JESUS INTENDED: John 17:21 -- My prayer for all of them is that they will be one, just as you and I are one, Father—that just as you are in me and I am in you, so they will be in us, and the world will believe you sent me.

What Division Is Passive Division – uninvolved, disengaged Active Division – engaged in tearing one another down WHY IS THIS SO DESTRUCTIVE? The Leadership of the Holy Spirit is REJECTED The Leadership of the Holy Spirit is REJECTED Eph 4:27  Gives devil a foothold Eph 4:30  Grieves the Holy Spirit

The Effects of Division Koinonia (sharing) is lost Bitter gossip and rivalries Witness of the Body of Christ is lost Potential devastation

Danger Signs of Divsion Do you find yourself easily annoyed with a certain person? Do you focus on the negative aspects of another? Are you suspicious of others motives? Do you avoid this person(s)?

What it takes to be unified: Diligence (Eph 4:3) 1 Peter 1:22 Since you have in obedience to the truth purified your souls for a sincere love of the brethren, fervently love one another from the heart, Philip. 2:2 make my joy complete by being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose. Galatians 6:2 Bear one another's burdens, and thereby fulfill the law of Christ. Galatians 3:28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.

The Church’s Response Acts 6:2-3 So the twelve summoned the congregation of the disciples and said, "It is not desirable for us to neglect the word of God in order to serve tables. "Therefore, brethren, select from among you seven men of good reputation, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we may put in charge of this task.

What kind of Spiritual Leadership? IndigenousPlurality Men of Godly Character: Good Reputation Good Reputation Full of the Holy Spirit Full of the Holy Spirit Full of Wisdom Full of Wisdom Proverbs 9:8 Do not reprove a scoffer, or he will hate you, Reprove a wise man and he will love you. Proverbs 12:15 The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, But a wise man is he who listens to counsel. Proverbs 28:26 He who trusts in his own heart is a fool, But he who walks wisely will be delivered.

The Church’s Response Acts 6:5-6 The statement found approval with the whole congregation; and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, and Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas and Nicolas, a proselyte from Antioch. And these they brought before the apostles; and after praying, they laid their hands on them.

The Result: The Kingdom of God Expands Acts 6:7 The word of God kept on spreading; and the number of the disciples continued to increase greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests were becoming obedient to the faith. Mark 10:42-45 Calling them to Himself, Jesus said to them, "You know that those who are recognized as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them; and their great men exercise authority over them. But it is not this way among you, … For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many."

What Division Isn’t Dissenting, issue oriented conflict “I don’t think that’s what the Bible teaches” “I don’t think that’s what the Bible teaches” Organizational diversity Reaching out to different types of people Reaching out to different types of people