Growing Pains

Here in verse 7 we see that after a management plan was created to care for widows, the church continued to grow in mission outreach. This should be our goal: to do compassionate and efficient management while aggressively advancing the gospel in our city and among the nations.

Acts 6:2-6

When Christians face conflict, we can’t just go with our gut instincts or follow traditions. We have to go to the Bible first. We must understand biblical priorities. The apostles’ actions teach us this truth. After surveying the widows’ problem, they rule two things out immediately: “We can’t stop praying and preaching.”

Prayer is at the heart of pastoral ministry. Everything begins and ends with prayer. Yet it’s the easiest thing to sacrifice. That’s why many want to multitask their prayer lives. But we need to remember that Jesus got alone on multiple occasions to spend focused time with the Father. And if anyone could multitask his prayer life, it was Jesus. Surely he could do the “pray as you go” approach to ministry better than anyone, yet he sought solitude. Luke records three specific examples of Jesus withdrawing from the crowds in order to commune with the Father (Luke 5:16; 6:12; 9:18). The apostles followed the pattern of Jesus. They understood that ministry flows from one’s communion with God. They wouldn’t neglect that which gives life to ministry.

Spurgeon had this to say about prayerlessness in ministry:

Of course the preacher is above all others distinguished as a man of prayer. . . . The minister who does not earnestly pray over his work must be a vain and conceited man. He acts as if he thought himself sufficient of himself, and therefore needed not to appeal to God. . . . He limps in his life like a lame man in Proverbs, whose legs are not equal, for his praying is shorter than his preaching. (Lectures to My Students, 42, 48)

Be honest. Would you be distinguished as a person of prayer? Or is your praying leg shorter than your ministry leg?

Recently, in the Dominican Republic, I was talking with my friend, Pastor Otto. We were discussing a mutual hero in ministry, John Stott. Otto told me two interesting insights about Stott regarding prayer that were shared with him via a source close to Stott. Reportedly, Stott kept a prayer diary with a thousand names in it, and he prayed for those individuals regularly. By praying in this way, he was able also to remember their names. Further, Stott wrote his sermons while on his knees. I can just see Stott praying in his prayer closet now, over his people and over the Word, and it convicts me. What a wonderful example he gives every pastor-leader.

Personal prayerlessness, by contrast, indicates self-sufficiency. It’s a sign of pride. It’s a sign that we don’t believe God acts when we pray. It’s a sign we don’t love people as we ought. So let’s repent of such arrogance and stupidity, saturating our lives and ministries with times of intercession, thanksgiving, lament, petition, adoration, and confession. Let’s work to cultivate vibrant prayer lives like the apostles did.

The apostles also say, literally, “It would not be pleasing in the eyes of God” (Polhill, Acts, 180) to stop “preaching the word of God to wait on tables” (v. 2). Because they sought to please the One who saved them and appointed them to preach, they declare their devotion to a fundamental pastoral task (v. 4; cf. Acts 20:18-21; 1 Tim 5:17; 2 Tim 2:15; 4:1-4).

The apostles realize that if they don’t preach the gospel, then there will soon be no church. Giving people food is a great idea, and it’s a biblical idea, but without the preaching of the gospel, the church will quickly dwindle down to no one. Homeless shelters and food pantries are great things the body of Christ should support, but what gives the church its identity—what keeps it on mission—is the preaching of the gospel.

These apostles weren’t arrogantly saying, “We’re too good and important to care for widows.” They were simply demonstrating a commitment to biblical priorities. The apostles weren’t sipping lattes while the seven delegates did all the work. Look back at 5:42. They were teaching and preaching every day, all day—in the marketplace, in the synagogues, in homes. They were on the front lines, weary from battle and scarred by persecution. The easier option would have been to give up preaching to take care of benevolence ministry, not to give more attention to speaking the Word.

After prioritizing prayer and preaching, the apostles then make some wise adjustments. They appoint some guys to take care of the widows.

The biblical writers emphasize the importance of caring for widows, along with other groups of disadvantaged people—orphans, strangers, and the poor (cf. Ruth; Job 29:13; Pss 68:4-6; 146:9; Isa 1:17; Luke 7:11-15; 12:41-42; 18:1-8; Jas 1:27). While some structures are described regarding how to care for widows (e.g., 1 Tim 5:3-16), one should be flexible in implementing ministries based on the needs and the workers in a given situation. That’s what the church displays here: an ability to make adjustments.

Because the church is both an organization and an organism, it requires constant reassessment and the development of new plans. That’s why Christians making strategic changes must first ask, Is this approach biblical? And then, Is it wise and best?

In this case the apostles specify for the task faithful men filled with wisdom. This is a reminder that leaders need to exercise discernment in choosing what’s best: the Bible doesn’t always provide a clear answer to every dilemma. The problems and difficulties of ministry, therefore, require that leaders exhibit the ability to handle situations in a way that expresses love for God and neighbor. Christian wisdom flows from one’s union with Christ, the source of wisdom (Col 2:3). By knowing Christ and walking with him, one learns to live wisely. The selected men enjoyed this sort of dynamic relationship with Christ.

The apostles weren’t the only ones making adjustments. The people also had to make changes. They had to welcome the new leadership born out of the apostles’ decision. Doing so demonstrated flexibility and understanding. The proposal for seven delegates to do widow-work “pleased the whole company” (v. 5). This is remarkable! People were actually pleased with change. Let’s learn from this group. At times, in certain seasons, changes are required for the good of others and for the advancement of the kingdom.

The apostles protected biblical priorities, and they led the church to make wise adjustments—adjustments that involved shared ministry. This little story in Acts 6 provides a wonderful model of leadership and cooperation, a division of labor among equals.

The apostles instruct the people to choose qualified leaders with good reputations and who are full of the Spirit and wisdom (v. 3). The apostles didn’t pull this checklist from the latest business book. They wanted men respected by others. They wanted men who bear the fruit of the Spirit. They wanted men filled with godly wisdom. Each of these qualities would be of great importance as the seven recruited others for the work of helping them care for so many widows.

Interestingly, the people select seven guys with Greek names (v. 5). It is likely that these men would have had a connection to the Greek-speaking widows. Thus, wisdom is displayed in the selection. The group is godly and culturally suited for their task. We know a bit about two of these delegates—Stephen and Philip—from the rest of the book of Acts. Their ministries weren’t confined to widow care.

Is this the origin of the deacon ministry? The text doesn’t call them deacons. The office of deacon isn’t even mentioned in the book of Acts, though elders are mentioned multiple times. These men, then, aren’t ordained to an office; they are commissioned, with a verb, to “deacon” tables.

Having said this, I think this passage does provide a pattern for sharing the ministry, and that’s what deacons do: they assist the pastors and elders in ministry work. How did these men go about their tasks in Acts 6? They helped and theyharmonized.

In this text they help the apostles by freeing them up to focus on prayer and ministry of the Word. They also help by showing everyone an example of what it looks like to serve. That’s what church membership is all about: serving. Membership says, “This is where I serve,” not, “This is where I listen to sermons.” Deacons should provide an example of what it looks like to be a faithful church member, serving and also encouraging others to serve with them.

These seven servants helped maintain harmony in the church by addressing the drama associated with neglected widows. Deacons (and other exemplary servants) are shock absorbers. They are peacemakers. Unfortunately, deacons don’t always have a reputation for bringing unity! But they should.

Don’t miss the overall spirit of love that permeates this text. To make changes and to show grace to one another requires a spirit of love. We don’t see a big church fight in Acts 6. Instead, we see a gathering in which the truth of God’s Word leads the group and the love of God soothes the disagreement. Spirit-filled unity is encouraging to see.

Acts 6:7

Luke describes the evangelistic consequences of the church’s solution to the problem. The church solves the problem, keeps preaching the gospel, and as a result more people are converted. The lesson here is well summarized by Art Azurdia: “Impediments to growth caused by growth can become occasions for growth when priorities are protected and ministry is shared” (“Ensuring Evangelistic Expansion”).

We should probably consider this the normal church pattern: preach, pray, grow, anticipate drama, manage the drama, pray, keep preaching, and then get ready for more drama. When it hits, keep praying.

Times of crises provide the church unique opportunities. Throughout the history of the church, controversy has served to purify and strengthen the church. So let’s choose to see challenges as opportunities.

In the midst of the Acts drama, a number of Jewish priests converted to faith in Jesus as Messiah. This is amazing! John Polhill says as many as eight thousand priests could have been living in Jerusalem (Acts, 183). We read about the priests in 4:1. They didn’t seem ripe for the harvest—they hated the apostles’ message, just as they hated Jesus—yet here many accepted him.

This final note should encourage us. The fiercest enemies of the gospel can be saved. The conversion of these priests illustrates the dynamic power of the gospel! Surely some of these priests had said things we often hear—things like, “Believers are dumb sheep” and “No rational person believes in the resurrection.” Yet suddenly we see them becoming members of the church. The Spirit of God worked powerfully through a small band of disciples to nudge even Christ’s most heated enemies to accept him. May he do it again through our own local churches!

In summary, let’s seek the salvation of everyone—the gospel can penetrate the hardest hearts. Let’s celebrate gospel-centered growth. Let’s have realistic expectations of one another and leaders. Let’s show grace to one another. Let’s remember that there’s a difference between sin and human limitation. Let’s play as a team; if you’re a Christian, you are a player, not a fan, so participate in the mission. Let’s say thanks to people who serve. Let’s pray that each local church will effectively care for the needs of people and also faithfully proclaim the good news. And through it all, let’s remember that Jesus is building his church and we are wonderfully privileged to be part of it!