1. Choose your leaders wisely
1.1. Acts 6:3 (NLT) 3 And so, brothers, select seven men who are well respected and are full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will give them this responsibility.
1.1.1. They must have
1.1.1.1. Spirit
1.1.1.2. Wisdom
1.1.1.3. If they have not grown in both, they are not ready.
1.1.1.3.1. Both should be visible and proven
1.1.1.3.2. Never put someone in charge of big things if they have not proven themselves with little things.
1.1.1.3.3. The temptation to skip this part is huge!
2. Distribute your load widely
2.1. Acts 6:3 (NLT) 3 And so, brothers, select seven men who are well respected and are full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will give them this responsibility.
2.2. Acts 6:5 (NLT) 5 Everyone liked this idea, and they chose the following: Stephen (a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit), Philip, Procorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas of Antioch (an earlier convert to the Jewish faith).
2.3. Acts 6:6 (NLT) 6 These seven were presented to the apostles, who prayed for them as they laid their hands on them.
2.3.1. What happens when the load is not spread out.
2.3.1.1. Urgent takes priority over the important
2.3.1.1.1. Urgent, there is sound
2.3.1.1.2. Important, ministring to people
2.3.1.1.3. Food is urgent
2.3.1.2. People burn out
2.3.1.3. People feel unappreciated
2.3.1.4. People don't grow
2.3.1.5. Ministry should be hard
2.3.1.5.1. It should also be fun
2.4. Are you a contributor or a consumer?
2.4.1. At work
2.4.2. In your family
2.4.3. In. your Church
3. The result
3.1. Acts 6:7 (NLT) 7 So God’s message continued to spread. The number of believers greatly increased in Jerusalem, and many of the Jewish priests were converted, too.
4. 1. Assess Your Problem
4.1. Acts 6:1 (NLT) 1 But as the believers rapidly multiplied, there were rumblings of discontent. The Greek-speaking believers complained about the Hebrew-speaking believers, saying that their widows were being discriminated against in the daily distribution of food.
4.1.1. Conflict was between
4.1.1.1. Hebrews
4.1.1.2. Hellenists
4.1.1.3. Hebrews were in their home town and had church in Hebrew.
4.1.1.4. Hellenists got saved at pentacost and had church in Greek
4.1.1.5. There was a pre-existing tension between them.
4.1.1.6. The tensions continued even after they became Christians… Gasp
4.1.1.6.1. The problem with the church is that they're made up of people that aren't perfect yet.
4.2. Acts 6:2 (NLT) 2 So the Twelve called a meeting of all the believers. They said, “We apostles should spend our time teaching the word of God, not running a food program.
4.2.1. We could think they were too proud to wait on tables.
4.2.2. Serve
4.2.2.1. Acts 6:2 (NLT) 2 So the Twelve called a meeting of all the believers. They said, “We apostles should spend our time teaching the word of God, not running a food program.
4.2.2.2. There seems to be overlap between the roles of those chosen in this chapter and the description of the office later given in 1 Tim 3:8–13.
5. Budget your time
5.1. Acts 6:2 (NLT) 2 So the Twelve called a meeting of all the believers. They said, “We apostles should spend our time teaching the word of God, not running a food program.
5.2. Acts 6:4 (NLT) 4 Then we apostles can spend our time in prayer and teaching the word.”
5.3. Don't kid yourself how long it will take
5.3.1. "My time isn't worth anything."
5.3.2. Time is literally spending your very life